Iceland 10-Day Adventure: Your Ultimate Bucket List Itinerary

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Before we dig into all the stops that you’ll visit on your Iceland 10 day itinerary, here’s a few things to have in mind:

• This itinerary is pretty packed. It involves This means that you will need enough daylight to complete it, so the winter months (November through March) are not very suitable to go around Iceland’s Ring Road. Also – you can always skip a few points on it, just make sure you plan well. If they’re on the road, it won’t cost you any extra time to stop by and admire them!
• This itinerary involves over 40 hours of driving and 2600km+ distance! As you’re going around all of Iceland’s Ring Road, there are some detours that you’ll need to take for sure.
• You will need to rent a car or a motor home if you want to go around the Ring Road. There are some companies that offer to take you around, but it’s ridiculously expensive!
• There are only a couple of hikes and they’re not too tough. Most landmarks in this Iceland 10 day itinerary even have their own parking! There are some tougher hikes you can look up out there, but I have not included them, as for example, one includes going knee deep into a freezing river 🙁 
• You do need to be prepared for this trip! Here’s all you need to know before you visit Iceland in October. It includes some driving tips, packing tips and how much this trip can cost.
• Puffin and whale watching can only be done during the summer months (May-September), while glacier hikes and ice caving are only available October through April.
• If you’re visiting Iceland in months with darkness – always be on the lookout for Aurora! It’s never guaranteed that you’ll see it, but I am absolutely keeping my fingers crossed for you! 🙂
• Be prepared for a lot of hotel hopping for your Iceland 10 day itinerary – we slept in 7 hotels for 10 days! We stuck mainly to the budget options (actually, here AirBNB had more expensive options than Booking.com!), but we did pay an extra 10 or 20 EUR for a night or two, in order to have our own bathroom. Getting a motor home might not turn out to be cheaper, actually, but at least you won’t have to constantly carry your luggage around 🙂

Here’s a summary of all the stops that you will visit (pre-loaded Google Maps for every day are at the end of this article!) :

 

 

And this is how the stops on your Iceland sightseeing list look on the map. I’ve marked a yellow house for where you need to sleep, as well as waterfalls, towns and hikes with little icons:

 

 

Iceland is indeed full of things to see and thus it could be quite challenging to plan a trip entirely on your own. The Voyageurs Collection can create tailor-made holidays to Iceland where every detail is curated to you and your needs. Enjoy access to their additional services, including private transfers, local Concierge service, fast track through customs and more!

Iceland Packing List

Even if you visit during summer or spring, I would highly recommend that you take the following items:

• Camera – well, we can’t go to Iceland and not get a camera, right? 😁 My personal favorites that I always travel with are Sony A7III camera body and lenses Sony GM 14/1.8 and Sony 24-105 f/4.
• Waterproof shoes – we got rubber boots (like these DUNLOP rubber boots), but bear in mind they might keep moisture in. Also – get a pair that is 1-2 sizes larger! You will need waterproof shoes for a few hikes and waterfalls, as some places you’ll have to cross by water (like the Gljufrabui waterfall). We were also able to hike on top of a glacier with our rubber booths (with ice shoes on top, of course). The best waterproof membrane out there is called GORE-TEX, here is a great Gore-tex shoes model.
• Waterproof jacket and Waterproof pants – on top of those thermo layers. You’ll thank me later.
• Thermal socks – just in case, get 2 pairs of wool socks in addition to some normal pairs. In one of the days with super bad weather we had, we had to dry our socks at the car heater, as we didn’t have an extra pair!
• Thermal layers (pants/shirt) – layers are the most important in Iceland! At one moment, the weather might be super cold and windy, and then the next – sunny and pleasant.
• Gloves, scarf and a hat – they’re absolutely essential in any Iceland packing list
• Swimsuit – if you’re visiting the Blue Lagoon or our Lake Myvatn baths, you’ll need it! 🙂
• External battery – for your phone and camera. I personally LOVE my Anker power bank, it’s extremely durable unlike most cheaper ones.
• Don’t overpack – if you’re visiting Iceland for a week or longer, you’ll have a lot of hotel hopping and you’ll need to drag all the luggage with you at all times (even if it’s in the car). Try to plan for laundry rather than overpacking clothes. Take a few t-shirts and pants, you wouldn’t need to have one for each day you’re there.

Find my full Iceland packing list in my Amazon Storefront

Day 1 – The Golden Circle

Total driving time: 3h 15min

You can easily start your day #1 from your Iceland 10 day itinerary straight from the airport! Most flights arrive at Keflavik International airport early in the morning, and an afternoon is enough to explore the Golden Circle. It’s pretty close to Reykjavik and thus, pretty full with tourists, but it’s absolutely amazing!

#1 Thingvellir National Park

Driving time from Keflavik airport: 1h 15min
Category: hike, waterfall, natural wonder

Are you ready for your very first waterfall on your Iceland sightseeing quest?? Make Öxarárfoss waterfall your first stop from your nice relaxing walk around Thingvellir National Park!  After spending a few hours on the plane, pick up your car and go to Thingvellir. It’s a pretty nice walk (and it’s pretty much straight and back, so you won’t need to pick up a map at the visitor center). For about and hour or two, you can walk around almost all of Thingvellir, but if you have more time, this is the spot where you can snorkel between tectonic plates! Even if you choose not to do that, you will absolutely be taking photos every few meters, it’s so beautiful! Note there is a fee to visit Thingvellir – 750 ISK per vehicle.

Tip: This is where some Game of Thrones scenes  in Iceland were shot! And the one I’m talking about is not a spot beyond the wall – it’s the road to the Eyrie. You’ll totally recognize it once you reach it 🙂

 

#2 Bruarfoss

Driving time from Thingvellir: 45min
Category: hike, waterfall

Bruarfoss is one of the most stunning waterfalls you’ll visit during your Iceland 10 day itinerary. In the past it was possible to reach it more quickly, but now the owners of the land have closed this closer access for visitors. Thus, you will need to hike for about a total of 2 hours (with photo stops!), but it’s a very easy hike and it’s absolutely worth it. Along the way, you will also see two smaller waterfalls. The color of the waters of this waterfall is so unreal, you’ll think you might be in a movie! I’m sure this will become one of your favorite stops from your Iceland sightseeing bucket list <3

Tip: If you can’t visit Bruarfoss on your very first day due to less daylight, you can save it for one of your last days in Iceland. But don’t miss it!!!

#3 Geysir

Driving time from Bruarfoss: 15min
Category: natural wonder

Welcome to the geyser that gave the name to all, geysers around the world! Yep, Geysir was the first one to be described in a book and comes from Old Nordic (meaning “to gush”). Geysir is a super popular attraction on the Golden Circle in Iceland. It’s very easily accessible (thus, full with tourists), but the truth is you only need to stay a few minutes. Geysir erupts every 2-5 minutes in an gorgeous 70-meter explosion of boiling water. Don’t stand too close to it, follow the marked path 🙂

Tip: Bear in mind that in the past, Geysir’s eruptions have stopped for periods of time, sometimes even for a few years. It’s pretty unpredictable, but lately there haven’t really been such issues.

#4 Gullfoss

Driving time from Geysir: 15min
Category: waterfall

“What a waterfall!!” will certainly be your reaction when you reach Gullfoss! It’s one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Iceland and has two viewing platforms – one from above and one from below. Personally, I was so aghast by the lower platform, that I didn’t even feel the need to go higher.

Tip: As this is an indeed powerful waterfall, beware of water droplets when you’re near it, especially when it’s windy!

 

#5 Kerid Crater

Driving time from Gullfoss: 45min
Category: natural wonder

It was extremely windy in that area when we visited, so don’t forget your scarf, hat and gloves when you get out of the car! We were even wondering if it’s at all worth it to go all the way down to the crater itself. Luckily, it was much less windy at the bottom (like a natural “shelter”), so you should absolutely go down, it will only take you about 10 minutes or so.

Tip: You have to pay a small fee (400 ISK – about 2 EUR) to see the Kerid Crater. 

Where to stay on day #1: Selfoss

Driving time from Kerid Crater: 15min

Whew, you’ve finally reached the first of 7 accommodations of your Iceland 10 day itinerary. I must say, this was one of my favorites of all the places we stayed in Iceland – Selfoss apartments had super hot mineral water running straight from the shower! For a second there I thought I was at the SPA <3 

Day 2 – Southern Coast

Total driving time: 3h 30min

Day 2 of our Iceland 10 day itinerary was really my favorite. We had extremely bad weather (terrible wind + rain), so we only managed to go through the first 3 stops. However, I fell so much in love with even these first 3 stops, that on our 10th day we went all the way back to the South Coast from Reykjavik and visited all stops again 🙂 You can never know with Icelandic weather while sightseeing in Iceland – it can be clear and then a minute later – pretty terrible. It’s mostly luck, to be honest!

#1 Seljalandsfoss – the 360° waterfall

Driving time from Selfoss: 1 hour
Category: waterfall

This is one of the most instagrammable places on Iceland’s Ring Road! You can go all the way behind it and look at it from all sides. Luckily, you’ll find restrooms here, but be sure to pay your parking fee.

Tip: It’s super splashy behind Seljalandsfoss, so take good care of your camera and be patient to take a good shot. Get a very wide-angle lens, if you can, for the perfect shot behind the waterfall.

#2 Gljufrabui

Driving time from Seljalandsfoss: none, 5-10min walk
Category: waterfall

Once you enjoy Seljalandsfoss, you’ll be thinking “Naah, nothing else can impress me today!”. Well, you’ll be so wrong. Gljufrabui is just amazing and it’s a hidden gem, as it’s kind of hard to reach. Just take a left (when facing Seljalandsfoss) and walk for a bit, you’ll see a sign. You’ll need to go inside a cliff while waking into the waters of this waterfall. It’s not far – just a few meters inside and you’ll see it! You get right in front of the waterfall, so be prepared for splashing. It was extremely hard for me to take a shot here – the 14mm lens helped, but I couldn’t get a shot without water drops on it! 🙂 Patience is key.

Tip: Wear waterproof rubber boots. You’ll thank me later.

#3 Skógafoss

Driving time from Seljalandsfoss: 30 minutes
Category: waterfall

If you’re lucky enough to have sunny weather when you visit Skógafoss on your Iceland 10 day itinerary, you’re very likely to see a rainbow at its bottom! 🙂 As most waterfalls in Iceland, if you get too close, you’re likely to get a bit wet. Don’t hesitate and go up to the viewing platform, the view is so worth it! You can even stop to grab a bite, as there are a few guesthouses and restaurants in the area. Or, you know, you can be as thrifty as possible and just stop for a cup of coffee, then have sandwiches in the car 🙂

Tip: This is a super popular shooting location for many movies an TV shows! And yep, there’s even a Game of Thrones scene here – from last season. Can you guess which one? 🙂

#4 Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

Driving time from Skógafoss: 15 minutes
Category: hike, curious

I’ll be perfectly honest with you guys – even though this is a super instagrammable and popular spot in Iceland, I was rather disappointed by it… Not that it’s that bad, it’s just everything else in Iceland is too amazing! You’ll need a bit of time here – in order to reach the plane wreck, you need to hike for about 45 minutes each way. However, there is also a small shuttle bus that can save you some time – it costs 2900 ISK for a return ticket and it takes about 10 minutes to take you to the plane wreck. 

Tip: Please – don’t be the one to break the rules and climb on top of the plane. Respect Iceland and its rules.

#5 Dyrhólaey

Driving time from Solheimasandur: 15 minutes
Category: viewpoint

To get up to the viewpoint of Dyrhólaey, I’d recommend getting a 4×4 vehicle. It’s absolutely beautiful to go up there and see the black sand beach and the arch from above! A few scenes from season 2 of Lost in Space were shot on this beach 🙂

#6 Reynisfjara

Driving time from Dyrhólaey: 15 minutes
Category: black sand beach

Once you’ve explored Dyrhólaey and its viewpoint, you can head to the very famous Reynisfjara. It’s easily accessible, so it’s likely to be full of people when you visit. It’s gorgeous, though, and another popular movie location! Game of Throne’s “Eastwatch-by-the-sea” episode was shot here 🙂 You will instantly recognize the signature rocks of this Iceland sightseeing spot!

#7 Vik

Driving time from Reynisfjara: 15 minutes
Category: town

One last stop before you finish off your spectacular second day from your Iceland 10 day itinerary – the town of Vik. You can have dinner here or use it for grocery shopping, as there aren’t really any large supermarkets where you’ll be sleeping tonight.

 

It’s a pretty tight itinerary for day 2, but in case you have time and finish early – visit Fjadrargljufur Canyon! We didn’t really have time for it, but it has amazing views and a short hike with two main trails – one with an upper viewpoint and one with a lower one.

Where to stay on day #2: Skaftárhreppur

Driving time from Vik: 1 hour

We chose to stay at Hörgsland Guesthouse on our second day. Even though there were cheaper options around the area, we thought that the extra 15-20 EUR we’d pay would be compensated by the included breakfast. The kitchen is shared, but you can opt in for your own bathroom here, which is great!

Day 3 – Skaftafell & Jokursalon

Total driving time: 3 hours

Day 3 of your Iceland 10 day itinerary will only involve 1 waterfall, but it’s just so exciting! Start early and plan for half your day in Skaftafell. At least! Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe and you’ll be going around it’s South side today.

#1 Skaftafell

Driving time from Skaftárhreppur: 1 hour
Category: hike, national park, glacier

Skaftafell is pretty huge, and you can even spend a whole day here. But still – plan for 4-6 hours. If you’re visiting between October and April, you should absolutely do a morning glacier hike and explore a few ice caves in Iceland! It was not as hard as I expected, but definitely more beautiful than in the photos. Totally thrilling! And don’t forget – you should book your spot for a glacier hike at least a month or two before.

After you’re done with the glacier hike, take a quick break and do another hike – this time to the breathtaking waterfall Svartifoss! The hike to this waterfall is a bit tough a times (you go up and then you go down), but the paths are clearly marked and you won’t need a guided tour. You can absolutely make it on your own! In case you’re looking for more hiking opportunities here, check out this detailed post on Skaftafell hiking.

#2 Fjallsárlón

Driving time from Skaftafell: 45 minutes
Category: glacier lagoon

Even though the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón is larger and more famous, this one is cuter and has less tourists visit it! It’s a true hidden gem on your Iceland 10 day itinerary! Spend a few minutes, take some photos, and head to the next stop.

#3 Diamond Beach

Driving time from Fjallsárlón: 15 minutes
Category: black sand beach

When you visit Jökulsárlón, don’t miss the Diamond beach! You might get distracted by the lagoon itself, walking around taking in all the beauty. But this is a place where it’s even worth taking a tripod for – it’s a short walk, so it won’t be too heavy. I’m putting in a separate point for it, as it’s quite a signature place for Iceland sightseeing.

#4 Jökulsárlón

Driving time from Diamond Beach: none, walking distance
Category: glacier lagoon

It’s truly amazing when you first see this glacier lagoon! It’s just so photogenic. If you have time, I’d recommend taking a boat tour around it – it’s quite scenic and you’ll be able to see the glacier pieces up close 🙂

Where to stay on day #3: Höfn

Driving time from Jökulsárlón: 1 hour

For our 3rd night, we chose a relatively budget option – Hotel Jökull. The only issue with it is that it had a shared bathroom, but it was so neat and clean, that it’s quite a bargain for this price!

Day 4 – Eastern Fjords

Total driving time: 6h 15min

You will have lots of driving on day 4, so try to get some proper rest after the exhausting but thrilling day 3. You’re in for some unique sights today as well!

#1 Stokksnes

Driving time from Höfn: 30 minutes
Category: natural wonder

If you manage to go to bed early the previous night, do try to get an early start. Your first stop should be the Stokksnes peninsula. It has so many opportunities for the perfect shot, that you’ll fall in love! It’s also a perfect area to enjoy an Icelandinc sunrise.

#2 Vestrahorn Mountain

Driving time from Stokksnes: 5 minutes
Category: natural wonder

You’ll also hear people call this “The Batman Mountain”. Unfortunately, on day 4 of our Iceland 10 day itinerary, the weather was quite unpleasant and access to Vestahorn and part of Stokksnes was closed. Otherwise, you’ll often see spectacular shots with reflections from this area.

#3 Lækjavik

Driving time from Vestrahorn: 1 hour
Category: viewpoint, black sand beach

This is one of the beaches that is also sometimes featured in movies shot in Iceland! We didn’t originally include this viewpoint in our Iceland 10 day itinerary – we just randomly saw some parked cars near the road and decided to stop. And even though the weather was not good at all – still managed to catch a few shots and enjoy the view.

Tip: When you see more than 4 cars parked near the road – stop! It’s always worth it 🙂

#4 Djúpivogur

Driving time from Lækjavik: 45 minutes
Category: town

As you’ve been on the road for quite a while, Djúpivogur is a nice little town to stop by for a break, cup of coffee or even lunch. It’s quite small, but it’s a great opportunity to gas up, at least!

#5 Skriduklaustur

Driving time from Djúpivogur: 2h 45min
Category: town

Another cute small town on your Iceland 10 day itinerary – don’t forget to gas up again and try their famous cake buffet! You’ll need some subsistence before a gorgeous hike to Hengifoss waterfall.

#6 Hengifoss

Driving time from Skriduklaustur: none, walking distance
Category: waterfall

Nope, today is not the day you’ll miss seeing a waterfall in Iceland! 🙂 The entire hike will be about 1.5 hours, so make sure you have enough daylight left to do it. The path starts right next to the cake buffet, but if you’re not sure, just ask around. The hike is a bit tough at times, but the waterfall is quite pretty.

#7 Seydisfjordur

Driving time from Hengifoss: 1 hour
Category: town

Even though we missed this town because of the non-stop rain and wind that day, its photos totally reminded me of small towns in Norway. Its scenic blue church, the Gufu waterfall nearby as well as the rainbow road in the town are totally worth taking a quick stroll. 

Where to stay on day #4: Egilsstaðir

Driving time from Seydisfjordur: 30 minutes

Whew, 4th hotel in 4 days? Yep, but it’s the last one you’ll spend only 1 night in, so stay tough! We chose Ormurinn Guesthouse, which was not that bad. We stayed at a guest house with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The main thing I didn’t like there were our roomies – they were cooking super smelly dishes and the whole house smelled for hours 🙁 They’re also pretty strict about their check-in and check-out times, so stick to them. 

Day 5 – Northern Iceland

Total driving time: 6h 15min

11 stops?? Wow! I know day 5 of your Iceland 10 day itinerary seems impossible, but take a look below – most stops are just 5-10 minutes away from each other! Lake Mývatn has quite a few places to discover. In fact, two popular scenes from Game of Thrones were shot here! 🙂

#1 Stuðlagil Canyon

Driving time from Egilsstaðir: 1 hour
Category: natural wonder

Before you reach Lake Mývatn, you have two important stops. As we visited Iceland in October, I was quite devastated we had to miss the first one (we wouldn’t have enough daylight, unfortunately!). BUT if you decide to skip Mývatn Nature Baths (even though they’re quire worth it!), you should absolutely visit the Stuðlagil Canyon.

There are two options when it comes to this canyon – a scenic hike (about 4km each way) with an amazing waterfall halfway through, or going by car – you will go directly into the canyon near the river below. If you decide to go by car, drive to farm Grund and follow the narrow path – it’s only about 5 minutes, but there’s a downward slope that can get slippery, so be careful! For hiking information, check out this post.

#2 Dettifoss

Driving time from Stuðlagil: 1h 45min
Category: waterfall

Dettifoss is claimed to be the most powerful waterfall in Iceland! You will indeed be convinced once you see it. There are two options (and roads) to see it. Dettifoss’s Western side (take Route 862) is easier to reach, as the road is much better, but it offers a bit more obstructed view of the waterfall. We did choose the Eastern side (Route 864) – it’s a more open view, but it takes a bit more time to reach, as the road is mostly gravel. But hey, we didn’t go to Iceland to take all the easy roads, did we?? 🙂

#3 Skútustaðahreppur Pseudo Craters

Driving time from Dettifoss: 1h 15min
Category: natural wonder

Yay! Welcome to the stunning Lake Mývatn! First stop – something you can’t ever pronounce 🙂 If you’ve chosen to see and even hike around the Stuðlagil Canyon, I’d recommend skipping this stop on yourIceland 10 day itinerary. Otherwise, you can take a nice 30-60 minute walk around the craters and enjoy the scenic views! These craters are called “pseudo” craters, since they were formed by two volcanic eruptions over 2,000 years ago.

#4 Hofdi

Driving time from Skútustaðahreppur: 5 min
Category: natural wonder

Much less driving is better, right? Well, behold – the wonder of the Hofdi peninsula are the pillars of rocks that are halfway underwater. Get off, snap a few clicks, enjoy the view and head to your next stop.

#5 Dimmuborgir Lava Fields

Driving time from Hofdi: 5 min
Category: lava fields

Even though there were quite a few lava fields around Iceland, these are a bit more unique, as the formations are pretty high up! If you visit during the summer months, I’m sure you’ll get an even more spectacular view, as the trees will be all green.

#6 Grjótagjá cave

Driving time from Dimmuborgir: 10 min
Category: natural wonder

Aaand welcome to the *drumroll* love nest of Jon and Ygritte! Yep, this is where they “fell in love”! 🙂 The cave is pretty amazing, but it’s a bit tough to get into, as you have to get through the two openings. In addition, please, be quick and careful, as after all – it’s a cave, so it could be dangerous. I’d also advise you to go ABOVE the cave – the view of the tiny landslide is pretty cool.

Tip: take your most wide and fast lens you have! This photo was shot with 14mm/2.8 and it was even hard with it 🙂

#7 Mývatn Nature Baths

Driving time from Grjótagjá cave: 5 min
Category: SPA

If you’re loving the Blue Lagoon, you will absolutely love Mývatn Nature Baths! There are two things that are better here than at the Blue Lagoon – it’s twice as cheap and there are fewer people there. As it’s sooo far out from Reykjavik, it’s not so popular (I had never heard of it before our trip to Iceland!), but it’s just as amazing. Okay, maybe it’s a bit smaller, but it’s just as full of great photo opportunities as the Blue Lagoon. I’d advise you to choose one of the two before your trip – either the Blue Lagoon or Mývatn Nature Baths. It will help you decide and be better prepared on your Iceland 10 day itinerary.

#8 Hverir

Driving time from Mývatn Baths: 5 min
Category: natural wonder

If you catch a very cold day in Iceland, you’ll be sooo happy to stop by Hverir! The geothermal vents are quite hot, though, I couldn’t stand in them for more than a second. They just offer so many perfect, perfect photo opportunities, just be patient for less people to be around 🙂 Don’t forget to stay away from the boiling mud pits, though! You’ll see warning signs everywhere and some of them point out that the temperature of the water can reach 100° C!

Tip: another Game of Thrones famous scene here – the opening of season 3, where Sam is battling through a “blizzard”. Well, this “blizzard” was actually the steam from the vents!

#9 Viti Crater

Driving time from Hverir: 10 min
Category: natural wonder

Viti Crater was absolutely stunning! Unlike the pseudo craters, this one was filled with turquoise water and was amazing. It will easily become on of your favorite Iceland sightseeing spots not just at Lake Mývatn, but in your whole Iceland 10 day itinerary!

#10 Leirhnjukur Pool

Driving time from Viti: 5 min
Category: natural pool

Whew, last stop near Lake Mývatn! Leirhnjukur shows you yet another beauty of this geothermal area – a brightly colored gorgeous pool! Just follow the wooden path and in 10-15 min you’ll reach a platform to enjoy an almost bird’s eye view of the pool.

#11 Goðafoss Waterfall

Driving time from Leirhnjukur: 1 hour
Category: waterfall

As we almost started the day with a waterfall, let’s finish off our day 5 with one too! We managed to catch this waterfall just before dark and it was so perfect in the blue hour. If it’s already dark when you’re in the area, I’d suggest to skip this stop, as it’s pretty dark around it.

Where to stay on day #5: Akureyri

Driving time from Goðafoss: 30 min

This was one of the coziest places we stayed in while in Iceland – FE Accommodation. The prices were pretty low and I was surprised and even a bit concerned, but I booked anyway. It was warm, we had our own bathroom, a super cozy bed and even a table with some chairs. It was pretty neat and clean and the location within Akureyri was perfect. The only actual surprise for us here was that we weren’t allowed to use the kitchen (there was no sign or anything, so we did try to cook, but the appliances weren’t working). So I’d suggest leaving your stuff for the fridge in your car, rather than in the room. Despite this – I’d still rebook it if I had the chance, it was just so cozy!

Day 6 – Akureyri & Húsavík

Total driving time: 2h

It’s time to *almost* take a day off of driving! 

#1 Húsavík

Driving time from Akureyri: 1 hour
Category: whale watching, town

If you’re visiting Iceland in the summer (between May and October), you should absolutely go to a whale and puffin watching tour in Húsavík! Don’t forget to book it in advance, though. Húsavík is only an hour away from Akureyri, so definitely not too far. 

#2 Botanical Garden Akureyri

Driving time from Húsavík: 1 hour
Category: park

After you’re done with one of the most curious stops on your Iceland 10 day itinerary, it’s time for a nice walk around town. Akureyri offers tons of cute photo spots and the botanical garden is quite pretty. You can use the day for some proper grocery shopping, too. If you feel like you don’t need to rest much or can’t do the whale watching tour, you can go up to Hlíðarfjall to enjoy the view of the city from above, and you can also visit Saurbæjarkirkja – a black house with a grass roof. They’re both within 20-30 minutes driving from the city.

Where to stay on day #6: Akureyri

Yay, no changing accommodations tonight! Same as previous night – stay at FE Accommodation.

Day 7 – Western Iceland

Total driving time: 7 hours

After a nice break on day 6, it’s time for your last super large stretch of driving. There are much fewer stops today as a whole, so don’t forget to gas up at every opportunity and have some food with you on the road!

#1 Glaumbær Farm & Museum

Driving time from Akureyri: 1h 15min
Category: curious landmark

Your first stop on day 7 of your Iceland 10 day itinerary are these cute, cute houses with grass roofs. It’s a quick stop, to be honest, but make sure you use the restroom, as your next stop is quite far out.

#2 Grábrók Crater

Driving time from Glaumbær: 2h 30min
Category: natural wonder

Grábrók is a really cool volcano to visit! After you’ve spent over 2 hours in the car, it’s time to stretch your legs up the viewing platform. It was extremely windy when we visited (no rain at least, though), so just in case – take your hat, scarf and gloves. 

#3 Deildartunguhver Hot Springs

Driving time from Grábrók: 30 min
Category: hot springs

If you didn’t have enough on your previous day and you already miss the hot springs – now you’ll visit Europe’s most powerful hot springs! They’re so, so large that they even heat up some of the neighboring towns, so don’t miss this stop on your Iceland sightseeing bucket list 🙂

#4 Hraunfossar

Driving time from Deildartunguhver: 30 min
Category: waterfall

The name of these waterfalls that are wide almost 1 kilometer actually means “lava waterfall”. And indeed, it has so many streams that it reminds of volcanic lava! You’ll find a viewing platform pretty close to the parking, but there is also another spot to see it from nearby. 

#5 Barnafossar

Driving time from Hraunfossar: none, walking distance
Category: waterfall

Once you’ve enjoyed Hraunfossar, it’s time to walk to the right (along the marked path) and see Barnafossar as well! It’s not a very conventional waterfall, as it has many rapids and bursts. It’s name translated to “Children’s waterfall” because of a legend that surrounds it – that two children slipped and fell here. Despite its tragic supposed history, it’s quite pretty to enjoy!

Where to stay on day #7: Ólafsvík

Driving time from Barnafossar: 2h 15min

On your way to your accommodation for day 7, you’ll probably pass by Kirkjufell (it’s gonna be your first stop tomorrow!). If there aren’t too many people around and you still have daylight left – stop and enjoy it! Then head to Bikers Paradise – the best rated accommodation nearby! We loved that guesthouse, it has 4 bedrooms and 2 shared bathrooms (not too bad). Super clean, organized and the kitchen cabinets even had little labels on them, so you know where to look. Our room was a bit small, but the kitchen and living room were spacious and great to relax in.

Day 8 – Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Total driving time: 3 hours

They call Snaefellsnes Peninsula “Little Iceland”. And it’s true – if you only have a week or so to visit Iceland, I’d recommend spending a day or two here. I loved the views and the variety – there’s a little bit of everything on this small peninsula. 

#1 Kirkjufellsfoss

Driving time from Ólafsvík: 15 min
Category: waterfall, natural wonder

This waterfall and the mountain, Kirjufell, are a dream-come-true for every photographer. For me too! You’ll see many, many photographers with tripods shooting here. If you have a tripod – don’t forget it! Do look around and try every angle, you’ll see that there are endless possibilities for the perfect shot 🙂 Do you remember this mountain from Game of Thrones?? This is the “arrow-shaped mountain” that the Hound saw in his vision.

Tip: Try to go very early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

#2 Bjarnarfoss

Driving time from Kirkjufellsfoss: 25 min
Category: waterfall

Bjarnarfoss was such a pretty waterfall and the best thing was – there were almost no people around! It’s not a super popular spot from your Iceland 10 day itinerary, but I guarantee that you’ll love it just as much as your other stops for today.

#3 Búðakirkja Black Church

Driving time from Bjarnarfoss: 5 min
Category: curious landmark

And here it is – one of the most famous spots from your Iceland sightseeing list! There are likely to be many people here, but don’t get discouraged – I managed to find a very good angle with just a little patience. Spend a few minutes here and go to the next stop on your list.

#4 Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge

Driving time from Búðakirkja: 15 min
Category: natural wonder

Originally, I excluded the gorge from our Iceland sightseeing list. It honestly didn’t seem too amazing from the photos I saw. However, we were passing right by it, so we decided to stop. And thank goodness we did! It was pretty impressive to see in person, especially when you realize how huge it actually is. If you step inside you’ll be even more amazed and you should totally wait patiently your turn to take a photo 🙂

#5 Hellnar Hike

Driving time from Rauðfeldsgjá: 5 min
Category: viewpoint, hike

There’s another opportunity here for a very, very scenic hike. You can start at either Hellnar or Arnarstapi and the whole hike will take you between 2h 30min and 3h, depending on how much time you spend taking photos 🙂 You’ll walk along lava fields covered with moss and enjoy the beautiful rocky coast with high cliffs.

#6 Londrangar Viewpoint

Driving time from Hellnar: 5 min
Category:viewpoint

Ah, THAT viewpoint! I hadn’t seen it in popular photos from Iceland sightseeing before, but boy, did I fall in love. It’s so ridiculously photogenic and the kind people of Iceland have created what might just be the perfect viewing platform to enjoy this view.

#7 Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach

Driving time from Londrangar: 10 min
Category: black sand beach

This is another super famous location on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. And it will be the last black sand beach you’ll see during your Iceland 10 day itinerary! I didn’t mention it before, but when it comes to beaches in Iceland – try to stay away from the actual shore, don’t go too close to the waves. The waters might seem calm but it often happens that a stronger wave comes… and can take your camera and shoes back with it :))

#8 Ytri Tunga

Driving time from Djúpalónssandur: 45 min
Category: sandy beach, seal watching

Most posts on Iceland you read out there will always advise you to “stay on the marked paths” when you’re in Iceland. And boy, did we learn this the hard way when we visited Ytri Tunga… We were walking on the proper path when we spotted some people that were on the cliffs perhaps about 20 meters from the seals. We had our rubber booths on, so we decided to be brave, walked through some mud and some sea grass and finally climbed on the cliffs. Watching the seals, making fun of how chubby they were, enjoying the fact that there was no wind.. it was idyllic! Well, it was time for us to go back. The trouble was – we had no freaking idea how exactly we reached the cliff! We started walking back on the rocks and slippery grass, but the water was certainly deeper. Did a tide actually come along for the 20 minutes we spent on the cliff?! Yep, it totally did. So we were kind of “stranded” on this cliff, along with 5-6 other people. You can’t really see how deep the water is, so we followed what a few of the guys did – took of our pants and shoes and… started walking in the freezing water. It was over knee deep! When we finally managed to pass these mere 15-20 meters of water, we couldn’t feel our legs at all.

So… yeah. Please always follow the marked paths in Iceland! It turns out, sometimes the tides in Iceland can even reach 3 meters…

Where to stay on day #8: Ólafsvík

Driving time from Ytri Tunga: 45 min

Be on the lookout when staying at  Bikers Paradise and Ólafsvík as a whole. It’s a very popular location in Iceland to see the Aurora!

Day 9 – Blue Lagoon & Southwest

Total driving time: 5h 45min

Perhaps you fell in love with Snaefellsnes and you don’t want to leave. But it’s almost time to fly back home! Day 9 is your last day of long driving and the last of exploring so much. Bear in mind that most of these places are pretty close to Reykjavik, so just like the Golden Circle, they’re likely to be packed with tourists. 

#1 Stykkishólmur

Driving time from Ólafsvík: 1 hour
Category: town

Compared to all waterfalls and natural wonders on your Iceland 10 day itinerary, towns are cute, but not that spectacular. Well, not THIS town! Account for at least 30 minutes here, go to the docks and climb up to the viewpoint – I absolutely loved the view from above. The cliffs are also quite impressive and unique, so I’m sure you won’t regret taking a small detour and visiting this Iceland sightseeing spot.

Tip: This little town was one of the shooting locations for “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”!

#2 Blue Lagoon

Driving time from Stykkishólmur: 2h 45min
Category: SPA

If you decided to skip Mývatn Nature Baths, you’ll now have another chance to enjoy the mineral pools of Iceland <3 However, bear in mind that you need to make a booking here at least 2 months in advance! You can absolutely just use their website, but it’s almost twice as expensive as Mývatn. We decided to skip the Blue Lagoon and enjoyed Mývatn instead 🙂 When you book for the Blue Lagoon, you will have a specific hour that your ticket will be valid for, so plan your day well. You’d still be able to stay as much as you want, though 🙂

#3 Reykjanesviti Lighthouse

Driving time from Blue Lagoon: 30 min
Category: lighthouse

Welcome to the oldest lighthouse in Iceland! In fact, it’s so old, that the cliff beneath it has started to erode a little bit, so a new structure is likely to be built within the next few years. Spend a bit of time here, take some shots, and go to your next stop on your Iceland 10 day itinerary.

#4 Krýsuvík & Seltún Geothermal Area

Driving time from Reykjanesviti: 45 min
Category: geothermal area

Just like around lake Mývatn, the area on this peninsula is a geothermal one. Thus, you will enjoy some more hot springs and beautiful sights around Krýsuvík. The landscape is a bit more red than the one you saw in the East, but it’s just as beautiful! As usual, stay away from the hot springs and follow the marked paths 🙂

Where to stay on day #9: Reykjavík

Driving time from Seltún: 45 min

Whew, it’s time for the very last accommodation on your Iceland sightseeing quest! There are many, many options to stay in Reykjavik, so take a look around Booking.com and choose the one you like the best. We chose Iceland Comfort Apartments – the rooms were quite nice, we had our own bathroom and it was neat and clean. The only issue we had here was that we hadn’t received our code for the building and key, so we had to call and wait for 15-20 minutes for a call back with the code. It was a rather unpleasant experience, but it was worth it for the comfy and spacious apartment. There were also two supermarkets right next to the flat, which was super convenient. 

Day 10 – Reykjavik

Time to Keflavik International Airport: 1 hour

Almost no driving today, yay! If you’re not spending a 10th night in Iceland, you’re probably going to want to go the airport pretty early (at least 3 hours, as you’d need to return your rental car and wait for their evaluation). You can either sleep in, or go for a walk around the city – there are still a few Iceland sightseeing stops that you can enjoy 🙂

#1 Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

You might not have time for a concert, but this is a pretty impressive glass structure! Stop by and take some very instagrammable shots with this marvel or modern art.

#2 Sun Voyager

Another instagrammable place in the capital of Iceland – it’s a sculpture of a viking ship! It’s right next to the water, so it’s a great spot for a pretty photograph.

#3 Hallgrimskirkja

We can’t miss the symbol of Rekjavik, now, can we? 🙂 This church is the very last stop on your Iceland 10 day itinerary. If you have time, pay the small entrance fee and climb on top of it. It has a spectacular bird’s eye view of the city! Afterwards, go take your luggage and head to the airport.

 

 

Whew! I know that this Iceland 10 day itinerary is pretty packed, but I advise you to try and visit everything! As the weather on day #2 of our visit was terrible, we skipped exploring Reykjavik and the area around it and went back there on day 9 🙂 The weather, as I mentioned, is unpredictable, so be mentally prepared that you will probably be forced to miss a few spots due to the weather conditions. But hey! That’ll be another perfect reason to go back to Iceland 🙂

Don’t forget to be well prepared for your trip to Iceland – check out this guide.

 

Pre-loaded Google Maps for your Iceland 10 day itinerary

Day 1: https://goo.gl/maps/uqGvZu83SDbjcAm59 (Thingvellir National Park, Bruarfoss, Geysir, Gullfoss, Kerid Crater, Selfoss)
Day 2: https://goo.gl/maps/eRvyr8Pp5Dr3kJYQ7 (Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, Skógafoss, Solheimasandur Plane Wreck, Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara, Vik, Skaftárhreppur)
Day 3: https://goo.gl/maps/p9LRDTmYCpvJHrvi7 (Skaftafell, Fjallsárlón, Diamond Beach, Jökulsárlón, Höfn)
Day 4: https://goo.gl/maps/WVGrpDdfPWm3GYxf9 (Stokksnes, Vestrahorn Mountain, Lækjavik, Djúpivogur, Skriduklaustur, Hengifoss, Seydisfjordur, Egilsstaðir)
Day 5: https://goo.gl/maps/7d8A9hTARFVwtQB99 (the last 3 stops are missing, as Google only allows for 10 entries 🙂 ) (stops: Dettifoss, Skútustaðahreppur, Hofdi, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá cave, Mývatn Nature Baths, Hverir, Viti Crater , Leirhnjukur, Goðafoss Waterfall, Akureyri)
Day 6: https://goo.gl/maps/H6gftrQWPKdATnnf9 (Húsavík, Botanical Garden Akureyri)
Day 7: https://goo.gl/maps/MyPJ93npGHszHW3Q9 (Glaumbær Farm & Museum, Grábrók Volcano, Deildartunguhver, Hraunfossar, Barnafossar, Ólafsvík)
Day 8: https://goo.gl/maps/7ziF7eERSPYMDfZY8 (Kirkjufellsfoss, Bjarnarfoss, Búðakirkja Black Church, Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, Hellnar View Point, Londrangar, Djúpalónssandur, Ytri Tunga, Ólafsvík)
Day 9: https://goo.gl/maps/de5kwCVmFxHrCcne8 (Stykkishólmur, Blue Lagoon, Reykjanesviti, Krýsuvík, Seltún Geothermal Area, Reykjavík)
Day 10: https://goo.gl/maps/31r9UPypU3RRFwkd8 (Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, Sun Voyager, Hallgrimskirkja)

Hotel booking helper

One of my greatest struggles when planning my Iceland 10 day itinerary was… booking the hotels! I was super afraid that I would mess up the dates or the sequence of places to book. So I’ll give you 1 precious tip first: if you’re booking your nightovers from Booking.com, the website itself will suggest your next stop below its top menu! It was super convenient for me, but here is a summary of all your hotels by days for your convenience:

Day 1: Selfoss – Stay at Selfoss Apartments
Day 2: Skaftárhreppur – Stay at Hörgsland Guesthouse
Day 3: Höfn – Stay at Hotel Jökull
Day 4: Egilsstaðir – Stay at Ormurinn Guesthouse
Day 5: Akureyri – Stay at FE Accommodation
Day 6: Akureyri – Stay at FE Accommodation
Day 7: Ólafsvík – Stay at Bikers Paradise
Day 8: Ólafsvík – Stay at Bikers Paradise
Day 9: Reykjavík – Stay at Iceland Comfort Apartments