Ring Road, Iceland
There’s aught similar a goodness route trip. Especially when driving past times active volcanoes, bluish icebergs, roaring waterfalls, together with magical northern lights on Iceland’s Ring Road adventure.
If you’re searching for an unforgettable adventure move experience, a route trip about Iceland’s Ring Road volition non disappoint. The province is visually captivating inwards a means I’ve non seen elsewhere.
Lurking about every curvature a stunning novel Icelandic landscape reveals itself.
Renting a automobile together with self-driving Iceland on the Ring Road exposes you lot to bubbling geothermal springs, sparkling rainbows, beautiful horses, icy glaciers, massive waterfalls, together with rugged mountains 24-hour interval afterwards day.
If you’re lucky, you lot may fifty-fifty pick out handgrip of the magic of the northern lights too!
Now throw inwards the occasional H2O ice cave or fifty-fifty an erupting volcano, together with you’ll start to appreciate what traveling inwards Republic of Iceland is genuinely like. However, you lot must experience this province for yourself to understand!
In this move guide I’ll assist you lot acquire the most out of a self-drive band route adventure. Learn how to prepare, where to stay, together with the best things to consider inwards Iceland!
Ring Road Republic of Iceland Travel Map
How To Use This Map
Above you’ll uncovering a map of my itinerary for Iceland’s Ring Road. Click on the transcend left of the map to uncovering separate layers mark the route together with points of interest. You tin can shroud together with demo dissimilar layers, or click icons on the map to consider the names of places I cite inwards this move guide. “Star” the map to salvage it to your ain Google Maps, or opened upwards the map inwards a novel window for a larger version. Enjoy!
Driving Iceland’s Ring Road In 2019
If you lot haven’t figured it out past times the map above, Iceland’s Ring Road encircles the entire province roofing over 800 miles on Route 1.
While you lot could technically drive the whole affair inwards less than 24 hours, the reality is it volition accept you lot at to the lowest degree a calendar week amongst stops on along the way.
This is because you’ll hold out stopping a lot. Like every v minutes!
The photography opportunities inwards Republic of Iceland are unbelievable, together with you’ll uncovering yourself constantly pulling over for photos. I gave myself 10 days inwards Iceland, amongst seven total days to drive the Ring Road itself.
Looking dorsum I wishing I had made spent an extra few days on the Ring Road.
While seven days is possible, you’ll hold out moving non-stop, together with volition missy a few highlights. Especially if you lot receive got a bad-weather day.
Because the atmospheric condition is definitely a element inwards Iceland, amongst precipitous snowstorms mutual inwards the spring, fall, together with winter.
Rental Car Or Campervan?
The best site to volume your automobile is amongst Discover Car Hire. They search both local together with international automobile rental companies to assist you lot uncovering the best possible price. This is the easiest means to rent a automobile for driving inwards Iceland.
There are charabanc tours that drive the route, but a self-drive tour is the amend means to acquire inwards my opinion. You tin can halt anywhere you lot want, for as long as you lot want, giving you lot consummate freedom.
I drove the band route inwards Republic of Iceland spell living out of a Happy Campers van. The major create goodness to renting a campervan is that it covers your accommodation.
Traveling past times campervan was perfect for maximizing my fourth dimension exploring & photographing landscapes. My van was equipped amongst a fold-down bed, sink amongst running water, electrical cooler, gas grill, battery-powered heating organization together with a large solar panel.
UPDATE: Since writing this article, Republic of Iceland implemented novel laws that trammel where you lot tin can pass the nighttime inwards a campervan. You tin can no longer force over together with pass the nighttime anywhere. You must commons at campgrounds.
Planning An Republic of Iceland Road Trip
Where To Start From
Most travelers start their Ring Road drive from Keflavik International Airport, others pass a few days exploring Reykjavik from a hotel first. You tin can drive the route inwards a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, but I recommend driving counterclockwise to hitting the most touristy parts of Republic of Iceland first.
Gas Stations
Gas is expensive inwards Republic of Iceland at $2 USD per liter ($7.50 per gallon). Gas stations are piece of cake to uncovering about towns, but inwards the countryside, they are less frequent. Some unusual credit cards may demand to hold out used within rather than at the pump.
Fill upwards whenever you lot can, specially inwards winter, but inwards representative you’re stuck inwards a snowstorm overnight. Gas for the entire band route journeying cost me virtually $300 USD.
Groceries In Iceland
Stock upwards on groceries earlier you lot go out for your route trip, because nutrient inwards Republic of Iceland is expensive. There’s a famous budget supermarket called Bónus that’s perfect for this. You can’t missy it — the logo is a giant cartoon pig!
Many gas stations along the band route also offering pre-made sandwiches, hot soup, together with basic groceries for sale too. So you lot tin can purchase some full general nutrient supplies along the way.
GPS & Mobile Phone
If your cellular telephone is unlocked, you lot tin can purchase a local prepaid Icelandic SIM carte du jour from the Vodafone store at Kringlan Shopping Mall inwards Reykjavik. This gives you lot access to GPS maps, mesh data, emergency services, together with local atmospheric condition reports.
What Should You See?
I’d recommend picking a few highlights together with loosely planning your journeying about them. Most people start their Ring Road adventure from Reykjavik or Keflavik Airport.
Below you’ll uncovering my suggested 7-10 24-hour interval itinerary amongst highlights you lot shouldn’t miss, goodness places to remain for the night, summation a few adventure activities that must hold out booked inwards advance.
My Republic of Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
DAY 1: The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a curt 1-day route trip that starts from Reykjavik which I covered inwards a separate article. This 300 km (190 mi) route covers many beautiful Republic of Iceland landmarks inwards a curt catamenia of time, together with then it’s perfect for people on a long layover.
It’s a goodness identify to start a longer band route adventure likewise because the attractions are some of the most visited inwards Iceland. I’d recommend getting these out of the means commencement earlier heading out into the to a greater extent than remote (and less crowded) parts of the country.
Thingvellir National Park
The location of Iceland’s commencement Parliament, together with where the North American & Eurasian tectonic plates are piece of cake splitting apart from each other.
Geysers At Haukadalur
An impressive geothermal expanse featuring 2 natural geysers that erupt on a regular basis. Churning boiling H2O that smells similar eggs.
Gullfoss Waterfall
This broad & fast-moving river turns a corner together with falls 100 feet into a huge waterfall, producing thick mist & frequent rainbows.
➜ Read My Full Golden Circle Travel Guide Here
Where To Stay On The Golden Circle
DAY 2: South Coast To Vik
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Your side past times side halt is perfect for incredible sunrises, together with then wake upwards early! Seljalandsfoss Waterfall [MAP] rises some 200 feet inwards the air, amongst a curt hiking trail that takes you lot behind the waterfall itself.
Shooting photos behind the waterfall at sunrise tin can hold out hard amongst all the spray though. Another goodness photograph location is from a colina on the right, but hold out careful because it’s slippery climbing up.
Skógafoss Waterfall
After that you lot tin can drive to Skógafoss [MAP], some other massive & beautiful waterfall exclusively minutes away. About the same superlative as Seljalandsfoss, but much wider together with to a greater extent than powerful. Colorful rainbows are a mutual occurrence here. H5N1 wooden stairway brings you lot to a viewing platform on the top.
Hiking Sólheimajökull Glacier
One activity you lot can’t create on your ain is hiking glaciers. If you’ve never hiked a glacier before, I highly recommend it! The guys at Arctic Adventures receive got a few dissimilar glacier hiking trips that include H2O ice climbing. If you’re driving the Ring Road, you lot tin can volume a trip together with but encounter your guide at the glacier.
Sólheimasandur Plane Crash
The abandoned bird wreckage on Sólheimasandur Beach is 1 of Iceland’s most iconic photography locations. Back inwards 1973 a the States Navy DC-3 crashed on the beach here. The storey has been used inwards a bunch of music videos making it famous.
You tin can commons your automobile together with hike out to the storey on human foot together with explore what remains. Check out my detailed directions if you’d similar to consider this famous spot first-hand!
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Often referred to as the world’s most beautiful dark sand beach, Reynisfjara is a must-visit location for travelers. This wild, rugged beach was created past times lava mixing amongst body of body of water water. I wouldn’t recommend sunbathing on this beach, but you lot volition acquire some amazing photograph opportunities here. From the dark beach itself to the cliffs, caves together with basalt columns, Reynisfjara is real impressive.
DAY 3: Iceberg Lagoons & Ice Caves
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
This imperial canyon came to life unopen to 9,000 years agone as a result of progressive erosion. I was thrilled past times the chance to walk within this narrow, winding canyon. However, if you lot desire to avoid wading through water, I advise enjoying its natural beauty from the walking path inwards a higher identify Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. Be aware that the path is steep, but the view is to a greater extent than than worth the effort.
Svartifoss Black Waterfall
The dark basalt columns that flank the narrow current of H2O from Svartifoss (aka the “Black Waterfall”) volition brand you lot experience similar you’ve discovered an alien planet. Depending on whether you lot desire to accept the direct or to a greater extent than circular route, you lot tin can await to walk for at to the lowest degree 2 miles to achieve it. You can’t go inwards the actual waterfall area, but you’ll acquire unopen plenty for keen photos.
Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon
Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is piece of cake melting, amongst giant blue-tinted icebergs breaking off together with floating into a large lagoon called Jökulsárlón. The H2O ice collects on its shores, spell some pieces proceed on together with drift out to sea.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is such a cool identify (pun intended) that you lot tin can easily pass most of the 24-hour interval here. Don’t forget to see the body of body of water beach nearby, where some icebergs acquire pushed on shore due to waves.
Hidden Crystal Ice Caves
If you’re traveling inwards Republic of Iceland for photography, you lot can’t missy the crystal H2O ice caves nether Vatnajökull glacier. Meltwater creates these intricate natural H2O ice tunnels, amongst sunlight filtering through the H2O ice giving them a bluish tint.
Iceland’s crystal H2O ice caves tin can hold out hard together with treacherous to reach, together with then you’ll demand to hire a guide. For security reasons, you lot tin can exclusively see them inwards the wintertime likewise (starting inwards November) when the H2O ice has hardened upwards together with the jeopardy of collapse is low.
DAY 4: Egilsstaðir & The Eastern Fjords
Driving The Coastline
Ok, forthwith you’re officially inwards the middle of nowhere. Eastern Republic of Iceland is an untamed wilderness of rocky mount peaks, winding black-sand coastlines, together with chop-chop changing the weather.
There’s a lot of driving hither without many towns (or people). You’ll hold out weaving inwards together with out of fjords all day. Pump upwards the jams together with relish beautiful Icelandic views. Most people halt to pass the nighttime inwards the town of Egilsstaðir.
Sheep & Reindeer Spotting
While it may non receive got many people, Eastern Republic of Iceland is habitation to many sheep & reindeer. Yup. Reindeer! Make certain to maintain your eyes on the road, because a herd tin can all of a precipitous cross your path without warning.
Pay special attending at nighttime or inwards bad weather. In the wintertime the sheep volition hold out fenced in, but inwards the summertime together with fall, they roam gratis through the countryside.
Hunting Northern Lights
You should hold out searching for the Northern Lights every eventide spell driving the Ring Road, however, on the East coast they were specially goodness for me. During my seven 24-hour interval adventure, I lucked out amongst three nights of potent aurora activity together with clear skies.
Night driving volition genuinely improve your chances of spotting them. Here’s a send service I wrote amongst tips for finding & photographing the Northern Lights inwards Iceland.
DAY 5: Myvatn & More Waterfalls
Icelandic Mountain Passes
Fáskrúðsfjarðargöng tunnel (I dare you lot to state it out loud!) is iv miles long together with seems similar it volition never end. When it does, you’ll eventually hold out inwards the Highlands of Iceland. H5N1 barren stretch of a high plateau.
In the wintertime it’s covered inwards snow, together with Route 1 is the exclusively condom route to move on. In the summertime you lot tin can explore to a greater extent than amongst a 4×4.
Dettifoss Waterfall
Dettifoss [MAP] is the largest waterfall inwards Republic of Iceland (and Europe) past times H2O volume. Imagine the visual together with auditory comport upon of to a greater extent than than 132,000 liquid gallons rushing past times you lot every second! It’s every bit beautiful together with overwhelming.
Most tourists acquire to the waterfall’s due west side, but the eastward side is fifty-fifty amend for photos. If you lot receive got the time, it’s definitely worth a stop. It’s real impressive, but also real unsafe if you lot acquire likewise unopen to the edge. Especially if the rocks are wet. Be careful!
Godafoss Waterfall
Godafoss Waterfall is famous for several reasons, including its impressive width of almost 100 feet. More importantly, if you lot acquire hither at nighttime during the correct fourth dimension of the year, you lot tin can photograph the Northern Lights over the water.
It doesn’t originate from a real tall height, but Godafoss has width together with ability that reminded me of Niagara Falls. This attraction is known locally as the “Waterfall of the Gods” due to an Icelandic legend involving Norse statues together with the area’s conversion to Christianity.
Námafjall Hverir
Pulling dorsum onto Route 1 you’ll presently acquire to the Myvatn Lake expanse inwards Northern Iceland. Volcanic activity is high, amongst some fun hot springs & other geothermal features to explore. One such identify is Námafjall Hverir geothermal area [MAP]. You tin can acquire up-close-and-personal amongst boiling bluish mud pits or steaming fumaroles.
DAY 6: Akureyri & North Iceland
Holuhraun Volcano Flight
Akureyri has tons of activities to maintain you lot busy, but one, inwards particular, was pretty special. Flying over Iceland’s most recent eruption at Bárðarbunga Volcano (also called the Holuhraun eruption). On August 2014 lava broke through the surface at that spot together with was spewing huge rivers of molten rock.
Flying over an erupting volcano had been on my bucket listing for years, together with I’m together with then happy I got to witness the ability together with fury of nature upwards unopen similar that! For scenic flights over the volcano I used MyFlug.is. Booking a minor storey is MUCH cheaper than a helicopter.
UPDATE: The Holuhraun Eruption ended Feb 2015. There are currently no erupting volcanoes on Iceland, but that volition likely alter inwards the future.
Whale Watching
Because I was waiting for the atmospheric condition to clear upwards for my volcano flight, I didn’t receive got a adventure to acquire whale watching inwards Iceland. But it’s a real pop affair to create at the fjords about Akureyri. The whale flavor is from June to October.
Apparently, you lot tin can spot bottlenose, humpback, together with minke whales. You tin can larn to a greater extent than virtually whale watching inwards Akureyri here.
Where To Stay Around Akureyri
DAY 7: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall
Depending on how much fourth dimension you lot receive got left, you’ll either desire to caput direct for Reykjavik or drive about the Snæfellsnes Peninsula (sometimes called “Little Iceland”). I drove all nighttime inwards social club to brand fourth dimension for the peninsula.
Snæfellsnes is where you’ll uncovering Kirkjufellsfoss, the most photographed waterfall inwards Republic of Iceland but West of the town of Grundarfjörður.
Búðakirkja Black Church
One of my favorite things virtually Republic of Iceland is that’s it’s piece of cake to go out the hustle together with bustle of large metropolis life behind. Búðir fully embodies this feel of wonderful isolation past times having exclusively 2 structures inwards the entire hamlet: a hotel together with a tiny church building named Búðakirkja. This dark church building sits within a lava field, together with it also has a lot of greenish infinite behind it. Be careful non to autumn into whatever of the large holes that dot the grassy landscape.
Where To Stay On Snæfellsnes
DAY 8-10: Explore Reykjavik
If you lot made it dorsum to Reykjavik together with receive got a few to a greater extent than days to spare, there’s plenty to create inwards Iceland’s uppercase city! Reykjavik is a vibrant metropolis total of cool street-art, keen nightlife, modern architecture, together with interesting things to do.
Hallgrímskirkja Church
Iceland’s Hallgrímskirkja Church towers over Reykjavík together with is the tallest church building inwards the entire country. Naturally, this has made the expressionist architecture 1 of Iceland’s most pop tourist attractions. The 2 most noteworthy aspects of the church building are the beautifully detailed statue of Leif Eiríksson together with the huge, mechanical pipage organ. Make certain to accept the rear upwards to the transcend for some real cool views of the city.
Harpa Concert Hall
The drinking glass facade of this modern Icelandic edifice is genuinely impressive. Harpa Concert Hall is worth touring fifty-fifty if at that spot are no performances during your visit. But if you’re lucky, you lot may hold out able to pick out handgrip of 1 of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra’s weekly concerts there. At nighttime the whole edifice pulsates amongst colored lights, putting on a demo of its own.
Tjörnin Pond
This natural geothermal pond inwards the middle Reykjavik attracts geese, swans together with ducks year-round, along amongst picnicking families together with couples looking for a romantic walk. Locals telephone telephone the pond the “Biggest Bread Soup inwards the World” due to all the staff of life that’s offered to the birds. H5N1 piffling environmental tip is to offering seeds instead of bread, which is healthier for them.
The Blue Lagoon
While non technically inwards Reykjavik, you lot can’t see Republic of Iceland without a dip inwards the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon. It’s located virtually an hr away from the metropolis center, closer to the international airport. Visiting the lagoon is expensive, but worth it.
The Blue Lagoon is non REALLY a natural lagoon, it’s genuinely man-made using surplus H2O from the nearby geothermal powerplant. But bathing inwards the warm mineral-rich waters surrounded past times Iceland’s dramatic volcanic landscape is silent fun!
Tips For Driving The Ring Road
How Long Does It Take?
Seven days is the minimum, but you’ll hold out pushing it. In fact, I’d recommend at to the lowest degree 10 days together with then you lot don’t experience rushed together with receive got fourth dimension to relax, mayhap spending a few days inwards 1 spot. I also recommend saving a 24-hour interval or 2 to explore the uppercase metropolis of Reykjavik too.
Best Time To Visit Iceland
The best fourth dimension to see Iceland together with drive the Ring Road depends on what you’re after. For the best weather, the summertime high flavor of June, July, together with August is good. But the shoulder flavor of September & Oct has fewer tourists, shorter days, together with amend chances to consider the northern lights!
Bathrooms & Showers
How create you lot shower if you’re inwards a campervan? Well most towns receive got heated populace swimming pools that you lot tin can see for $3-$6 USD. Or, you lot tin can pay to utilization a shower at 1 of Iceland’s many campgrounds. Sponge-baths function too! Regular bathrooms are available at most tourist attractions, restaurants, together with gas stations.
Checking The Weather
Speaking of the weather, it changes chop-chop inwards Iceland. H5N1 sunny forenoon tin can easily plough into a whiteout blizzard. Bookmark the website Vegagerdin.is for real-time route conditions. There’s fifty-fifty a smartphone app.
Stay Safe Out There!
I recommend visiting the SafeTravel.is website to remain updated on Iceland’s weather, route conditions, together with accept their curt online driving essay out to brand certain you’re prepared for a condom & happy route trip.
Iceland is 1 of the most amazing countries I’ve ever visited, I call back you’ll experience the same means afterwards spending a calendar week driving the Ring Road! ★
Travel Video: Ring Road Adventures In Iceland!
(Click to sentinel Ring Road Adventures In Iceland! on YouTube)
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist you lot start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a move backpack, photographic tv camera gear, together with other useful move accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to uncovering deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I uncovering the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a keen site for comparison automobile prices to uncovering the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies. Also read my tips for driving inwards Iceland.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget move insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than virtually why you lot should ever send move insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Iceland
Suggested Reading: The Little Book Of Hidden People
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READ MORE FROM ICELAND
Driving Iceland’s Golden Circle
How To Photograph Iceland’s Northern Lights
Epic Republic of Iceland Photography Locations
Car Rental Driving Tips For Iceland
This Is How I’m Paid To Travel
Are you lot planning a trip to Iceland? Any questions virtually driving the band road? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
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