Around Iceland by car – our guide to the Ring Road and great stops

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Driving around Iceland is a fantastic way to experience the country's dramatic nature, with waterfalls, volcanic areas, glaciers and small communities along the way. The Ring Road, Route 1, goes around almost the entire island and makes it possible to see a lot of Iceland in one trip.

I have driven all the way around Iceland myself by car, although that was many years ago. Since then I have returned to the country many times, both privately and on press trips. Here I collect my own favorites along the way – along with practical tips for those of you planning a road trip around Iceland.

Around Iceland by car

The Ring Road, or Route 1, is just over 1,300 kilometers long and circles most of Iceland. The road passes many of the country's most famous natural areas and is mostly paved.

It's possible to drive around Iceland in a relatively few days, but that would miss a lot of the point. We'd recommend at least a week, and preferably 10–14 days if you want to take detours, hike, and actually experience the places along the way.

Also, keep in mind that weather and road conditions can change quickly in Iceland. Driving distances that look short on the map can take significantly longer than expected – and sometimes the weather can dictate the day’s itinerary.

Our best stops on a road trip around Iceland

When I drove around Iceland myself, I took the Ring Road, Route 1, with various detours along the way. Here we take the same trip clockwise from Reykjavik, first north and then further around eastern and southern Iceland back towards the capital.

This is not intended as a list of everything you can see along the Ring Road – it could be as long as you like. Instead, I have selected a few places that have made a particularly strong impression on me during my various travels in Iceland. Some are right on the Ring Road, while others require a detour.

1. Reykjavik – start your journey in the capital

A road trip around Iceland can start with a few days in Reykjavik. Iceland's capital is small enough to explore on foot, but at the same time filled with restaurants, cafes, culture and unique attractions.

Check out Hallgrímskirkja, stroll along Laugavegur, see the Harpa concert hall and settle down in a cozy café. Reykjavik is also a perfect place to try Icelandic food – from modern fine dining to classic Icelandic sausage.

I've been to Reykjavik many times over the years and the city has changed a lot since my first visits. At the same time, that special Icelandic feel remains – that mix of small town, creativity and international city life.

READ MORE: Things to do in Reykjavik – our best tips

2. Akureyri – the capital of the north

After leaving Reykjavik, the journey continues north. Eventually you will reach Akureyri, which is beautifully situated on Eyjafjörður and is often called the capital of northern Iceland. By Icelandic standards, Akureyri is a large city, but by international standards it is of course quite small.

There are restaurants, cafes, shops and museums here, as well as a botanical garden that may seem a bit unexpected this far north. On a longer drive, it's also nice to have places where you can shop, refuel, eat well and indulge in a bit of normal city life before continuing your journey into the Icelandic countryside.

3. Goðafoss – the waterfall on the Ring Road

Iceland has an almost ridiculous number of beautiful waterfalls, but Goðafoss is one of the easiest to see during a trip along the Ring Road.

The waterfall is about 30 meters wide and the water falls about 12 meters over the cliffs. The name means roughly ”waterfall of the gods” and is associated with the story of Iceland’s conversion to Christianity around the year 1000. Goðafoss is located just off Route 1, making it an easy stop on the road between Akureyri and Mývatn.

4. Mývatn and Hverir – volcanic landscape in northern Iceland

The area around Lake Mývatn is one of the places where Iceland really shows off its volcanic side. With lava formations, craters and geothermal areas, it's well worth setting aside some extra time for the surroundings.

One of the most fascinating stops is Everywhere, where the ground literally boils and sizzles. Here you are greeted by bubbling mud puddles, steam and a strong smell of sulfur in a landscape that almost looks like it belongs on another planet.

The area also includes the strange lava formations at Dimmuborgir and the geothermal Mývatn Nature Baths. In other words, this is an area where there is reason to stay for more than a few hours.

5. Seyðisfjörður – a fjord in the far east

In eastern Iceland, it's worth leaving the Ring Road for a detour to Seyðisfjörður, a small town located at the far end of a narrow fjord surrounded by high mountains. Just the road here, over the mountain and down to the fjord, is part of the experience.

Seyðisfjörður is also Iceland's ferry gateway to Europe. Smyril Line's ferry Norröna arrives here from Hirtshals in Denmark, via the Faroe Islands. I have come to Iceland this way myself, although the ferry route looked different back then. There is something very special about seeing Iceland approaching from the sea.

If you are traveling with your own car or camper from Sweden, this is of course where your tour of Iceland begins and ends. Then you can simply jump into our route right here.

6. Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach – icebergs by the Ring Road

One of my strongest memories from my first road trip around Iceland is Jökulsárlón. Here, below the mighty Vatnajökull glacier, large blocks of ice float around in a glacial lagoon before eventually drifting out to sea.

When I first visited Jökulsárlón, I took photos with a regular analog camera. My old scanned photos hardly do the place justice – but perhaps they say something about how long this place has fascinated me.

On the other side of the Ring Road is Diamond Beach, where blocks of ice from the lagoon can wash up on the black beach. The contrast between black volcanic sand and transparent ice makes the beach one of the most photographed places in Iceland.

Jökulsárlón is right next to the Ringvägen and therefore does not require a big detour. But don't rush further. This is the kind of place where you can stand for a while and just look.

7. Vík, Reynisfjara and the south coast

The journey continues west along Iceland's dramatic south coast. There is so much to see here that it is really difficult to choose just one stop. The small town Vik i Myrdal is a good starting point. Nearby is the black beach Reynisfjara, with its mighty basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar rock formations out in the sea.

The beach is stunningly beautiful, but the sea here can also be dangerous. Strong waves can suddenly reach much further up the beach than you expect, so keep a safe distance from the water and follow warnings and barriers in place.

Further west along the south coast, two of Iceland's most famous waterfalls await: Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. If you have plenty of time, I would definitely try to include them too.

8. Västmanna Islands – my own special place in Iceland

Off the south coast lie the Västmanna Islands, or Vestmannaeyjar in Icelandic. To get to the main island of Heimaey you need to leave the Ring Road and take the ferry across – but for me this is an obvious detour.

When I was 17 years old, I moved to Heimaey as an exchange student and lived here for almost an entire school year. I attended Icelandic high school, learned the language and got to experience everyday life on a small volcanic island out in the North Atlantic. This is where my very special relationship with Iceland began.

Heimaey is fascinating even for those who have not lived here. In 1973, the Eldfell volcano had a dramatic eruption and parts of the community were buried under lava and ash. Today, you can hike up the volcano and still see the traces of the eruption.

In the right season, the Västmanna Islands are also a fantastic place for those who want to see puffins. For me, the islands are of course much more than an attraction – they are a bit like a second home from another time in my life.

9. Hveragerði and Reykjadalur - among hot springs

Back on the mainland, the journey continues west towards Hveragerði, a village in a very active geothermal area. Here, the heat from the ground is used, among other things, to heat greenhouses, and the surrounding landscape is filled with smoke and bubbles in many places. Just outside the village is Reykjadalur, the ”smoking valley”, which is a popular area for hiking.

We have experienced the area ourselves from horseback. During our ride it was so cold that our fingers almost froze, while the Icelandic horses struggled up the slopes. When we arrived we could warm our hands in a naturally warm stream. Very Icelandic!

READ MORE: Horseback riding in Iceland – with Icelandic horses to Reykjadalur

10. Þingvellir and the Golden Circle – classics before Reykjavik

Before the tour ends in Reykjavik, you can make one last major detour to Golden Circle, perhaps Iceland's most famous tourist route. Here is Þingvellir National Park, which is both historically and geologically interesting. The Icelandic Althing was founded here as early as 930 and the area is also located in a rift zone between the North American and Eurasian continental plates.

The Golden Circle also includes the geothermal area where Geysir and Strokkur Geysir has given its name to the phenomenon of geysers around the world, while Strokkur is the geyser that usually offers visitors regular eruptions.

The third classic stop is Gullfoss, where enormous amounts of water plunge into a deep ravine. Touristy? Absolutely. Worth seeing? Also absolutely.

Back in Reykjavik

After the Golden Circle, it's not far back to Reykjavik – and with that we've made it all the way around Iceland.

The Ring Road itself is about 1,300 kilometers long, but in practice a round trip becomes considerably longer when you add the Golden Circle, the Västmanna Islands, Seyðisfjörður and other side trips. And it's really the side trips that are a big part of the point.

My advice is therefore not to try to drive around Iceland as quickly as possible. Give your journey time. Stop when the scenery is beautiful, take detours and expect that weather and road conditions can sometimes change your plans.

More to see and experience in Iceland

There is so much more to see and experience in Iceland. Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Facts about Iceland
• The Icelandic language
• What do you eat in Iceland?
• Things to do in Iceland – our best tips