A week in Iceland sounds like too little time, but you can still see a huge number of Iceland’s best highlights in 7 to 10 days. Iceland is incredibly diverse, with countless waterfalls, glaciers, black lava beaches, volcanoes, hot springs, and so much more. The nature in Iceland is the highlight of the island. Nowhere else in the world will you find comparable landscapes in this abundance. You have to see Iceland for yourself, and many people don’t just visit once.
You could spend weeks or even months in Iceland and still not see everything. But even on a one-week trip, you can see plenty of incredible sights and let yourself be enchanted by the breathtaking nature. We drove this exact route ourselves in July 2021.
Last updated: July 2026
Best time to visit: Year-round (summer for daylight, winter for Northern Lights)
Distance: approx. 1,180 km
Duration: 7-10 days
Vehicle: a regular rental car is enough
Golden Circle
Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach
Skaftafell National Park
Stokksnes & Vestrahorn
If you don’t have a rental car for Iceland yet, check out our rental car booking guide, or go straight to what we consider the best rental car provider: northbound.is*.
7-Day Iceland Itinerary – Route Overview
For a 7-day Iceland road trip, you should stick to the South Coast – trying to circle the entire island in this time is unrealistic and stressful. That’s not a problem at all, though, since South Iceland is packed with amazing highlights like the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon or the black lava beach at Stokksnes. Many of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls are also in the south and fit perfectly into our one-week itinerary.
This route gives you a great overview of Iceland’s stunning landscape and will leave you hungry for your next Iceland trip.
Since there are no roads that cross Iceland besides the highland tracks F35 and F26, the Ring Road that loops around the island is your only option for an Iceland road trip. That means you’ll have to drive the same route back if you don’t want to circle the whole island.
We’ve deliberately left the Icelandic Highlands out of this itinerary, since they require a 4×4 vehicle that you won’t otherwise need for this 7-day trip. If you’re interested in the highland highlights, check out our 14-day itinerary including the Highlands.
South Iceland
If you only have a week or a maximum of 10 days for a trip around Iceland, South Iceland is the way to go. The international airport at Keflavík is located at the very south of the island, and the south is home to many top sights like Skógafoss, Diamond Beach, and Stokksnes.
At the same time, the south has excellent tourist infrastructure. There are plenty of good and affordable hotels, and the Ring Road gets you to the next sight quickly. That said, there are also many more tourists here than, for example, in the remote Westfjords.
Still, you’ll come back from this trip absolutely amazed, because Iceland’s landscape is truly unique in the world.
Iceland 7-Day Route
| Day | Route / Highlight | Distance / Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kevlavik Airport to Golden Circle | 125 km / 2,5 h |
| Day 2 | Golden Circle to Skogafoss | 75 km / 1,5 h |
| Day 3 | Skogafoss to Vik | 45 km / 1 h |
| Day 4 | Vik to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon | 45 km / 1 h |
| Day 5 | Skaftafell National Park | 50 km / 1 h |
| Day 6 | Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlon | 45 km / 1 h |
| Day 7 | Stokksnes & Return | 360 km / 7.5 h |
Iceland 7 Days – Where Should I Book My Rental Car?
A specialized price comparison site for rental cars in Iceland is northbound.is*. There you’ll find everything from small economy cars, to SUVs with rooftop tents, to large 4x4s and campervans.
With Northbound, you can cancel any booking for free up to 48 hours before pickup. That way you can book early, but still cancel on short notice if your plans change. We were completely satisfied with the booking, the car, the whole process, and Northbound’s support, and can only recommend booking with them.
Rental cars from an Iceland specialist with years of know-how:
Northbound.is
- compares all Icelandic rental car providers
- specializes in Iceland road trips and the Highlands
- specialized insurance available for rugged Iceland
- free cancellation up to 48h before pickup
- regular rental cars, campervans, motorhomes, SUVs (with or without rooftop tent) & 4x4s available
Iceland rental cars at northbound.is*
Find out what matters when renting a car in our Iceland rental car guide.
Iceland 7 Days – Cost
What does an Iceland road trip cost? This is one of the most common questions we get about Iceland. Iceland is unfortunately a very expensive travel destination, so you should plan your budget accordingly. As a rule of thumb, it pays off to book early – rental cars especially get expensive and scarce during high season if you book last-minute. Hotels are also very pricey in Iceland. For 2026, plan for approximately €900-1,400 per person for the full 7-day route.
You’ll find all the detailed cost info here: Iceland Costs – How Expensive Is a Trip to Iceland?
Day 1 of the Iceland Itinerary | Golden Circle
On your first day, you’ll pick up your rental car and stock up on some supplies. If you need some time to arrive and acclimatize, you could spend this first day exploring Iceland’s capital and strolling through the streets of Reykjavík. The capital doesn’t have a ton to offer, though, and you can see the main sights in just a few hours.
We’d instead recommend focusing on Iceland’s natural highlights and heading straight out into nature toward the northeast. You’ll visit the highlights of the Golden Circle, one of the most popular sights in all of Iceland.
Iceland 7 Days – The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a roughly 250 km loop from Reykjavík connecting Iceland’s three most famous sights: Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss waterfall. You get to see 3 top sights within just a few hours and kilometers here. Consequently, there are far more tourists around, since the Golden Circle is also easily doable as a day trip from Reykjavík.
In our opinion, you can see everything here in half a day, so it’ll be a relaxed day. For more details on the complete route, check out our own Golden Circle travel guide.
Thingvellir National Park
The first highlight of the Golden Circle is Thingvellir. This is Iceland’s most important historical site and sits within the national park of the same name. Over 1,000 years ago, the first parliamentary assembly in history took place here. In the year 930, 4,000 people gathered in Thingvellir to discuss new laws and mediate disputes.
The geology of the site is also well worth seeing, as the rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates is visible at Thingvellir, and you can essentially walk between the continents.
Iceland’s largest lake, Thingvallavatn, also lies within Thingvellir National Park and is surrounded by four active volcanoes.
Strokkur Geyser
Strokkur is the world’s most active and reliably timed geyser. Every few minutes, it shoots a fountain of water several meters into the air. Right next to it, by the way, stands the geyser “Geysir” itself. Yes, really! This is the namesake for all other geysers on Earth, though it’s unfortunately no longer active today.
The area around the geysers is a large geothermal field. Steam and water bubble up from the ground everywhere, and signs warn visitors to be careful, since the steam shoots out of the ground at nearly 100 degrees.
The highlight of the site is Strokkur, which erupts every 8-10 minutes, shooting a fountain of steam and water roughly 25 meters into the air. Dozens of tourists stand at the barrier around the geyser at all times, phones ready, waiting for the next eruption.
Further back, you can also climb a small hill for a good overview of the whole area. Besides the large visitor parking lot, there’s also a restaurant and a visitor center with a souvenir shop here.
Gullfoss Waterfall
Gullfoss is Iceland’s most-visited waterfall. Massive amounts of water plunge down in several stages from a height of 30 meters, creating a deafening roar. Make sure to wear waterproof clothing if you want to get close to the falls! There’s a large visitor parking lot here with a souvenir shop, as well as a smaller lot (marked “for tour buses”) that gets you closer to the waterfall.
You can get quite close to the waterfall, and from the right angle you’ll also spot a large rainbow in the spray. For us, one of the most beautiful and definitely the largest of Iceland’s waterfalls.
| Activity | Price p.P. | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| From Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater | from 65 € | Book now* |
| Golden Circle and Glacier Snowmobile Tour | from 240 € | Book now* |
| Golden Circle & Blue Lagoon Small-Group Tour | from 199 € | Book now* |
Route Info
From Keflavík Airport, you’ll head north to the Golden Circle. You can also find a nice hotel there, like the one suggested below.
- Distance: 200 km
- Driving time: 2.5 hours
- Highlights along the way: Geysir, Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park
Overnight Stay
Today you can stay near the Golden Circle so you don’t have as much driving time. We’ve found you a great hotel with a large communal area and even a hot tub. Perfect for relaxing after a long day.
Efra-Sel Hostel at the Golden Circle
Efra-Sel Hostel is located close to the Golden Circle and makes a great stop after visiting it.
-right at the Golden Circle
-with its own hot tub
-large communal kitchen
-nicely furnished bathrooms
Iceland in 7 Days: Day 2 | Seljalandsfoss & Skógafoss
On Day 2 of the Iceland 7-day route, you’ll head south onto the Ring Road and then continue east. After a few kilometers, you’ll already pass one of Iceland’s most popular waterfalls and should definitely make a stop there. If you then drive a few more minutes on a gravel road heading north, you’ll pass a small hidden gem of Iceland.
Seljalandsfoss
This waterfall is one of Iceland’s most famous and is renowned for the fact that you can actually walk behind it, giving you a fantastic photo perspective.
Seljalandsfoss sits right at the turnoff toward Þórsmörk (which, by the way, you can only reach with a guided super jeep tour*), just a short distance from the Ring Road.
The waterfall plunges 66 meters and is fed by the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, which famously grounded air traffic across Europe in 2010. A visit is especially rewarding in the evening, when the sun is perfectly positioned as you stand behind the falls.
Gljúfrabúi
Gljúfrabúi (also called Glufrafoss) is located just a few hundred meters away, and you should bring rubber boots and a rain jacket. You’ll need to wade through a small canyon, straight through the water, to reach the waterfall.
Here, the journey to the waterfall really is the destination. The waterfall itself isn’t all that spectacular, but the canyon you have to pass through is a real adventure, and it’s fun hopping from stone to stone to get through with dry feet.
About 30 minutes further west, right off the Ring Road, stands one of the most spectacular and beautiful waterfalls in Iceland.
Skógafoss
Skógafoss is a must-do on your Iceland trip. What makes this waterfall special is that you can walk right up to its base, giving you truly great shots.
Skógafoss plunges a heavy 60 meters over a 25-meter-wide drop, offering especially great photo opportunities if you get up close or zoom in with your camera.
Once you’ve had your fill, you can climb the stairs on the right side of Skógafoss all the way to the top, giving you a completely different perspective of the waterfall.
You should definitely make this small effort, since a very special hike also starts up there.
Fimmvörðuháls Hike
East of the waterfall, the famous Fimmvörðuháls trekking route climbs up to the Fimmvörðuháls pass and continues on to Þórsmörk. At 25 km, this hike isn’t a walk in the park, but if you’re interested, check out more info from our friends at trekkingtrails.de.
You can find more details on the hike here: All info on the Fimmvörðuháls hike.
The hike is usually done over 2 days, since it’s quite demanding. Your destination is the campsite at Þórsmörk, from where you take a bus back to the Ring Road. You can also do the hike in a single day if you’re either very fast, or only walk to the halfway point at the Fimmvörðuháls huts (about 8km) and turn back.
Or you can do what we did and simply walk a few kilometers, or as far as you get, before turning around and heading back to the Skógafoss parking lot.
The hike along the Skógá river is truly beautiful, and the further you walk, the fewer people you’ll encounter.
Route Info
Today you’ll head toward Iceland’s East Fjords. Before that, you’ll pass an Iceland highlight (Stokksnes) and a hidden gem (Golden Valley).
- Distance: 120 km
- Driving time: 1.5 hours
- Highlights along the way: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss
Overnight Stay
If you drive about 30 minutes back west, you’ll reach some beautiful and secluded wooden cabins that are still very close to the Ring Road, yet far enough away for peace and quiet.
Brú Guesthouse
Brú Guesthouse is located just off the Ring Road and consists of several wooden cabins set side by side in a green setting.
You’ll have complete privacy here, and if you’re lucky, the friendly farm dog might come by to say hello.
– your own wooden cabin
– private bathroom
– fully equipped kitchen
– green surroundings
Brú Guesthouse | Check availability*
Day 3 | Dyrhólaey & Vík
Dyrhólaey
About 13 km before Vík, road 218 branches off to the right and takes you to the Dyrhólaey peninsula. It essentially consists of an impressive rock plateau that offers a spectacular sea cliff, home to thousands of nesting birds, including arctic terns and puffins.
The road all the way to the top, where an old lighthouse stands, is quite steep and winds up in switchbacks. But even with a regular car, you shouldn’t have any problems with a bit of careful driving.
Once at the top, on a clear day you’ll get a view for miles across the black beach to the west. On the other side of the plateau, you can see all the way to the sea stacks at Vík (Reynisdrangar), and right at the foot of the plateau you’ll spot a rock arch that boats sometimes pass through.
Overall, a wonderful view and an excursion that’s definitely worth it. On the way back down, you can drive a bit further toward the beach, though in our opinion that’s not strictly necessary.
Reynisfjara Basalt Columns
Just a few kilometers further east, right before Vík, road 215 branches off and takes you to another black lava beach – this time with spectacular basalt columns waiting for you. Right by the sea, next to a large cave (Hálsanefshellir Cave), hundreds of columns, some up to 30 meters tall, are waiting to be admired and climbed.
The nearby parking lot is, like everywhere in Iceland, free and plenty large. You’ll walk just a few minutes and reach the pebble beach, where you can take great photos of yourself on the basalt columns. But be careful, you won’t be alone here. This spot is always very busy, and it’s not easy to find a spot for an undisturbed photo.
Important safety warning: Reynisfjara is considered one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. So-called “sneaker waves” can rush unexpectedly far up the beach and have claimed several lives. Since 2022, a warning light system (yellow/red) and marked safety zones have been in place. Always follow the warning lights, don’t approach the water when it’s red, and never turn your back on the waves.
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Vík í Mýrdal
Vík is a nice little town and a tourist hub for the area. Not only is the wild Netflix series Katla filmed here, but you can also make good use of the local infrastructure. There are gas stations, a large supermarket, and plenty of affordable hotels.
Vík also has a black sand beach, but it’s not especially spectacular, so you don’t need to spend too much time here. Vík is definitely not a place for strolling through a pedestrian zone, but it’s more than enough for refueling and restocking on groceries.
Route Info
You’ll drive the entire way on the well-maintained Ring Road, passing plenty of beautiful sights along the way.
- Distance: 70 km
- Driving time: 1 hour
- Highlights along the way: Dyrhólaey Peninsula, Reynisfjara Beach
Overnight Stay
Today you can stay near Vík. You can either head to a campsite or book yourself into a nice hotel.
Campsite Recommendation
This idyllically located campsite offers tent sites as well as wooden cabins with a bit more comfort.
- Vík Camping:
Hotel Recommendations in Vík
Budget Hotel
We stayed at this wonderful little hotel, which was recently modernized. You’re basically within walking distance of the famous basalt columns at Reynisfjara black beach.
There’s free breakfast in the form of coffee, cookies, and cereal, and you’ll only pay about 50 euros a night. We felt very much at home here.
Luxury Hotel with All the Trimmings
Hotel Vík í Mýrdal has super sleek rooms and every amenity you could think of. From €140 per night.
Day 4 | Þakgil & Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Just a few minutes outside Vík (Google Maps link) begins a true dream road of Iceland, the Kerlingardalsvegur to Þakgil. The road to Þakgil Canyon leads to the isolated Þakgil campsite in Katla National Park, which should also only be visited with a 4×4 vehicle. Here, the journey really is the destination.
You’ll get fantastic views again and again, and the route is genuinely varied. The campsite at the end of the road is surrounded by high mountains and runs alongside a small river. Various hikes into the beautiful surroundings also start from here.
It’s super idyllic here, and we would have loved to stay overnight if the cabin prices hadn’t been so high (€180 per night). So we enjoyed the nature for a bit and then drove back toward Vík.
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
From Þakgil, it’s less than an hour’s drive to the impressive Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. Flying drones is, exceptionally, allowed here, and I didn’t need to be told twice. The river has carved deep into the canyon here, leaving behind a wonderfully rugged landscape.
This canyon with the unpronounceable name lies in South Iceland, about 70 kilometers west of Vík. In places, it’s up to 100 meters deep and roughly 2 kilometers long.
The canyon formed about 2 million years ago and offers steep cliffs and fantastic views of the rugged rock landscape. In about 1 hour, you can follow a hiking trail along the rim of the canyon to a waterfall and back to the parking lot.
You should plan for about 2 hours here in total.
Route Info
You’ll drive the entire way on the well-maintained Ring Road, passing plenty of beautiful sights along the way.
- Distance: 70 km
- Driving time: 1 hour
- Highlights along the way: Þakgil, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Overnight Stay
Hunkubakkar Guesthouse
-cozy wooden cabins surrounded by greenery
-not far from the canyon
-rooms with private bathroom
-free breakfast included
Day 5 | Skaftafell National Park
Your next stop on the Iceland 7-day itinerary is Skaftafell National Park. The park was founded in 1967 and later incorporated into Vatnajökull National Park. It covers over 1,700 square kilometers and sits right off the Ring Road. There’s also a large visitor center here with a restaurant, restrooms, and a souvenir shop.
Unfortunately, the large parking lot here charges a fee. Your license plate is automatically photographed as you drive in, and you’ll need to pay your day ticket of 600 ISK (approx. €4) at a payment kiosk.
There are plenty of beautiful hikes to do here, and we especially recommend two of them.
Hike to the Vatnajökull Glacier
This hike takes you to a side arm of the Vatnajökull glacier, which you can also see from the nearby Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon. Here, though, you get much closer, and if you wear rubber boots and carefully wade across a small stream, you can even reach the glacier’s ice directly. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the glacier.
If you have more time, you can also stay left of the glacier and take the trail up the hill, which leads you along the glacier for 7 hours and then on a loop through the entire Skaftafell National Park. More info on that here.
Hike to Svartifoss Waterfall
The second major highlight of Skaftafell National Park is Svartifoss waterfall, which cascades down a cliff face covered in basalt columns. It takes about 45 minutes from the park’s large visitor center to reach the falls, with a loop trail leading back to the parking lot.
The trails can get a bit slippery in the rain, but the route passes through colorful and varied landscapes throughout the park and comes highly recommended.
If you have more time, try out one of the many other hiking trails in Skaftafell National Park.
Route Info
You’ll drive the entire way on the well-maintained Ring Road, passing plenty of beautiful sights along the way.
- Distance: 80 km
- Driving time: 1 hour
- Highlights along the way: Skaftafell National Park, Svartifoss Waterfall
Overnight Stay
Hotel Skaftafell
If you don’t want to drive far after a long hiking day, stay at nearby Hotel Skaftafell, within walking distance of the glacier.
- comfortable rooms with private bathroom
- free breakfast
Hotel Skaftafell | Check prices*
Day 6 | Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach
On Day 6 of the Iceland 7-day trip, you’ll continue east on the Ring Road and eventually pass Iceland’s largest and most famous glacier lagoon: Jökulsárlón.
It sits between Skaftafell National Park and Höfn and, at 284 meters deep, is Iceland’s deepest lake. Jökulsárlón is famous for the icebergs, up to 30 meters tall, floating on its surface.
Along the shore, you’ll also spot plenty of skuas and seals. Nearby is another, much smaller and more remote glacier lagoon, Fjallsárlón, with smaller icebergs. Far fewer tourists visit there, so you can enjoy a bit more peace and quiet.
You can book boat tours on Jökulsárlón, or even a hike out onto the glacier tongue. Of course, this isn’t something you can do on your own – only as part of a guided tour. The best place to book one is with GetYourGuide*.
Right across from it, within walking distance, is Diamond Beach: a black sand beach dotted with sparkling blue chunks of ice that wash up on the shore or float just offshore. The sight is truly one of a kind.
For more on what else to do at the glacier lagoon, where to park, and other travel tips, check out our travel guide to the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach:
| Aktivitäten | Preis p.P. | Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Tagestour in eine Eishöhle | ab 155 € | Ticket buchen* |
| Tagestour zum Jökulsarlon von Reykjavik | ab 160 € | Ticket buchen* |
| Jökulsarlon Tagestour mit Bootsausflug | ab 200 € | Ticket buchen* |
Route Info
Today you’ll drive from your hotel near Skaftafell National Park to the glacier lagoon.
- Distance: 70 km
- Driving time: 1 hour
- Highlights along the way: Glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach
Overnight Stay
There aren’t many hotels right around the glacier lagoon, and many of them are quite pricey.
On both of our visits to the glacier lagoon, we stayed at the Skyrhúsid Guesthouse, just 10 minutes away. You’ll be super close to the hotel while still sleeping a peaceful distance from the Ring Road.
Skyrhúsid Guest House
-large communal kitchen
-lovingly furnished rooms
-set back from the Ring Road
-10 minutes from Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
-double rooms from €80
Camping
To camp in a tent, you’ll need to continue on to Höfn. There, you can stay in wooden cabins or your own tent.
Day 7 | Stokksnes & The Drive Back
Today you’ll head a short distance further east before turning back toward the airport. You can’t miss the Stokksnes peninsula – you haven’t seen anything quite like it!
Iceland 7-Day Tour: Stokksnes
Stokksnes is a headland at the foot of Mount Vestrahorn. To visit the beautiful beach, you’ll need to pay 800 ISK per person at the Viking Cafe. The friendly staff there will give you a map and explain what there is to see. There’s also a Viking village nearby.
It’s actually a film set (for a movie that was apparently never made), which unfortunately isn’t kept in great shape and looks a bit worse for wear these days. That doesn’t take anything away from the landscape around it, though.
The sand on this peninsula is pitch black and as fine as on a Caribbean beach. Grassy hills grow on top of the sand, creating a striking contrast.
The star of every photo you’ll take here is Mount Vestrahorn, which rises at the start of the peninsula and offers a truly majestic sight.
The combination of jet-black sand, green-covered hills, and the imposing Mount Vestrahorn in the background is pretty spectacular. For us, one of the top spots in Iceland.
Read our separate travel guide to Stokksnes.
The Drive Back
If you have more days available, check out our 14-day Iceland itinerary. If you need to head home, it’s time to start the drive back to Keflavík Airport. It’ll be a long drive, but you can stop at a few sights along the way that you missed on the way out.
Route Info
Today you’ll head to a real Iceland highlight, the Stokksnes peninsula with Mount Vestrahorn. Afterward, it’s back to the airport.
- Distance: 570 km
- Driving time: 7.5 hours
- Highlights along the way: Stokksnes and anything you missed on the way out.
Overnight Stay
This is the last overnight stay of the 7-day Iceland route. If you’re flying home the next morning, we can recommend this hotel near the airport:
Hotel Berg by Keflavik Airport
-Luxurious hotel
-Close to the airport
-Private bathroom
-Delicious breakfast
Iceland Itinerary 7 Days – FAQ
Is a week enough for Iceland?
A week is plenty for South Iceland – you’ll see the Golden Circle, the best waterfalls, and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. For the full Ring Road including the Highlands, plan for at least 14 days.
How much does a 7-day Iceland itinerary cost?
Plan for approximately €900-1,400 per person in 2026 for rental car, accommodation, and food. The biggest cost items are the rental car and lodging.
Do you need a 4×4 for the 7-day South Coast route?
No, a regular rental car is perfectly fine for the entire Ring Road route in the south. You’ll only need a 4×4 if you also want to head into the Highlands.
What are the highlights of the 7-day itinerary?
The must-see stops are the Golden Circle, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the basalt columns at Reynisfjara, Skaftafell National Park, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon with Diamond Beach, and the Stokksnes peninsula.
Can you drive this route in winter?
Yes, the Ring Road in the south is drivable year-round. In winter you’ll have less daylight, but a chance at the Northern Lights – just expect possible short-notice road closures during storms, so always check road.is before you set off.