How to plan an Iceland itinerary
The plans below are suggestions, not tested schedules. They are built from two well-known pieces. The Golden Circle is a loop of about 250 km (155 mi) from and back to Reykjavík. The south coast stretches about 480 km (298 mi) between Þorlákshöfn and Höfn, and that is the length of the region, not a day's drive. Do not add these distances together into fixed daily stages.
The season decides how much fits. In winter, daylight is short and roads can close, so a smaller plan with spare days works better. In summer you gain light and, with the right vehicle and road status, access to the highlands. More days never open a closed road, so build in a buffer day where you can.
What each season allows
Choose the season first, then the length. Daylight is for Reykjavík on the 1st of the month in 2026.
| Season | Daylight in Reykjavík | What works | Plan around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter, November to March | 4 h 24 min on 1 January, 10 h 10 min on 1 March | Golden Circle, south coast, glacier walks, Silfra and northern lights evenings | Ice, wind and closures. Highlands are not open to normal travel. |
| Spring, April to May | 13 h 33 min on 1 April, 16 h 51 min on 1 May | Puffin boats from 20 April and Jökulsárlón boats from May | Highland roads open late and vary by route. |
| Summer, June to August | 20 h 07 min on 1 June, 17 h 56 min on 1 August | Landmannalaugar, long drives and all boat tours | The most visitors and the busiest bookings. |
| Autumn, September to October | 14 h 33 min on 1 September, 11 h 20 min on 1 October | Ice cave season from 1 October with one operator and the first northern lights evenings | Highland roads are usually closed from mid-September. |
Highland roads open on different dates every year. In the road authority's table for 2021 to 2025, the F208 from Sigalda to Landmannalaugar opened between 23 May and 23 June, and the F210 from Keldur to Hvanngil between 23 June and 15 July. Those are past dates, not a forecast for 2026. For the rules on F-roads and rental cars, see road conditions.
For the month-by-month detail behind this table, read weather by month and the guides to winter and summer.
Our picks along the route
The Golden Circle, the south coast and an ice cave on the glacier.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Ice cave tour on Vatnajökull from Jökulsárlón
A local glacier guide, a 4x4 vehicle, helmet and spikes. Depending on safety conditions you visit an ice cave or a blue ice formation; hotel transfer, food and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
South coast day tour: waterfalls, black sand and glacier
A guided ten-hour day from Reykjavík; pickup applies only with the matching option. Food and drinks are extra, and a glacier walk is not listed as included.
Check availability →
Golden Circle full-day tour with Kerið crater
A guide and an air-conditioned bus for seven to eight and a half hours. Food and drinks are extra, and Kerið is skipped on departures from noon.
Check availability →Tours to add to your route
Day tours and multi-stop trips that fit into a 5, 7 or 10 day plan, with live prices and availability.
5 days: Reykjavík, Golden Circle and the near south coast
The shortest version keeps Reykjavík as one base and adds two day trips.
Day 1: arrive in Reykjavík
The Flybus from Keflavík starts at 3,999 ISK one way and takes about 45 minutes. Visit the church tower (1,500 ISK for adults in 2026) and a municipal pool (1,500 ISK for adults). See Reykjavík for details.
Day 2: Golden Circle
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. Parking at Þingvellir costs 1,000 ISK for a car in 2026. In winter, start late and finish before dark. Read the Golden Circle guide.
Day 3: south coast waterfalls
Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the Reynisfjara viewpoint. In winter, keep it to the waterfalls and check the beach safety notice before Reynisfjara. See the south coast guide.
Day 4: a flexible day
Join a Sólheimajökull glacier walk (all year, from 128 EUR with one operator, minimum age 10) or snorkel in Silfra. In summer, add a puffin or whale trip from Reykjavík. From September to April, an evening northern lights tour fits here, without any guarantee.
Day 5: departure
Plan the lagoon visit with a time buffer before your flight, and check the opening status first. See the Blue Lagoon guide.
7 days: add the glacier lagoon
Seven days give you room for Jökulsárlón with an overnight stop.
Days 1 to 3: Reykjavík and Golden Circle
Follow the 5 day plan for arrival, the Golden Circle and the first waterfalls, and use the extra time to slow down.
Days 4 and 5: Jökulsárlón
Drive east and stay overnight near the lagoon. Boats run from May to November, and one operator starts ice cave tours on 1 October 2026. In winter a same-day return is a poor plan, so allow the night. See the Jökulsárlón guide.
Day 6: drive back west
Use this day as the buffer for weather and closures. Stop at a waterfall you skipped on the way out.
Day 7: Reykjavík and departure
Pools, the harbor and a last meal. In summer, the Landmannalaugar bus is a different use of a day (see below).
10 days: more time, two seasons of choices
With ten days, the choice between winter and summer becomes a real fork.
Summer version
Add Landmannalaugar. The bus runs from 13 June to 20 September 2026, leaving Reykjavík BSÍ at 07:00 and arriving at 11:30, with the return at 15:45 and arrival at BSÍ at 19:30. If you drive, arrivals from 09:00 to 16:00 need a reservation from 20 June to 13 September 2026, and the vehicle fee is 1,500 ISK for a car with up to 5 seats. A reservation does not prove that the road is passable.
Winter version
Stay with two bases, Reykjavík and the south coast, and add spare days. Repeat northern lights attempts, a glacier walk, Silfra and a second visit to the lagoon fit better than extra distance. A full Ring Road circuit in winter is not a plan this site can recommend for 5, 7 or 10 days.
North in the bright weeks
Around the solstice you can add the island of Grímsey, which has sun that does not set from about 7 June to 7 July. The ferry from Dalvík takes about 3 hours and the flight from Akureyri about 30 minutes. Check current timetables, because they change by season.
What the road costs
Three costs belong in every plan. A distance charge of 6.95 ISK per km has applied to cars up to 3.5 t since 1 January 2026, and rental companies add it in their own way. A new Ring Road section at Hornafjörður has been tolled since 1 September 2026, at 1,500 ISK per passage for a car under 3.5 t. Local parking fees apply at some sites.
Accommodation adds a lodging tax of 800 ISK per room per night in hotels and guesthouses and 400 ISK per pitch at campsites. See where to stay for regions and seasons, and the cheapest time to visit for how costs move through the year.
Iceland itineraries: frequently asked questions
Is 5 days enough for Iceland?
It is enough for Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the near south coast. It does not leave room for Jökulsárlón with an overnight stop, and in winter a smaller plan with a buffer is wiser.
What is the best time of year for a 7 day trip?
There is a good time for each kind of trip. Summer gives long light and boat tours, and autumn gives ice caves and the first dark evenings. Winter works with a smaller plan and a spare day.
Can I drive the whole Ring Road in winter?
The Ring Road is not a guaranteed, trouble-free route in winter. Snow, ice, wind and short-notice closures need room in your plan, and more days do not open a closed road. Check road status and weather warnings each morning.
Can I go to Landmannalaugar in summer without a rental car?
Yes. A seasonal bus runs from 13 June to 20 September 2026, leaving Reykjavík at 07:00 and returning to the city at 19:30. Departures depend on conditions, so check before you go.
How much do roads cost in 2026?
A distance charge of 6.95 ISK per km applies to cars up to 3.5 t, and a toll of 1,500 ISK per passage applies at Hornafjörður for the same class. Parking fees are extra.
Where can I see the midnight sun?
Reykjavík has bright nights, but the sun does set. Grímsey has sun that does not set from about 7 June to 7 July. See the midnight sun guide.