🌋 Iceland · printable plan
Iceland Ring Road in seven days: lagoons, glaciers, whales, and Snæfellsnes
By TopVacay @topvacay. Based on Jeannie’s itinerary on Iceland with a View. Written in our own words; not created or endorsed by them. Prices last checked 2026-10-28. Totals are estimates: $6,190 for 2 travelers.
Recomputed from the price lines stored on each trip. No live hotel, ticket, or airfare feed is connected.
Day by day
Day 1
Land at Keflavík, pick up the car, and soak at the Blue Lagoon. Then Laugavegur, an ice cream stop at Valdís, and a celebration dinner.
- Morning · Rental car: Blue Car Rental (7 days)
- Morning · Blue Lagoon spa entry
- Evening · Fish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn) dinner
- Overnight · Reykjavík guesthouse near Laugavegur
Day 2
The Golden Circle, then onto the Ring Road: walk behind Seljalandsfoss and swim in a hidden hot pool under a glacier.
- Morning · Golden Circle drive: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss
- Afternoon · Seljalandsfoss walk-behind waterfall
- Evening · Seljavallalaug hidden hot pool
- Overnight · Hotel Skógafoss
Day 3
South Coast waterfalls and black sand, then the canyon and a hike to Svartifoss in Skaftafell.
- Morning · Skógafoss and the stairs to the top
- Morning · Reynisfjara black sand beach and Dyrhólaey arch
- Afternoon · Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
- Evening · Svartifoss hike in Skaftafell
- Overnight · Hotel Skaftafell
Day 4
Her favorite day: icebergs at Jökulsárlón, then the fjord road east to Egilsstaðir. Watch the aurora forecast after dark.
- Morning · Jökulsárlón amphibian boat tour
- Overnight · Lake Hotel Egilsstaðir
Day 5
Lake Mývatn and its baths on the way to Húsavík. She suggests Dettifoss over the crater hike if you have time for one.
- Morning · Mývatn Nature Baths (Earth Lagoon) spa entry
- Afternoon · Húsavík Whale Museum
- Overnight · Fosshotel Húsavík
Day 6
Whale watching from Húsavík, Goðafoss on the way west, and an evening in Akureyri.
- Morning · Gentle Giants whale watching (GG1, oak boat)
- Afternoon · Goðafoss waterfall stop
- Overnight · Hotel Kea
Day 7
A long drive to Snæfellsnes: waffles at Fjöruhúsið in Hellnar, a horse ride, Stykkishólmur, then back to Reykjavík.
- Morning · Lýsuhóll short beach horse ride
- Afternoon · Stykkishólmur harbor town
- Overnight · Reykjavík guesthouse near Laugavegur
Packing
- Comfortable walking shoesThe plan is on foot more than in a car.
- Day bagA small bag holds the water, the layer, and the tickets.
- Light layerMuseums and evenings run cooler than the street.
- Compact umbrellaA short rain should not cancel the afternoon.
- Swim gearSeljavallalaug hidden hot pool is a water stop.
- Trail shoes and a layerFjaðrárgljúfur canyon is outside and uneven.
Reserve ahead
- American 1082day 1 once you set dates · Hold the seats before the fare you estimated moves.
- American 1554day 7 once you set dates · Hold the seats before the fare you estimated moves.
- Fish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn) dinnerday 1 once you set dates · Popular tables go early. Book the seating, then build the rest of the day around it.
- Reykjavík guesthouse near Laugavegurday 1 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Hotel Skógafossday 2 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Hotel Skaftafellday 3 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Lake Hotel Egilsstaðirday 4 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Fosshotel Húsavíkday 5 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Hotel Keaday 6 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.
- Reykjavík guesthouse near Laugavegurday 7 once you set dates · This is the room for that night. Reserve it before you count on the rate.