Road Trip Guide to Iceland's Ring Road
What do you think of when you hear; Iceland? Glaciers? Vikings? Did you know that they only have a population of 333,000 people? Or that it's one of the safest countries in the world? What about this... their native language written is so close to the Vikings Old Norse that anyone who speaks Icelandic can read ancient texts? Oh and 8% of the landmass is a GLACIER?! Iceland is truly a unique, Arctic island and I wanna show you your next bucket list trip. Here is Morgo Goes’s Road Trip Guide to the Best Stops on Iceland's Ring Road.
When to Go
First, we have to decide what time of year you would like to plan your Iceland trip. The appeals of visiting in the summer are milder temperatures, lupin season, and the animals being out and about. The midnight sun (plus 24 hours of sunlight) also makes summer the most popular time to visit. Shoulder season is in the spring from March-April which packs a less expensive punch to the credit card.
And in WINTER... NORTHERN LIGHTS. This was our main goal... to see the lights that have been sung about being such a unique experience. "The lights" season starts in fall (late September) and lasts until around April. The days are short and some roads leading to more inland destinations will be closed for weather! I visited in April and found it to be more affordable, late winter.
What to Pack
Iceland is just under the Arctic Circle making Mid-Atlantic winds meet Arctic air, causing you to sometimes experience all 4 seasons in one day. The locals say, "If you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes ." Temperatures are comparable to NYC in the winter but the WIND is nuts. Depending on when you are now planning on visiting, you'll pack more or less layers.
Bring lots of layers, including fleece lined leggings, under shirts, long sleeves, thermals, pull overs, sweaters, and waterproof coat and boots. If you are following this itinerary, you is gonna get wet. Bring accessories like gloves and hats. Don't worry about being too fancy!
Itinerary
Iceland's Ring Road, aka Route 1, wraps all away around the island and will surprise you with every turn. So if you are down for some amazing waterfalls, snowy hikes, warm geothermal pools to swim in, glaciers, and fluffy animals, then Iceland is down for you! So, here is how we traveled the “ring road” in 13 days!
TRAVELER TIP: Click on the names of all the location suggestions below and save them to your google maps. If you save them to your "Want to Go" folder and then pre-download to your maps when you have Wifi at your hotel or Airbnb for the day, you can navigate GPS without internet or cell service. I use Skyroam Mobile Wifi while I am on the go for whenever we needed it on the go. Use code MORGOSKY for 10% yours!
Day 1- Arrive in Iceland
We arrived to Keflavik International Airport after a solid 9 hour flight from Chicago with WOW airlines (yeah that one that went bankrupt from selling tickets cheap). We landed super early so we hung out and had airport brekky before picking up the rental vehicle.
HOT TIP: Always get the gravel insurance and get a 4x4 for those back roads if you plan to leave Route 1 at ALL! HOT TIP #2: Save a lot of your budget for gas. Sometimes it’s upwards of $8 a gallon!
Once we picked up the car, we decided to take the long way to the BLUE LAGOON to get there when they opened! On the way there, we stopped at these spots:
The bridge is located at Sandvik, meant to symbolize the link between the tectonic plates of North America and Europe. Pretty cool huh? After we could not feel our fingers, we hopped back in the car just in time for Blue Lagoon to open!
Stop 1: Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon is only 20 minutes from the airport and around an hour from Reykjavik, accessible by car or bus provided by the lagoon. We arrived early morning and had a wait time still of around 10 minutes before hitting the locker rooms. Now, tickets are only available for pre-book not walk-in, so be sure to book ahead of time. The prices range from $47-$530 for basic entrance fees all the way up to luxurious spa services. Also, a new hotel just opened on the grounds!
We opted for the comfort package (the most basic and budget friendly) which includes a face mask, drink and towel. We soaked in the lagoon for around 2 hours, enjoying our Icelandic beers, taking some photos, and people watching. It was an amazing experience.
Stop 2: Reykjavik
From the blue lagoon, we headed to our Airbnb (click here for exact listing). After checking in, we headed into town for some food and shopping. We made stops at some fun spots listed below:
Hallgrimskirkja Church- $8 USD admission to their 73m observation tower overlooking Reykjavik
Icelandic Phallological Museum- $17 USD admission to the largest collection of penises in the world. YES it's worth every Icelandic Krona.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur Hot Dog Stand- Iceland takes their hot dogs very seriously. They are made with organic farm fed, free range lambs so they are super yum.
Perlan Ice Caves- view from the top is supposed to be amazing. We missed this spot but its on the list for next time!
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and has so much to offer. The party scene is supposedly super fun. Just keep in mind that Iceland is the world's third most expensive country. We decided to skip lots of restaurants and eat car sandwiches and pasta from the box to save money for gas and activities. Also, pay the meters cause they are on it with the tickets.
Day 2- Thingvellir National Park
After begrudgingly setting our alarms for the morning after a long day and jet lag, we woke up and hit the road to start our EPIC ROAD TRIP! We decided to head south first and take Iceland's Ring Road, aka Route 1 counterclockwise. First stop, Þingvellir (pronounced Thing-vell-ir) National Park! It was the sight of where democracy was first created in the 10th century and home to the largest fissure between CONTINENTAL PLATES that you can scubas between.
After checking out all Thingvellir had to offer we started the journey towards our Airbnb in Hella, Iceland. One major Iceland bucket list item is to find some ponies! Horse and sheep farms line Ring Road so you are guaranteed to find some friendly ponies who love carrots and peppermint!
Our other stops for the day (in order of our road trip) were Kerid Crater, Strokkur Geyser, and then the Gullfoss Waterfall. I enjoyed all three places so much and it was too cold to take my hands out for pics. Below is the Crater lake! It is sitting in a volcano surrounded by rare red volcanic rock. So rad.
Check out the Airbnb we stayed in Hella here- Cottage in South Iceland. OTRI.
Day 3- Southern Coast, Day 1
Our biggest attraction days are these next two! There is so much on the Southern Coast of Iceland because of its amazing weather and waterfalls. There are day tours on buses from Reykjavik if you would rather not take the full road trip! But I 10/10 recommend renting a car and making the trek at your own speed.
We set out from our Airbnb, packed up the car and set off for a day full of waterfalls.. FUN FACT: Any word that ends with "-foss" means it is a waterfall. Also, any work ending in "-jokull" means glacier! Some of the Iceland road signs are not in English so this little tip will help ya know where to go! So here is the exact order in which we stopped, from west to east on Iceland's Ring Road!
Seljalandsfoss
This amazing spot is a short hike from the parking lot area right off Ring Road. Turn onto road 242 off Iceland's Ring Road and drive straight until you see the other cars. Hike 15-20 minutes along the river, fed from the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier, to reach the bath house and pool!
While the pool, built in 1923, is manmade and maintained by volunteers, the water in the pool is fed from a natural hot spring. It averages temps of 68°-86°F, so don't expect hot tub temps like other hot springs!
Skógafoss
This United States Navy DC-3 plane crashed onto the beaches in 1973 after running out of gas. Story has it that the pilot actually just switched to the wrong fuel tank. All passengers survived the crash thankfully! It is now a popular photo and video spot. You can climb all on it even though it is frowned upon.
BEWARE: This hike is a beast. It is 4.3 miles round trip and one of the more boring landscapes. The trail is flat gravel so make sure to wear good shoes. The parking lot entrance isn't marked so lookout for the other cars. It is just about 10 minutes from Skógafoss on Iceland's Ring Road.
Dyrholaey Lookout
The best thing about this spot is you can drive right up! Its a super scenic drive up and a good rest for your feet after that hike! The overlook of the beach comes up first on your right and makes a big arch. Then, the arch is further down the road to the right. You can go under the fence for more thrills but I am terrified of cliffs (esp with the Iceland wind WOO) so that was a no go for this ol' girl.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
At the end of the day we were so exhausted we decided to forgo the last few stops on the list for the day. We made our way off road to a little town called Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Iceland. That is where you can find Fjaðrárgljúfur and your next Airbnb was in the middle of no where and we made it just in time for sunset. We spent the rest of the night cooking pasta and showering up for the next big day!
Check out the Airbnb we stayed in Kirkjubaejarklaustur here- Landbrot Cottages
Day 4- Southern Coast, Day 2
Day 2 of the southern coast was just as busy as day 1! Filled with waterfalls, glaciers, and beaches! Check out our road trip stops as we continue East on Iceland's Ring Road!
Svartifoss
The hike up to this beaut is just under 2 miles round trip but fully uphill! We hiked in and out from the Visitors Center where they can show you the trail guide, or you can do the full loop which is 3.5 miles. They are open all year long. This moderate hike features overlooks over Vatnajokull National Park and a couple other waterfalls.
Fjallsjökull
This glacier in Vatnajokull National Park spans about 8% the landmass of Iceland. There are multiple pull offs along Iceland's Ring Road in this area. This was at a random pit stop/local coffee shop's view. Like WOW. It was so crazy to visit these glaciers that are predicted to be melted within this decade. So we could've been some of the last people to see this view. Check out the national parks Instagram here for more information on how you can help impact global warming.
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is so fuggin cool. These chunks of ice on the beach are pieces of GLACIER that have broken off the glacier from the lagoon listed below, and washed ashore. HOW COOL IS THAT?! I wish we could have been here for sunset one night!
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
This lagoon leads out to the ocean and the diamond beach is on the other side of the road. The pieces of icebergs you see on the beach there are broken off from the glacier you see behind me. Once you have had your fill of watching the seals and hiking around, check out the Hoffell Hot Tubs to warm you back up.
After all these stops and a busy few days of sight seeing, we decided we should treat ourselves to a fancy, traditional Icelandic dinner and some drinks! We visited Pakkhús Restaurant, enjoyed a hearty traditional meal of and downed some Vatnajokull beer. We then found a small local bar across the street recommended to us from the server.
TRAVELERS TIP: Always ask your servers and bartenders where to check out. They are always the trendiest people, have been around the block, and have great taste.
Check out the Airbnb suite we stayed in Höfn here!
Day 5- Drive East
Stokksnes
We visited this spot first thing in the morning on our way East. It was snowing that day and there were lots of low lying clouds that completely blocked our view of this insane mountain (so not my photo). But the black sand beaches, coast line, and movie quality Nordic village. Read more about this crazy abandoned movie set that was never shot at here.
Road Trippin’
We spent most of the day in our car heading north towards our next nights stay. There are amazing stops to pull off on the side of Ring Road along the route. There are Fjords, moss fields, beaches, and farms. Our Airbnb in Fellabær, Iceland on the east coast of Iceland is no longer listed. But this town was great for an overnight stay.
Day 6-7: The North/Akureyri
The north ended up being some of my favorite time of the trip. Because guess why?! We saw the northern lights! After we left our Airbnb in Fellabær, we kept driving north with a goal destination of Akureyri, Iceland's first capital and my favorite little town! I was jazzed we got to stay in this area for two days! Day 1/2 we stopped at the following spots:
Namafjall Hverir
This geothermal spot is a field full of sulfur mud baths. It is situated just near Hverfjall volcano that you can also hike up! Also right down the road is also the Grjótagjá cave, or also known to us Game of Thrones fans as the cave that John Snow and his wifey banged. They filmed in that exact cave. You can swim in the hot spring on the inside if you want! The smell from the sulfur fields made it a no go for me lol.
Myvatn Nature Baths
If you are looking for a Blue Lagoon 2.0, head to Myvatan Baths! There were a few people there but for the most part we had it to ourselves. We got some breakfast in the lobby then headed out to take full advantage of the full service hot pools. We LOVED these baths. I actually preferred them over Blue Lagoon due to the valley and mountain views as well as the full service wait staff that wander the bath's edge to bring you beer!
Goðafoss Waterfall
Then we headed to our Akureyri Airbnb. I was most excited to stay in this one. It is one of the top Airbnbs in the world. Check out their listing here!
We got to watch the northern lights from the back porch. It was a spiritual experience to chase the dance of the lights through the night. We were close enough to the city that they weren't as bright as expected, but an excuse to return!
Fiskmarkadur Siglufjardar
Siglufjörður is a small town, about a one hour drive from Akureyri. The drive is beautiful with vistas overlooking deep, snow covered Fjords. One of my other favorite bloggers, Julia Berolzheimer, visited here on her trip and she inspired me to check it out. There is a Herring museum, some small cafes, and great views!
Bjórböðin Beer Spa
Check out the Bjórböðin Beer Spa on your way back down from Siglufjörður! We grabbed beers and hung out near their outdoor wooden jacuzzis overlooking the water. Make sure to check their hours on the website before hitting them up here! We ended the day with some shopping and dinner in Akureyri!
Other things that we missed in the north due to road closures were Aldeyjarfoss, Detifoss, and Lake Viti. On the list for next time! The northern part of Iceland was unlike anything I had every seen.
Day 8-9: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
After our time in the north we set for the last two days of our trip on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This is a great area to see the northern lights and is close to Reykayvik, meaning our trip is almost done. Here’s the plan for the last couple days.
Kirkjufell Mountain
This hike to the sea, features Game Of Thrones looking rocks for days. I felt like Daenerys Targaryen wondering around while I nursed a belly ache from the night before. All the little nooks and crannies of the hike are so fun to explore! Feels like you're hiding from something.
Arnarstapi Sea Bridge
This sea bridge is tucked away from the main parking lot of Arnarstapi. Head to the left across the field and keep towards the main coast line. Keep your eyes peeled to the grass for the large whole in the ground. The strip of land I am standing on in the photo is not the deepest so make sure you aren't nervous before walking out there. Also there are birds everywhere so don't let the dive bombing knock you into the water.
Búðakirkja Black Church
The famous black church I am sure you have seen on Instagram. You can see the church from the road. Pull off and walk around it! It was originally build it 1703. Since then, it has been deconstructed and reconstructed a few times but it still has some original features like the door handle inscribed 1703.
Make sure to check out our Airbnb cabin in Stykkishólmur, Iceland here- Stundarfriður Cottages #3
The next morning, we drove straight to the airport for our flight. Other Iceland recommendations I would give that are on my future Iceland bucket list still are:
Mjoeyri- Gilla Boat Jacuzzi
Go inside a Glacier
Lupin Season- Spring
And there you have it... Morgo Goes's Road Trip Guide to the Best Stops on Iceland's Ring Road. I am always finding new places and spaces in Iceland that are calling me back. Enjoy your adventure!
