For most first-time visitors, 7 days is the sweet spot: enough for the Golden Circle, the South Coast as far as Jökulsárlón, and one more region such as Snæfellsnes. With 3 to 5 days, stay in the south-west. To drive the whole Ring Road without rushing you need at least 8 to 10 days, and two weeks lets you add the Westfjords or the highlands.
The short answer
Iceland looks small on the map, but the distances are long, the weather slows you down and you will want to stop every few kilometres. The right number of days depends on three things: which regions you want to see, the time of year, and whether you drive yourself or join tours.
- 1–2 days: Reykjavík, the Blue Lagoon and a Golden Circle day.
- 3 days: Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and a South Coast day.
- 5 days: the Golden Circle and the South Coast as far as Jökulsárlón.
- 7 days: the south as far as Jökulsárlón, plus Snæfellsnes or a slower pace with activities.
- 10 days: the full Ring Road at a comfortable pace.
- 14 days: the Ring Road plus the Westfjords or the highlands.
1 to 2 days: a stopover
With one or two days, base yourself in Reykjavík. Keflavík Airport is about 50 kilometres from the city, roughly 45 minutes by road, and the Blue Lagoon is on the way, so it is easy to fit in on arrival or departure day.
Spend one day walking around Reykjavík, with Hallgrímskirkja and Harpa, and the other on the Golden Circle. Our stopover guide and guide to arriving early have more ideas.
3 days: Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast
Three days works well for a long weekend or a stopover. Keep it simple and base yourself in Reykjavík, so you do not have to change hotels.
- Day 1 – Reykjavík: the old harbour, Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa and a lagoon soak in the evening.
- Day 2 – Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. Allow 6 to 8 hours with stops.
- Day 3 – South Coast: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Vík, then back to Reykjavík. It is a long day, so start early.
5 days: add Jökulsárlón
Five days lets you go further along the South Coast and stay a night or two in the south instead of racing back to Reykjavík each evening.
A good plan is one day in Reykjavík, one day on the Golden Circle, then three days along the South Coast: overnight near Vík, continue to Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón with Diamond Beach, and drive back west on the last day. Jökulsárlón is about 370 km from Reykjavík, so a day trip there and back is very long; it is much better as part of an overnight trip.
Add a glacier walk on Sólheimajökull or near Skaftafell, or an ice cave tour in winter. Our 2 Day South Coast Tour reaches Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón and the Diamond Beach with a night on the way and includes an ice cave visit. See our 4-day and 5-day tours and Jökulsárlón tours.
7 days: the most popular length
A week is what most first-time visitors choose, and for good reason. You can see the classic south-west without rushing and add one more region. There are three common ways to use it. If you want the first one planned for you, our 7-Day Self-Drive: South Coast & Glacier Lagoon comes with the car, hotels and a day-by-day plan.
- South Coast and Snæfellsnes: Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast to Jökulsárlón over five days, then a day on the Snæfellsnes peninsula to see Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi and the black beaches below Snæfellsjökull.
- South Coast at a slow pace: the same route with more nights in the south, a glacier hike, a visit to Þórsmörk or the Westman Islands in summer, or an ice cave and Northern Lights in winter.
- North Iceland by air: fly from Reykjavík to Akureyri (about 45 minutes) and spend two or three days around Mývatn, Goðafoss and Húsavík, with whale watching in summer.
10 days: the full Ring Road
Route 1, the Ring Road, circles the island for about 1,300 kilometres and is paved all the way. Driving time alone is well over 16 hours, and that is before any stops, walks or bad weather. With 8 to 10 days you can drive it at a comfortable pace, and with 10 you can also spend a day on Snæfellsnes. If you would rather not drive, our 8 Day Tour Around Iceland covers the Ring Road with a guide.
Most people drive anticlockwise, starting with the South Coast. After Jökulsárlón the road runs past Höfn and through the Eastfjords to Egilsstaðir, with a short detour to Stuðlagil or Hengifoss. In the north you have Dettifoss, Mývatn, Goðafoss and Akureyri, before the drive back to Reykjavík through West Iceland.
Aim for no more than 3 to 4 hours of driving on most days, and book your accommodation early in summer because rooms are limited outside the towns. See our Ring Road tours, including summer and winter options.
14 days: Ring Road plus the Westfjords or the highlands
Two weeks lets you slow down and add a remote region. The Westfjords are quiet and wild, with deep fjords, Dynjandi, the red sand at Rauðisandur and the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg, where puffins nest in summer. The roads are long and winding, and many are closed or difficult in winter, so this is mainly a summer trip. Plan at least three or four days for the region. See our Westfjords tours, including the 3 Day Westfjords Tour from Reykjavík.
In summer you can add the highlands instead. Most highland roads open from mid-June to mid-September, depending on snow. They need a 4×4 and include river crossings, and standard rental cars are not allowed on them. A guided tour to Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk or Askja removes the risk. See our highland tours and guide to hiking in Landmannalaugar.
How the season changes your plan
In summer, from about June to August, the days are very long and you can drive, hike and sightsee late into the evening. The highlands are open, and the Westfjords are easy to reach. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, so book early.
In winter the days are short. In Reykjavík the shortest day in December has just over 4 hours between sunrise and sunset, although twilight gives you close to 7 hours of usable light. Plan shorter driving days, fewer stops, and add a day or two of spare time for storms and road closures. A winter Ring Road trip is possible but needs more days than in summer and some confidence on icy roads. In return you get the Northern Lights and natural ice caves in Vatnajökull, usually from about November to March.
See our daylight hours guide and beginner's guide to Iceland for more on choosing a season.
Self-drive or guided tours
How you travel also decides how much you can fit in. A self-drive trip gives you the most freedom. A self-drive package comes with the car, a route planned for your number of days, and accommodation booked along the way, so you do not have to work out distances and find rooms yourself.
If you would rather not drive, a guided multi-day trip handles the transport and the timing, and your guide knows where to stop when the weather changes. Many travellers mix the two: a few days in Reykjavík with day tours, then a guided or self-drive trip around the country.
Browse tours by length: 2-day and 3-day tours, 4-day and 5-day tours and 6-day, 7-day and 8-day tours. Our travel packages and itineraries and private tours can also be built around your dates.
Tips for planning your days
- Do not plan every hour. Weather can close roads or cancel tours, so leave a spare half day or so, especially in winter.
- Avoid changing hotels every night. Two nights in one place gives you a day without packing.
- Keep your last day light and stay near the airport or in Reykjavík, so a delay does not make you miss your flight.
- Check the weather on vedur.is and road conditions on umferdin.is every day before you set off.
- Stay well back from the waves at Reynisfjara and other black sand beaches.
- Read our guide to common Iceland itinerary mistakes before you book.
Tours to book
If you already know how many days you have, these are good places to start.
- 3 Day Golden Circle & South Coast Tour: the classic three-day plan as a guided trip, so you can spend the time looking rather than driving.
- 7-Day Self-Drive: South Coast & Glacier Lagoon: a week in the south with the car, hotels and route arranged, the most popular trip length for first-time visitors.
- 8 Day Tour Around Iceland: the full Ring Road with a guide, for travellers with eight days or more.
Questions people ask
Is 7 days enough for Iceland?
Yes, for the south and west. A week covers Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, the South Coast to Jökulsárlón and one more region such as Snæfellsnes. It is not enough to drive the full Ring Road without long days in the car.
How many days do you need to drive the Ring Road?
At least 8 to 10 days in summer. The road is about 1,300 kilometres, and you will want time to stop along the way. In winter allow more days because of short daylight and weather.
Is 3 days in Iceland worth it?
Yes. With 3 days you can see Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast waterfalls and black beaches, especially if you join day tours or base yourself in the city.
How many days do you need for the Westfjords?
Plan at least three or four days for the Westfjords on top of the rest of your trip. The roads are long and winding, and the region is best visited in summer.
Do you need more days in Iceland in winter?
Usually, yes. Days are short and storms can close roads, so plan shorter driving days and keep a spare day or two.
