Iceland has a reputation for draining bank accounts. The reputation is half-earned.
Route 1, or Þjóðvegur 1, circles the entire country at roughly 828 miles (1,332 km). Ten days is enough to drive it at a comfortable pace, complete the full loop, and stop at the major highlights — the Golden Circle, South Coast waterfalls, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the Eastfjords, and North Iceland — with time for short hikes, tours, and scenic detours.
The car rental is non-negotiable, but it replaces the cost of guided tours. The waterfalls are free. The canyons are free. The lava fields are free. Where money disappears is at spas, restaurants, and accommodation in peak summer — and this itinerary tells you exactly where those costs are justified and where they are not.
This itinerary runs counterclockwise: south coast first, then east, north, west, and back to Reykjavík. The south coast is the most dramatic and densely packed stretch. Hit it when you are freshest. The north delivers solitude once you have had your fill of the tourist-heavy south.
Getting There and Renting a Car
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) sits about 50 km southwest of Reykjavík. Most transatlantic flights land here. Icelandair and Norse Atlantic fly direct from the US East Coast; budget carriers like PLAY offer competitive fares from several European cities.
A rental car is not optional. Most of the Ring Road is paved and well-maintained, but several of the best stops involve F-roads that legally require 4WD. Driving on F-roads with a 2WD vehicle voids your rental insurance entirely. Get the right vehicle before you leave Reykjavík.
Expect small cars around $40–$90 per day, mid-size cars $70–$140, and 4WD SUVs roughly $100–$220 depending on season and availability. For a 10-day summer Ring Road trip, budget $600–$1,000 for a standard rental. Book through Rentalcars.com to compare across the major Iceland agencies. Book as far in advance as possible — rental cars in Iceland sell out quickly in summer, and last-minute prices are brutal.
One important 2026 update: Iceland introduced a road tax in January 2026, set as a kilometer fee of 6.95 ISK. Rental companies collect it for you, most as a fixed daily fee of around 1,400–1,550 ISK (roughly $10–$11), while some charge based on the odometer at drop-off. Confirm which method your company uses before signing.
Also note: drivers on the main Ring Road may pass through the Vaðlaheiðargong Tunnel, located in the north of Iceland and extending 7.5 km. Payment is required online through the tunnel website, costing 1,500 ISK ($12) if paid within 3 hours of your trip.
Always check road conditions and weather forecasts before driving and allow extra time on longer travel days. road.is is the official source for real-time road conditions and closures in Iceland.
Day 1: Reykjavík
Arrive, pick up your rental car, and spend the day in Reykjavík before the road begins. Walk Laugavegur, the main shopping and dining street. Climb Hallgrímskirkja for the city view. Eat well because the food quality drops considerably once you leave the capital.
Skál! Kitchen and Bar is a solid mid-range Icelandic restaurant on Laugavegur, serving local small plates and a good selection of Icelandic beer. Expect to pay around 5,000–8,000 ISK ($37–$60) per person for food and drinks.
Where to Stay — Day 1: Kex Hostel is one of Reykjavík’s most well-known hostels, housed in a converted biscuit factory. It has a bar and roof terrace. Dormitory beds start around $45–$65 per night in summer.
Day 2: Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most famous tourist routes, built around three attractions: the historic Þingvellir National Park, the erupting Geysir geothermal area, and the waterfall Gullfoss. It is relentlessly popular, but with good reason. None of the three charge an entrance fee, and they are genuinely extraordinary.
Þingvellir is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates visibly separate and where Iceland’s parliament was founded in 930 AD. Geysir’s active vent, Strokkur, erupts every 5–10 minutes. Gullfoss drops 32 meters in two stages into a canyon that turns the surrounding air to mist.
Do the loop in sequence. Start at Þingvellir, move to Geysir, finish at Gullfoss. The entire circuit takes 4–5 hours of driving, plus however long you spend at each stop. Most people are done by early afternoon, which leaves time to reach your overnight in Hella or Hvolsvöllur.
Where to Stay — Day 2: Hotel Geysir sits directly next to the Geysir geothermal area. You can watch Strokkur erupt from the grounds. In summer, with near-24-hour daylight, that means watching it go off at 11pm without setting an alarm. Doubles start around $200–$280 per night.
Hotel Rangá in Hella is the trip’s justified splurge. Expect to pay $350–$500 per night. It sits right off the Ring Road, an hour and a half from the Golden Circle, and is positioned well for both the South Coast and the ice caves. The hotel runs a Northern Lights wake-up call service. Worth it once if the budget allows.
Day 3: South Coast Waterfalls and Reynisfjara
This is the most waterfall-dense day of the trip, and nearly all of it is free.
Both Seljalandsfoss and nearby Gljúfrabúi are free to visit, though you will pay for parking (1,000 ISK). Seljalandsfoss is a short walk from the car park; Gljúfrabúi is about five minutes further along the path, a hidden waterfall tucked inside a canyon. At Gljúfrabúi, you wade through stepping stones in a stream to reach a cathedral-like interior. Visiting both together takes 30–60 minutes.
Continue east to Skógafoss: bigger, louder, and just as good. Then continue to Reynisfjara, the famous black sand beach near Vík. The basalt columns. The roaring surf. The sneaker waves that kill people every year. Stay behind the safety markers and never turn your back on the water.
For dinner in Vík, Halldórsskáli is the best option in town. They recently expanded, adding more seating upstairs with views of Reynisfjara Beach. Staying overnight in Vík means you get the beach to yourself at 7am.
Where to Stay — Day 3: Vík Hostel sits in the village center. Clean, functional, and well-positioned for an early start toward Skaftafell. Dormitory beds from around $45 per night; private rooms from $120.
Day 4: Eldhraun, Skaftafell, and the Glacier
Drive the stretch between Vík and Skaftafell, which looks post-apocalyptic in the best way possible. Right off the Ring Road is Eldhraun lava field: the biggest lava flow in recorded history, from the Laki eruption of the late 1700s. Moss-covered, alien, and free.
Stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon if the trails are open (it periodically closes for restoration, so check conditions at road.is before detour). Then continue to Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park, where several glacier hiking and ice climbing tours depart throughout the day.
If you prefer hiking without a guide, Skaftafell offers trails ranging from short flat paths to full-day treks. The gentle trail to the Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue is manageable for most fitness levels and delivers views that justify the drive on their own.
Where to Stay — Day 4: Skaftafell Hostel is basic but well-located for glacier access. Dormitory beds from $40 per night. Book early; this area fills fast in summer.
Day 5: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
Jökulsárlón sits at the edge of Vatnajökull National Park, where icebergs from Europe’s largest glacier break off and drift across the lagoon’s blue-grey waters. The contrast of floating ice, black sand, and mountain views makes it one of the most photographed places in Iceland. Entry to the lagoon itself is free. Most visitors pay only for parking and any optional tours.
The boat tour lasts 30–40 minutes, with an English-speaking guide covering the lagoon’s formation and its accelerating rate of change. You taste ice estimated to be around a thousand years old. Watch for seals — many live in the lagoon, often swimming near the boats or resting on the icebergs. Book the amphibian boat tour through GetYourGuide. Tickets run around $60–$75 per person.
After the lagoon, cross the road to Diamond Beach. The same icebergs wash ashore here and rest on the black sand. The visual contrast is extraordinary and costs nothing.
The icebergs wash ashore on black sand. The contrast alone is worth the drive from Reykjavík.
Where to Stay — Day 5: Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon is the strongest option in this remote stretch. On-site restaurant and bar, free Wi-Fi, and several rooms with private hot tubs. Doubles from around $250–$340 per night. Book months in advance for summer.
Day 6: Höfn, Eastfjords, and Stuðlagil Canyon
Höfn is a small fishing town worth a night. The langoustines here are a regional specialty. Pakkhús restaurant serves them well and does not disappoint — order the langoustine soup and the grilled tails. Expect to pay $60–$90 per person for a full meal.
From Höfn, drive north through the Eastfjords. The road narrows, traffic thins, and the scenery shifts from glacial drama to quiet fjord villages with steep green walls dropping into calm water. This is Iceland without the crowds.
Stuðlagil Canyon is the detour that earns its distance. It is a basalt rock formation in a remote part of East Iceland, holding the country’s largest collection of hexagonal basalt columns. They rise up to 100 feet (30 meters) on both sides of the Jökla River, which runs a vivid turquoise for much of the year. The canyon was only accessible after a hydroelectric project in 2009 lowered the water level and revealed the columns.
No entrance fee. No queues on the scale of the South Coast. Take the Ring Road and turn south onto Road 923. After about 9 miles (14 km), you will reach a farm called Klaustursel with a free parking area. Cross the white bridge over the Jökla River, then take the path right for 2.5 miles until you reach the canyon.
Seyðisfjörður is widely regarded as the most beautiful town in Iceland, famous for its blue church and the painted Rainbow Road leading up to it. It has a genuinely creative, independent character that Egilsstaðir, the main service town in the east, simply does not.
Where to Stay — Day 6: Við Lónið Guesthouse in Höfn offers clean rooms with glacier views. Doubles from around $130–$180 per night. Alternatively, book accommodation in Egilsstaðir through Booking.com to position yourself for an early start toward Mývatn.
Day 7: Mývatn
Mývatn is easy to spend an entire day in, and most people try to rush through it. Don’t.
Visit the Mývatn Nature Baths (the quieter, cheaper alternative to the Blue Lagoon — tickets around $50 per person), walk through the Dimmuborgir lava field, hike to the top of Hverfjall crater, and stop at Grjótagjá Cave, the Game of Thrones filming location with a geothermally heated interior. Hverir, the geothermal field of bubbling mud pools and sulfur vents, sits just east of the lake and is free.
Do not skip Dettifoss on the way in or out. It is Europe’s most powerful waterfall by volume and entirely free to visit. The viewing platform on the eastern side requires a shorter walk and offers a head-on view of the falls.
For dinner, Vogafjós is a farm-to-table restaurant in the Mývatn region where you eat overlooking the cowshed. The lamb is locally sourced and the skyr cheesecake is one of the better desserts on the Ring Road.
Where to Stay — Day 7: Hótel Laxá sits on the edge of Lake Mývatn. Doubles from around $180–$260. Guesthouse Stöng offers budget beds from around $45 per night.
Day 8: Húsavík and Akureyri
Húsavík is Iceland’s whale watching capital. Peak season runs June through August, with near-certain humpback whale sightings on most tours. Tours run around $100–$120 per person and depart from the colorful harbor regularly. Book whale watching in Húsavík through GetYourGuide — North Sailing and Gentle Giants both operate out of the same harbor.
Puffins can be seen from early April through September, peak season being May to mid-August. Some whale watching boats also pass the puffin cliffs, which gives useful scale to what otherwise feels like a small, distant bird.
From Húsavík, drive 90 minutes south to Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city. It punches well above its size for food. Kaffi Ilmur is one of the oldest homes in Akureyri, now a café serving freshly baked Icelandic cakes and home-cooked meals. Walk up the stone steps to the yellow house and order the brown bread ice cream if it is on the menu.
Where to Stay — Day 8: Hafnarstræti Hostel offers capsule sleeping pods, a shared kitchen, a swimming pool, terrace, and garden in Akureyri’s city center. Beds from around $50 per night. Icelandair Hotel Akureyri offers mid-range doubles from $160–$220.
Day 9: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Dedicate the full day to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It is a two-hour drive from Akureyri and worth every minute.
Start in the town of Stykkishólmur, then move to Kirkjufell Mountain — the most photographed mountain in Iceland and the location used as Arrowhead Mountain in Game of Thrones. The waterfall at its base, Kirkjufellsfoss, photographs well from the bridge in the early morning before the tour buses arrive.
Push further into Snæfellsjökull National Park. The glacier-capped volcano at the peninsula’s tip, Snæfellsjökull, is the mountain Jules Verne sent his characters into in Journey to the Center of the Earth. The national park itself is free to enter. Djúpalónssandur beach, with its black pebbles and rusted shipwreck remnants, is one of the more atmospheric stops in Iceland and sees a fraction of the crowds the South Coast gets.
Where to Stay — Day 9: Hótel Búðir is a small, remote hotel at the edge of a lava field with direct views of the glacier. Doubles from $250–$380. Freezer Hostel in Hellissandur sits at the western tip of the peninsula and operates out of a converted community theater. Beds from around $50.
Day 10: Sky Lagoon and Final Night in Reykjavík
The drive back to Reykjavík from Snæfellsnes takes about two hours. Use the afternoon for Sky Lagoon, located 7km from the city center. It is a geothermal spa built into a cliff overlooking the North Atlantic. The seven-step ritual moves from a geothermal pool to a cold plunge, sauna, steam room, body scrub, and open-air infinity edge with ocean views. Tickets run around $60–$90 per person. Book Sky Lagoon in advance — it sells out in summer.
For the final dinner, The Fishmarket in Reykjavík is a modern Icelandic restaurant with an Asian-influenced menu, serving serious seafood and one of the better steaks in the city. It is expensive. It is worth it. Budget $80–$120 per person for a full dinner with wine.
Where to Stay — Day 10: Sand Hotel Reykjavík is a design hotel in the city center with doubles from $200–$320. For a budget close-out, Loft Hostel has a rooftop bar and central location, with beds from $45 and private rooms from $130.
Where to Stay Along the Ring Road
Hotel options along the Ring Road range from international-brand hotels in Reykjavík and Akureyri to small guesthouses and farm stays in remote areas. A standard double room at a decent hotel typically runs $160–$400 per night depending on location and season. Hotels in Iceland book up fast between June and August, and prices rise sharply the closer you get to your travel date.
Hostels are a genuinely good option along the Ring Road, not a fallback. Iceland’s hostels are generally well-maintained and offer both dormitory beds and private rooms. Prices start around $35–$45 per person per night but rise in summer. Search Ring Road hostels on Hostelworld and filter by private room if you want your own space without hotel pricing.
Guesthouses with kitchen facilities are worth prioritizing. Cooking your own breakfast and packing lunch for driving days cuts daily food costs considerably on a 10-day trip.
Where to Eat and Drink
In Reykjavík, expect to pay around 2,000–3,500 ISK ($15–$26) for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant. A three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant typically runs 12,000–18,000 ISK ($90–$135) for two people.
Outside the capital, food options thin out fast. Stock up in larger towns — Reykjavík, Selfoss, Vík, Akureyri — before long stretches. Bring sandwiches, skyr, fruit, and snacks for driving days. You may not pass another store or restaurant for hours.
Icelandic hot dogs (pylsur) cost around 800–900 ISK ($6–$7) at popular stands and at most petrol stations. They are lamb-based and genuinely good. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavík is the famous one, but the petrol station version on a long driving day is equally satisfying.
The Blue Lagoon has an overpriced restaurant. Skip it and eat in Reykjavík instead.
What to Skip
The Blue Lagoon is a popular, well-managed commercial spa, not a wild Icelandic hot pot. Tickets run $80–$120 per person and require advance booking. The milky blue water is silica-rich and genuinely relaxing, but the experience is essentially a crowded resort pool. If you are only doing one geothermal spa, make it Sky Lagoon or the Mývatn Nature Baths instead.
Skipping Þingvellir to save time is the most common Ring Road regret. The site is where the two tectonic plates meet, where Iceland’s parliament was founded, and where you can snorkel or dive in Silfra, one of the clearest bodies of water on Earth. It takes two hours to see properly. Give it two hours.
The Reykjavík tourist shops selling $60 puffin plush toys and Viking helmet magnets are all the same shop with different names. Walk straight through.
Getting Around
To experience Iceland’s Ring Road, a car is not optional. Many attractions can only be accessed by car, and without one you are limited to guided tours or Reykjavík day trips. Iceland’s public bus network does not cover most of the Ring Road at a pace or frequency that works for a 10-day loop.
Driving conditions on the Ring Road are generally manageable. The main roads are paved and well-maintained. Watch for single-lane bridges, gravel parking lots, and strong crosswinds. Iceland introduced a per-kilometer road tax in January 2026, collected by your rental company. Confirm before you leave whether it is included in your daily rate or charged at drop-off.
Most days on the Ring Road involve 2–4 hours of driving. A few days — particularly the South Coast and the stretch between North Iceland and Snæfellsnes — can push to 5–6 hours behind the wheel. Build in buffer. Iceland’s weather and a single worthwhile detour can add 90 minutes to any given day.
Pull completely off the road before stopping for photos. Pulling over halfway is a documented cause of accidents on the Ring Road, particularly on narrow sections.
Travel Tips
Check road conditions every morning at road.is before driving. Weather in Iceland can shift within an hour, and road closures happen without much warning, especially on mountain passes and highland routes.
Book accommodation, Blue Lagoon entry, and the Glacier Lagoon boat tour before you leave home. For popular spots like the Glacier Lagoon area, Vík, and Akureyri in peak summer, availability disappears weeks in advance.
Pack wind and waterproof layers regardless of season. Icelandic weather does not care about your summer itinerary. Even July days include wind, rain, and temperature drops at elevation.
Planning a trip to Iceland? Reach out at hello@outofmanhattan.com — happy to help with any questions before you go.
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