One week in Iceland

Welcome to Iceland, a land of breathtaking landscapes, fiery volcanoes, majestic glaciers, and enchanting folklore. If you’re seeking an otherworldly experience, look no further than this Nordic island nation. With its diverse array of natural wonders and unique cultural heritage, Iceland offers an unforgettable adventure for travelers seeking both serenity and excitement. It is truly a breathtaking and amazing country to visit and I am here to walk you through our one week journey in the land of fire and ice. Sit back and see why sights along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, The Golden Circle route, and The South Coast (Selfoss to Vik) in Iceland are worth the trip, along with a map to guide you. Let me show you how we spent one week on our Iceland roadtrip, with a rental car, in this itinerary.

Disclaimer: Links may contain affiliate links. This means I may get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.

Day 1 – Arrival

For our first trip to Iceland, we took a redeye flight to Reykjavik, Iceland via non-stop Delta flight. Once there, we picked up our rental car. An AWD did great for us during our mid-October trip, however, if you’re going in the winter, I would definitely consider a 4×4 rental car. An AWD or 4×4 is a good idea for most Iceland itineraries, if you plan to do a Iceland roadtrip itinerary with a car.

Our redeye flight landed 6:30 AM, Iceland time, so to us, it felt like 1:30 AM. Jet lag is one of the only downfalls to travel. Since we were not able to check into our airbnb until the afternoon, we planned to start our Iceland roadtrip itinerary with the Blue Lagoon. The lagoon itself was pretty surreal. We definitely felt like it was a little bit of a “tourist trap”, which I typically don’t like touristy, crowded places, but we enjoyed ourselves here. Even though we were jet lagged, I have to admit the water felt great, the mask was nice, and the drink was a good unwind from traveling. Personally, I would advise against the Blue Lagoon on arrival day, if you’re feeling jet lagged. Like I said, we enjoyed our experience, but would have appreciated it even more if we weren’t so exhausted from traveling.

Buy your tickets in advance for the Blue Lagoon, if you plan on adding that to your Iceland itinerary. I honestly don’t know if you would have issues getting in if you don’t pre-purchase, but I have read that you could. We didn’t want to take any chances, so we pre-purchased. Drinks were enjoyed at the swim-up bar and we relaxed with our mud masks. Many tourist will combine the Blue Lagoon with the Golden Circle sights on their Iceland itinerary.

A Product I love: Waterproof Phone Case

If you don’t have one already, I highly suggest adding a waterproof phone pouch to your Iceland packing list. This is a great way to have your phone on you (even in the Blue Lagoon) and have the capability to capture all the moments! It also came in handy when we saw sights along the South Coast of Iceland, like Seljalandsfoss, the waterfall you can walk under.

Here is a link to the Blue Lagoon, along with Sky and Secret Lagoons which are also great! All fun editions to your Iceland itinerary.

Our Rental Near Selfoss

We stayed in a vacation rental near Selfoss. On our way to our rental, we stopped to get groceries. In case you didn’t know, everything is expensive in Iceland! If you’re looking to save a little while you’re there, my advice would be to cook most of your own meals versus going out to eat. We bought groceries for most of our breakfasts and lunches. Since most of our days were spent adventuring, our plan of attack was to start our day with breakfast in our rental. We packed picnic style lunches because we ate mid-hike or on our drive from one adventure to another. However, even though restaurants are expensive in Iceland (being an island country everything has to be imported), the food is incredible, so don’t forget to taste the cuisine while you’re traveling your Iceland itinerary.

** Another hint as you plan for your trip to Iceland, if you wish to enjoy an adult beverage along your journey, be sure to buy your wine, beer or liquor duty free at the airport, upon arrival. The prices are much less.

Get a VRBO with a view and a hot tub. Our nightly hot tubs sits were a highlight on our Iceland itinerary. Here is the view from the rental we used our second trip.

Here are some other great rental options near the lovely town on Selfoss, which is a great base to tour the Golden Circle and South Coast sights on your Iceland itinerary.

Day 2 – The South Coast, Iceland Sights (Selfoss to Vik)

Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss

The second day of our Iceland itinerary was dedicated to Iceland’s a roadtrip down to the South Coast sights from Selfoss to Vik. Prepare to be awestruck by the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, their sheer beauty and power leaving an indelible impression. Seljalandsfoss was our first stop. I loved that you could walk behind the waterfall and soak in all angles of this natural beauty. Be sure you pack waterproof clothes and shoes as this waterfall can easily make you wet. Skogafoss is just simply majestic and powerful. These are the two most popular waterfalls that Iceland’s south coast has to offer.

Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

The next sight on our South Coast itinerary in Iceland was the The Sólheimasandur plane crash. (The Sólheimasandur plane crash is an abandoned United States Navy Douglas Dakota DC-3 aircraft wreckage on a black sand beach in Iceland. It crashed in 1973 after running out of fuel during a United States Navy operation, and miraculously, all crew members survived. The site has become a popular tourist attraction due to its remote and hauntingly beautiful location.) It was a long and very flat walk out to the wreck, about 4 miles, but it was so worth it! This sight is located on Iceland’s South Coast and if you travel from Selfoss to Vik, it’s worth a visit.

Black Sand Beach

A unique sight of the day is a visit to the otherworldly Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, with its eerie basalt column formations and dramatic coastal cliffs, which is along the South Coast between Selfoss and Vik. This is closer to the town of Vik which is a charming village located along Iceland’s southern coast. Vik was the final stop of the day. The South Coast of Iceland has so much raw beauty in all of its sights. It can’t be missed on your next trip to Iceland.

Vik

The beautiful town of Vik with Vik i Myrdal Church which is a great town to stop for lunch. If you make Vik your halfway point and don’t plan on seeing more sights, it will be about an hour and forty minute drive back to Selfoss.

Here is a more in depth look at sights along the South Coast of Iceland and map, check out my South Coast post for more information.

Day 3 – The Golden Circle Sights in Iceland and a Hot springs Hike – with Route Map

On day three, we set off on the famous self-driven Golden Circle tour, a route that takes you through some of Iceland’s most iconic natural wonders, as can be seen on the map. We started at the Kerid Crater, since this sight is close to the VRBO we rented along the Golden Circle in Iceland. For a more in-depth look at the Golden Circle sights in Iceland, read my blog post about the Golden Circle.

Fridheimar Tomato Farm – A Great Place for Lunch

A highlight is the Fridheimar Tomato Farm. This beautiful restaurant is located inside the greenhouse where they grow the tomatoes. You can see its location on the Golden Circle of Iceland map. The menu is a tomato based menu. You can get all-you-can-eat tomato soup and bread or you can choose a delicious meal. My daughter and I split Ravioli and we each got the soup buffet. I had a tomato beer and we finished with tomato cheesecake. A basil plant sat on each table with a scissors to clip your own fresh basil. how amazing is that?! Make a reservation ASAP if you decide you want to go here, it fills up fast.

As you can tell, Fridheimar is easily a favorite stop on the Golden Circle of Iceland route map.

Continuing on, the next sights to take in along the Golden Circle route map in Iceland were Gullfoss waterfall and Strokkur geysir at Geysir geothermal area. As you can see from the Golden Circle map in Iceland (above) you will pass Strokkur to get to Gulfoss. Gullfoss waterfall is where you’ll witness the sheer power of cascading glacial water tumbling down its falls. Meanwhile at Geysir geothermal area, the next sight, you’ll witness Strokkur geyser regularly shooting boiling water into the air, somewhere between every 5-10 minutes.

Other Golden Circle Highlights:

Other notable stops along the Golden Circle include the first 3 pictures which come from Efstidalur Farm. This is a lovely stop where you can have delicious ice cream and coffee and eat it with the cows who helped produce it! This is a favorite for us and can be seen on the Golden Circle of Iceland map above.

The middle three pictures are some of my favorite churches along the Golden Circle route. I loved the stone tunnel at Skalholtsdomkirkja.

I love these churches seen on this Iceland roadtrip itinerary.

As we move along Iceland’s Golden Circle route map, the next sight is Þingvellir National Park. Furthermore, we will explore the historical and geological marvel of Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the meeting point of two tectonic plates.

Reykjadalur Hot Spring

We ended this day with a 2 mile hike to Reykjadalur Hot Springs. This is a geothermal area located in Iceland, near the town of Hveragerdi. The name translates to “Steam Valley” due to the abundance of hot springs and steaming vents. Visitors can enjoy hiking along the scenic trails and bathe in the warm, natural pools surrounded by picturesque landscapes. This was one of my favorite Iceland experiences. The hike was a moderate hike but beautiful, especially as you walk next to boiling pools. If you look at the map of the Golden Circle in Iceland, this is the last sight labeled.

Here is a in-depth post on the Golden Circle and a map of the routes and sights.

After our hike, we drove north to Snaelfalanness peninsula to our next vacation rental in Arnarstapi.

If you would rather not rent a car or would prefer a tour… Here are links to the same places we saw. These are all very highly ranked tours.

Day 4 – The Snaefellsnes Peninsula

If you ever want to see raw and rugged landscape, head to the mesmerizing Snaefellsnes Peninsula. This is often referred to as “Iceland in Miniature” due to its diverse range of landscapes. Stand in awe of the Snæfellsjökull volcano, famously featured in Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” Explore the rugged coastline, dramatic sea cliffs, and charming fishing villages that dot the peninsula. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula was probably one of my favorite parts of our Iceland roadtrip itinerary by car.

A roadtrip along the rugged terrain of Iceland’s Snaefellsnes Penisnula, will have you feeling like you’ve landed on the moon, which makes it a must if you rent a car for your itinerary. We spent our whole day driving around the peninsula and taking in its wonders. I would conclude that the Snaelfalanness Peninsula was a highlight of my trip.

Kirkjufell is one of the most iconic sights to see along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Some places to stay on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula:

Hotel Budir is another popular place to stay and located by the beautiful Black Church of Budir.

Day 5 – Headed back to Reykjavik

Our last couple days of our Iceland’s roadtrip itinerary will be spent in Reykjavik, so we took our rental car and headed back to the city. On our way to Reykjavik from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula , we stopped at any intriguing sights along the way. One that I enjoyed was the Akranes shipwreck. This may not be for everyone, but if you appreciate photography, then this could be a stop for you.

Once we were checked into out next rental in Reykjavik, we started our tour of the city. I will cover all of Reykjavik below, on day 6.

Having a hotel that is within walking distance of shops, restaurants and attractions is important to many who plan their Iceland itinerary. Here are 3 options that are highly rated and close to the city center.

Day 6: Reykjavik City Tours

Reykjavik is the nation’s capital and the world’s northernmost capital city. Stroll through the colorful streets adorned with quaint houses, vibrant street art, and numerous cafes. Visit the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church, standing tall and proud, offering a panoramic view of the city from its observation deck.

A viewing of our Food Tour (Link below for the one we did). The food and history were great. Our tour guide was knowledgable and interesting to listen to. A food tour is a fun edition to the Iceland itinerary.

We spent a lot of our time shopping. Some of my favorite finds were Icelandic wool blankets (which we shipped home), a high quality hiking bag from 66° North, delicious chocolates and so much more.

Day 7: Departure

Good-bye Iceland…Until next time. We only had one week for our Iceland itinerary but I felt like we got a great feel for the country in a weeks time. From Reykjavik, to Iceland’s south coast, to the Golden Circle and north to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland’s beauty and rugged terrain is hard to beat.

Links may contain affiliate links. This means I may get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.