Y
ou’ll notice that for each day we indicate the main attractions and the additional ones. The intention is that you focus on the key spots, and add the extras according to your preferences and as time and weather permit.
This guide is for those who want to drive around Iceland and see all the key and most beautiful places in the shortest time possible.
The basic version is a 7-day self drive. If you’re travelling from one weekend to another you actually get up to 10 days or more (if one of the weekends is a long one). So we are also suggesting 5 ways in which you can extend the basic 7-day version to a maximum of 13 days.
Top places to see on a trip around Iceland
On a 7-day trip you can see all the most interesting attractions of Iceland. You’ll need to move rather fast, without dallying needlessly and you’ll still have to save some places for another trip. It is a great plan for your FIRST visit to Iceland, but rather not the ONLY visit 🙂
You will certainly see all 20 places from our Top 10 Places to See on Route 1 list. How come there’s 20 places on a top 10 list? Follow the link and see for yourself 🙂 (spoiler: there’s actually even more than 20 places there…)
The key attractions that you’ll get to see on this trip include: the so-called Golden Circle (including the famous Geysir and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in Thingvellir), black beaches, a few glaciers, the Diamond Beach and Jokulsalron bay, countless waterfalls and volcanoes (including the latest one – Fagradallsfjall), lava caves/tubes, geological wonders of Myvatn, the amazing Snaefellsnes peninsula and any number of hot springs.
With selected extensions you can also see the wonders or the Westfjords and find time to go whale watching. With this you’ll see practically all the key tourist attractions in Iceland outside of the interior. For visiting the spectacular interior you have to get a 4×4 car, come in the summer and (at best) follow our separate self drive guide exactly on that – LINK – route Z INTERIOREM
Is it difficult to go around Iceland in 7 days?
Iceland Ring Road (Route 1), which is the backbone of this itinerary, is 1336 km (830 miles) long. The route for our basic plan includes few ‘detours’ and is 2100 km (1300 miles) long in total. So on a 7-day trip you have about 300 km (200 miles) daily, on average. Of course some days (especially those in the south and west) will include a lot of stops, and less driving. The longest ‘stint’ you’ll do is Day 5 – from Reykjahlid in the North (Myvatn) to Grundarfjordur in Snaefellsness (West Iceland). It’s 450 km (280 miles) with just a couple of stops on the way.
So there is quite a lot of driving included if you want to go all around Iceland and since you want to see as much as possible, this plan is rather intensive. You can do it however on a slower pace as well. For that you’ll either have to accept that you’ll miss some of the not-top-spectacular spots or re-adjust the itinerary for 10 days (or even 14).
Y
ou’ll notice that for each day we indicate the main attractions and the additional ones. The intention is that you focus on the key spots, and add the extras according to your preferences and as time and weather permit.
If you want to see all the key and additional attractions indicated for each day, you best prepare to spend a minimum of 10 days and still be quick about it. That’s: get up early, “sleep fast” and don’t spend too much time soaking in the hot pools. To each their own 🙂
T
he basic version of the plan gives you a chance to see and get to know Iceland well. By adding 2 more days (whale watching and Westfjords) you will be able to see practically all the key tourist attractions in Iceland, outside of the interior.
Other extensions are designed for someone who’s already on their second trip to Iceland or someone who is not planning to ever return to this beautiful “island of fire and ice” and so wants to see literally everything (and has enough time for that).
At the same time even the basic route from this guide can be stretched out to last 2 weeks without getting boring. You’ll just cover more (or perhaps even all) of the additional attractions and have a chance to hang around some attractions for a bit longer, go to an extra hike or stay in hot pools for hours on end…
This itinerary is packed but it does allow a lot of flexibility. On one hand – in springtime a day in Iceland can last up to 20 hours, so if you are ready to get up early and stay on the road for long each day, you’ll get to see really a lot. On the other hand – bad weather can always strike with minimum warning, and it can happen that you catch a flat etc, so being flexible and reactive to what you can and want to see is very important.
It
is essential that you keep a lot of places on the “see if possible” list and leave the final fine-tuning for when you’re already on the road.
7-day route around Iceland – the overview
Your journey starts and ends at the Keflavik airport. The plan assumes that you’ll move anti-clockwise. This direction is better because right at the start (driving from Keflavik) you get to see many of the top and most famous places, which will – hopefully – let you appreciate the more low-key and demanding ones later on.
At the same time visiting Reykjavik and Snaefellsnes will be pushed towards the end of your trip, creating a great buffer in case you loose a day or two on the journey for any reason. And yes – visiting Reykjavik is absolutely optional and you don’t really loose much by skipping the city. Waterfalls, glaciers, gorges, black beaches and hot pools is what you want to see in Iceland. The capital’s museums and architecture shouldn’t be your top priority.
R
eykjavik is a cute city, but it’s NOT the top thing to see in Iceland and you don’t want to make it a priority. It’s best to leave it for the end of your trip, so that if you loose a day to any mishap or bad weather on your way, you can make it up by seeing the city in a “super-fast mode” or just skipping it altogether.
Detailed route and all the stops in Google Maps. Click anywhere on the map to activate it:
Map: A 7 to 13 Days Self Drive Itinerary Around Iceland.
The map uses separate layers to show all the key tourist attractions (orange markers), additional places to see (green), places to stay the night and do shopping (blue), attractions to see on the extra added days (gray) and the route itself. You can switch layers on and off in the slide-out menu on the left (click the icon in the top left corner). It’s very useful, actually 🙂
Add
the map to your Google profile by clicking the star right to its title. That’s the easiest way to have it at hand at anytime when you’re on the road.
Mobile networks work very well in all of Iceland (outside of the interior), so you can download the map above to your Google Account (tap the small star to the right of its title) and refer back to it at any point. However if you’d like to have a fully off-line version with you, just in case, please download the following high resolution JPEG file:
Full resolution 7 to 13 days self drive itinerary around Iceland (JPEG, 2.7 MB).
7-day trip around Iceland detailed intinerary
Day 1: arrival, Reykjanes
route: Keflavik – Grindavik [30 km; 20 miles]
main attractions: depending on the time of your arrival: visit Blue Lagoon (last entry at 9PM or 10 PM, depending on season) or view the attractions of Reykjanes (Hafnarberg, Sandvik, Krysuvik);
recommended accommodation:
- campsite Grindavik (Camping Card accepted)
- Lighthouse-Inn, V13 Guesthouse, Brimarsbrú sleep inn-art Gallery (the owner offers a transfer to/from the airport upon request);
- Aurora Hotel (right by the airport), Courtyard by Marriott;
extra tips:
- it is best to collect your car directly at the airport;
- shopping in Bonus in Keflavik (opening hours 10/11 till 18/19 depending on day of the week) or Netto in Grindavik (10-19);
- whatever you don’t see in Reykjanes on that day you can visit on your last day;
- the Fagradarsfjall volcano is not active anymore (since August 2022), so not really worth a visit;
- starting your sightseeing from Reykjavik really IS NOT a good idea (or rarely a good idea); it is best to leave it for last day of the trip;
Day 2: The Golden Circle
route: Grindavik – Golden Circle – Hella / Selfoss [approx. 350 km / 220 miles]
main attractions: Krysuvik, The National Park of Thingvellir, geysers Geysir and Strokkur, waterfalls Gullfoss and Haifoss;
additional attractions: lava tunnel Raufarholshellir, hot stream Reykjadalur, bread-baking in hot sand in Laugarvatn Fontana, volcano crater lake Kerid, the simming pool in Fludir (Secret Lagoon) or the hot spring Hrunalaug, the tomato restaurant Fridheimar, the area around Hekla volcano , caves in Hella;
recommended accommodation:
- the Gaddstadaflatir campsite in Hella (Camping Card accepted);
- Selfoss Hostel, Bakki Apartments & Hostel, South Central Guesthouse or Guesthouse Vatnsholt;
- Hotel Rangá, Afternoon Cottages;
extra tips:
- the most interesting hot springs along the way surely is Reykjadalur – admission is free, but it is about 45 minutes’ hike each way from/to the parking lot; the swimming pool in Laugarvatn Fontana offers top quality experience, while the one in Fludir is more regular but affordable and Hrunalaug is petite and picturesque but gets crowded often;
- don’t worry if you have to skip anything today (especially places south of Reykjavik and west of Selfoss) – you will be back in this area on your last day;
- an optional extra day: Vestmannaeyjar
Day 3: South coast
route: Hella – Hofn [approx. 370 km / 230 miles]
main attractions: waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui, Skogafoss and Svartifoss, puffins on the Dyrholaey peninsula, Reynisfjara beach, Fjadrargljufur canyon, the remnants of Skeidara bridge, Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon bay, Stokksnes at sunset;
additional attractions: the old swimming pool Seljavallalaug, glaciers Solheimajokull, Skaftafellsjokull and Svinafellsjokull, the wreck of a DC3 plane (Solheimasandur), the Hjörleifshöfði cave, Fjallsarlon bay, cruise on Jokulsarlon bay, Katla ice cave;
recommended accommodation:
- campsite at Hofn (Camping Card not accepted; no campsites that accept it in this area);
- in Hofn: Apotek Guesthouse, Höfn Inn Guesthouse, Guesthouse Dyngja or Höfn Hostel;
- around the city: Höfn Cottages, Sauðanes Guesthouse, Rauðaberg II;
- Hotel Höfn, Edda Höfn – Berjaya, Milk Factory hotel;
extra tips:
- you should try and visit at least one of the glaciers: see one up close, hear its noises; walking on glaciers is dangerous but, for instance, the path near Svinafellsjokull is quite safe and usually leads rather far, while with Skaftafellsjokull you can get the closest to its terminus (or snout);
- icebergs look best on Jokulsarlon, but the glacier terminus is much more powerful and visible on the Fjallsarlon bay;
- if you choose to go on a cruise on Jokulsarlon, it is worth paying extra for a Zodiac tour;
- Katla ice cave is absolutely spectacular and available for visits year-round. It’s just that the visit there consumes half a day and on a 7-day trip you can’t afford it. But it certainly is among the top things to add to your itinerary, if possible. In that case, book your tour here: Katla ice cave tour.
- optional extra day: trekking in Skaftafell
- Katla ice cave visit will take at least 3-4 hours out of your day, but is definitely worth it. It’s one of the top things to see in Iceland at all, so add it to your plan if you only can: Katla ice cave tour.
Day 4: Eastern region and Myvatn
route: Hofn – Reykjahlid [440 km / 275 miles by road 939; 500 km / 310 miles if 939 is not passable and/or you’re not driving a 4×4 (there’s a 17% incline zigzag fragment there)]
main attractions: cape Stokksnes, road 939 (zigzaging on a 17% gradient!), waterfalls Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss and Dettifoss and Selfoss, Myvatn region (m.in.: Myvatn hot pools, geothermal area of Leirhnjukur and Namafjall hverir, unusual volcano called Hverfjall, a huge lava field Dimmuborgir, pseudocraters Skutustadagigar);
additional attractions: Djúpavogskörin hot springs, swimming pool complex Vok Baths, Hafrahvammagljufur canyon, Studlagil canyon;
recommended accommodation:
- campsite in Myvatn (CC not accepted), campsite Heidarbaer (35 km north; CC not accepted);
- Hlíd Huts, Guesthouse Stöng, Árbót Hostel, Vestmannsvatn Guesthouse, Grímstunga Guesthouse;
- Berjaya Mývatn Hotel, Fosshótel Mývatn, Sel – Hótel Mývatn;
extra tips:
- road 939 shortens your drive by about 60 km / 40 miles and is a wonder in itself; it’s beauty however comes from it being a gravel road that zigzags in 180 degrees turns on a 17% incline, so a 4×4 drive is highly recommended;
- the Myvatn region is super interesting from a geological point of view and it is worth spending a bit more time there to look around; best leave visiting some of the attractions of the region for the following morning;
- optional extra day: whale watching tour from Husavik and a hike in Asbyrgi canyon
Day 5: North Coast
route: Reykjahlid – Grundarfjordur [450 km / 280 miles]
main attractions: waterfall Godafoss, church Vidimyrarkirkja, lava field Berserkjahraun, sunset over Kirkjufell
additional attractions: Glaumbaer open-air museum, Kolugljufur canyon, Borgarvirki basalt fortress, and a Hvitserkur basalt stack;
recommended accommodation:
- campsite in Grundarfjordur (right next to a hot pool);
- Guesthouse 43, Skjólsteinar, Kirkjufell Guesthouse, Grundarfjördur Hostel;
- Lysuholl bungalows, Dis Cottages, Hotel Stundarfridur, Kirkjufell Hotel;
extra tips:
- you can start the day by visiting the remaining attractions of Myvatn;
- to see all the extra attractions from the list above takes some 100 km / 80 miles more driving, but skipping them is not a big deal and it will increase your chances of seeing the amazing sunset over the Kirkjufell mountain in Grundarfjordur;
- optional extra day: Westfjords
Day 6: Snaefellsnes
route: Grundarfjordur – Husafell [300 km / 185 miles]
main attractions: Kirkjufell mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall, Dritvik Djúpalónssandur beach, cliffs in Arnarstapi, rock crevice Raudfeldsgja, church Budakirkja, wild seals in Ytri Tunga, hot spring Deildartunguhver (you can’t bath in this one, but Krauma SPA is right next to it);
additional attractions: Saxholl and Grabrok craters, Krauma SPA, waterfalls Hraunfossar and Braunarfossar and Bjarnarfoss, and caves: Surtshellir, Vatnshellir and Vidgelmir Cave;
recommended accommodation:
- campsite in Husafell (CC not accepted) or Varmaland (CC accepted);
- Fossatún Camping Pods, Guesthouse Gamli Baer, Guesthouse Steindórsstadir, Sumarhúsin Signýjarstöðum;
- Fosshótel Reykholt, Laekjarkot Rooms and Cottages, Hotel Hafnarfjall, Hotel Hamar;
extra tips:
- if you haven’t visited Raufarholshellir (and not planning to), it makes sense to go to one of the caves here: Vidgelmir is the top recommendation, followed by Vatnshellir and Surtshellir which is the only one with free, unguided access (make sure you have all the gear with you);
- Krauma SPA is rather small and exclusive, but worth the money; if you’re there outside of a weekend, it just might be your best relaxing hot pools experience on whole of Iceland;
- Deildartunguhver is one of the most powerful hot springs in Europe;
- optional extra: half-day hike to the Glymur waterfall;
Day 7: Reykjavik, Reykjanes, departure
route: Husafell – Reykjavik – Reykjanes – Keflavik (departure) [220 km / 135 miles]
main attractions: sightseeing in Reykjavik; interesting places near Grindavik (Krysuvik and Gunnuhver geothermal areas, Keilir mountain and Lambafellsgja fissure, the bridge between America and Europe, Hafnarberg cliffs); a farewell dip in Blue Lagoon or the hot stream Reykjadalur;
extra tips:
- if you fly out really late (or the following day) and get up early, you can combine a trip to Glymur and some short sightseeing in Reykjavik. This is the best, albeit packed, way to spend this day;
The first things to add or skip
A week is really barely enough to see Iceland properly. A longer trip (around 10 days) may ultimately be not that much more expensive, and the benefit is that you will experience less time pressure and see more of Iceland.
It
is really tough to remove anything from this 7-day itinerary. If you want to see Iceland in 3 to 5 days, you have to abandon the idea of doing a loop around the country and choose a shorter southern or western route instead. See our separate guide for that here: 3 to 5 days self drive in Iceland LINK
When it comes to adding things to the 7-day itinerary: this is rather easy. All the “extensions” are marked on the map and described under individual days.
If you want to take advantage of the long days to see 10 days’ worth of attractions in 7 days or to cover a 13-day plan in 10 days, it is very much possible too, though you’ll probably have to modify your accommodation. In this approach campsites (and so an RV or a campervan) are really convenient, because you don’t need to book anything in advance and you can be flexible about where to stop for the night, depending on how the day went and what the weather permitted.
Places worth adding to your itinerary
If you have one or more extra days to spend in Iceland, add one of the following options to your plan. In the itinerary described above these options are indicated in the order of your progress, but below we have ranked them in the order of their appeal (a subjective ranking list):
- Katla Ice Cave
glaciers are a distinct element of Icelandic landscape and (together with volcanoes) a top phenomena responsible for what Iceland is. And ice caves inside those glaciers are things of exceptional beauty. The #1 ice caves, near Jokulsarlon bay, are only available for visits in the wintertime, but those near Katla you can visit any month. They are spectacular and absolutely worth a visit, but in reality seeing them takes a minimum of 4 hours out of your day. If you decide for a tour, they start in Vik and you can book yours here: Katla ice cave tour.
Katla ice cave
You can also read our in-depth guide to ice caves on Iceland here: LINK – ice caves. - Husavik and Asbyrgi
– a whale watching tour from Husavik is one of Iceland’s absolute top activities to do; always worth it, so worth it!
– makes sure to call the tour operator at least 2 days in advance to confirm whether all the tours are happening according to schedule and whether they recommend for you to come one day earlier or later than you originally planned;
– in Asbyrgi a breathtaking enormous canyon awaits you with several hiking trails;
– if you choose to add an extra day, surely you’ll manage to see Dettifoss waterfall from both sides; the discussion about which side does the waterfall more justice is as old as Iceland itself… - Westfjords
– a beautiful wild area with a few top tourist attractions: What to see in Westfjords;
– on the way back you may want to book a ferry ride from Brjanslaekur to Stykkisholmur; - trekking to the Glymur waterfall
– a beautiful waterfall with a picturesque trail leading to it: Glymur – Iceland’s tallest waterfall accessible on foot;
– it is the second tallest waterfall in Iceland;
– it’s a 4-hour hike, remember to bring snacks (water is abundant along the way); - trekking in Skaftafell
– there are many trails, one, for instance, allows you to see Iceland’s tallest waterfall – Morsárfoss;
– details of all the routes in a separate article about Skaftafell and Svartifoss; - Vestmannaeyjar archipelago
– an island with interesting geology, south of the main island of Iceland: Vestmannaeyjar – islands near the South Coast of Iceland;
– it is worth it, but only if it is your third visit to Iceland, for instance, or you are going for 2 weeks and you have managed to find the time for all the extras from the list above;
Places you can skip if you have to
If you need to make it in 6 days, I believe that you’ll lose the least by removing one of the following things:
- sightseeing in Reykjavik
– Hallgrimskirkja is in fact the only place that is really and truly worth seeing in Reykjavik, but I am sure you know it already from various photographs;
– you may want to try to drive into the city center for a brief moment, leave the car in the parking lot near the church and take a short walk around and in nearby streets; you can sit for a while in Cafe Loki, have a taste of Hakarl and this way in an hour or two you’ll have felt at least the very essence of Reykjavik; - Snaefellsnes peninsula
To be absolutely clear: Snaefellsnes is definitely NOT worth skipping. Kirkjufell, Budakirkja, Raudfeldsgja and Ytri Tunga are really top tourist attractions of Iceland. However, if you genuinely have to “cut out” one day from your plan, skipping the peninsula is quite simply the only option;
Top things to consider when planning a self drive around Iceland
When is the best time for a self drive around Iceland
A week-long (or slightly longer) tour around Iceland is a great plan for late spring – in May-June. The days are long, temperatures (relatively) high, campsites are already open for visitors but still there are fewer tourists than in the summer months. Additionally, the prices are relatively low (especially car rental, which is the better portion of the total cost).
Be careful with your expectations towards weather, though. May is considered a warm month on Iceland, because on average the maximum day temperatures are just above 10 °C (10,2 °C to be precise, so 50.4 °F) and only on less then a fifth (17.5%) of the days the temperature does not go above 8 °C (46.4 °F). You may also notice that very few days (less than 3%) offer a temperature above 16 °C (60.8 °F), and a similar amount does not even exceed 6 °C (42.8 °F). And these all are the maximum day temperatures, so in popular terms: it’s not overly warm. See it all on the graph below.
Day temperatures in May (percentage distribution for Reykjavik, Iceland, 2000-2022)
You can make this tour in summer, too. The downsides will be that car rental prices will be significantly higher, just as hotels and hostels (and you have to book them well in advance for summer) and also – there will be a lot of tourist at each and every stop. But the weather will be nicer too (i.e. really slim chances of snow). And if you travel in a 4×4 vehicle, you might choose to add some amazing places from the interior to your travel plan. They will add days to the itinerary, but some of them are really spectacular. In that case however, you probably want to follow our separate guide: LINK do Plan na interior 14 dni itd.
Day temperatures in July (percentage distribution for Reykjavik, Iceland, 2000-2022)
In winter Iceland can be amazing, but also dangerous, perhaps especially so in the North. A winter trip to Iceland can be fabulous (ice caves and northern lights among the highlights), but we recommend to stay in the South and South-West and spend 3 to 5 days, maximum 7. See our detailed guide on how to go about organising a winter trip to Iceland here: separate guide: LINK Travelling to Iceland in Winter.
D
riving the full loop around the island in winter requires accounting for possible snow storms, very icy roads, sometimes impassable for more than a day. It’s not something we can recommend doing.
Find out more about temperatures for each month in Iceland in a separate article here: Weather on Iceland – temperatures, wind and precipitation for each month.
What car is best for a trip around Iceland
A regular passenger 4×2 car is very much fine for this self drive. Even the smallest models will do (for 2 people).
The cheapest solution – as always – is to hire a regular passenger car and bring your own tent and camping gear. Camping in Iceland is quite a bit more demanding than in many other places, due to the relentless strong wind (cooking outside may be impossible) and rather low temperatures. However, when campsites are open for business (so mid May to mid September), they offer their common kitchen and dining areas for everyone, so it is not bad at all.
It is always a nice idea to rent an RV or a campervan. In spring it is the perfect combination of flexibility, affordability and comfort.
You will find more about car rental costs below and our detailed description of all the factors and considerations around hiring a car in Iceland in the series of articles starting with this one: What car to rent in Iceland [Complete Guide].
What accommodation to choose for a trip around Iceland
There’s a wide selection of accommodation available in Iceland, altough usually more expensive then in other European countries. You can go for campsites (the most convenient and affordable option for sleeping in a tent or a campervan / RV) as well as hostels, B&Bs or hotels (naturally, pricier but more comfortable).
Staying at campsites has the huge advantage in that it gives you flexibility. You don’t need to book your place in advance, so you can choose where to stop for the night depending on how the day is going. This freedom really has tremendous value.
Of course, in the low season – April-May – hostels and B&Bs are less in demand so you can book them as you go with little notice. Usually there is something available but of course you have to accept that sometimes your accommodation may be not as nice, more expensive than you thought or a bit out of your way. Nevertheless, many people travel like this and recommend it. Starting from June and throughout summer most of the attractive places are fully booked, and well in advance. In these months sleeping under a tent or in a campervan is really worth considering. Otherwise book all your accommodation at least six months in advance.
On
a 7-day trip the Camping Card is not worth the money. It may also take up too much of your time to drive around looking for specific campsite that accepts it. But on a 10+ days it does save you money. Hence we indicate which campsites honor the Camping Card.
Hostels always have decent cooking arrangements. Usually they have a full home-like kitchen, sometimes it is quite large – to match the size of the facility. So you don’t need to bring your utensils and you’ll be able cook dinner for 4 to 5 people easily. At the same time staying in hostels and cooking for yourselves means that it is quite cheap (see here: How to eat cheaply in Iceland?). A bed in a dormitory room is usually the cheapest but a private room for 4 or even 2 people (no en suite bathroom usually) is not much more expensive. Hostels are a great place to meet other travelers, share experiences and hear stories from all around the world…
If you choose to stay in B&Bs, check out the quality of their kitchen area. Sometimes it is just a small corner where preparing anything besides a sandwich or heating up some ready-made meal is a challenge. On the other hand, though, ready-made meals are not a bad solution at all…
If you go for hotels or B&Bs without a kitchen area, bear in mind that eating out in Iceland is really expensive. Of course it is worth splashing out to try some delicacies that are not available anywhere else in the world, but having breakfasts and dinners in restaurants daily will considerably increase the cost of your trip. Read more in the section on cooking below.
Cooking and dining – how to go about it
Fridheimar restaurant
Sometimes it is good to have an overpriced hot dog as a snack and try some local specialties once or twice during the trip. These traditional Icelandic dishes can be rather peculiar and not necessarily delicious (or even edible…) but they are part of the local culture and color. Eating out is an expensive experience, yet it is unique and unusual as well. So you may want to find the time in your schedule and money in your budget for it. Find out more from this article Restaurants and local delicacies in Iceland.
Apart from these occasions when you eat out, it is best to cook for yourself, mostly at the end of the day in campsites or hostels (or B&Bs, if they allow access to their kitchen). If you are OK with freeze-dried (lyophilized) food, you can use that, too. But unless you are planning long treks with a backpack and you can carry food in your car trunk, lyophilized food makes little sense. Stores in Iceland are well-stocked and the prices of groceries are not too high.
Just remember that outside of larger towns stores are not open until late and liquor stores – Vinbud chain – have surprisingly short business hours. More about stores and (grocery) shopping in Iceland in this article Zakupy w sklepach spożywczych na Islandii.
How much does a 7-day trip around Iceland cost
The biggest cost components usually include plane tickets, accommodation and car rental. These costs vary greatly between months and/or seasons. Everything is cheaper before May (and after September) and in July-August all prices reach their peak. June usually strikes the best balance between low prices and good weather.
Obviously, these are not all the costs: You need to add food and admission fees to some of the tourist places. These are determined by your individual preferences and the character of your stay. To give you an idea, the table below shows you typical examples.
| Total costs of a trip to Iceland for 4 people for 7 days | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | July | |||
| economy | comfort | economy | comfort | |
| car rental & gas | $415 | $820 | $860 | $1270 |
| accommodation | $245 | $1350 | $245 | $2100 |
| plane tickets | $675 | $1250 | $1060 | $2230 |
| food | $350 | $700 | $350 | $700 |
| tourist attractions | $1000 | $2000 | $1000 | $2000 |
| Total cost (4 pers.) | $3035 | $5770 | $3865 | $8300 |
| Cost per person | $760 | $1450 | $970 | $2075 |
economy: a small car (Kia Rio) for 4 people, tents, cooking for yourselves, basic tourist attractions, early (min. 6 months in advance) booking/special deals on everything;
comfort: a bigger car (Kia Ceed wagon), for 4 people, hostels and/or B&Bs, a couple of visits to affordable restaurants, more tourist attractions, quite late (about 3 months in advance) booking / no special deals or discounts;
Other things to bear in mind
- most car rental companies offer free pickup and dropoff at Keflavik airport and it is TOTALLY worth taking this opportunity because usually it is cheaper to rent a car for one more day than pay extra for driving to Reykjavik;
- Reykjavik IS NOT your trip’s greatest highlight and it really makes sense to leave it for last. If need be, just do a 2-hour tour and you’ll be fine;
- this plan is prepared with an evening arrival and evening departure in mind; the first and last day are largely focused on the Reykjanes peninsula (south and south-west of Reykjavik); depending on the details of your flights, you can move these attractions around between day 1 (also possibly day 2) and your last day;
- suggestions for accommodation are specific campsites or hostels as well as areas where it makes sense to look for a B&B; naturally, if you decide to go for campsites, you get 100% flexibility and you can choose where to stay at the last minute;
- additional attractions are optional: less exciting or requiring a longer detour from the main route; if you can start early every day and finish late to see as much as possible, add these optional places to your plan;
- the best time to visit Iceland – May and June – is also when nights are the shortest, virtually nonexistent in Iceland. If you need darkness to have a good night’s sleep, remember to take your eye mask. Hotels and hostels rarely have (good) blinds and curtains and you may find that without an eye mask your nights will be extremely short…
- detailed descriptions of all the places and attractions can be found in separate dedicated articles (you’ll find links throughout this site), and in the ‘Guides’ section in the main menu you’ll find plenty of practical tips that will help you plan your trip (such as car rental tips, the delicacies and less appealing points of the Icelandic cuisine or the incredible geology of Iceland).
Additional guides
As you prepare for your trip, be sure to read our Top 10 list. It is best to start with Iceland’s top attractions [Top 10] and Top attractions on Road 1 [Top 10 + 10 bonusów].
Iceland owes its beauty and appeal to its amazing geology. Read about it in a series of articles, starting with this one: Astonishing effects of volcanic activity in Iceland.
There are many other, more specific topics described here Iceland: Frequently asked questions and answers.
Finally, if you have any questions, ask away in the comments section. We will answer as soon as possible 🙂 Have a great trip!
