“What’s your favorite place you’ve visited?” This common travel question used to be difficult to answer, but not after a trip to Iceland! Iceland’s unusual and stunning landscapes stood out from everywhere else I’ve visited. Top it off with an epic road trip, a glacier hike, and countless waterfalls, our ultimate 5-day Iceland itinerary has left me with an enthusiastic response to this common question.
Juggling full-time jobs and an ever growing travel list, I’m always looking for ways to maximize our itineraries. Living in the Northeast of the US made Iceland an ideal destination. It’s a hop away from Boston, okay a 5 hour and 20 minute hop, but it’s quicker than flying to California and a guaranteed nonstop flight. We traveled over a long holiday weekend for the Fourth of July (only one vacation day needed for this adventure- score!). Keep reading to discover the amazing sights and experiences our Ultimate 5-Day Iceland Itinerary offers!
Day 1 – Arrival in Keflavik and Travel to Vik
A quick overnight flight from Boston, we arrived in Keflavik at 4:30am and had a full day of adventures ahead of us. We picked up our duty free alcohol, luggage, rental car and drove to Reykjavik to get our Mifi device and stock up on groceries. For additional details on our flight, rental car, rented internet hotspot, and tips on buying the cheapest alcohol in Iceland, check out our Iceland Tips & Tricks.
Day 1 Overview:
- Hveragerði – Hike to natural hot springs
- Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls – Walk behind the waterfall and find the secret waterfall!
- Seljavallalaug Pool – Hike to natural hot spring public pool
- Skogafoss – Waterfall with vertical drop of 200ft!
- Solheimasandur – A US Navy airplane ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach of south Iceland. Park on the side of the road and walk to the abandoned plane wreck. (Update: We had to skip this part of our itinerary, but we would have stopped if we had enough time!)
- Dyrholaey Beach – Watch for Puffins!
- Reynisfjara and Reynisdrangar – Iconic Black Pebble Beach
Total Driving Time: 4 hours
We left Rykajavik traveling on Route 1. Route 1 is the main road in Iceland making it nearly impossible to get lost. The weather in Reykjavik was beautiful, but we were heading to the southern part of Iceland and it was supposed to be cold and rainy.
Travel Tip – Pack layers to be prepared for varying weather conditions and temperatures, even when traveling in the summer!
Hveragerði
Once we arrived in Hveragerði, we hiked a trail called Reykjadalur. This popular trail leads to a warm natural hot stream. Since we arrived early we had the trail to ourselves until we reached the stream. The only people there were those who had spent the night camping. Since this has become a popular tourist stop, there is a sturdy boardwalk with changing stations along the river. We changed into our swimsuits and enjoyed the hot stream for a little while – well to be honest we stayed long enough to ensure we remained on track with our itinerary!
Seljalandsfoss
One of the best known and most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. It is located right off Route 1 making it impossible to miss! Be sure to walk the path behind the waterfall for a unique view of the falls. Grab your rain jacket as you may get wet depending on the wind!
Gljúfrabúi
Before jumping in your car and leaving Seljalandsfoss, walk along the path and follow the signs to the hidden waterfall, Gljúfrabúi. This waterfall is not visible from the road and is often neglected by tourists. When you reach the waterfall you can follow a short path into the falls. Waterproof shoes come in handy here as you will need to rock hop! Or you can do a short climb using a chain hand hold and ladder to view the waterfall from above. It doesn’t take long to check out this waterfall and it is a worthwhile addition to your itinerary!
Signature pose in front of Seljalandsfoss. On the trail leading to the natural hot springs at Hveragerði.
Seljavallalaug Pool
You will pass the Eyjafjallajukil Volcano on your left as your drive along Route 1 from Seljalandsfoss to the Seljavallalaug Pool. This public pool is one of the oldest pools in Iceland. Look for the Iceland Erupts Exhibition sign and follow the road until you reach a small parking area. From here you will need to walk about 15-20 minutes towards the bottom of the valley. You may feel like you are going the wrong way, but as you get closer you will see part of the pool peeking out behind the landscape.
This is no longer a secret pool, there were several people there when we visited. Changing rooms are available, though they are a bit disorganized so it’s easier to arrive wearing your swimsuit. As for my review of the pool, well it was warm and had stunning views, but it was not the cleanest pool. We only stayed for a short time and then continued on to the next place in our itinerary. My recommendation would be to visit here if you love swimming and didn’t have an opportunity to hike to the natural hot streams in Hveragerði. Otherwise I would skip the pool and add a visit to Solheimasandur, the US Navy plane wreck on the black sand beach instead!
Skogafoss
Skogafoss is the next waterfall you will see from the road as you drive along Route 1. You can’t miss this one as it has a vertical drop of 200ft! You can walk close to the bottom of the waterfall, bring your rain gear to prepare for the mist! There are steep stairs along the side of the waterfall that you can climb to check out the view from the top. The climb to the top is certainly worth the effort! Many people walked outside of the ropes to see another overlook, please stay on the marked trail and keep Iceland beautiful!
Dyrholaey
Dyrhólaey is a small peninsula that you will pass on your way to Vik. The name Dyrhólaey means door-hole, as it was named after a massive arch created by the sea. While driving along Route 1, turn onto road 218 and follow the road to the parking area. Dyrhólaey is a popular place to spot Iceland’s puffins! The best time to see puffins is from late April until early September, in the morning or in the evening. We visited in the evening and were able to see many puffins flying around. Bring binoculars for a better view – they are small!
Skogafoss waterfall View from the Seljavallalaug Pool The arch that Dyrhólaey is named after We climbed to the top of Skogafoss.
Reynisfjara & Reynisdrangar
Reynisfjara is a pebble black sand beach outside of Vik. From Route 1, turn onto road 215 to reach the parking area. There is a stunning cliff with a shallow cave and naturally created basalt columns. Isn’t nature amazing? In the sea you can see the dramatic sea stacks jutting out from the water called Reynisdrangar. You will find many photographers setting up their camera equipment to try and capture the amazing views from this beach. We hope you enjoy our iPhone photos, but recommend going in person to see it for yourself!
We planned to end Day 1 with camping in Vik, but due to inclement weather we decided to book an AirBnB for the night. The last minute reservation did not come cheap ($128 USD), but it was a great place to take a warm shower and sleep after spending a night on a plane and a whole day adventuring. Check out the Hvammból Guesthouse conveniently located in between Dyrholaey and Reynisfjara. (They have luxurious heated bathroom floors!)
Chris enjoying the views on Reynisfjara. Dramatic sea stacks in the ocean called Reynisdrangar.
Day 2 – Vik to Skatafell (with a stop at Glacier Lagoon)
Day two is another jam packed day in our itinerary! Since we didn’t camp in Vik we had to wake up early and drive there. Our first stop in Vik was the church which offers a great view of the town. We took a few photos and then drove down to the beach. We spent some time walking along the black sand, enjoying views of Reynisdrangar in the distance.
View from the church overlooking Vik Meg walking on the beach in Vik
Day 2 Overview:
- Vik – Church, Black Sand Beach, & Gas
- Hjörleifshöfði – Large rock formation with hike to Viking burial site
- Eldhraun Lava Field – Unique terrain created by the largest volcano eruption of all time
- Kirkjugolf – Basalt columns
- Foss a Sidu – Waterfall where the wind moves water everywhere
- Lómagnúpur – Large Mountain, a natural wonder of Iceland
- Fjallsarlon – Less popular glacier lagoon, but worth a stop!
- Jökulsárlón – Glacier Lagoon (the famous one)
- Skatafell National Park – Campground – hike to Svartifoss
Total Driving Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Hjörleifshöfði
Located right outside of Vik, Hjörleifshöfði is a large standalone mountain surrounded by black sand beach. You can’t miss it as there is nothing else around. The mountain is named Hjörleifur Hróðmarsson, after the brother of the first settler of Iceland. Hjörleifur’s grave dates back to 875 A.D and is located at the top of the mountain. He was killed by his slaves after only a year of living in Iceland. Locals say the mountain is haunted as it is believed Hjörleifur seeks revenge on the slaves that killed him.
Even with this dark history, it is a beautiful hike and it will get your heart pumping. From the small parking area, we followed the trail through bright purple wildflowers. The trail gets steep quickly. Wear a jacket as it can get quite windy at the top of the flat mountain. After 30 minutes, we reached the grave and signed the guestbook. We continued to follow the loop trail back down to the car. You will pass the ruins of an old farmhouse on the way back. This hike is a fun, 90 minute pit stop to add to your drive along Route 1.
Top of Hjörleifshöfði Beautiful wildflowers along the hike.
Kirkjugolf
Located just past the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur (small town, long name), Kirkjugolf is a naturally created rock formation of basalt columns. The rocks are smoothed down and cemented with moss, they were at one time mistaken to be a church floor.
Foss a Sidu
After viewing Kirkjugolf, we turned back onto Route 1 and about 6 miles later we discovered the “waterfall where wind takes the water everywhere”. There are many waterfalls along Route 1 and while this one may not be the largest or the tallest, it is charming. We pulled off the road into a parking area and captured a few photos.
Lómagnúpur
Lómagnúpur Mountain is one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, though there isn’t a designated parking lot to view the mountain. With cliffs over 2,000 ft high, the mountain can be seen from several places along the ring road. Get your camera ready, this is an impressive natural wonder not to be missed.
View of Kirkjugolf rock formation Foss a Sidu Waterfall Eldhraun Lava Field area
Fjallsarlon
This glacier lagoon used to be overshadowed by the well-known Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, but Fjallsarlon now has its own restaurant and boat tour company. Bring extra layers as the weather near the lagoon can drastically change from the parking area.
Jökulsárlón
Jökulsárlón is the glacier lagoon of all glacier lagoons. The large lagoon is filled with awe-inspiring vibrant blue icebergs. We recommend soaking in this view for a while if you have the time. You can also sign up to take a glacier lagoon boat tour. We didn’t do one of the tours, but it looked like fun!
Fjallsarlon is the ‘smaller’ glacier lagoon. Jökulsárlón is a large and impressive glacier lagoon.
Skatafell National Park
A perfect campsite to end day two. The tent area is wide open with grass and plenty of room to separate from other campers. There is a well marked and steep hike to a waterfall called Svartifoss. We traveled in the summer and with the midnight sun on our side, we couldn’t think of a better way to end the day than with a midnight hike!
View on the way to the Svartifoss Close up of Svartifoss
Day 3 – Skatafell National Park to Thingvellir National Park
Day three started with a half day glacier hike. Skatafell National Park also happened to be the home office of the Glacier Guides tour company. In the morning we packed up our tent, ate breakfast, and leisurely walked to the meeting point for our 5.5 hour glacier hike.
Day 3 Overview:
- Glacier Hike on Falljökull Glacier
- Drive to Golden Circle
- Stop at Kerið
- Camp at Thingvellir National Park
Total Driving Time: 4 hours
Glacier Hike on Falljökull Glacier
We had an excellent experience on our glacier hike with Glacier Guides. Upon arrival we were presented with our gear: a helmet, ice pick, and crampons. Be sure to wear sturdy hiking boots and warm clothing. This was my first experience walking with crampons, so I suggest wear gaiters or pants that you won’t mind ripping in case your pants catch on the spike of the crampons while walking.
The experience of stepping onto a glacier for the first time was unforgettable. During the hike we walked through crevices in the ice and trekked to a large ice wall. We saw first hand the strength and life of the glacier. It can shift at any time so we kept our eyes peeled for any falling ice from the massive ice wall.
Pack your own snacks on the tour as it is a long hike! After an amazing experience we were back in the car for a four hour drive to Thingvellir National Park. Iceland is incredible because after half a day on a glacier you would think the rest of the trip would par in comparison, but we still had stunning sites to see ahead of us!
Chris during glacier hike The incredible ice wall of Falljökull glacier Our small hiking group Showing off our glacier hike gear!
Kerið
We followed Route 1 back in the direction we had driven the two days before, we veered off after passing Selfoss and took Route 35 to a large Volcanic Crater called Kerið. From our glacier hike this drive was 3.5 hours long but worth it to keep exploring as much as possible in a 5 day iceland itinerary. Kerið is one of the many touristy stops along the Golden Circle. There is a small fee to enter, but it is worth it. Walk around both the top and bottom of the crater. This stunning crater was originally a cone volcano that erupted and collapsed into itself.
Thingvellir National Park
After leaving Kerið we cut across the normal Golden Circle tourist route to go straight to Thingvellir National Park where we would camp for the night. There are two areas within the park where camping is allowed: Leirar and Vatnskot. We first stopped at Vatnskot, but realized we couldn’t purchase a camping permit there so we drove to the information center. After purchasing our permit, we decided to camp at Leirar since it was located next to the information center.
Initially, we were worried that we wouldn’t make it to the center before closing to purchase a camping permit. We learned it’s okay to arrive late and pay for your permit in the morning. Camping costs 1400 ISK or $13USD per person and there were free showers available at Leirar.
Day 4 – Golden Circle to Gjáin to Reykjavik
This day was devoted to exploring the Golden Circle and going on an adventure to see Gjáin, credited to be the most beautiful place in Iceland.
Day 4 Overview:
- Thingvellir National Park hike to Oxarafoss Waterfall
- Geyser Area
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Faxi Waterfall
- Gjáin – the most beautiful place in Iceland
- Drive to Reykjavik
Total Driving Time: 4 hours 20 mins
Oxarafoss Waterfall Hike
After packing up our camp, we decided to do a quick hike in Thingvellir National Park before leaving. We hiked to Oxarafoss Waterfall and along the hike we were able to walk in-between two continents, Europe and North America! How neat?! This is an easy hike and we recommended it to everyone!
We walked in-between two continents to reach this waterfall! View from Thingvellier National Park
Geyser Area
Following the Golden Circle route, you will reach the geyser area, a geothermal park with hissing steam vents, sulfurous mud puddles, and famous geysers! Strokkur geyser, may be the most famous geyser as it erupts every 6-10 minutes. Many people will wait and watch until it erupts for the perfect photo or video. You can also see the mysterious Great Geyser. The Great Geyser used spout regularly until 1916 when it completely stopped. It is unknown if the silence of the Great Geyser is temporary or permanent.
Gullfoss Waterfall
Walking towards this thunderous waterfall, it is impossible to not feel energized and excited. Hold on to your hats as the wind is fierce and Chris almost lost his hat!
Faxi Waterfall
After seeing the tremendous Gullfoss waterfall, the nearby Faxi Waterfall will likely be underwhelming. But chasing waterfalls is a priority in our ultimate Iceland itinerary so we recommend a quick stop here!
Thunderous Gullfoss Faxi waterfall Erupting Strokkur geyer
Gjáin
We turned off of the touristy Golden Circle and followed our map to a secluded fairytale place called Gjáin. This oasis is claimed to be the most beautiful place in Iceland and we couldn’t agree more. Check out our experience and tips for finding this hidden gem in our blog post: Gjáin- the most beautiful place in Iceland.
Looks like a fairytale land! Icelandic Horses passed us while walking to Gjáin
Day 4 ended with a two-hour drive to our campsite at Lava Hostel in Reykjavik.
Day 5 – Explore Reykjavik and Return to Keflavik Airport
The final day in our Iceland itinerary was dedicated to exploring the capital city, Reykjavik. We packed up our campsite for the final time and drove our rental car into the city. We found free parking on a side street near the National Museum of Iceland. Parking was easy to find and affordable compared to most things in Iceland.
Day 5 Overview:
- Harpa Concert Hall
- Sun Voyager Sculpture
- Hallgrímskirkja
- National Museum of Iceland
- Drive back to the airport 🙁
Total Driving Time: 1 hour
Harpa Concert Hall
This building will draw you in with its unique architecture and ever-changing colors depending on the sun reflection. The glass facade is inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland.
Sun Voyager Sculpture
Walking along the water from Harpa Concert Hall you will find the Solar Sculpture, also known as Sun Voyager. This cool sculpture looks like a viking ship and is an ode to the sun.
Hallgrímskirkja
A Lutheran Church and one of the most notable landmarks of Reykjavik. It is free to explore the inside of the church, but we also recommend paying to take the elevator to the top. A great place for traditional cuisine is Cafe Loki, located right across the street from the church.
Outside of Harpa Concert Hall Hallgrímskirkja Sun Voyager Scuplture View from the top of Hallgrímskirkja
National Museum of Iceland
After exploring the dramatic scenery that Iceland has to offer, visiting the National Museum of Iceland is a great way to learn more about the people of Iceland. The museum spans from the medieval days of viking settlers to current culture. Admission costs 2000 ISK or 19 USD.
After a few hours exploring Reykjavik our amazing 5-days in Iceland had come to an end. It was time to drive back to the airport, return our rental car, and fly back home. We hope you enjoyed this Ultimate 5-day Iceland itinerary. Don’t forget to check out Iceland Tips & Tricks all of our money saving tips and lessons learned from our adventure!
