Marvelous 6 Day Iceland Roadtrip

Iceland is one of the most diverse and adventure filled countries in the world! The nature is drop dead gorgeous and mesmerizing. It’s quite a unique experience. The best way to travel to see the best of Iceland is by a campervan. So this definitely a jam packed, adventurous itinerary. You won’t be staying in hotels but campsites. Iceland can be an expensive country so renting a campervan will save you money on accommodations. It’s also a good idea to buy groceries to save by not eating out as much.

Try to get as early of a flight as possible so you can have the full day to explore! Renting a campervan in Iceland is the best way to see the whole country. There are countless of rental companies so it’s best to research to try and find the cheapest option. We rented with Campervan Reykjavik and had a great experience overall. Whichever company you decide to rent from, they will arrange a shuttle to pick you up from the airport and take you to the rental office. Iceland has one main road, Route 1, that encircles the whole island. This road is also known as the Ring Road. Most of the attractions are conveniently located nearby.

Your first stop will be the famous Blue Lagoon that Iceland is known for. I think it’s best to hit this right away as it’s close to the airport and you could probably use the spa to relax after your flight. Some attractions like the Blue Lagoon require a reservation ahead of time. Keep this in mind and book plenty of days before you even arrive to make sure you have your spot reserved. Also, factor in plenty of time to pick up your rental car. The Blue Lagoon has gained popularity in recent years but it was still one of my favorite places I visited so don’t let the crowds deter you. The earlier your reservation time, the less crowded it will be as well. Take your time and enjoy your free drink, silica mud mask, and of course the geothermal mineral-rich water. If you have extra time be sure to walk around the little trails they have outside before you leave. It was really neat to see the geothermal waters in their natural state.

Iceland has so many incredible and different types of waterfalls but this one in particular is cool because you can actually walk around the whole thing. This attraction is right off The Ring Road and has a parking lot where you will then walk a short 10 minutes to get up close to it. Be sure to wear a rain jacket as you will probably get splashed on while you gawk at this dramatic, 200-foot waterfall.

If you are visiting in the summer months when the days are longer then you should still have time to stop at this next waterfall just 30 mins away from Seljalandsfoss. Skógafoss is another large waterfall that you can walk right up to. They also have some stairs to a viewpoint where you can see the waterfall from the top, for a different perspective. This one is an epic waterfall that was even a filming backdrop for a scene on season 8 of Game of Thrones.

You cannot sleep just anywhere in Iceland. You need to stay at campsites. Luckily there are plenty located along the ring road. Skógar campsite is right next to Skogafoss but beware, the reviews aren’t great. It seems the facilities are not up to par but if you’re like me and just need a place to sleep for the night with low expectations then this place will work just fine. If you want something nicer, you can head towards Vik which is only 30 mins away to find some better campsites there. You may have to backtrack a little in the morning to get to the glacier but it’s totally doable.

Sólheimajökull Glacier is one of the two most popular glaciers in Iceland; being smaller than its counterpart – Vatnajökull Glacier. There are so many different types of glacier tours offered so the options are endless. If this is your first time on a glacier (like it was mine), it’s such a memorable experience! The view is amazing, it’s so massive that you feel so small, and just another example of mother nature’s powerful beauty. Make sure you also book a tour ahead of time for this attraction! Most of the tours include a glacier hike and/or ice climbing. If you want to be adventurous, I definitely recommend going for an ice climbing tour.

It’s a quick 30 min drive to get to your next destination and I guarantee it’s one of the cooler ones! Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach makes you feel like you’re on a different planet. The sand is beautiful and dark, the basalt columns give it a dramatic backdrop, and the ocean’s powerful waves make this an unbelievable place to visit. These columns are perfect to climb on and get some really great pictures. Be sure to also take a look at the jagged rock formations in the ocean, known as Reynisdrangar.

After visiting the black sand beach, make a pit stop to walk around the town of Vik. If you want to try some of the local cuisine this would be a good time for a quick lunch break. Depending on how long your glacier tour took and if you still have time in the day, I would suggest driving another hour and finding a campsite near Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. This way you’ll be close to your first attraction for day three. However, if you like Vik and want to relax for the rest of the day, this would also be a good place to camp for the night. You’ll just make the hour’s drive in the morning instead.

This is the campsite we stayed out much closer to the first attraction for tomorrow. It was a normal campsite. Not much to it but nice bathrooms with coin showers though.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon; another breathtaking attraction you don’t want to miss. It’s a gorgeous green canyon with waterfalls and a river flowing right through it. Iceland has so much natural beauty – it’ll certainly amaze you. This canyon has a few viewpoints and the parking lot is quite nearby so it won’t take you more than a 15 min walk to reach the first sight. Once you have spent enough time mesmerized by this view, it’s time to head to another waterfall.

You’ll continue driving on The Ring Road for about an hour and 15 mins before you reach the Skaftafell Nature Preserve. Here you will park your vehicle at the visitor center and start your hike up to Svartifoss. The hike is a rather easy to moderate 1-mile trail uphill which will take you about 45 mins one way. You’ll pass two other waterfalls on the way there which makes it an enjoyable hike. This waterfall is special in that it’s surrounded by those basalt columns we saw at the black sand beach. It makes for quite a gorgeous and different view from some of the other waterfalls in Iceland.

About a 45 min drive away, your next attraction is the stunning Jökulsárlón Iceberg Lagoon & Diamond Beach. I know I keep saying it but it’s because it’s true; Iceland is one of those rare, magical places that has such astonishing natural beauty where each attraction is better than the last. Here you are right by Vatnajökull Glacier which feeds into the iceberg lagoon – hence where it gets its name. This beautiful lagoon is filled with huge icebergs and the water is so clear and blue that it’s quite reflective. Here’s another spot where you feel like you’re on a different planet.

The Iceberg Lagoon feeds into the ocean and this is where you find Diamond Beach. Many of those icebergs break off and wash up on the black shore here. It truly looks like there’s diamond ice all across the beach. Here you also get to experience another rare black sand beach!

You can spend as much time here as you’d like. There are all kinds of tours here from kayaking to boat tours, to glacier hikes, ice climbing, and ice cave tours. Just make sure you book your tours ahead of time. You are already in Vatnajökull National Park and very close to the glacier. These two locations are pretty interchangeable depending on which one you visit first. I would recommend really looking into different tour companies and comparing all of the possible tours offered here for you to do. Or maybe you want to do a few. I would definitely recommend at least doing an ice cave tour. If I’m not mistaken, I believe this is the only glacier they offer ice cave tours at so take advantage of this opportunity. We booked our excursion through Arctic Adventures but there are many tour companies out there. They take you down into a gorgeous blue ice cave that almost feels like it’s melting around you. I’ve never done anything like this and it was such a unique and amazing experience.

Drive to Höfn for the night where there are plenty of campsites to choose from. We stayed at this campground. All the campgrounds are pretty much the same in Iceland. Since you’re staying and sleeping in the campervan anyway, all you really need is a place to park for the night.

From Höfn you’re going to start driving for about 2.5 hours to get to the town of Egilsstaðir. From here you can decide whether or not to take the detour to Seyðisfjörður or to just continue on The Ring Road to Stuðlagil Canyon. The town of Seyðisfjörður can be optionable if you are short on time. It’s about a 30 min detour from The Ring Road one way. Besides just the rainbow road, it’s a lovely little seaside town nestled in between fjords. The drive into the town was a gorgeous scenic route. That being said, I personally loved this little rainbow road leading up to a blue church. It’s a great place for some photos and there’s a small coffee shop nearby to grab a coffee and some pastries. I say it’s optionable because some people may not think the small rainbow road is worth the drive. It is up to you but I think if you have time, this town is a hidden gem to experience

From the town of Egilsstaðir, you will continue on the main road for about an hour until you get to Stuðlagil Canyon. Basalt columns tower on both sides of this canyon with a beautiful turquoise-blue river running down through it. There is an east and west side access to the canyon. The west side has a ton of stairs to walk down before you get to a platform for the viewpoint. The access to this one is much shorter (although way more stairs) but you don’t get to actually walk down into the canyon like you do on the east side – just make a note of this before you follow google maps to this side (like we did). The east-side access is much better. The hike is a little longer, maybe about 30-40 mins one way but it’s so worth it. You can walk straight down into the canyon and get beautiful photos.

Dettifoss waterfall is going to be the next stop on your 6 day Iceland Ring Road itinerary. This attraction holds the title of Europe’s most powerful waterfall. It’s a massive waterfall for sure. The hike isn’t very long from the parking lot, probably about 20 to 30 mins. There are a few viewpoints along the way as well. It’s a nice look into such a powerful force of nature and one of the biggest waterfalls on the island. Unfortunately now there is a lot of driving to get to the campground so you can start day 5 off right. You’ll have to drive about 6 hours so it’s been to try and start as early as possible as to not rush or drive super late.

Hopefully you make it to this campground before midnight so you have plenty of time to rest for tomorrow’s excursions.

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE The Golden Circle is a 140 mi (230km) circular road that starts and ends in Reykjavik. It takes about 3 hours to drive this route without any stops. The Golden Circle may be Iceland’s most popular route but I believe that is because of its proximity to Reykjavik, its short distance, and the possibility to see it all on a day trip. The top 3 attractions to see on The Golden Circle are Thingvellir National Park, The Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. This is what most people opt for instead of the ring road but we are doing it now on the last day on the road. THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK Thingvellir National Park is located between two tectonic plates which creates the rift valley that you’ll see. It’s known for being a place where you can walk between two continents – Europe and North America. There is also the option to go snorkeling in between this rift to see the tectonic plates up close. This is the only place in the world where you can do this. You need to book a tour in advance but they provide you with dry suits and everything else you will need

Your next stop is about 40 mins away and it is to see active geysers. Located in Haukadalur Valley, there are two geysers – the Great Geysir and Strokkur. The former seldom erupts but the latter erupts every 10 mins or so. You’ll likely get to see Strokkur erupt if you wait around long enough. Even besides these two geysers, this geothermal area is still a fun place to explore. You can see hot bubbling pools of water and steam coming out from everywhere.

If you haven’t had enough of waterfalls by now, Gullfoss waterfall is about a 10 min drive from the geothermal area. Gullfoss is another beautiful and powerful waterfall nestled in between a valley. Summer is the best time to visit this waterfall because you can walk right up to it and admire it from up close. During the winter months, there tends to be ice on the ground so you can’t get as close. Either way, it’s a nice waterfall to visit if you feel like you haven’t seen enough yet! If not, it’s just as easy to head back towards Reykjavik.

It’s about an hour and a half drive back to Reykjavik where you can now take the rest of the day to relax and explore the city. After being out in nature for 5 days, it’s nice to see the hustle and bustle of city life again. We rented an Airbnb for the last two nights in Reykjavik but you can either get a hotel or sleep in the campervan still!

Hallgrimskirkja church is a must-see and you won’t miss it judging from its height. Standing at over 240 feet tall as the tallest building in the city. Svartifoss was part of the inspiration when they built this church. They wanted to capture Iceland’s raw, natural beauty but in a modern way.

Reykjavik’s Rainbow Street is located on one of the main tourist walking streets in the center. You will likely come across it as you explore the city without even trying. However, if you want to find it, the easiest way is to walk straight down from the church. You will reach it shortly while you pass a bunch of cozy cafes, souvenir shops, and clothing stores. The street has been a permanent installment since 2019 when the city painted it for Reykjavik Pride. It stands for a celebration and support of inclusivity for LGBTQIA+ people. It since has become a popular representation of the city.

There are plenty of bars and local restaurants to try out. There is a fun and quirky bar if you want to experience a non-traditional Icelandic place. If you’re a fan of The Big Lebowski, then you’ll love this bar. It’s called Lebowski Bar and it’s filled with all sorts of amusing Lebowski memorabilia making it a whimsical and enjoyable atmosphere. They serve traditional American-style food like burgers and fries but you can try some local Icelandic beer instead if you don’t want any food.

Right on the waterfront is The Sun Voyager. It’s a popular steel sculpture meant to resemble ‘the bones’ of a Viking ship. It’s one of the main attractions in Reykjavik just after the church. Afterward, you can take a nice stroll along the waterfront

If you’re in the mood to try some local cuisine, there’s a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Icelandic Street Food which offers hearty Icelandic comfort food. The founder opened it using his grandmother’s recipes (including lamb soup) so that all visitors can try true Icelandic food for a more affordable price than dining out.

That completes this 6 day Iceland itinerary. It’s definitely jam packed but there’s so much beauty to see in Iceland that you don’t want to miss any of it! It’s totally worth the fast pace to see all the waterfalls and glaciers!