Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Ten days on Route 1 around Iceland: two days in Reykjavik, then the Golden Circle, the South Coast, the glacier lagoon, the East, Lake Myvatn and the North, and a last day on the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Most days are a drive, so keep them loose.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
A day in the capital, which is small enough to cover on foot. Go slowly, look up at the church and keep the car for later.
The tall white church on the hill, shaped like the basalt columns you will see on the coast. It is the landmark of the city. Look at it from the street, then step inside.
Go when Morning, before the tour groups arrive.
Local tip Walk around the outside first and look up at the tower. Go up it only on a clear day, when the view over the colored roofs is worth the wait.
A steel sculpture of a ship on the seafront, with the bay and the mountains across the water behind it. A short walk from the center and a calm place to stand.
Go when Midday, on the walk along the waterfront.
Local tip Stand a little back from it and look through the frame of the ship toward the mountains across the bay.
The Icelandic hot dog is a national snack, made partly with lamb and served in a soft bun with crisp onions and sauces. A quick and very local lunch.
Local tip Ask for one with everything, and eat it standing, as the locals do.
The concert hall on the harbor, covered in glass panels that change with the light. Walk in and look at the walls from the inside.
Go when Afternoon, then a coffee by the harbor.
Local tip Go in and look up at the glass honeycomb of the front wall. The building changes color as the clouds move.
The old harbor, where fishing boats and sightseeing boats come and go. A good place to walk at the end of the day.
Go when Evening, when the boats come in.
Local tip Walk the length of the old harbor and look in at the fish shops and small museums along the way.
The cold waters around Iceland give excellent cod, haddock and arctic char. A simple dinner of pan-fried fish and potatoes tells you a lot about the country.
Local tip Ask what came in that day, and choose the plainest preparation.
A slower second day: history in the morning, a view over the city, then a soak in a geothermal lagoon. The lagoon is a drive from town, so make it the end of the day.
The story of the country from the first settlers to today, told through objects. A good stop before the road, because it explains the land you are about to drive through.
Go when Morning, when you are fresh.
Local tip Start with the main exhibition on the settlement and the centuries after, and leave the rest if your energy runs low.
A comforting stew of flaked fish and mashed potato in a white sauce, served with dark rye bread. A classic of the Icelandic home kitchen.
Local tip Order it with a slice of rye bread and butter.
A glass dome on a hill above the city, with a viewing deck and a wide look over the bay and the mountains. A quiet place on a clear day.
Go when Midday, on a clear day.
Local tip Go up to the viewing deck first and look all the way round. If the clouds are low, save it for a clearer hour.
Skyr is a thick, tangy Icelandic dairy food, eaten with berries or on its own. Every supermarket sells it, and it is a good thing to carry on a long drive.
Local tip Buy a few small tubs to keep in the car, with a spoon.
A geothermal lagoon of milky blue water in a lava field, a drive from the city. A soak is a gentle way to end a day. Book ahead, because entry is limited.
Go when Late in the day, after the drive and the walking.
Local tip Book a time ahead. Shower without your swimsuit before you get in, as is the custom in every pool in Iceland, and keep your hair out of the water if it dries easily.
The classic first drive out of town: a rift valley, a field of geysers and a great waterfall. The drive is part of the day, so look at the road and the weather before you set off.
A national park in a rift valley where two plates of the earth pull apart, and where the first parliament of Iceland met in the open air. Walk the path through the rift.
Go when Morning, when the paths are quiet.
Local tip Walk down the path through the rift and stand at the point where the old parliament met. Read the signs, since the story is half the point.
A field of hot springs and geysers. The one that erupts every few minutes is called Strokkur, so you will not wait long. Stay on the paths and away from the hot water.
Go when Midday, on the way between the two big stops.
Local tip Stand upwind and stay behind the ropes. The big one blows every few minutes, so take a moment to watch the water swell before it erupts.
Kjotsupa is a thick, warming soup of lamb, root vegetables and herbs. It is the kind of lunch served by roadside cafes across the country.
Local tip Many cafes offer a refill of the soup, so ask.
A wide waterfall that falls in two steps into a deep canyon. Walk down to the lower path for a close look, and expect spray. Paths close at times after bad weather, so check ahead.
Go when Afternoon, as the light moves over the falls.
Local tip Bring a rain jacket even on a dry day, because the spray reaches the viewing paths.
Waterfalls and black sand, one stop after another along Route 1. The drive is the day, with short walks between. Check the weather, and the wave warnings at the beach.
A tall, slim waterfall with a wet path that leads behind it. Wear a rain jacket and shoes with grip, and check ahead whether the path behind the fall is open.
Go when Morning, before the car park fills.
Local tip The path behind the fall is wet and slippery. Wear shoes with grip and keep your camera in a bag.
A wide waterfall that drops straight off a cliff, with a staircase up to a platform at the top. On a bright day the spray often makes a rainbow.
Go when Midday, with a short walk to the base.
Local tip Walk to the base for the full height, then climb the staircase for a view from above. A path continues upstream if you want more.
A simple plate of fresh fish in batter with fries, often served from a small cafe or a roadside kitchen. A good lunch on the coast road.
Local tip Eat it at a table with a view of the sea if you can.
A black sand beach with basalt columns and tall sea stacks offshore. The waves here rush much farther up the beach than they look, and have swept people out to sea. Obey the warning signs and stay well back from the water.
Go when Afternoon, in calm weather and with the warning signs read.
Local tip Sneaker waves can run far up the beach without warning, and the water is cold enough to be dangerous. Stay well back, and never turn your back on the sea.
A small village with a white church on a hill, a beach and sea stacks at one end. A good place for food and fuel before the longer drive east.
Go when Evening, for food and fuel before the long drive east.
Local tip Fill the tank here, because the stretches ahead have few stations. Walk up to the church for a view of the sea stacks.
The wild end of the south: an ice cap, a lagoon full of icebergs and a black beach scattered with ice. A long drive from Vik, with stops, so start early and expect to feel the distance.
A green area at the foot of the ice cap, with marked trails. The usual short walk goes to Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns.
Go when Morning, for the walk to the waterfall.
Local tip The walk to Svartifoss is a modest climb on a clear path. Take water and a layer, because the weather changes fast under the ice cap.
Stock up before the long stretch: bread, cheese, skyr, fruit and a flask of coffee. Food is thin on the road in this part of the country.
Local tip Buy it at the last supermarket you pass, and keep water in the car.
A lagoon where icebergs break off the glacier and drift slowly toward the sea. Stand on the shore and watch them go by. Boat trips run in season, so check ahead if you want one.
Go when Afternoon, then stay on for the evening.
Local tip Walk along the shore and look at the colors of the ice, which run from white to deep blue. Keep away from the edge and the water.
Across the road from the lagoon, a black sand beach where pieces of ice wash up and shine in the light. The tide moves them, so no two visits look the same.
Go when Evening, when the ice shines in low light.
Local tip Keep well back from the waves, which can pull a person off their feet, and never climb on the large blocks of ice.
Arctic char is a cold-water fish related to salmon, and a favorite on Icelandic menus. Pan-fried with butter and herbs, it is a simple and satisfying dinner.
Local tip Ask where it was caught, since many places proudly say.
A long drive with few services. Fill the tank whenever you can and carry food. The reward is a quiet harbor town at the end of a fjord, reached over a mountain road that can close in bad weather.
A small fishing town on a peninsula, with the glacier across the water. A good place for fuel and a meal, and known for its langoustine.
Go when Morning, for fuel and a good meal.
Local tip Ask for langoustine soup, a local favorite. Fill the tank before you leave, because the road east is long and quiet.
The langoustine, a small cousin of the lobster, is the pride of Hofn. A creamy langoustine soup is a good reason to stop in town.
Local tip Ask for it with bread, and order a plate of the tails if you want more.
The largest town in the east, beside a long lake. Stock up on food and fuel here before the next stretch.
Go when Midday, for food and supplies.
Local tip This is the last big town before the mountain road to the fjord. Buy food for the evening here if you do not plan to eat out.
A town at the end of a long fjord, with old wooden houses in bright colors and a blue church. The road over the mountain can close in bad weather, so check it first.
Go when Afternoon, then stay for the evening light.
Local tip Walk down the main street to the blue church, then along the fjord. The mountain road can be closed in bad weather, so check it before you start.
A small town at the end of a fjord eats from the water outside. Look for fish on the menu that came in that day.
Local tip Ask what is freshest, since a small kitchen will tell you honestly.
Out of the east and across the high country to one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe, then a lake with steaming ground and strange lava. Check which road to the waterfall is open and in what state.
A thick, grey-brown waterfall that drops into a canyon with a roar you can feel through the ground. Keep well behind the barriers, because the rock is wet and slippery.
Go when Morning, when the sun is behind you.
Local tip Check which side has the better road and whether the gravel is passable. Keep behind the barriers, because the edges are wet and unstable.
A shallow lake in a volcanic landscape, with small craters along its shore and many birds in summer. Walk a short trail and look at the land around you.
Go when Midday, with a walk along the shore.
Local tip In summer, the midges here are famous, so bring a head net and keep your mouth closed on the shore. Walk a short trail around the craters.
Dense, sweet rye bread baked slowly in the warm ground near the hot springs, then sliced and served with butter and smoked fish. A taste you will find nowhere else.
Local tip Ask for it with butter, and try smoked trout on top.
A field of dark lava towers and caves, a few minutes from the lake. Marked paths of different lengths run through it. Stay on them.
Go when Afternoon, after the lake.
Local tip Pick one of the marked circuits, from short to long, and stay on it.
Trout from the lake, smoked and served with rye bread and cream. A quiet, northern dinner after a day of lava.
Local tip Pair it with a bowl of soup if the evening is cold.
A shorter day in the north: a waterfall on the way, then the largest town in the north, with a church on a hill and a garden. A good day to sit down.
The Waterfall of the Gods, a wide, curved fall with a short walk along either bank. The story goes that an old lawspeaker threw his carved gods into it when the country took up a new faith.
Go when Morning, on the way into Akureyri.
Local tip Walk to the near bank first, then cross the bridge for the second view. The two sides look quite different.
A tall church on a hill with a wide stepped front, high above the town and the fjord. Climb the stairs and look back at the water.
Go when Afternoon, after lunch in the town.
Local tip Climb the long stairs and turn round at the top, because the view over the fjord is the reason to come.
Icelanders eat ice cream in all weather, and the north is proud of its dairy. Walk down the hill and join the queue.
Local tip Order a cone with a dip in chocolate, the local way.
A garden in the town with Icelandic plants and many from other cold parts of the world. A quiet walk before the next long drive.
Go when Afternoon, for a slow hour.
Local tip It is a pleasant place to rest after a long drive. Wander the paths and sit when you want to.
A warm fish soup, loaded with whatever came off the boat. A good dinner for a cold evening.
Local tip Many places serve bread and butter with it, so go slowly and ask for more.
A long drive west to a peninsula people call Iceland in miniature: a glacier, black beaches, sea cliffs and a famous mountain. If the weather or your energy says no, skip this day and drive straight to Reykjavik.
A small black wooden church standing alone on a lava field beside the sea, with mountains behind it. Walk around it and out across the lava.
Go when Morning, with a walk out across the lava.
Local tip Walk around the church and out toward the sea on the paths across the lava field. Wear shoes with grip, because the rock is uneven.
A tiny fishing village with sea cliffs full of birds, rock arches and a coastal path to the next village. A good place to stretch your legs.
Go when Midday, with a walk along the cliffs.
Local tip Take the coastal path in either direction and look for the rock arch and the birds on the cliffs. Stay behind the markers.
The peninsula lives off the sea, and small cafes serve fresh fish, shellfish soup and a plate of the day. Look for a short menu.
Local tip A short menu usually means the kitchen is cooking what the boats brought in.
A beach of black pebbles under a lava cliff, with old lifting stones that fishermen once used to test their strength. Keep back from the surf.
Go when Afternoon, in calm weather.
Local tip Walk down the path to the beach and look at the lifting stones. Keep back from the surf, and do not take the pebbles with you.
A mountain shaped like a pointed hat, with a small waterfall in front of it. A view that many people photograph, and a good place to end the day.
Go when Evening, when the light is low.
Local tip The classic view is from across the small waterfall in front of the mountain. Stay on the path and do not climb the rocks around the water.
Cod is the staple of the Icelandic table, often pan-fried in butter and served with boiled potatoes. A plain, honest end to a long day.
Local tip Ask for a squeeze of lemon and a spoon of the butter sauce.
The last day is for walking and one more look at the capital. The drive back is the morning, so return the car first if you can and spend the rest on foot.
A small green square in front of the parliament house, a good place to sit and watch the city go by.
Go when Morning, with a coffee.
Local tip Sit on the grass in front of the parliament house and watch the town wake up.
The main shopping street, with shops, cafes and murals. Walk it from end to end and turn into the side streets.
Go when Midday, for a slow walk and a bite.
Local tip Walk the whole street, then turn into the side streets, where the small shops and the murals are.
A rye bread sandwich with smoked salmon, or a warm roll with cheese and ham, from a city bakery. A quick lunch on the way.
Local tip Add a cinnamon bun and a coffee, and take it to the pond.
A small lake in the middle of the city, with ducks and geese and the city hall on its edge. A calm way to end the trip.
Go when Afternoon, for a calm last stroll.
Local tip Walk the full circle of the pond and watch the birds from the paths. It takes only a short while, so no need to plan around it.
Icelandic lamb grazes freely on mountain grass, and its meat is tender and mild. A slow-cooked or grilled lamb dinner is a fitting end to the trip.
Local tip Ask for the lamb of the day and have a small glass of beer with it.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, July to August are the most comfortable months for walking around Reykjavik. This plan is built for late June, which is less comfortable, so check the forecast before you go. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 10 days in Reykjavik, planned for late June. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 0.9 to 217.9 kilometers between its stops, and 602.7 kilometers in all across 10 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
3 days on the Reykjanes PeninsulaAbout 150 km awayAn easy add-on
8 days on Snaefellsnes and in the WestfjordsAbout 170 km away
6 days in Akureyri and North IcelandAbout 180 km awayOther guides with a page about Reykjavik. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageReykjavik, the free travel guideLonely PlanetReykjavik travel guideTime OutThings to do in ReykjavikThe GuardianReykjavik travel featuresPhoto: Steinninn, CC BY 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Helmut Seger, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Ivan Sabljak, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Robert Lukeman robertluke… on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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