Photo: Bob T, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Eight days by rental car in the west of Iceland: the Snaefellsnes peninsula, a ferry across Breidafjordur, then the cliffs, waterfalls and fjords of the Westfjords, and the long road back to Reykjavik. Many roads are gravel, so keep every day 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.
An easy first drive. A fjord town on the way, then the south coast of the peninsula, with a coastal path between two villages and a pair of basalt pillars on the sea.
A small town on a spit of land in a fjord, a natural stop to stretch your legs and fuel up before the peninsula. Walk by the water and look at the view of the mountains across the bay.
Go when Morning, before you head out onto the peninsula.
Local tip Fill the tank and buy supplies here. Services on the peninsula and in the Westfjords are further apart than they look on the map.
A tiny fishing village on a rocky shore, with a statue, basalt cliffs and a sea arch. Walk out along the cliff edge on the path and watch the seabirds.
Go when Early afternoon, once you have eaten.
Local tip Walk the cliff path east and west of the village to see the arch and the nesting birds. Stay well back from the edge and keep dogs and children close.
A creamy fish soup, served with a slice of dark bread. A warm, simple lunch after the cool air on the cliffs.
Local tip Ask for the soup of the day, and have a second bowl if you are hungry.
A hamlet under bird cliffs at the end of a coastal path from Arnarstapi. The path crosses a lava field above the sea. Check ahead on its condition, and walk it only in decent weather.
Go when Afternoon, walking from Arnarstapi on a calm day.
Local tip Check ahead on the state of the coastal path before you start, and drive the road between the villages if the wind is strong.
Two tall basalt towers rising from the shore, the remains of an old volcanic crater. A short walk from the road leads to a viewpoint above the sea cliffs.
Go when Late in the day, when the low light catches the rock.
Local tip Walk to the viewpoint and look down on the towers from above. Keep to the path, because the cliff edge is loose.
Kjotsupa is a lamb soup with root vegetables and rice, a comfort food that Icelanders eat all year. Look for it at a small cafe or guesthouse.
Local tip Order a bowl and a slice of bread, and ask for a refill if it is on offer.
The heart of the peninsula, where a volcano sits under a cap of ice. A black beach, a shell beach and a famous mountain by the sea, with the roads in between.
A black pebble beach in a bay of lava, with four old lifting stones. Fishermen once lifted them to show that they were strong enough for the boats, and visitors still try the lighter ones.
Go when Morning, when the beach is quiet.
Local tip Try the lighter stones with a straight back and care. Leave the beach as you found it, including the iron pieces from an old wreck.
A volcano capped with a glacier at the tip of the peninsula, the setting for the start of a famous Jules Verne novel. The ice is best seen from the road on a clear day, since clouds often hide the summit.
Go when Midday, if the summit is out of the cloud.
Local tip View the ice from the road and from a short walk. Walking on the glacier itself is for guided groups only, so check ahead.
A hot dog on a soft bun, a national snack. Order it with everything, which means fried onions, raw onions, ketchup, sweet mustard and a remoulade sauce.
Local tip Ask for "one with everything" at a roadside kiosk.
A pale beach of crushed shell near the tip of the peninsula, a surprise among the black sand coasts. Check ahead on the gravel road that leads there.
Go when Afternoon, when the sand glows against the lava.
Local tip Check ahead on the road in, which is gravel, and walk the beach slowly, because the wind can pick up quickly.
A pointed, church-shaped mountain by the sea with a small waterfall in front of it. Walk the short path to the fall and look back at the peak.
Go when Evening, when the light is low.
Local tip The famous photograph is taken from the small bridge below the falls. Do not climb the mountain, which is steep and loose.
A comforting mash of white fish, potatoes and onion in a white sauce, served warm with rye bread. The kind of dish a grandmother makes.
Local tip Eat it with a slice of buttered rye bread, which is the classic way.
A slow morning in a harbor town, then the ferry across the wide bay to the Westfjords. The ferry is the day, so take a good book, a hat and a coat.
A harbor village of painted wooden houses on the north shore of the peninsula, with small islands in the bay. Walk the waterfront and the lanes behind it before you board.
Go when Morning, before the ferry.
Local tip Walk to the small headland by the harbor for a view across the bay to the islands and the ferry you are about to take.
Skyr is a thick, tangy dairy food, like a very creamy yogurt. Eat it with berries and a little sugar for a light snack before the ferry.
Local tip Buy it at a shop and bring a spoon.
A tiny island in Breidafjordur with old wooden houses, no cars and a lot of birdlife. The ferry may call here on its way across. Reserve ahead and check the season and the route.
Go when Midday, on a day with calm water.
Local tip Reserve your place ahead and check the season and the route, since the ferry does not always call at the island. Take your own food.
Cod is the staple of the Icelandic table, simply boiled or pan-fried, with potatoes and butter. A plain, good dinner on a harbor.
Local tip Ask what the boats brought in that day.
The landing on the southern shore of the Westfjords where the ferry arrives. The road ahead is long and the services are few, so top up the tank before you leave.
Go when Evening, when the ferry arrives.
Local tip Fuel up before you drive on. The stretches ahead are long, and the next station may be far away.
The far southwest of the Westfjords. A fjord town, a wide red beach and the great bird cliffs at the western edge. The roads here are long, so start early.
A small town on a fjord, a base for this corner of the region. Fill the tank here and get supplies for the day, because services get scarce on the roads beyond.
Go when Morning, before the long drive west.
Local tip Buy water and food here for the whole day, and check the weather before you set out for the cliffs.
Hardfiskur is dried fish, torn into pieces and eaten with butter. A chewy, salty snack that Icelanders have eaten for centuries.
Local tip Spread butter on each piece and keep a bag in the car for the long roads.
A very long beach with sand of a rosy color from crushed shells, reached by a winding gravel road over a pass. The tide changes the whole look of the shore. Check ahead on the road.
Go when Midday, with the tide going out.
Local tip Check ahead on the gravel road over the pass, drive slowly and watch for sheep. Fog can close the road quickly.
Arctic char, smoked and laid on dark rye bread with a little butter. A light lunch to eat on a bench with a view of the sea.
Local tip Take it with you in a bag, because there are few places to eat on the road ahead.
Huge sea cliffs at the westernmost point of Iceland, crowded with seabirds, with puffins in the season. The edges are unprotected and crumbly, so stay back from them and keep children close.
Go when Afternoon, in a spell of clear weather.
Local tip The edges are unprotected and crumbly. Keep well back, never lean over for a photograph, keep children close, and mind the wind.
A day of fjords. A natural hot pool by the shore, a waterfall that falls in steps and a small village at the end of a long drive. Few services, so carry water and food.
A small natural hot pool by the shore of a fjord, with very simple facilities. Check ahead on the rules, bring a towel and a bag for wet clothes, and test the water before you step in.
Go when Morning, before the road gets long.
Local tip Test the water with your hand before you step in, since natural pools can be hotter or colder than they look. Leave no litter.
A waterfall that falls in several steps and fans out wide at the bottom, the grandest in the Westfjords. A path climbs beside the lower falls. The rocks are wet, so take care.
Go when Midday, when the spray catches the sun.
Local tip Walk up the path beside the lower falls, and take care on the wet rock. The road over the mountain is closed in winter, so check ahead.
Pack rye bread, cheese, fruit and a flask for the road. In the Westfjords services are far apart, and a picnic by a fjord is a pleasure.
Local tip Buy supplies the evening before, and bring more water than you think you need.
A small village on a fjord with old buildings and a quiet harbor, a place to rest before the next stretch of road. Fuel up and buy snacks if the shop is open.
Go when Late afternoon, before the next stretch of road.
Local tip Walk along the harbor and look at the old buildings. It is a good place for a coffee and to check the weather ahead.
Icelandic lamb grazes freely in the hills and is known for its flavor. Look for it roasted or slow-cooked, with root vegetables.
Local tip Ask for it simply cooked, and share a dessert of skyr.
The largest town of the Westfjords, tucked between steep mountains, and a day by the water. A boat trip to an island and a village with a small centre on the arctic fox.
The main town of the Westfjords, on a narrow spit of land beneath steep mountains. Walk through the old part with its small wooden houses and down to the harbor.
Go when Morning, before the boat trip.
Local tip Walk the old part of town and the harbor, and ask locally about the weather before you plan the boat.
Cod cheeks are a small, tender cut that fishing towns treasure. Lightly fried in butter, they are a favorite of locals.
Local tip Ask for the fish of the day, which is often cod or haddock.
BoatVigur trips leave from Isafjordur harbour a few times a week, about May to August. The whole trip takes about 3 hours. Visiting Vigur
A small island in the fjord with a puffin colony and many eider ducks, reached by a short boat trip. Check ahead on the season and the sailings, and stay on the marked paths.
Go when Midday, on a calm day.
Local tip Check ahead on the season and the sailings. Arctic terns nest on the paths and may dive at your head, so wear a hat and stay on the marked route.
BoatThere is no boat to Sudavik, so the trip goes back to Isafjordur.
RoadSudavik is then a few minutes by road.
A village on the fjord with a small centre about the arctic fox, the only land mammal that Iceland had before people arrived. Check ahead on whether it is open.
Go when Afternoon, on the way back along the fjord.
Local tip The small centre on the arctic fox is a good short stop. Check ahead on whether it is open.
In a fishing town the catch changes daily, so ask what came in. It is usually cod, haddock or plaice, simply cooked with potatoes.
Local tip Ask the staff what they would have, and trust the answer.
A long day on the road. The wild Strandir coast, a village with a museum of sorcery and a pair of waterfalls on the way south. Fuel up whenever you see a station.
A small village on the Strandir coast with a museum devoted to Icelandic witchcraft and sorcery. Check ahead on whether it is open, and fuel up here.
Go when Morning, on the drive south.
Local tip The museum of witchcraft is small and unusual. Check ahead on whether it is open, and fuel up before you drive on.
Rugbraud is a dense, slightly sweet rye bread, traditionally baked in the hot ground near a spring. Eat it with butter and a slice of smoked fish.
Local tip Buy a loaf for the road, and keep it for breakfast.
A long line of small waterfalls pouring out of the edge of a lava field into a milky river. A short path runs along the top of the falls, with the rapids of Barnafoss a little way upstream.
Go when Afternoon, when the light is soft on the water.
Local tip Walk the path along the top of the falls and then go upstream to the rapids. Stay on the path, because the banks are slippery.
One of the most powerful hot springs in Europe, steaming beside the road and piped to nearby towns. Stay behind the rail, because the water is scalding.
Go when Evening, on the way to the coast.
Local tip Stay behind the rail. The water is near boiling point and the steam can hide the edge.
Many farms along the way serve a simple supper made with their own lamb, fish, potatoes or vegetables. Eat what is on the table.
Local tip Book ahead, because the places are small and the road is long.
A short drive on the last day, with time to spare. A quiet fjord, the old harbor in the capital and a last coffee before the airport.
A long, quiet fjord north of Reykjavik with a coast road around its head. A calm drive and a last look at the mountains and the water.
Go when Morning, with no hurry.
Local tip Take the road around the fjord rather than the tunnel if you have time, and look for the quiet bays along the water.
A rich, orange soup made with langoustine, the small sea lobster of Icelandic waters. A warming lunch on a cool day.
Local tip Dip dark bread in it, and order a small bowl first.
The working harbor of the capital, with fishing boats at the docks and small cafes along the quay. A good place for a slow last coffee.
Go when Afternoon, for a slow last coffee.
Local tip Walk the quay and look at the boats, then find a table by the window and let the day end slowly.
A cup of coffee and a warm pastry is the usual way to end a morning in the capital. Sit by a window and look at the boats.
Local tip Take your time. There is nothing else to do today.
The tall church that rises over the capital, with a stepped front that echoes the basalt columns of the coast. Walk around the base and take in the view down the hill.
Go when Late afternoon, before you head for the airport.
Local tip The church can be seen from many streets. If you go into the tower, check ahead on when it is open.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, July to August are the most comfortable months for walking around Stykkisholmur. This plan is built for early July, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 8 days in Stykkisholmur, planned for early July. 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 21.5 to 203.0 kilometers between its stops, and 574.7 kilometers in all across 8 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
4 nights in Reykjavik and the Northern LightsAbout 130 km awayAn easy add-on
3 days on the Reykjanes PeninsulaAbout 140 km away
6 days in Akureyri and North IcelandAbout 260 km awayMake 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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