The car travel route in Iceland

Are you going to Iceland? Then here you are!

Features of planning a car trip in Iceland and examples of routes.

Content:

• Is it worth taking a car for a trip to Iceland?
• The best time of the year for a car trip in Iceland
• Routes to travel around Iceland
• Iceland route by car for 3 days
  • The Blue Lagoon, the Golden Ring and the South Coast
• Iceland route by car for 5 days
  • Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon, Golden Ring and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
• Iceland route by car for 7 days
  • Route - South and West Coast + Golden Ring
  • The Icelandic Ring Road
• Iceland route by car for 9 days or more
• More tour options

Is it worth taking a car for a trip to Iceland?

If this is your first time traveling to Iceland, then a car will be the most convenient way to travel around the country. You will be able to visit the most interesting sights with the least amount of effort.

 If you want to take one of the many hiking routes in the mountainous part of the country, then it may be more convenient for you to get to the beginning of the route by regular bus.

The advantages of a car when traveling in Iceland:

• easy access to all the most popular attractions
• price - for a company of 3-4 people, it will be cheaper than public transport or excursions from Reykjavik
• mobility - you can change the plan during the trip depending on the mood and weather. For example, you can go to hot springs instead of waterfalls.

Read useful information about choosing and renting a car, and the features of trips around Iceland here:

You don't need a car if:

• going on a trekking route - if the route is not circular, then it will be problematic to pick up the car from the starting point
• you don't have a driver - renting a car with a driver is expensive even by Icelandic standards
• You're going alone. In this case, one-day or multi-day excursions may be cheaper than renting a car.

The best time of the year for a car trip in Iceland

If you are traveling for the first time, it is better to do it in the summer season, when the weather is most favorable. The tourist season starts in July and ends in late August - early September.

Even in early June, some roads in the center of the island may be closed due to snow. And in the middle of September, the weather can already be too changeable and cold.

The summer season has only one disadvantage - a lot of tourists, and because of this, prices are higher.

Another very big plus of the summer season in Iceland is the polar day. The sun almost never sets below the horizon and shines for 20-22 hours a day. This means that there will be more time to visit the sights.

If you have already been to Iceland, and for example you want to see it from a completely different side, then you can go in winter. For example, to look at the northern lights and waterfalls covered with snow and ice.

Useful links:

Routes for traveling in Iceland

It all depends on how many days you have available and what you want to watch. Below we have described several ready-made options for trips of different duration. And you can choose what suits you, or adapt our version to suit your interests.

In this article, we will talk about routes that do not require four-wheel drive and special cross-country driving skills. The whole way goes along asphalt or good gravel roads.

Iceland route by car for 3 days

During this time, unfortunately, you will not have time to see even half of the main attractions. But make up your own idea of this wonderful country, and perhaps you will return here next time for a longer period.

In such a short time, you will not have time to drive far from Reykjavik, but fortunately there is something to see in the vicinity of the capital of Iceland:

The Blue Lagoon, the Golden Ring and the South Coast

Just a few minutes by car from Keflavik International Airport and you will find yourself in the famous Blue Lagoon, where you can easily defeat jetlag by diving into the soothing warm geothermal waters.

The next day is worth spending for a trip along the Golden Ring, where you will see the Thingvelir National Park, the geothermal area of the Big Geyser and the Gullfoss Waterfall.

However, you are free to change the route as you like. So, you can visit the Golden Ring on the first day, and leave the second one to conquer the Southern coast of Iceland.

In the south of Iceland, you will see waterfalls such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, and black beaches such as Reinisfjara, and finally find yourself in the glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon. This quiet lake filled with icebergs is considered a real jewel of Iceland, and it is definitely worth a visit. However, it is worth understanding that the lagoon is quite far away, and in order to do everything in time, you will not need to spend a lot of time on photos, but try to drive as far as possible in order to get back on time.

A route map with marked attractions:

Read more about the sights of this route here:

Iceland route by car for 5 days

In 5 days you can already see the capital of Iceland - Reykjavik, slowly drive through the sights of the Golden Ring and the southern coast of Iceland.

Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon, Golden Ring and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

A more relaxed and unhurried version of the 3-day tour, you can enjoy all the sights without haste. And go on a boat trip along the icy lagoon.

The first day is a visit to the Blue Lagoon and the sights of Reykjavik. You can also go on a whale safari from Reykjavik.

The second day - The Golden Ring - the Tingvelir Natural Park, the geothermal area of the Big Geyser and the Gullfoss Waterfall

The third and fourth days are the South Coast. The path will run past the famous glacier and Eyjafjallajokull volcano and the stunning waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. The highlight of the trip along the south coast will be the unearthly views of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where you can go sailing among huge icebergs by boat and walk along the Diamond Beach, where you will see a whole scattering of glacial fragments. 

The fifth day is the return to Reykjavik, if you did not have time to visit the Blue Lagoon, then you can do it on the way back.

Iceland route by car for 7 days

In seven days by car, you can already visit not only the southern coast, but also the western one. Where is the famous mountain-the Kirkjufell Church.

You can even try to drive around the entire island on the ring road, but you will have very little time for sightseeing. It is better to do such a circular route in 9 days or more.

Route - South and West Coast + Golden Ring

To the five-day route along the Golden Ring and the south of Iceland, another part of the west coast is added, where you can see not only Kirkjufell but also other beauties of the picturesque Snaifellsnes peninsula and the famous glacier on the Snaifellsjokull volcano. It is this volcano that is mentioned as the setting in Jules Verne's novel Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Route map with attractions:

The Icelandic Ring Road

The advantage of the ring road is that it passes through almost all the most important sights of Iceland.

In summer, the daylight hours in Iceland are very long, which is very beneficial for travelers. You can go on the road early in the morning, and finish the trip late in the evening – you will not need to try to "make it before dark."

One of the most interesting places in the north of Iceland is Lake Myvatn, which is surrounded by many geothermal zones, volcanoes and hot springs. No wonder it is included in the Diamond Ring of Iceland.

Route map around Iceland:

A detailed description of the weekly car route around Iceland can be found here (broken down by day):

Iceland route by car for 9 days or more

During this time, you can already drive slowly along the ring road around the island. On the way, you can visit interesting places, visit geothermal pools with hot water, and just admire nature.

However, it should be understood that it will not take 9 days, two weeks, or a month to visit all the most interesting sights. Just look at the map of the sights.

And this is even without entering the central mountainous part of the island, which requires an all-wheel drive car. Unfortunately, even the famous Colored Mountains are not available on a regular car.

More tour options

A large number of different tour options in Iceland can be found here:

https://guidetoiceland.is

You can choose the duration of the tour, what you want to see, and at what time of the year. There are a lot of options. Moreover, there is a detailed description of the tours and route maps. So, based on these data, you can create your own version of an independent trip to Iceland.

And if you don't want to fool yourself with booking cars, hotels and thinking through all the little things, then you can order a ready-made tour. You will be met at the airport, given a car, all necessary documents and route information. And you will be able to drive along the already planned route at your own pace.

If you have any questions about a car trip in Iceland, write in the comments, we will try to answer.