Solomon and I recently returned from our long-awaited honeymoon, and I’m incredibly excited to share our complete 8.5-day Iceland itinerary! We actually got married almost seven years ago, but life, jobs, and global pandemics prevented us from taking this trip to Iceland sooner. Experiencing a bucket list destination together was very special, and I’m so thankful we finally got to make this vacation happen.
Our strategy when creating this Iceland itinerary was to incorporate a blend of structured tours and spontaneous adventures, with lots of iconic sights sprinkled in between. We essentially drove the entire Ring Road, except for a small portion of the route in the Northeast Highlands area. While there’s still so much of Iceland we didn’t get a chance to explore, I feel like we accomplished a lot and saw most of the major landmarks we were interested in!
Without further ado, here’s how we spent 8.5 days in Iceland…
Iceland Itinerary | Ring Road, Diamond Circle, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Day 1
7am – Solomon and I landed at Keflavík International Airport around 7 in the morning and (after getting through customs and grabbing our checked luggage) caught a shuttle to pick up our rental car from Lava. We ended up with a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross—the ideal vehicle for our 8.5-day trip to Iceland, as it was automatic and had all-wheel drive. Renting a car through Lava was very straightforward, so I highly recommend them.
Note: We paid $25 for premium car rental protection through our Amex Platinum Card (I have a referral link for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card), so we declined coverage through Lava. This saved us some money in the long run, and since there were no incidents during our trip, the pickup and dropoff process went very smoothly.
8:30am – after getting set up in our rental car, we stopped to pick up snacks and coffee at Kökulist. This charming little bakery offers a wide selection of sweet and savory treats, including sandwiches. I chose something random that looked tasty and ended up with this buttery and delicious mystery bread item.
9:45am – shortly before 10, we arrived at Sky Lagoon. I’ll be sharing more details about our experience in a future blog, but I consider this spot an essential activity when in Iceland. Despite being only minutes outside downtown Reykjavík, Sky Lagoon is a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle. The spa’s entire property is luxurious and tranquil—truly the perfect start to our trip.
Sky Lagoon is famous for its seven-step Skjól Ritual, which we thoroughly enjoyed:
Laug – lagoon
Kuldi – cold plunge
Ylur – sauna
Súld – cold mist
Mýkt – body scrub
Gufa – steam room
Saft – elixir shot
2pm – after a few hours of total bliss at Sky Lagoon, it was time to head out and find lunch in downtown Reykjavík. We randomly settled on ROK, which was a lovely place to grab a bite. The restaurant was serving brunch since we visited on a Sunday, so we shared a fantastic charcuterie plate and each ordered a few small plates. I enjoyed a fabulous avocado toast topped with salmon and one of the best black bean burgers I’ve ever had.
3pm – once our bellies were nice and full, we checked into our room at the Apotek Hotel. This hotel was chic, comfortable, and conveniently located in the heart of the city. What’s not to love?
5pm – after a few hours of relaxation, it was time for our next adventure—a Wake Up Reykjavík food tour. We had a wonderful time visiting different restaurants around the city and sampling many unique foods. The tour was a great introduction to the cuisine, and our guide offered some helpful Iceland travel tips and tricks! Here’s a breakdown of where we stopped and what we ate during the tour:
Fjallkonan – cured arctic char on a chickpea blini (pancake) and slow-cooked lamb on flatkaka (traditional rye flatbread)
Messinn – honey-baked arctic char with almonds and plokkfiskur (mashed fish, potatoes, and béarnaise sauce)
Íslenski Barinn – fermented shark chased with a shot of brennivín (liquor distilled from fermented grain or mash, also known as “Black Death”) and lamb soup
Café Loki – rye bread ice cream
9pm – the food tour wrapped up around 8, so we took advantage of the “midnight sun” by grabbing a round of drinks at Skúli Craft Bar before calling it a night.
Day 2
8:30am – our second day in Iceland started bright and early because Solomon had a morning tee time at Brautarholt Golf Club.
9am – while Solomon golfed, I embarked on a solo adventure exploring downtown Reykjavík. I visited several local landmarks, including the Harpa Concert Hall, Rainbow Street, and Hallgrimskirkja, to snap some pictures. Navigating the city was a breeze (even for someone as directionally challenged as I am!) and I felt very safe wandering around alone.
9:30am – for breakfast, I grabbed an acai bowl and iced latte at Joe & the Juice. The coffee shop chain has locations worldwide, but I’d never been to one before—the acai bowl was super fresh and hit the spot.
1:30pm – I spent the rest of my solo time browsing stores like Penninn Eymundsson and Wasteland. Once Solomon finished at the golf course, we met back up to grab hot dogs for lunch at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. Icelandic hot dogs are made with lamb and traditionally served with raw and fresh onions, mustard, and remoulade. They were very flavorful, and we ate them several more times throughout our trip!
3pm – the next stop on our Iceland itinerary was Akureyri, so we hit the road around 3. The drive was stunning, even though traffic turned our 4.5-hour journey into a 5.5-hour one.
8:30pm – once we arrived, we checked into Hotel Akureyri—it had a cozy and stylish vibe that I loved. Even though we didn’t spend much time there, it was a great place to stay for a night.
9pm – for dinner, we grabbed sushi at Rub23. I started with a gin cocktail made with strawberries that was light and refreshing. We shared the Sushi Bridge for the main course, which included 32 pieces of sushi and nigiri. The seafood was incredibly fresh, and everything was delicious. Full transparency, the service here was a bit lackluster (especially considering the price tag)—otherwise, it was a fantastic meal.
11:30pm – quick storytime that taught us the importance of a very crucial travel tip: always get your neighbor’s contact info before going on a trip (especially an international one). After dinner, as we were getting ready for bed, I received a potential leak alert email from our water company because we had apparently been using hundreds of gallons of water for the past several hours. Um, what?!
We quickly realized that something must have happened with a temporary irrigation system my husband had installed to water our plants while we were gone. The bad news is that we didn’t have our neighbor’s contact info to quickly get in touch and see if they could turn the water off at our house. After a few frantic hours of calling different companies to try and get help, we ended up posting in our neighborhood’s Facebook group as a last resort.
Thankfully, someone responded offering to help within minutes—they truly saved the day. While we’re very grateful the issue was resolved quickly so that we didn’t spend the rest of our vacation worried, having our neighbor’s phone number would have minimized a lot of stress. Lesson learned!
Day 3
8:30am – since Solomon and I were up until about 2:30am dealing with the drama at home the night before, we got a bit of a late start on day three. After enjoying a delightful hotel breakfast (complete with mini chocolate chip cookies), we set off on Iceland’s Diamond Circle route. We saw almost all the major highlights of this scenic drive except for Ásbyrgi Canyon, due to time constraints. Our first stop of the day was Goðafoss Waterfall.
9:30am – if you love chasing waterfalls (pun intended), Goðafoss is a must-visit. It’s located just steps off the Ring Road, making it a quick and easy detour. The falls are about 40 feet high, and the water is an incredibly striking blue color. One of my favorite things about Goðafoss is that you can hike right down to the water to get a different perspective of the waterfall.
10:30am – next up was Skútustaðagígar, an area of pseudo-craters formed after a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. This is the perfect spot to walk around and stretch your legs—I also suggest swinging by the visitor center. The exhibits are fascinating and educate you about the area’s historical and geological significance.
11:30am – our third stop along the Diamond Circle was Hverir Geothermal Area. This fascinating location has walking paths that lead you through boiling mud pots and natural steam vents. Be warned: the entire area is quite stinky due to the sulfuric gas being emitted. We only spent about 20-30 minutes exploring Hverir before moving on to the next destination.
12:15pm – Víti Crater was next—we pretty much just parked, hopped out to take some pictures, and continued on the Diamond Circle since we had such a packed itinerary. The vibrant blue water is gorgeous, and I’ve heard positive things about the hike to the overlook at the top of the crater. It even started to snow while we were checking out the views!
1:30pm – next was another famous Icelandic waterfall: Dettifoss. Considered one of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, Dettifoss is truly breathtaking. It’s almost 150 feet tall, and the falls are so massive that they’re hard to comprehend, even in person. If you’re a movie fan, you might recognize Dettifoss from Prometheus and Oblivion.
2:45pm – the final sightseeing spot for the day was Hringsbjarg, a seaside cliff. What makes this location special, you ask? It’s one of the best places in North Iceland to see puffins during summer! We saw a ton of these adorable little guys, and there were only a handful of other people at the cliffs when we visited. Watching the puffins cuddle up to each other and fly around was so fun—I could have stayed for hours!
4pm – around 4, we arrived in Húsavík to grab a meal at Naustið. Naustið is a family-owned seafood restaurant set in a charming house, and I loved everything about it. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the food was flavorful and tasted homemade (in the best way possible).
We shared a smoked trout dip to start, and I got the mashed fish as my entree. For dessert, I ordered the rhubarb compote, and my husband tried the crème brûlée. Naustið’s food was wonderful and ended up being a highlight of my trip.
9:30pm – after a hearty late lunch, we set out for Sauðá Guesthouse in Hvammstangi. Our accommodations were picture-perfect and equipped with everything we needed for a one-night stay. The oceanfront views were spectacular and a beautiful backdrop for our casual ramen dinner.
Day 4
12pm – day four ended up being one of my favorites of the entire trip! Our goal was to see as much of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula as possible. We started the day with coffee and a slice of basil cake at Sjávarborg in Stykkishólmur. Fun fact: the town was featured in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, one of my favorite movies that first inspired me (and Solomon) to visit Iceland!
After fueling up with cake and coffee, we made the short but steep hike up to Súgandisey Island Lighthouse. There are sweeping views of the picturesque scenery from the beacon’s location. The entire area was stunning, even in rainy, cloudy weather.
2pm – stop #2 on our Snæfellsnes Peninsula itinerary was Kirkjufell, an iconic Icelandic mountain. This distinctive landmark was notably featured in Game of Thrones, and many consider it the country’s most photographed mountain. Seeing this one-of-a-kind view in person was an awesome experience!
2:30pm – during our drive around the peninsula, we took a quick detour to Hellissandur’s quaint Ingjaldshólskirkja. This scenic church on a hill is a fantastic photo spot, with lupine fields lining the road and glaciers in the distance.
3pm – we continued our tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula with Djúpalónssandur, a famous black pebble beach. This was a fun place to wander around and admire the dramatic landscapes. Don’t forget to test your strength with the Dritvík Stones, which range in weight from 50 to 340 pounds!
4pm – our last stop before lunch was Lóndrangar, a striking volcanic basalt formation along the coast. We only spent a few minutes here—the views were nice but not particularly noteworthy, in my opinion.
4:30pm – we were starving at this point, so it was time for a late lunch in Arnarstapi at Stapinn. I warmed up with a big, comforting bowl of lamb soup, and Solomon tried the fish and chips.
5pm – we wrapped up our Snæfellsnes Peninsula adventures at Búðakirkja. This black church is a unique landmark that’s popular among photographers. It was cool to see, but you don’t need to spend more than a few minutes there since you can’t go inside.
8pm – after Búðakirkja, we made the drive back to Reykjavík to drop by our room at Center Hotels Arnarhvoll and grab dinner at Bastard Brew & Food. During our meal, Solomon spontaneously suggested a late-night hike to Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River. We planned to go the following day, but he pointed out it would probably be a lot less crowded at night. With that in mind, we grabbed our swimsuits and hit the road!
10:30pm – we started the hike around 10:30, and it took us roughly an hour to reach the natural hot spring pools. The trail is about 5.5 miles round-trip and steadily ascends to the hot springs area, which features boardwalks and changing stations. Several other groups were enjoying the river when we arrived around 11:30, but we had no trouble finding our own pool to soak and relax. We lounged here for about an hour before starting the trek back to the car around 1:30 in the morning.
Day 5
1:30pm – since Solomon and I didn’t get to bed until 3am the night before, we decided to sleep in a bit on day five. Once we got up and going, we started heading south. The first stop on our Iceland South Coast itinerary was the iconic Seljalandsfoss. There are tons of beautiful waterfalls throughout Iceland, but Seljalandsfoss is unique because you can hike behind the falls.
2pm – while visiting Seljalandsfoss, don’t forget to take a short walk over to Gljúfrabúi. It’s another gorgeous waterfall that’s semi-hidden in a gorge. You’re guaranteed to get sprayed, so make sure to wear something waterproof!
3pm – the next waterfall on our list was Skógafoss. This well-known attraction is incredibly popular, so there were lots of crowds when we visited. Thankfully, there’s plenty of room to spread out and admire different viewpoints and angles. You can also hike up a path that ascends alongside Skógafoss to see the waterfall from above.
4pm – continuing our drive along Iceland’s South Coast, we stopped for a late lunch in Vík at Black Crust Pizzeria. Ordering your pizza with black crust (which gets its signature color from activated charcoal) is an upcharge, but I think it’s worth trying at least once. It doesn’t affect the flavor of the crust at all, but the pizza itself was quite delicious.
We shared the No. 3, which is topped with pepperoni, sausage, cream cheese, cherry tomato, homemade date pesto, and basil. It was the perfect combination of sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy. After our meal, we ventured up to Víkurkirkja, a quaint little church, to admire the town below.
5pm – our accommodations for the night were Hotel Dyrhólaey, which was casual but comfortable. We checked in and lounged for a bit before venturing out on our next adventure.
8pm – Reynisfjara Beach was the last destination for the day. It’s a picturesque black sand beach with dramatic basalt columns and views of Dyrhólaey in the distance. While the beach (like many landmarks along the South Coast) was crowded, it’s 100% worth exploring. We spent the rest of our evening here wandering around and watching puffins dive into the water—talk about magical!
Day 6
11am – our sixth day in Iceland was really cool—literally! We departed Vík around 8:30 to head for Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. We had a Zodiac boat tour booked with Arctic Adventures and arrived shortly before our 11:20 rendezvous time, giving us a few minutes to explore. The lagoon was stunning, with massive chunks of bright blue ice set against a breathtaking mountainous backdrop.
11:20am – the Zodiac boat tour was a personal highlight of our Iceland trip. We spent about an hour in the boat exploring the lagoon, learning about the glacier and local history, and admiring wildlife, like seals. Everyone on the Arctic Adventures team was polite and easygoing—I highly recommend booking a tour with them.
1:30pm – once the tour wrapped up, we hopped across the street to Diamond Beach. I’ll be honest: while the beach was cool for a quick visit, it felt a bit overrated to me. I imagine it would be a lot more interesting when there are larger chunks of ice scattered around. Swing by if you’re also visiting Jökulsárlón, but don’t plan to spend much time at Diamond Beach.
3:30pm – we planned to stop in Höfn for the night, so it was time to hit the road again. Once we arrived, lunch was burgers and fries from Hafnarbuðin. This was one of the most reasonably priced restaurant meals we enjoyed in Iceland! The diner had a cozy, welcoming, no-fuss atmosphere, and the food was excellent.
4pm – Aurora Cabins was our home base for the next two nights. The cabin was clean and minimalist, with a great kitchen area and (to my husband’s delight) a grill. The views outside our window were insane—my only complaint about this spot is that it got a bit stuffy at night. Otherwise, the property was amazing.
8pm – for dinner, we swung by the local Nettó supermarket to grab hot dog supplies (it was July 4th, after all) and a sweet treat. My husband grilled up some Icelandic hot dogs, which we enjoyed with all the fixings and washed down with Coronas.
Throughout our trip, I was very impressed by the availability of vegan and non-dairy options. At Nettó, I spotted this intriguing non-dairy Ben & Jerry’s flavor I’d never heard of, Bohemian Raspberry (vanilla ice cream with brownies and a raspberry swirl). Oh, how I wish it were available in the States! This ice cream was so delicious that even Solomon didn’t realize it was non-dairy until we were about 2/3 through the pint.
Day 7
12:30pm – the only plan for day seven in Iceland was to head east. So, Solomon and I kicked off our East Iceland adventures with a hike to Stuðlagil Canyon. Fun story: along the way, we spotted a pair of reindeer off in a distant field chowing down on some grass! This was a pleasant surprise—although they were too far to take any pictures or videos, it’s a cool memory.
In my opinion, the Stuðlagil Canyon hike is more of a moderate walk, especially if you park in the paid lot at the end of a gravel road on the east side. This parking lot places you just 1.5 miles from the canyon, cutting the trail’s distance in half. Once you arrive at the canyon, you can hike right down to the water to admire the unique rock formations. The water was clear and bright blue the day we visited, which was gorgeous.
2pm – after exploring the canyon, we returned to the car and grabbed some refreshing iced coffees from Stuðlafoss Food Cart, which was set up in the parking lot.
3:30pm – from Stuðlagil Canyon, we headed over to Seyðisfjörður. I was excited to drive this route because it was heavily featured in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty! The scenery was jaw-dropping, and I immediately fell in love with the charming village of Seyðisfjörður. We grabbed lunch at Kaffi Lára El Grillo Bar—I got the beetroot burger, which was served with a baked potato on the side. Both were savory, flavorful, and filling. Yum!
4pm – the rest of our day was very laid-back. We walked around Seyðisfjörður for a bit and did some souvenir shopping before returning to the cabin in Höfn. Solomon grilled hot dogs again for dinner, and we called it a night.
Day 8
9am – ah, day eight—our last full day in Iceland. Solomon and I had a lengthy drive ahead of us from Höfn back to Reykjavík, so we got up bright and early. Before starting our journey, we visited the nearby Viking Village. The replica village was built as a film set and notably featured in The Witcher: Blood Origin. Today, you can pay a small fee to wander around the privately owned attraction, complete with a Viking ship!
1:30pm – we spent about half an hour exploring the Viking Village before hitting the road. After a few hours of driving, it was time for lunch at The Soup Company in Vík. This was one of my favorite meals from the entire trip. We opted for black bread bowls (which looked exactly like stones!), and they included a free soup refill. I started with the chicken barley soup before trying the lentil soup, and both were very yummy.
4:30pm – by late afternoon, we had made it back to Reykjavík and checked into the Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel. We got a free upgrade, and the room was lovely and quite spacious. After a quick refresh and outfit change, we were back out the door for an epic dinner to round out our time in Iceland.
6pm – I wanted to splurge on a high-end meal during our trip, so I booked us a dinner reservation at Matur og Drykkur. This inventive restaurant specializes in authentic Icelandic cuisine with a modern twist. Dinner consisted of 10 creative courses featuring unique local ingredients, such as goat, sheep, and (the most surprising menu item) horse.
The meal was indulgent and over-the-top, but it was a fun and immersive dining experience. My favorite dishes were the rutabaga and goat cheese, sheep, and mysingur with angelica. Stay tuned for a full review coming soon!
Day 8.5
9am – Solomon and I took a late afternoon flight back to North Carolina, so we had about half a day to savor our last hours in Iceland. The only thing on our agenda was an iconic attraction: Blue Lagoon. I’m grateful we had the opportunity to try both Blue and Sky Lagoon, and I’ll be writing up an entire blog comparing the two to help you decide which to visit.
Blue Lagoon is so famous that it’s 100% worth experiencing at least once in your life. Swimming in the milky blue water is surreal, and I love that a mud mask and drink are included in your admission. While Sky Lagoon was my personal preference, I think you should visit Blue Lagoon if you only have time for one and it’s your first trip to Iceland.
1pm – we spent a few hours enjoying Blue Lagoon before returning our Lava rental car, which was seamless and only took around 15 minutes. After taking the complimentary KEF Airport shuttle, we headed straight for Prosegur Change to process our VAT refunds.
Note: Certain Icelandic stores advertise “tax-free” shopping, and you might get offered a tax refund form at checkout. I highly recommend taking advantage of this! Essentially, non-Icelandic residents may be eligible to receive a certain percentage back on purchases of at least ISK 12,000 (about USD 100). Click here to learn more about the specifics from Iceland’s Revenue and Customs department.
4:45pm – by 2:30, we had successfully checked our luggage and made it through security. We grabbed some Sbarro pizza slices (no judgment, okay) and beers for lunch to kill time before our flight back home. Once we boarded, it was smooth sailing through the flight, customs, grabbing our checked bags, taking a shuttle to our car, picking up Chick-fil-A for dinner, and heading home.
Visiting Iceland was a truly unforgettable experience, and I’m incredibly thankful for everyone who helped make our dream honeymoon a reality! I hope you enjoyed this Iceland itinerary and that it inspires you to start planning a trip. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog so you get notified as I share more Iceland travel blogs.
Wandering the Gap 