Iceland is one of my dream destinations in my bucket list. So, when we found a great seat sale going to Iceland, we booked our flight in a heartbeat. It turns out, booking that flight and deciding to rent a car were two of our best travel purchases ever. Driving around and getting lost in Iceland make an amazing adventure. Check this “5-Day Itinerary For An Epic Iceland Self-Drive Tour” and you might give in to your wanderlust!
Renting a 4×4 or a regular car
First of all, let’s clarify if you need to rent a 4×4 or if a regular car is enough. If you’re going to Iceland on summer (or at least not during winter) and you only plan to drive around the Ring Road, 4×4 is not needed. We drove a car on October and we were able to drive the Ring Road. However, your destinations will be limited to this area only. There are many gorgeous spots outside the Ring Road and most of them have to be driven using a 4×4.
If you are the adventurous type and would like to explore random areas, I highly recommend using a 4×4! During winter, a 4×4 is also highly recommended. It will put you at ease because it is safer and the roads in Iceland could get really challenging during winter season. Remember, it’s for your safety, convenience and freedom to drive at F-roads. You don’t have to worry about getting stuck or damaging your car because of the potholes and gravels!
Tip: For convenience, rent a car from Reykjavik airport. Find a car to rent here.
5-Day Itinerary For An Epic Iceland Self-Drive Tour
What I loved most about Iceland is the untouched beauty of nature. Even as we were driving through the roads of Iceland, the surroundings were surreal. Every moment is picture-perfect with the backdrop of mountains, cliffs, waterfalls and glaciers. Despite our short time in Iceland, we were able to explore 17 beautiful sights in the South Region and West Region.
*For a list of accommodations, click here. These are the accommodations we have tried and tested – from budget hostels to luxury design hotels.
DAY 1: BLUE LAGOON AND WEST COAST OF ICELAND
1 – BLUE LAGOON
Blue Lagoon is a famous geothermal spa in Iceland. It is popular for its unique bright blue hue, naturally-heated water and beneficial effects to the skin. Nothing feels better than getting a good sleep after spending time in Blue Lagoon. Every muscle in your body would be relaxed.
Read more about our Blue Lagoon experience and tips here.
This is the nearest attraction from the airport (Keflavik International Airport). For convenience, assign it as the first or last item in your itinerary.
Tip: Book the earliest slot or the last slot to avoid the crowd. There is no time limit so you can stay as long as you want.
ACCOMMODATION – GRUNDARFJORDUR HOSTEL
We stayed at Grundarfjordur Hostel on our first day because we wanted to see Kirkjufell mountain and other parts of the Western Region before exploring the more popular Southern Region.
The biggest advantage of staying at Grundarfjordur Hostel is having a beautiful view of the Kirkjufell mountain.
For dining options, there are a few restaurants around the area and a shared kitchen in the hostel. We wanted to maintain our budget so instead of eating out, we prepared our own meal at the hostel.
Tip: Request for a room that faces the Kirkjufell mountain.
The weather was uncooperative during the first two days of our trip. It rained endlessly! Our original itinerary for DAY 1 included the Gerduberg Cliffs. If you have the time, consider checking it out.
DAY 2: KIRKJUFELL MOUNTAIN AND GETTING LOST IN ICELAND
2 – KIRKJUFELL MOUNTAIN
The heavy rainfall continued until DAY 2. Despite our close proximity to Kirkjufell mountain, a thick fog was covering our view. Still, it was a beautiful sight to see.
This is how it should look like:
Getting lost in Iceland
Ok, you don’t need to include this in your itinerary but it’s definitely worth sharing. Our adventure to South Iceland was unexpected and terrifying. We were very dependent on Google Maps and obliviously followed the first and faster route it suggested. We were supposed to drive to the Gullfoss Waterfall from West Region.
Little did we know, our route included a couple of mountain roads passable only to 4×4 vehicles (aka F-road). You could only imagine how difficult it was to drive on the very narrow, uneven roads with loose gravel. The bad weather didn’t help. The wind in Iceland is extremely strong! We didn’t go far when we reached the F-road but it already felt like the scariest drive of our lives.
On the bright side, we were treated with some of Iceland’s gorgeous landscapes. Since it isn’t the usual route, we had the road all to ourselves – mountains after mountains with waterfalls in between.
Lesson learned, explore Iceland but know the limitations of your car and have a general idea of your route.
When we finally reached the main road, we decided to have a quick tour around Reykjavik instead.
3 – REYKJAVIK (CITY CENTER)
Roam around the downtown of Reykjavik and see its old city charm. It is filled with cobbled roads and colorful houses.
4 – HALLGRIMSKIRKJA CHURCH
The unique exterior design of the Hallgrímskirkja Church is said to have been inspired by basalt columns. Visit the basalt columns in Halsanefshellir and you will notice the striking resemblance.
ACCOMMODATION – 101 HOTEL IN REYJAVIK
101 Hotel is an elegant boutique hotel with a prime location at the city center. It is within walking distance to restaurants, shops, and other attractions.
Dinner at Messinn
Although Iceland has a wide range of delicacies like fermented shark, sheep head, whale meat and puffin, we decided to stick with a safer choice – fish!
We ordered the Pan-Fried Catfish and the Pan-Fried Arctic Char. Both tasted good with their crispy skin and fresh meat but the Pan-Fried Catfish definitely tasted better than the Pan-Fried Arctic Char. The Pan-Fried Catfish had a sweet, creamy, and very flavorful sauce which went well with the grapes and mushrooms. The sauce of the Pan-Fried Arctic Char was too light for our taste.
Tip: Don’t forget to try out the famous hotdogs in Iceland.
DAY 3: SELJALANDSFOSS, SKOGAFOSS, FOSS A SIDU, JOKULSARLON GLACIER LAGOON, AND DIAMOND BEACH
5 – SELJALANDSFOSS
Walk behind the waterfall, into the cave and experience Seljalandsfoss from a unique perspective.
Tip: You can also view the waterfalls at night. It has a spotlight that showcases the beauty of Seljalandsfoss at night. When we went there, we had the waterfalls all to ourselves.
Read more about the “Waterfalls of Iceland” here.
6 – SKOGAFOSS
Skogafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. View it from the top of the falls or at the base. You might even catch the rainbow created by the mist of the waterfalls and the sunshine.
Read more about the “Waterfalls of Iceland” here.
7 – FOSS A SIDU
This might be your first time to hear of Foss a Sidu. It is not popular like the previous waterfalls but its scenery is very charming. It is surrounded by beautiful trees, cliffs, and a little village.
Read more about the “Waterfalls of Iceland” here.
8 – JOKULSARLON GLACIER LAGOON
This is one of the most popular tourist spots for glacier lagoons in Iceland. You can join a boat tour for a closer encounter of the icebergs and glacier.
Read more about the “Glaciers of Iceland” here.
9 – DIAMOND BEACH
Right across the Ring Road from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is an easily accessible black sand beach called the Diamond Beach. Here you will see large beautiful ice crystals washed up at the shore.
Read more about the “Glaciers of Iceland” here.
ACCOMMODATION – FOSSHOTEL GLACIER LAGOON
This is one of our favorite stays in Iceland. Each room has a large window that displays the amazing Icelandic landscape. If you’re lucky and there are Northern Lights during your stay, you could easily watch it from the window.
DAY 4: FJALLSARLON GLACIER LAGOON, KVIAMYRARKAMBUR AND SVINAFELLSJOKULL GLACIER
We couldn’t get enough of the glaciers we’ve seen the previous day so we spent Day 4 driving to unfamiliar glacier lagoons. Now, these might not be as famous as Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon but some of them are even more stunning than Jokulsarlon.
10 – FJALLSARLON GLACIER LAGOON
The beauty of this landscape is unbelievable! The enormous glacier is surrounded by picturesque lake and mountains.
We chanced upon seeing it with the lake so still that a flawless reflection of the glacier and mountains appeared.
Read more about the “Glaciers in Iceland” here.
11 – KVIAMYRARKAMBUR
Several minutes from Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon is a small road entrance to Kviamyrarkambur.
From the parking, the glacier can hardly be seen. This might be the reason why most people skip this location. Unless you hike towards the glacier, you wouldn’t know that there is one inside the area.
Read more about the “Glaciers in Iceland” here.
12 – SVINAFELLSJOKULL GLACIER
Svinafellsjokull Glacier is also on top of my list. It was the closest we got to a glacier and the view is exceptional! You could immediately see the glacier with just a short hike from the parking.
A little further on the trail and we were able to get a closer look of the glacier on top of the mountain.
Tip: Driving to the parking is difficult for small vehicles because of the gravel road. You have to be extra careful if you are not driving a 4×4.
Read more about the “Glaciers in Iceland” here.
ACCOMMODATION – WELCOME GUESTHOUSE EDINBORG
Welcome Guesthouse Edinborg is extremely small and outdated but it has one of the best views. Right behind this simple inn is a beautiful mountain with a glacier.
13 – SELJALANDSFOSS AT NIGHT
On the hopes of seeing the Northern Lights, we decided to take a night drive to do our own Northern Lights tour! It’s DAY 4 and we still haven’t seen it. Long story short, we didn’t see the Northern Lights because of the clouds and full moon BUT we discovered that Seljalandsfoss can be viewed at night!
Read more about the “Waterfalls of Iceland” here.
DAY 5: KIRKJUFJARA BLACK SAND BEACH BY DYRHOLAEY, HALSANEFSHELLIR (BASALT COLUMN CAVE), GEYSIR, AND GULLFOSS
14 – KIRKJUFJARA BLACK SAND BEACH IN VIK
Even though it’s the second black sand beach in our itinerary, the view in Kirkjufjara is breathtaking.
You could hike the rock formations to see the coastline, giant waves and the famous arch that the sea has eroded.
15 – HALSANEFSHELLIR (BASALT COLUMN CAVE)
20 minutes away from Kirkjufjara Black Sand Beach is another famous Iceland attraction. Halsanefshellir is a natural wonder where you will find extraordinary sea caves formed by basalt columns, resembling organ pipes and the beautiful Hallgrímskirkja Church.
It is located at a black pebble beach called Reynisfjara.
It has a dark, dramatic scenery with wild, giant waves crashing on the shore.
Seeing the Kirkjufjara and Halsanefshellir are two highlights of our trip. If you are going to Iceland, I highly recommend including these to your itinerary BUT please be mindful of the warning signs. These areas are extremely dangerous.
16 – GEYSERS
Another astounding attraction in Iceland are the geysers, particularly the Strokkur (The Churn). Every 10 minutes or so, the geyser erupts with boiling water that can reach up to 30 meters. The whole cycle is fun to watch because of the anticipation.
My favorite part of the cycle is the graceful buildup of the bright blue water bubble before it suddenly shoots up to the sky.
The landscape and scenery surrounding the geysers are also amazing. There are mountains at the background, steam vents, colorful sulphurous mud pots, and the sun shining through the smoke of the steam vents and geysers.
Tip: Once the Strokkur makes the gurgling sound, get ready to see the eruption!
17 – GULLFOSS
This breathtaking waterfall is located on an enormous white river. Although its height is only half of Skogafoss, its massive size makes up for what it lacks in height.
The views are unbelievable but the best one is the view with the perfectly-etched canyon and the rising mist. It is so mesmerizing that I thought I could only find this in magazines!
ACCOMMODATION – Ion Adventure Hotel
Ion Adventure Hotel is a luxury design hotel with gorgeous interior decor. It is a great site to view the Northern Lights because of its isolated location.
Looking for a place to stay in Iceland?
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This looks so amazing. It’s now on my bucket list!
This looks absolutely breathtaking! Would you be willing to divulge (approximately) how much you spent on these 5 days of brilliance? I’m just trying to work out my own itinerary and budget for a trip to Iceland. Thanks!
Hi! It was around 1300 USD for the both of us plus our flights. 🙂 We used hotel points for 2 nights though so you might want to add $300 more to the budget. So excited for you!
Very helpful information, thanks for sharing! We are going to Iceland end of september!!
You’re welcome, Alyssa! 🙂 Safe travels!
Can I ask you what month you went in?! I’m curious to see if it was still difficult to drive in the summer (I hope not! I’m going now I’m august) or if you went in winter. We did not get a 4×4 and we are driving the entire Ring Road and were told we would be fine
Hi Jennifer! We went on October and February. If you’re going to Iceland on summer (or at least not during winter) and you only plan to drive around the Ring Road, 4×4 is not needed. We drove a car on October and we were able to drive the Ring Road. However, your destinations will be limited to that area only. There are many gorgeous spots outside the Ring Road and most of them have to be driven using a 4×4. If are the adventurous type and would like to explore random areas, I highly recommend using a 4×4. 🙂
Ohhh how luck you managed to get a good deal on the flights to Iceland – I have been keeping my eye out, but no luck so far. I totally would have done the same as you…get a hire care and drive around, get lost and explore beautiful Iceland. The Blue Lagoon does look amazing, does it get super busy though because I heard it’s become really popular? The landscapes that you got to explore looks insanely beautiful! Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon – holy wow! The reflection of the landscape from the water…amazing! And what a natural wonder Halsanefshellir is! Pinning this because I totally love this post!
Your photos are stunning! I’m visiting Iceland in July and I can’t wait! We’ll be there for 9 days though and are planning to head up a bit more north. I’m glad you mentioned that roads are hard to drive on depending on your car. I’ll keep this in mind for when I reserve my car rental.
I’ve been wanting to go to Iceland to do an epic road trip for a while. I always was a little intimidated by everything that I would “need” to check out, but your post has put that all to bed. I’ve pinned it for later because I’m DEFINITELY going to be referring back to this for my upcoming trip! I love how those little pieces of the glaciers have washed up onto shore! They really do look like diamonds against the dark ground!
Gosh a road trip around Iceland looks so amazing. Loved, loved your photos. The Blue Lagoon is so beautiful and I love the fall colors. Hummm, might be time to book that flight. Iceland Air does fly direct from Denver 🙂
This road trip itinerary is so detailed! There are so many beautiful sights in Iceland. I can’t believe the ice crystal is so clear and blue!! And the design of the Hallgrímskirkja Church is mindblowing!
Epic is the perfect word to describe Iceland. That land is like a poem of blue and green, a beautiful conversation between ice and water, sky and earth. More I read about Iceland more I am seduced by the idea to go there. Thanks to share this beautiful experience
Iceland is brimming with natural wonders and we believe there cannot be a better way to explore them than a self-drive tour. Your captures of the pristine nature of Iceland the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach looks so surreal and dreamy cant wait to experience all of this in person. Thanks for this itinerary bookmarked for our future trip.
I cannot get enough of Iceland pictures! I believe 5 days is wayyyy to less for this beautiful country and I plan to go for at least 10 when I do. Having said that, I can see that you managed to cover a lot in a short period of time and that’s really great! I’d love to get lost too in the middle of such beauty!
Iceland Self drive… Why not? Iceland is a dream. There is so much to fall in love with, the landscape, glaciers, lagoons, waterfalls and more.. I am waiting for a good deal. You did a great job in 5 days.
Awesome guide. I never made it to the blue lagoon , but Diamond Beach was one of my favorite stops !!