Route Overview
Ten days in Iceland gives you enough time to drive the full Ring Road at a comfortable pace while adding two of the country's best detours: the Golden Circle and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This itinerary covers roughly 2,500 kilometres of driving and visits every major region, from the geothermal south to the dramatic fjords of the east, the volcanic landscapes around Lake Myvatn, and the charming fishing towns of the north.
The route follows Route 1 counterclockwise, starting with the Golden Circle on Day 2 before heading east along the South Coast. You then continue through the East Fjords to the Myvatn area, across the north to Akureyri, and loop back via the Snaefellsnes Peninsula before returning to Reykjavik. This direction puts the afternoon sun behind you for most of the drive and saves some of the most photogenic scenery for the final days.
With 10 days, you are not rushing. Most driving days are under four hours, leaving generous time for hikes, hot springs, detours, and simply absorbing the landscape. This is the ideal itinerary for a first comprehensive trip to Iceland, covering the vast majority of the country's iconic attractions while still allowing flexibility for weather delays and spontaneous discoveries.
Day 1: Arrival & Reykjavik
Most international flights land at Keflavik Airport in the morning or early afternoon. Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive the 45 minutes to Reykjavik. Resist the temptation to start driving the Ring Road immediately -- use this day to shake off jet lag, adjust to the time zone, and explore Iceland's compact capital city.
Start with Hallgrimskirkja, the landmark church whose tower offers the best panoramic view of the city and surrounding mountains. Walk down Skolavordustigur to the colorful downtown streets, browse the shops on Laugavegur, and visit Harpa Concert Hall on the waterfront for its spectacular glass architecture. The Old Harbour area is worth exploring for its restaurants, whale-watching boats, and views across Faxafloi Bay.
For dinner, Reykjavik's restaurant scene punches well above its weight for a city of 130,000. You will find everything from traditional Icelandic lamb soup to creative Nordic cuisine and excellent seafood. If you want to save money, the Bonus and Kronan supermarkets near downtown are great for stocking up on supplies for the road ahead.
Day 2: Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is Iceland's most popular day-trip route, and for good reason. The 300-kilometre loop from Reykjavik takes you through three of Iceland's most significant natural sites, each entirely different from the last. Leave Reykjavik by 8:00 to beat the tour buses and you will have a much more peaceful experience at each stop.
Begin at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are visibly pulling apart. The rift valley here is both geologically stunning and historically significant -- Iceland's parliament, the Althing, was founded at this exact spot in 930 AD. Next, drive to the Geysir geothermal area where Strokkur erupts every five to ten minutes, shooting a column of boiling water up to 30 metres into the air. From there, continue to Gullfoss, a massive two-tiered waterfall that thunders into a deep canyon with extraordinary force.
On the return leg, consider a stop at the Secret Lagoon in Fludir, a natural hot spring pool that is less crowded and more affordable than the Blue Lagoon. Continue south to Selfoss for the night -- it is a practical overnight base with good supermarkets, restaurants, and accommodation options, and it positions you perfectly for the South Coast the following morning.
Day 3: South Coast West
From Selfoss, head east along Route 1 into the heart of Iceland's famous South Coast. Within an hour you reach Seljalandsfoss, a 60-metre waterfall with a path that loops behind the cascade. Bring a waterproof jacket -- you will get drenched. Just around the corner, the hidden waterfall Gljufrabui is tucked inside a narrow canyon and well worth the short walk. Continue 25 minutes to Skogafoss, an enormous wall of water that crashes onto a flat plain. Climb the staircase beside the falls for a stunning view from the top.
After Skogafoss, drive to Reynisfjara, Iceland's most famous black sand beach. The hexagonal basalt columns and Reynisdrangar sea stacks create a dramatic scene, but this beach is genuinely dangerous. Sneaker waves surge far up the sand without warning and have killed visitors. Never turn your back on the ocean and stay well back from the waterline at all times. The warning signs are there for a reason.
Finish the day in the village of Vik, the southernmost settlement in Iceland with about 300 residents. Vik sits beneath Myrdalsjokull glacier and the Katla volcano, and its hilltop church offers one of the best viewpoints on the entire South Coast. Stock up on fuel and supplies here -- services are sparse further east.
Day 4: South Coast East
Leave Vik and drive east across the vast glacial outwash plains, some of the most otherworldly landscapes in Iceland. The flat black sand stretches to the horizon, broken only by braided rivers and the white tongue of Myrdalsjokull in the distance. Stop at Skaftafell, a green oasis within Vatnajokull National Park, where you can hike to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall surrounded by dark basalt columns. Allow about 90 minutes for the return hike.
Continue east to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, where enormous icebergs calve off the Breidamerkurjokull glacier tongue and float slowly toward the Atlantic. The lagoon is deep, cold, and mesmerising. Seals often rest on the floating ice. In summer, zodiac boat tours take you among the icebergs for a closer look. Directly across the road, Diamond Beach presents chunks of glacial ice scattered across jet-black sand, glistening like enormous jewels in the sunlight.
Drive on to Hofn for the night. This fishing town of about 2,200 people is famous for its langoustine -- treat yourself to a langoustine soup or tail dish at one of the local restaurants. Hofn also serves as the main gateway to the southeast corner of Vatnajokull National Park and has good accommodation options, though you should book well in advance for summer.
Day 5: East Fjords
The East Fjords are the most underrated region of Iceland. The drive from Hofn to Egilsstadir covers about 260 kilometres of winding coastal roads that cut in and out of narrow fjords, passing tiny fishing villages, dramatic mountain passes, and stretches of coastline where you may not see another car for an hour. This is Iceland at its most remote and peaceful.
Stop in Djupivogur, a charming village of 450 people with a picturesque harbour and the unusual Eggin i Gledivik outdoor sculpture -- 34 oversized granite eggs representing local bird species lined up along the shore. Further north, detour to Seydisfjordur if the weather is clear. This tiny town at the end of a dramatic mountain road is one of Iceland's most photogenic settlements, with colorful wooden houses, a blue church, and a thriving arts community. The 25-kilometre mountain pass to get there is steep and winding but spectacular.
End the day in Egilsstadir, the largest town in eastern Iceland with about 2,500 people. It serves as the regional service hub with supermarkets, fuel stations, and a range of accommodation. The town sits on the shore of Lagarfljot, a long narrow lake that local legend claims is home to a serpent-like creature similar to Scotland's Loch Ness monster.
Day 6: Myvatn Area
Drive northwest from Egilsstadir to Lake Myvatn, one of Iceland's most geothermally active and ecologically diverse areas. The drive takes about two hours through highland valleys and the moonscape terrain around Modrudalur, one of Iceland's highest inhabited farms. Lake Myvatn itself is a shallow, nutrient-rich lake surrounded by volcanic craters, lava formations, and steaming vents.
Spend the day exploring the area's highlights. Dimmuborgir is a labyrinth of twisted lava pillars and arches formed by a collapsed lava tube system -- walking through it feels like entering a dark volcanic fortress. The Skutustadagigar pseudocraters on the south shore of the lake were formed by steam explosions rather than volcanic eruptions and are beautifully photogenic. Hverfjall, a massive 1,000-year-old tephra crater, offers a 45-minute hike to the rim with panoramic views of the entire Myvatn basin.
End the day with a soak in the Myvatn Nature Baths, a geothermal pool overlooking the lake that is far less crowded and more affordable than the Blue Lagoon. If you have energy remaining, drive to the Krafla volcanic area to see the Viti explosion crater and the steaming, sulfurous landscape of Namafjall. Overnight in the Myvatn area, where guesthouses and small hotels are scattered around the lake.
Day 7: North Iceland
Head west from Myvatn toward Akureyri, stopping first at Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods. According to Icelandic lore, when Iceland officially converted to Christianity in the year 1000, the lawspeaker threw his pagan idols into this waterfall. It is a wide, horseshoe-shaped cascade that is particularly photogenic in any season. The viewing platforms on both sides of the river offer different perspectives.
Continue to Akureyri, the capital of north Iceland with about 19,000 residents. Often called the Capital of the North, Akureyri has a surprisingly cosmopolitan feel for its size, with excellent restaurants, a lively cultural scene, and one of the world's northernmost botanical gardens. Stroll the pedestrian-friendly downtown, visit the striking Akureyri Church, and enjoy an ice cream from Brynja, a beloved local institution since 1939.
If time allows, take a short drive to Dalvik, a fishing village 40 minutes north of Akureyri at the edge of Eyjafjordur, Iceland's longest fjord. Dalvik is known for whale watching -- humpback whales are frequently spotted in the fjord during summer -- and the annual Great Fish Day festival. Return to Akureyri for a comfortable overnight with the widest choice of dining and accommodation in the north.
Day 8: Northwest
Leave Akureyri and drive west along Route 1 through the broad valleys and rolling farmland of northern Iceland. This is a transition day with longer driving stretches but rewarding stops along the way. The landscape shifts from the dramatic volcanic terrain of the northeast to the gentler green pastures of the northwest, dotted with Icelandic horses and grazing sheep.
Detour north to the Vatnsnes Peninsula for two highlights. Hvitserkur is a 15-metre basalt rock stack rising from the sea that resembles a drinking dragon or rhinoceros, depending on your imagination. It is best viewed from the cliff above at low tide. Further around the peninsula, the Vatnsnes seal colony is one of the best places in Iceland to observe harbour seals and grey seals in their natural habitat. A viewing platform makes it easy to watch them basking on the rocks without disturbing them.
Continue west through Blonduos, a small town on the Blanda River with fuel and basic services. Depending on your energy, push on to somewhere in the Snaefellsnes area or find accommodation in the Hrutafjordur or Borgarfjordur region. The goal is to position yourself for a full day on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula tomorrow without a long morning drive.
Day 9: Snaefellsnes
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is often called Iceland in Miniature because it packs glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, sea cliffs, beaches, and fishing villages into a single 90-kilometre stretch of land. This is many travellers' favourite day of the entire trip. The peninsula is dominated by Snaefellsjokull, a glacier-capped stratovolcano that Jules Verne chose as the entrance to the centre of the Earth in his 1864 novel.
Start at Kirkjufell, near the town of Grundarfjordur. This distinctively shaped mountain is the most photographed peak in Iceland, particularly when framed with the small Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in the foreground. Drive the peninsula's coastal road to Snaefellsjokull National Park, where you can hike on lava fields, explore sea caves at Vatnshellir, and walk the dramatic coastline at Arnarstapi, where natural stone arches and basalt formations frame crashing waves.
Do not miss Budir, a tiny hamlet with a famous black church (Budakirkja) set against a backdrop of golden lava fields and the Snaefellsjokull glacier. The light here is extraordinary, especially in the late afternoon. If time allows, visit Djupalonssandur, a pebble beach with fascinating rock formations and rusted wreckage from a British trawler that sank in 1948. Overnight on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to soak in the atmosphere -- accommodation here books out fast in summer, so plan ahead.
Day 10: Return & Departure
From Snaefellsnes, the drive back to Reykjavik takes about two and a half hours via Route 54 and Route 1. If your flight departs in the evening, you have time for a relaxed morning on the peninsula before heading south. The drive passes through the Borgarfjordur region, where you could stop at Hraunfossar, a series of rivulets streaming through a lava field into the Hvita River, and nearby Barnafoss.
Back in Reykjavik, use any remaining time for last-minute shopping on Laugavegur or picking up Icelandic woolens, chocolate, or craft spirits as souvenirs. If you need to return the rental car at Keflavik Airport, allow at least 45 minutes for the drive from Reykjavik, plus time for the car return process and airport check-in.
For evening flights, many travellers squeeze in a visit to the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon on the Reykjanes Peninsula, both of which are near the airport. Book in advance -- walk-ins are rarely available. Either makes a fitting final experience before flying out, letting you reflect on 10 days of landscapes that have no equivalent anywhere else on Earth.
Practical Tips
Booking timeline matters enormously for a 10-day Iceland trip. Reserve your rental car and accommodation at least three months ahead for summer travel, and even earlier for the peak weeks in July. Small towns like Hofn, Myvatn, and Seydisfjordur have limited rooms, and once they are full, the nearest alternatives can be an hour or more away. Campsite reservations are less critical but still recommended for popular spots.
Choose your rental car carefully. A standard 2WD is sufficient for the paved Ring Road in summer, but if you plan detours to Highlands roads or are travelling in shoulder season, a 4x4 is essential. Consider a vehicle with good ground clearance regardless -- gravel roads are common on detours, and river crossings exist on some secondary routes. Book through a reputable Icelandic rental company and add gravel protection and sand-and-ash insurance, which are Iceland-specific coverages that generic travel insurance rarely includes.
Build weather buffers into your itinerary. Iceland's weather is famously unpredictable, and storms can close roads without notice, particularly in the north and east. Having flexible days or the willingness to swap the order of your stops can save the trip when conditions deteriorate. Check road.is for road conditions and vedur.is for weather forecasts every morning before setting out.
Stay on Track with SkyRoad
Follow this 10-day route in SkyRoad with live road conditions and get real-time alerts for closures, weather changes, and hazards along the way.
Budget Breakdown
Accommodation is the largest expense for most travellers. Budget guesthouses and hostels run 12,000-20,000 ISK per night, mid-range hotels 25,000-40,000 ISK, and premium options can exceed 50,000 ISK. Camping slashes this cost to 1,500-2,500 ISK per person per night at designated campsites. Over nine nights, accommodation alone ranges from roughly 110,000-360,000 ISK depending on your style.
Food costs add up quickly in Iceland. Restaurant meals average 3,000-6,000 ISK for mains, and even a simple cafe lunch runs 2,000-3,000 ISK. Cooking your own meals with supermarket groceries reduces food costs by half or more. Fuel for the full 2,500-kilometre route costs approximately 40,000-55,000 ISK depending on your vehicle and fuel prices. Activities vary widely -- most waterfalls, beaches, and viewpoints are free, but glacier hikes (15,000-25,000 ISK), ice cave tours (20,000-30,000 ISK), and hot springs (3,000-7,000 ISK) add up.
A realistic total budget for 10 days ranges from 300,000 ISK on the frugal end -- camping, self-catering, and limiting paid activities -- to 600,000 ISK or more with hotels, restaurant meals, and several tours. In USD, that translates to roughly $2,200-$4,400 per person. The most effective way to control costs without sacrificing the experience is a mix of guesthouse stays and self-catered meals, with selective splurges on one or two activities that truly interest you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 days enough to see all of Iceland?
Ten days covers the full Ring Road and major detours comfortably. You'll miss the Westfjords and Highlands but see the vast majority of Iceland's top attractions at a relaxed pace.
What's the best time for a 10-day trip?
Late June to mid-August for the best weather and all roads open. Early September offers autumn colors with fewer crowds. Avoid winter for a Ring Road trip as northern roads may close.
Do I need a 4x4 for this route?
In summer, a 2WD handles the paved Ring Road. A 4x4 is essential for Highlands detours and recommended in shoulder seasons. Winter always requires a 4x4.
How much does 10 days in Iceland cost?
Plan for 300,000-600,000 ISK ($2,200-$4,400 USD) per person covering accommodation, food, fuel, and activities. Camping drops costs by 30-40%.
Should I book accommodation in advance?
Absolutely for summer. Small towns like Hofn, Myvatn, and Seydisfjordur have very few rooms. Book 3+ months ahead for peak summer.
Can I modify this itinerary?
Yes. Common swaps include adding Westfjords (needs 2 extra days), spending more time in the north, or skipping Snaefellsnes if short on time.
What happens if roads close?
The SkyRoad app monitors road conditions in real-time. Have backup plans for each day. The north and east are most prone to closures in shoulder season.
