Renowned for its dramatic scenery, which includes towering glaciers, active volcanoes, and geothermal hot springs, Iceland has quickly become one of the world’s top travel destinations. When starting your Iceland travel planning, it is essential to understand what you want to see and how you will get around during your visit. In this guide, I lay out some of my initial planning steps in hopes of helping you with your future Iceland travel planning.

In addition to deciding what you want to see during your trip, you will need to figure out how long to plan your trip, how to get around when you are there, and what time of year it would be best to visit. The answers to these questions will largely depend on what you want to get out of your trip to Iceland. You can spend either days or weeks exploring this beautiful country and have an incredible trip either way. Hopefully, my planning guide helps you answer some of these important questions for your trip.

Deciding When to Visit

One of the most important decisions you will need to make as part of your Iceland travel planning is when to visit. There isn’t a singular answer to this question, as the best time to visit largely depends on the experiences you seek. For instance, the summer months from June to August offer nearly 24 hours of daylight, allowing for extensive exploration of the stunning landscapes. This includes the many incredible waterfalls, geysers, and volcanic terrains.

Conversely, if your goal is to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights, the winter months from late September to early April provide the best opportunities. However, these months also include much shorter days and much colder temperatures. Understanding these seasonal variations will help you tailor your itinerary to maximize your enjoyment of Iceland’s natural wonders.

My Trip

One of the toughest decisions I had to make when putting together my Iceland travel planning was when to visit. I didn’t want to visit during the peak summer months because of how busy it is and the unlikelihood of seeing the Northern Lights. Until late August, the sun doesn’t set in Iceland until after 10pm in the evening, which makes spotting the Northern Lights very difficult.

However, I also didn’t want to visit during the winter months when the days are super short and the landscape is covered by snow. I decided to target late August and early September in hopes that this shoulder period would give me both a chance to see the Northern Lights and allow me to get some epic landscape pictures.

Deciding What to See and How Long to Stay

Another important decision that you will need to make when doing your Iceland travel planning is how long to visit. To determine how long to stay, you need to decide on what you want to see during your visit. If you just want to see Reykjavík and the popular spots on the Golden Circle, you won’t need more than three days for your stay. This includes time to see the city, to visit the famed Blue Lagoon, and to tour the Golden Circle.

For those who’d like to see a bit more that Iceland has to offer, the Snafellsnes Peninsula and the Southwestern part of the country are popular spots to visit. Here, you will find more spectacular waterfalls, incredible ice caves, amazing lava fields, and an abundance of thrilling tours to enjoy. If you’d like to add stops to these regions, I would plan on staying in Iceland for a week.

Finally, for those who would like to see some of the less-visited areas of the country, a drive around the famed Ring Road may be what you are looking for. This incredible road trip takes you around the entire island nation, allowing you to visit the more remote West Fjords and East Fjords sections of the country. You’ll find fewer crowds and more amazing scenery as you complete this iconic road trip. However, to do this, you will want to extend your stay to at least ten days to see everything properly.

My Trip

When putting together my Iceland travel planning, I decided early on that I wanted to see as much of the country as possible. For that reason, I have planned to spend 10 full days exploring Iceland. I will spend three days exploring Reykjavík and the Golden Circle, and the rest of my stay driving the Ring Road. To break the trip up into logical sections, I have divided my time between the different regions of Iceland and outlined the trip on the map below.

Decide How to Get Around

Once you have decided when you plan to visit and what you want to see, you will need to decide how you will get around when visiting Iceland. The options for transportation vary widely, catering to different preferences and travel styles. For those who only plan to visit the Reykjavík area, the Snafellsnes Peninsula, or the Southwestern coast, you can easily book tours that include all of the transportation you will need.

However, if you plan to drive the Ring Road or would like more flexibility in getting around, renting a car is a popular option. The well-maintained road network allows travelers to access remote areas and scenic routes, such as the famous Golden Circle or the breathtaking South Coast. However, it is essential to be aware of the unique driving conditions in Iceland, including weather changes and gravel roads, which may require a vehicle equipped for such challenges.

Finally, for those who prefer not to drive and don’t want to book tours to see the sights, public transportation is another viable option. The bus system in Iceland is reliable and connects major towns and tourist sites, making it easier for travelers to reach popular destinations without the need for a personal vehicle.

My Trip

As part of my Iceland travel planning, I decided to rent a car when I visit. This will allow me to explore the more remote regions of Iceland at my own pace, which is something I very much enjoy. I do plan on taking several tours during my visit, included a whale watching cruise, an ice cave exploration adventure, and a visit to the Blue Lagoon. However, I will be getting around much of Iceland on my own by a rented vehicle.

My Iceland Itinerary Overview

Now that I have covered the different things you will want to consider when doing your Iceland travel planning, I will lay out more specific details of my planning. As I mentioned previously, I plan to visit Iceland for 10 full days, am planning on renting a vehicle during my stay, and plan to drive the entire Ring Road. For more detailed information, I have included a map of my itinerary and detailed planning sections for each day of my trip below.

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Day 1 Itinerary – Blue Lagoon and Reykjavík

On our first full day in Iceland, we plan on taking it easy for the most part as we arrive in the country early that morning. The plan is to visit the Blue Lagoon on the way from the airport to Reykjavík and then spend some time exploring the city. The idea is to not push ourselves too hard on the first day, as we will have a busy week ahead.

Day 2 Itinerary – Drive the Golden Circle

The second full day of our trip is when we really start to explore Iceland. On the agenda for this day is driving the iconic Golden Circle. This iconic driving route isn’t far from Reykjavík and takes you to some of Iceland’s most incredible sights. We have the option of booking a tour for the Golden Circle, but since we plan to have a vehicle during our entire stay, we are opting to drive the route ourselves.

Day 3 Itinerary – Tour the Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The third day of our trip will be an exciting one as we will start our drive around the iconic Ring Road. The first place on this legendary road trip that we will explore is the beautiful Snæfellsnes Peninsula. I put a considerable amount of effort into my Iceland travel planning for this day, as we will see breathtaking sights like the beautiful Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall.

Day 4 Itinerary – West Iceland

On the fourth day of our trip, we continue along the iconic Ring Road and head into northwest Iceland. It is another jam-packed day, as I identified a wide range of sights to see as part of my Iceland travel planning. Among the top destinations for the day are the incredible Hvitserkur Cliff, Iceland’s oldest church, and several beautiful lighthouses. For more information on this day’s agenda, please see the itinerary map I included below.

Day 5 Itinerary – North Iceland

Day 5 of our Iceland travel adventure is going to be an incredible one. Not only will we be seeing more of the iconic Ring Road, but we are also planning to do our first tour of the trip on this day. In addition to seeing the spectacular Goðafoss and Aldeyjarfoss Waterfalls, we plan on taking a whale watching tour off the coast of Northern Iceland from the town of Husavik. I am super excited because this will take us close to the Arctic Circle.

Day 6 Itinerary – North Iceland

After already spending several days exploring the famed Ring Road, we continue our adventure on this epic route on the sixth day of our Iceland adventure. Among other things, we plan on seeing the mysterious Arctic Henge, as well as the breathtaking Hengifoss and Dettifoss Waterfalls on this day. For more information on our plans for this day, please refer to the itinerary map I included in my Iceland travel planning guide below.

Day 7 Itinerary – East Fjords

On the seventh day of our Iceland travel adventure, we begin our way south on the Ring Road towards the iconic Eastern Fjords. I am very excited about this day, as there is a wealth of amazing things to see in this region of Iceland. This includes Borgarfjarðarhöfn and several sea cliffs where spotting puffins is common.

In addition to the wildlife, we also plan on seeing some ancient Icelandic petroglyphs, the wreck of a US WWII vessel, and a few more spectacular watefalls. For more detailed information on our agenda for the day, please see the itinerary map I included in this Iceland travel planning guide below.

Day 8 Itinerary – Southeast Iceland

The eighth day of our trip to Iceland is expected to be one of the most incredible days of our trip because of the region we will be visiting. With iconic sights such as Mulagljufur and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyons, the Svartifoss Waterfall, and the Eldhraun Lava Field, Southern Iceland is chock-full of breathtaking landscapes to explore. For more information on this epic travel day, please see the itinerary map I included in this Iceland travel planning guide below.

Day 9 Itinerary – Southwest Iceland

On our last day driving the iconic Ring Road, we will be finishing off our visit to Southern Iceland. And as you’d expect with this region, this day of our trip will be jam-packed with sightseeing. Between the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the Keldur and Laxabakki Turf Houses, and a tour of the Katla Ice Cave, there will be no shortage of excitement as we close out this epic Icelandic road trip.

Day 10 Itinerary – Reykjavík

This will be our last full day in Iceland and one that we plan to use to relax and prepare for our flight back home. We will spend some additional time seeing the sights around Reykjavík that we previously missed and also hope to try a few restaurants that are highly recommended in the city.

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