An Iceland Ring Road Itinerary in 5 Days

Useful advice and tips for maximizing your time

1. Plan to come in the summer

Looping the ring road is ambitious but doable. After all, if you were to travel non-stop, you could complete it in around 17 hours. Obviously, those stops are why you’ve set out in the first place, so give yourself the maximum time to see the most important landmarks and landforms by traveling in summer. There are around four times as many hours of daylight compared to midwinter, so you won’t feel as pressured trying to cram everything in.

2. Choose a comfortable ride

On a 5 day itinerary, you’ll be spending a relatively high proportion of your time in the car, so upgrade to ensure that you have enough space to be comfortable. How large you feel you need to go depends on the size of your party. It’s not necessary to have a 4x4 for the ring road as it’s well-maintained all the way, though in winter, you might be grateful for the extra grip if conditions are icy.

3. Make it all about the experience

Each day, plan to add in some activities that give you a break from driving, such as a whale-watching boat trip, ATV excursion, ice cave hike, or a horse riding tour. It might seem counter-productive to spend a long time in one place, but experiential travel will be far more memorable – and a lot more fun! – than simply ticking off a list of must-sees. 

4.Figure out where to get food on the go

With limited time to loop the entire ring road, leisurely lunches are probably off the table, yet that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some uniquely Icelandic foodie experiences on the go. Traditional lamb soup is sold at gas stations and ice cream parlors litter the country. Meanwhile, fish and chips can be enjoyed as a takeaway, as can hot dogs and langoustine rolls. 

5. Relax at the end of each day

It’s important to give yourself time at the end of each day to unwind. Arguably, the best place to do so is at one of Iceland’s iconic geothermal spas, many of which have been carefully sited to take advantage of breathtaking views. If you’re here in summer, you might even find it’s warm enough for a drink on an outdoor terrace. Regardless, make time to sit back, relax, and relive the day.

6. Accept you won’t see everything

Even if you were road-tripping for weeks, you still won’t see everything Iceland offers. Make your peace with that and plan to concentrate on fewer visitor attractions. Rushing around trying to tick off as many sights as you can is likely to feel exhausting and unsatisfying. Instead, spend more time at fewer places and make a promise to come back for a second trip to see some of what you missed the first time around. 

5 Days Iceland Ring Road Itinerary

Day 1: Reykjavik to Vik

The south of Iceland is arguably the most scenic part of the ring road, so we suggest you allocate two of your five days to this region. As you drop down over the Hellisheiði pass, the coast stretches in front of you, backed by a plateau from which waterfalls plummet. Stop at the two most impressive, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. You’ll need to allow about two hours plus drive time to see them properly, standing behind the curtain of water at Seljalandsfoss and climbing the steps beside Skógafoss. 

Just before you reach Vik, call in at Reynisfjara beach, whose basalt cliffs, sea stacks and sneaker waves make this a tourist hotspot. Vik’s the ideal place to stop for lunch, and it's also the home base for a slew of tour operators who’ll take you up on the glacier or across the black sand on an ATV or Icelandic horse. With plenty of accommodation options, this is also a convenient base for your first overnight stop.

Day 2: Vik to Höfn 

East of Vik, nature has sculpted an equally impressive landscape. It’s only a short detour to Fjadrárgljúfur, a fairytale canyon where the river winds through interlocking spurs. Pop star Justin Bieber once shot a music video here, so try to come early in peak season if you want to miss the crowds. In this part of Iceland, the ring road cuts through Eldhraun, a vast moss-covered lava field created by the violent eruption of Laki in 1783. 

It’s also worth stopping at Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park, where you can stretch your legs on a hike to see Svartifoss, a photogenic waterfall flanked by basalt columns. Aim to reach Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in time for a late lunch from the food trucks that park up here. In the afternoon, you can take a boat trip out on the lagoon to get a closer look at the glacier and perhaps spot some seals. Pay a visit to dazzling Diamond Beach for sunset before continuing on to Höfn.  

Day 3: Höfn to Egilsstaðir

Höfn is Iceland’s lobster capital, so we hope you sampled some for dinner last night. This morning, set out for the grassy dunes that form the delightful foreground for a souvenir selfie in front of Vestrahorn. It’s not hard to see why this beautiful mountain is the darling of photographers, particularly when the craggy ridge is reflected in shallow pools of water on the sand. Drag yourself away to continue your ring road adventure, following the coast until the road turns inland. 

Make a detour to the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Stuðlagil Canyon. The water here is often a vivid turquoise, offset perfectly by the rust-stained basalt columns that enclose a narrow gorge. It’s hard to imagine, but this place was once underwater until a hydroelectric power plant was installed upstream, which caused the river level to fall, revealing this magnificent canyon. The hiking trail on the far side gets you to the best spot. Afterward, backtrack to Egilsstaðir to spend the night.

Day 4: Egilsstaðir to Akureyri

From Egilsstaðir, venture north into a barren yet captivating landscape created by geothermal and volcanic activity. Explore the rugged terrain on foot, following the wooden boardwalk past the fumaroles and sulphur-spattered ground at Hverir. As the steam swirls around, it feels like another world. Call in at Grjótagjá, a hot spring in an ancient lava cave, though don’t attempt to swim here as the water is scalding hot. Nearby Mývatn Nature Baths are much more pleasant. 

Afterward, wind your way through the lava field at Dimmuborgir, home to Iceland’s Yule Lads, who emerge before Christmas each year to create mayhem. Make a pitstop at Goðafoss, a striking waterfall, before continuing on to Akureyri. This charming fjordside town has plenty of restaurants and bars, making it an ideal overnight stop.

Day 5: Akureyri to Reykjavik 

Spend a little time in Akureyri this morning before setting off back to Reykjavik. Depending on how much daylight you have to play with, consider taking a whale-watching trip from the harbor if you can spare the time. The sight of humpbacks performing their acrobatic dives is one for the bucket list. Head west; you’re unlikely to have much time to detour but it’s worth looping Tröllaskagi if you didn’t take a boat trip this morning. 

Siglufjörður, the sleepy port at the top of the peninsula, is a quaint little town with a rich cultural heritage and well worth a few hours. Another stop you should consider is the Seal Center at Hvammstangi; you might want to drive a short way north to Illugastaðir to see if you can spot any seals hauled out on the shore. You’ll need to be making tracks for Reykjavi,k though, so enjoy the scenery as you drive the last stretch of the ring road back to Iceland’s vibrant capital. 

What not to miss

That’s it – you’re now equipped with enough information to start firming up your plans for your ring road itinerary. Choose a suitable rental from us and enjoy a wonderful five day trip seeing the best of Iceland.

What not to miss:

• Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss Waterfalls

• Reynisfjara Beach

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

• Vestrahorn Mountain

• Stuðlagil Canyon

• Hverir Geothermal Area

• Goðafoss Waterfall

• Whale Watching in Akureyri