7 Days in Iceland: Reykjavik, Golden Circle and the South Coast
Iceland, Iceland
Seven days is enough for Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and the south coast as far as the glacier lagoon, driven at a sane pace. Trying to add the Ring Road in the same week means seeing it all through a windscreen.
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June to August for midnight sun, open highland roads and puffins. Late September to March for northern lights, ice caves and much lower prices, with real weather risk on the roads.
Iceland is expensive: $350–$550 per day for two including a rental car, fuel, guesthouses and food. Cooking some meals and staying in guesthouses rather than hotels makes the biggest difference.
Rent a car and take the gravel-and-wind insurance seriously. Check road.is and vedur.is every morning in winter. An F-road-capable 4x4 is only needed for the highlands in summer.
Day-by-day itinerary
Reykjavik
- Morning
- Hallgrímskirkja tower for the city view, then the harbour.
- Afternoon
- Sun Voyager, Harpa and the old town on foot.
- Evening
- Dinner on Laugavegur and a swim at a neighbourhood geothermal pool.
Golden Circle
- Morning
- Þingvellir National Park and the continental rift walk.
- Afternoon
- Geysir and Gullfoss.
- Evening
- Stay near Selfoss or Hella.
South coast waterfalls
- Morning
- Seljalandsfoss and the hidden Gljúfrabúi behind it.
- Afternoon
- Skógafoss and the stairway to the top.
- Evening
- Vík — walk Reynisfjara black beach, well back from the water.
To the glacier lagoon
- Morning
- Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon on the way east.
- Afternoon
- Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach opposite.
- Evening
- Stay in Höfn and eat langoustine.
Glacier day
- Morning
- Guided glacier walk or an ice-cave tour in winter — never unguided.
- Afternoon
- Drive back west, stopping at Svartifoss in Skaftafell.
- Evening
- Overnight around Vík.
Back towards Reykjavik
- Morning
- Sólheimasandur plane wreck walk, or the Kerið crater if the weather is poor.
- Afternoon
- Reykjadalur hot river hike above Hveragerði.
- Evening
- Return to Reykjavik.
Blue Lagoon and out
- Morning
- Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon with a booked slot — it sits between the city and the airport.
- Afternoon
- Last coffee in town.
- Evening
- Flight home from Keflavík.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you see the northern lights in Iceland in summer?
No. The sky never gets dark enough between late May and early August. Aurora season runs roughly from September to April.
Is 7 days enough for Iceland?
It is enough for the south, which holds most of the famous sights. The full Ring Road needs 10 to 12 days to be enjoyable.
Do you need a 4x4 in Iceland?
Not for the Golden Circle and south coast on paved roads. You do need one for F-roads in the highlands, and it helps in winter.