Iceland itinerary – 7 days of Fun!

Is the Iceland itinerary for  7 Days sufficient?

The answer is a Yes.  A week long period is good enough to enjoy  the many wonders, activities, adventures, and the natural and cultural delights that the island country on offer.

The Ring Road circles around the entire island, from one end to the other and back. Hence, a road trip (or a bus tour) is one of the best ways to check out the numerous beautiful attractions of Iceland.

Autumn and spring seasons do occur in Iceland, but summer and winter are more visible in the landscape and culture of the country. Winters commence between September and October, while summers begin in March.

The countryside is covered in a blanket of pristine white snow in the winters along with the luminescent dancing Northern Lights up above! Additionally, there is light for 24 hours. The Central Highlands cannot be accessed during the freezing winters, but travelers can enjoy a lot of adventures like ice cave exploration, snowboarding, and skiing, etc.

Some snow may still be present during the initial weeks of March. But the summer season perks up the energy of the local population and there are lots of events and festivities. The hiking paths across Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar valleys also become accessible.

Both seasons are fun times to visit Iceland. There are many tourists who visit Iceland during each of the seasons to experience the singular delights that each of the seasons has on offer.

Presented below is a 7 day itinerary for Iceland.

1. Day One

On the first day after arriving at the airport, you may visit the Blue Lagoon hot springs and check out the colorful sights and sounds of the capital city Reykjavik. Most planes typically land in the city in the morning and since the lagoon is close to the airport, most tourists tend to go directly from the airport to the lagoon. The hot springs are usually crowded from the morning till mid-afternoon. Hence, it is a better option to go to your hotel from the airport and then visit the Blue Lagoon later on in the evening.

You can leave your luggage at your hotel and take a tour of the city. Even though Reykjavik is the biggest city in Iceland, it is still a comparatively small city. Hence, it is possible to check out all the major attractions within a day. You can go shopping for memorabilia, check out the the Harpa Concert Hall, eat the local cuisine, discover the street art, go to the top of the largest cathedral in the country, Hallgrímskirkja, and get amazed by the panoramic views, and visit the steel boat sculpture called The Sun Voyager.

Visit the Blue Lagoon after an enjoyable dinner and some relaxation. There are different packages for visiting the lagoon. Certain packages come with free algae masks and drinks. Carry your own towels, slippers, and robes to save up on the rent. Also purchase the shuttle tickets along with the admission tickets. You may spend 2 to 3 hours in the hot springs, before heading back to the hotel; it’s the ideal end to a great first day in the country!

2. Day Two

Day Two can comprise of visits to Solheimasandur, the Golden Circle, and Waterfalls.

Leave the hotel early in the morning and head towards the Golden Circle. It is one of the most popular tourist hot spots and consists of the Haukadalur shooting geysers, the Pingviller National Park, volcanic craters, and the Gullfoss waterfall. You can tour the area for 2 to 3 hours and later settle down at a café for lunch. Then head out again to see more waterfalls.

 

During the exploration of the lands, you may also come across gorgeous Icelandic mini horses. They are pretty tame and have really fine hair, coat, and fur. The Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls drop down from over 190 feet and are a magnificent sight to behold. Tourists can climb to the top and get some unique views. You may also go to the back of ‘the wall of water’ of the waterfalls. Wear waterproof clothing in case you (or your gadgets) do not want to get wet.

End the day with a visit to the Solheimasandur airplane wreck site. The trek to the place is over 4.5 miles, but it is a fairly easy one. You may spend a few hours there before heading to the hotel for Icelandic pizza, homemade ice cream, burger, and sleep.

3. Day Three

Day Three can comprise of visits to Skaftafell, the black sand beach, and Jokulsarlon.

Begin day three of your Iceland itinerary by going to the distinctive black sand beach. You may spend a few hours there and then head to the Skaftafell National Park.

On the way to the park, you may come across varied attractions like the Laki lava fields. These fields stretch for miles and are covered with moss, thereby creating a surprising stunning landscape! You may also come across different species of plant life at the park. Then there is the gigantic rock in the center of a field with majestic mountains at the back and a serene pond in the foreground. The Skaftafell National Park is home to the Svartifoss waterfall. The hike to the waterfall is not easy, but it is worth the trip.

Jokulasarlon is a magical place where you can find blocks of glacial ice on beaches with black sand as well as shiny blue glaciers that float around in the waters. You will also get to see lots of seals frolicking around. It may be noted that the glaciers tend to melt away by the month of April. Hence the late winter months are the best time to see them. End the exploration just as the sun sets and go back to the comfort of your hotel room.

4. Day Four

Day Four can comprise of visits to all the places along the East Fjords coast, finally ending up at Myvatn.

Before you start the day-long drive to Myvatn, you can enjoy a hearty local Icelandic buffet breakfast, so as to begin the day on a ‘tasty’ note. You may then begin the drive along the coast of the East Fjords and stop at the places that seem interesting to you. One of the places that you can pull over is the Detifoss waterfalls. You may also stop at places near the ocean so that you can get mesmerized by the blue waters!

Djupivogur is a good place to stop for snacks or lunch. You may also fill up the tank in case you are on a road trip. Djupivogur is a quaint town with not more than 500 residents. You will enjoy the local hot dogs (or pylsurs), particularly with remoulade sauce and fried onions! The next stop for snacks can be the tiny city of Egilsstaðir. The drive up the mountains can be quite rough due to lack of barriers and gravel roads. Once you are at the top, the drive gets easier due to paved roads and spectacular surroundings enclosed in the embrace of untouched fresh snow!

You may reach Myvatn by late evening. The area is pretty secluded and happily silent. You can take a cabin as accommodation and wait up to get a glimpse of the mesmerizing and elusive Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) that paints its picture across the night sky.

5. Day Five

Day Five can comprise of visits to Godafoss, Hvammstangi, and Akureyri.

The Godafoss waterfall is located just next to the Ring Road. Hence, it can be easily accessed by all. The meaning of the name Godafess is ‘Waterfall of the Gods’! This waterfall is not as stunning as other waterfalls in Iceland, but it has a unique shape like a horseshoe which makes it interesting and worth a visit.

Later, you can do a pit stop at Akureyri for gas and food. It is the second biggest city in the country and has a population of over 17,900. It can be quite a strange experience to be in the urban atmosphere of Akureyri after wandering around the isolated landscapes and grand hillsides of the countryside for 4 days!

You may stop for the day at Hvammstangi and take shelter in your cottage accommodation. This area is famous for its seals. Visit the coast on the drive up to check out the jolly sea creatures. At night, if you are lucky, you may once again get to spot the bright Northern Lights doing their bewitching dance!

6. Day Six

Day Six can comprise of visits to Stykkisholmur and Holmavik.

Holmavik is located in the West Fjords. It has a few sights to see. You may then drive up to Isafjordur to check out some really wondrous natural attractions, great flora, and picturesque surroundings. You may then drive down the mountains to Stykkisholmur and stay for the night. Along the way, do not forget to stop the car and take photos of the gorgeous landscape with the stirring ocean waters being saluted by impressive mountains!

At the cabin, you may buy groceries from a local store and enjoy an outdoor grill and home-cooked meal.

7. Day Seven

Day Seven can comprise of visits to varied places in the Snaefellsness Peninsula like Kirkjufell and Hellnar, etc., before ending up back in Reykjavik at night.

The Snaefellsness Peninsula is like a mini Iceland and consists of amazing diversity in wildlife, pretty seaside towns, charming fishing villages, and distinctive landscapes! There is an abundance of un-spoilt natural beauty with volcanic craters, bird cliffs, black sand beaches, imposing mountains, and waterfalls.

You may get up early and drive to Kirkjufell mountain. It is also possible to hike up to the top. The name means ‘Church Mountain.’ The mountain is a hot spot for photographers, especially since it features the well known area from where one can watch the magic of the triple waterfalls.

You may then drive to the sea cliffs of Hellnar. Along the way you may be astounded by the powerful ocean waves lashing the coastline. The waves may appear to be creating a tsunami and can be a really compelling sight to see. You may also stop over at the some fishing villages like Arnarstapi or Hellnar fishing village, explore a few caves, and visit the Djúpalónssandur black pebbled beach.

Finally, take the road to the capital city. This part of the drive is not that picturesque, although the drive across the Hvalfjordur Tunnel can be thrilling. You may then sleep at the hotel before taking the flight back home in the morning.

 

Tips for travelers to Iceland

Listed below are some tips that will be helpful during your travels across Iceland:

• Cards are widely used across Iceland. Hence, try to keep as little cash as possible as cards can be used just about everywhere. As of mid 2018, the exchange rate is around 101 Icelandic Krona to 1 US dollar.
• It can be chilly all year round. Hence, dress in layers and pack appropriate clothing.
• Food is costly just about everywhere. Hence, try to find places where you can get more affordable breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You may also buy snacks from grocery stores where they are less expensive.
• Hostel accommodations are costlier as compared to the rest of the world. Research before choosing a hotel, hostel, AirBnB, or other accommodations!
• People who visit during the peak summer and winter seasons between June and August and December and February respectively should book the tours they desire in advance as they tend to get sold out pretty soon. Tours can be bus tours of the country, hop-on hop-off bus tours, full-day countryside exploration trips, walking tours, guided hikes, cave exploration trips, etc.
• The capital city is small and one can pretty much walk to anyplace. Taxis are expensive. You may take a FlyBus from the airport to the hotel and then walk to all other places within the city.