10 days in Iceland in summer – ultimate itinerary
If you wish your 10 summer days are filled with adventure and authentic travel, you are reading the correct blog. In this article, we will not only present a beautiful country and its hidden gems but also guide you through the most interesting attractions which should be definitely visited during your road trip in Iceland.
How to travel in Iceland?
There isn’t any railway network in Iceland and travelling by bus is pricy and impractical. Therefore, we strongly suggest renting a car, allowing you to drive anywhere you like and find various hidden secret places. The most of attractions are easily accessible by a regular car. On the other hand, some require terrain 4×4 car (roads are marked with a letter F).
We opted for a camper van for 2 people and rented it with Rent.is. It was really practical. We did not have to search for any accommodation, and we could cook anytime and anywhere. If you aim to travel a huge amount of kilometres in a short time and comfortably, this is a clear choice.
Concerning the cooking, we suggest that you do big grocery shopping at retail chain Bonus, which has a broad selection of food for the most reasonable prices. Additionally, you can also shop in Kronan, Netto, minimarkets or gas stations.
Now, let’s talk about the trip itself. If you have 10 full days in Iceland, you can drive the famous “Ring Road” – circular road (marked nr. 1) which connects all big towns in the country. Ring Road is 1332 km long, being the longest road in Iceland. What is more, you’ve got enough time to reach the “Golden Circle”‘s attractions, which are the most famous in Iceland because they are situated close to the capital Reykjavík. “Diamond Circle”, which lays on the north of Iceland is not known among mass tourists. (see picture below) If you follow our plan, you can make it to two Diamond Circle’s attractions.
The majority of blogs suggest that you drive around Iceland in the counter-clockwise direction to start your trip with the most famous places. We, however, chose a different path. The main reason was the weather. Another idea was to visit places with fewer attractions fast and get more spare time in Southern Iceland. This region offers the most fascinating locations.
Going to Iceland in summer is a perfect choice. The days are long, so you get an opportunity to visit more places than in the winter. Our recommendation is to do sightseeing mainly in the morning /sunrise/ and in the evening /sunset/ to avoid the tourists and get the most beautiful photos.
Day 1 - Snæfellsnes Peninsula
It’s early morning. Go hiking the second tallest waterfall in Iceland – Glymur. It is located ca 120 km from the main airport Keflavík. The hike will take you approximately 3 hours (both ways) and is a moderate difficulty. The waterfall is hidden in a beautiful canyon.
The second stop is a lonely church Budakirkja situated 155 km from Glymur, in the middle of an extensive lava field.
Drive another 20 km to reach Gatklettur in a village Arnastapi where you can see high cliffs and numerous birds. The most famous cliff is Arch Rock with a circular arch. Now you are going to find the most photographed mountain in Iceland – Kirkjufellsfoss. Remember to park on the designated parking lots to prevent getting a fine and… to take a picture!
If you are not exhausted by now and can make it another 130 km, we recommend evening bath in hot spring Guðrúnarlaug. It was built right besides camp where you can stay overnight.
Day 2 – Northern Iceland I.
Just about 230 km from the hot spring there is the oldest church in Iceland – Grafarkirkja, constructed in the 17th century.
Slowly, you are approaching a town Akureyri (130 km) known for traditional Icelandic houses Laufas Turf Homes and whale watching. We just enjoyed a pleasant view from the viewpoint above the city.
Now it’s time to explore very fascinating waterfall Godafoss – “Waterfall of the gods”, which lays only 35 km from Akureyri. Beware that you have to go through a 7 km tunnel, which has to be paid online (1500 ISK/12 EUR). You have to pay it within 3 hours before/after your entrance to the tunnel. If you don’t pay, you will be exposed to a fine when returning your car.
In the evening, you should drive to Myvatn region (40 km) and see the lake.
Day 3 - Northern Iceland II.
Get up early to watch the sunrise at geothermal area Hverir (15 km from the lake). It is a spot with plenty of bubbling pools of mud and steaming fumaroles. The water temperature is up to 200 °C. This place was one of the highlights of our trip.
The next stop is the most known point of Diamond circle – waterfall Dettifoss which you will reach after 63 km. You will also experience a gravel road here. Dettifoss is 45 m high with the largest volume of water and is considered to be the most powerful waterful in Europe. Another wonderful waterfall Selfoss can be seen after a 15 min walk from Dettifoss. Both falls are situated in the largest and most spectacular canyon in Iceland and are worth a visit.
Get back to region Myvatn and wander around 11 times exploded volcano Krafla. The journey is about 75 km. Krafla’s eruptions formed an extensive lava field of 35 km square.
Now, after busy 3 days in Iceland, you deserve a relaxation. Get yourself rest in Myvatn Nature Baths. It’s a lagoon with thermal azure water. It is advised to make a reservation in advance, but if you do not have it, no worries. The entrance fee is 40 EUR (5300 ISK) for adults and 25 EUR (3300 ISK) for students.
Day 4 – Eastfjords
Let’s get on the road again. Drive 190 km east into a village called Seydisfjordur. It lays in a valley surrounded by huge mountains, numerous waterfalls and a fjord. The magic atmosphere is complemented by a blue church with a rainbow path.
The next highlight of the trip is a basalt canyon Stuðlagil which is located ca 100 km from the village. You can park at the parking lot marked at Google Maps and look at it. If you want to enter the canyon, it requires 4 km walk (one way).
The last location we suggest for this day is a charming waterfall Hengifoss, situated 101 km from the canyon. It is very impressive because layers of red clay are sandwiched between layers of basalt. The hike to the viewpoint takes around 30 min
How to get to the canyon?
After you get off the road nr. 1 onto road nr. 923, you reach a farm Klaustursel – ca 14 km. You will find a narrow white bridge here. Park the car and walk through the bridge. Turn right and walk 4 km until you get into the canyon.
Day 5 – Southeast Iceland
Another part of Iceland = another type of treasures. Stop at Hvalnes Lighthouse (150 km from Hengifoss) and enjoy the view on photogenic mountain Estrahorn and black beach.
The next 44 km of the epic drive will lead you to famous mountain Vestrahorn. Go directly to Stokknes. It is located on private property so remember to pay the entrance of 900 ISK.
If you have an Arctic soul, go directly to Jökulsárlón, also called “Glacier Lagoon”. The journey is 88 km long. This lagoon is situated next to the largest glacier in Europe. If you are adventurous enough, you can do kayaking for ca 100 EUR. Right next to the lagoon, you can walk on another black beach also called “Diamond Beach”. It is full of ice chunks and resembles diamonds glistening on the sun.
Approximately 12 km west from Glacier lagoon is another pleasant lagoon Fjallsárlón. It is smaller, less-known and less crowded with tourists. You can also observe the ice chunks during a boat trip.
At the end of the day, you can visit the actual glacier. Svínafellsjökull lays 50 km from Fjallsárlón. This place offers a great close view of the ice formations.
Day 6 – Southern Iceland I.
This day will be filled up with our favourite spots. The first one is “Secret Canyon” which is truly a hidden gem. You just feel like in a fairytale. You should visit it in the morning to catch the right sun. If you want to get here, you should drive back towards Fjallsárlón. Please drop us a mail or IG message to get the GPS.
The second place is a charming waterfall Svartifoss, laying less than 7 km from Svínafellsjökull. It belongs to a national park, so be prepared to pay a parking fee of 750 ISK (6 EUR). This wonderful black basalt waterfall will make you feel like being on a different planet. The hike takes about 30 minutes.
Now let’s move to another impressive place. On your way there, you can spot Lómagnúpur (35 km from Svartifoss) – one of the most photogenic mountains in Iceland.
After the next 44 km, you will arrive at the destination – Fjadrargljufur Canyon. It was formed more than 9000 years ago. It’s around 100 m high and more than 1 km long. To observe the beautiful canyon, you will walk on newly constructed paths. Are you a fan of Justin Bieber or Games of Thrones? If your answer is positive, this canyon might seem familiar to you. 🙂
Day 7 - Southern Iceland II.
You should dedicate your early morning to Sólheimasandur Plane Crash. In November 1973, a Douglas Dakota C-117 airplane with 7 crew members gradually started to lose altitude, and the pilots were forced to crash land. The ruins of the plain remained on the beach and became a popular tourist attraction. That’s why you should get there in the morning. It is situated ca 94 km from the canyon.
The next journey should lead to Dyrhólaey Peninsula (19 km from the plane). It is the most south point of Iceland famous for its high cliffs and cute birds puffins. Iceland is home for more than 60% of the world’s entire Atlantic puffin population.
Approximately 20 km eastward you will find a town Vik. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach offers you to see various basalt formations and crazy Atlantic ocean.
Sunset time should be spent at one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland – Seljandsfoss. It is located around 60 km from the Black Sand Beach and parking is also paid. A quick tip – we parked at the campsite just 500 further without any charges. The best thing about Seljandsfoss is a pathway that stretches all the way around it.
If you still have some spare time before the sunset, feel free to explore a neighbouring waterfall Gljufrabui, created in a cave. Remember to put your raincoat on.
Day 8 – Southern Iceland III.
Go back 30 km eastwards to discover one of the most elegant waterfalls in Iceland – Skogafoss. It has a width of 25 meters and the cascade drops 60 meters. Its spray often creates a rainbow on sunny days. If you are not tired of waterfalls already, go to visit less famous Kvernufoss. You can reach it from the parking lot at Skógar museum. You should walk behind the museum, get over the fence (ladder) and take a 15 minutes trek along the river to reach the beauty.
The next stop is super close to Skogafoss. Hot spring Seljavallalaug is an extremely popular natural thermal pool. It will take you just 15 minutes to reach it by foot from the parking, and it’s worth a visit.
If you are as adventurous as we are, take a trip to the stunning region Landmannalaugar (162 km). However, if you don’t have a 4×4 car, you must stop at the parking lot Landmannahellir. At least the view on volcano Hekla is wonderful. When you get here, you can hitchhike a bus /better choice/ which will cost you around 50 EUR per person for both ways, or a random car. If you pick the cheaper option, beware that there is no security of getting back to your car. We were exposed to 40 km walk in the middle of the night, and I am telling you – you don’t want to experience that. Therefore, we recommend that you book a bus in advance. If you reckon that this is not a good idea for you, just skip this attraction.
Day 9 – Golden Circle
Start your day at the most visited waterfall in Iceland Gullfoss, which you’ll reach after 150 km drive from Landmannalaugar. The golden circle was actually named after this “Golden” waterfall.
Move 10 km to geothermal area Haukadalur to see something completely unique. Watch Geysir and Strokkur. Geysir is active only after earthquakes. Strokkur is on the other hand very active and it erupts every 10 minutes. This is undoubtedly a must-see place.
You will find beautiful waterfall Bruarfoss just 15km away from Geysir. It’s considered to be a hidden gem of Iceland and often called “The bluest waterfall of Iceland”. The hike is 3,5 km long.
In the afternoon, schedule some time for a visit of national park Þingvellir that is very important for Icelandic culture and history. The New Republic and the parliament were born at this place. From a tourist point of view, geology is much more impressive. Two tectonic places (North-American and Euroasian) meet here. This phenomenon is visible only here. If you get here between 8 pm and 9 am, you can park free of charge. The park is situated 50 km from Bruarfoss.
The last stop of the Golden circle is Kerið crater (50 km distance). To be honest, we weren’t impressed since we saw something similar next to Krafla in the north of Iceland. The entrance fee is 400 ISK (3 EUR).
Day 10 – Reykjavík and surroundings
Only 30 km from Kerið crater, there is another perfect spot – Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River. After being hiking for 3 km, you get an opportunity to bath in a thermal river. It is a great experience, and this long trek is definitely worth it.
Finally, it’s the right time to explore Iceland’s capital – Reykjavík. It’s mainly known for the church Hallgrimskirkja. The architect got inspired by basalt columns found at multiple places in the country. The entrance is free, and the tower ticket is not pricey. Remember to wander on the main shopping street Laugavegur and purchase some souvenirs. You should also walk along the coast and see the famous statue called Solfar Sun Ship.
If you still want to visit a geothermal place before leaving Iceland, you can drive 35 km to Krýsuvík which is on your way to the airport. But if you visited Myvatn, you won’t be impressed.
The last stop of the 10-day trip around Iceland is the most visited attraction here – Blue Lagoon (35 km from Krýsuvík). We went to check it out. It resembles Myvatn Nature Baths, but the size is much larger. This luxurious complex is built in a beautiful environment in the middle of an extensive lava field. In the entrance fee of 85 EUR, a face mask and a drink are included. You decide whether this is the right thing for you. The road to the airport is 20 km long.
So, these are the places we visited during our 10-day trip around Iceland. Maybe you wonder how we could make it – it looks rough. Yes, it was! We usually slept 4 to 5 hours a day to enjoy Iceland as much as possible. If you are really motivated to get the best experience, you can do it. For sure. We hope that these tips inspired you, and you will visit some of our recommended places. The next article will show you how to eat and cook in a smart way to spend little time and money. If you have any questions about beautiful roadtrip around Iceland, contact us at info@davidharing.net