7-Day Itinerary
The Complete Ring Road Circuit
The complete Ring Road circuit
Total Distance1,332 km
Days7
DifficultyModerate
Day-by-Day
Every stop, every drive, every overnight
Day
1
1
1
Day 1
Overnight: Selfoss
Start here
Reykjavík — Golden Circle
- Stand at the rift between North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at Þingvellir
- Watch Strokkur erupt every 5–10 minutes at the Geysir geothermal field
- Marvel at Gullfoss — the golden falls — dropping into a dramatic canyon
- Stop at Kerið volcanic crater lake on the return south
Overnight: Selfoss
Day
2
2
2
Day 2
Overnight: Vík
Drive: 120 km from Selfoss
South Coast Waterfalls
- Duck behind Seljalandsfoss — one of the few waterfalls you can walk behind
- Climb the 527 steps beside Skógafoss for a ridge trail into the highlands
- Walk Reynisfjara black sand beach and see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks
- Visit Dyrhólaey arch for puffin spotting and dramatic coastal views
Overnight: Vík
Day
3
3
3
Day 3
Overnight: Höfn
Drive: 200 km from Vík
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Boat among calving icebergs on Jökulsárlón — Iceland's deepest lake
- Walk Diamond Beach where translucent icebergs wash up on black volcanic sand
- Explore the Skaftafell nature reserve and hike to Svartifoss waterfall
- Photograph the golden hour light on the glacial tongue from the lagoon bridge
Overnight: Höfn
Day
4
4
4
Day 4
Overnight: Egilsstaðir
Drive: 150 km from Höfn
East Fjords Drive
- Drive the winding fjord road — one of Europe's most dramatic coastal routes
- Walk the rainbow street in Seyðisfjörður and visit the historic ferry terminal
- See the Eggs of Merry Bay sculpture installation at Djúpivogur harbour
- Spot reindeer grazing in the valleys between fjords
Overnight: Egilsstaðir
Day
5
5
5
Day 5
Overnight: Húsavík
Drive: 280 km from Egilsstaðir
North — Mývatn & Dettifoss
- Stand at Dettifoss — Europe's most powerful waterfall, fed by glacial meltwater
- Walk the rim of Ásbyrgi canyon, a horseshoe-shaped chasm from an ancient flood
- Explore Dimmuborgir's otherworldly lava formations beside Lake Mývatn
- Soak in Mývatn Nature Baths as the sun dips low over the lake
Overnight: Húsavík
Day
6
6
6
Day 6
Overnight: Borgarnes
Drive: 300 km from Húsavík
Akureyri & West
- Watch Goðafoss — the waterfall where chieftain Þorgeir cast his Norse idols in 999 AD
- Stroll Akureyri's botanical garden and browse the colourful main street
- Drive west past Vatnsnes peninsula for seal-spotting at Hvítserkur sea stack
- Cross the Holtavörðuheiði heath and arrive in west Iceland before dark
Overnight: Borgarnes
Day
7
7
7
Day 7
Drive: 190 km from Borgarnes
Snæfellsnes → Reykjavík
- Gaze at Kirkjufell — the arrow-shaped mountain Jules Verne made famous
- Stand at the tip of Snæfellsnes beneath the Snæfellsjökull glacier — start of Jules Verne's journey to the center of the Earth
- Walk the Djúpalónssandur pebble beach and lift the fisherman's strength stones
- Return to Reykjavík along the scenic coastal road for a final evening in the city
Return to Reykjavík
Good to Know
Book accommodation early
Reserve beds 3–6 months ahead for summer travel (June–August). Quality guesthouses sell out fast, especially in Vík and Höfn.
Download SkyRoad for road alerts
Get real-time alerts on closed roads, icy conditions, and volcanic hazards — straight from Icelandic authorities — before you set off each morning.
Check road.is daily
Iceland's official road authority posts live closures and condition updates. A 5-second check every morning can save you hours of backtracking.
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