7 days
7 days on the Ring Road
A realistic 7-day plan for the full Ring Road of Iceland, anti-clockwise from Reykjavík, with one base per night and built-in time for weather, photos and detours.
Key facts
- Total distance
- ~1,400 km
- Direction
- Anti-clockwise from Reykjavík
- Overnight stops
- 6 — Vík, Höfn, Egilsstaðir, Mývatn, Akureyri, Borgarnes
- 4×4 needed?
- No (Route 1 is paved end-to-end)
- Best months
- June–September
- Winter feasibility
- Risky — many travellers lose 2+ days to weather
- Days
- 7
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want the full lap
- 4×4 needed?
- No
- Best months
- may, jun, jul, aug, sep
Day by day
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Day 1: Reykjavík to Vík
The classic South Coast — every traveller's first day.
Stops: Seljalandsfoss + Gljúfrabúi · Skógafoss · Sólheimajökull viewpoint · Dyrhólaey · Reynisfjara (watch the surf warning lights) · Overnight in Vík
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Day 2: Vík to Höfn
Glacier country — Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, Stokksnes.
Stops: Eldhraun lava field · Kirkjubæjarklaustur · Skaftafell (Svartifoss hike, ~3 hours round trip) · Jökulsárlón · Diamond Beach · Stokksnes / Vestrahorn (sunset) · Overnight in Höfn
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Day 3: Höfn to Egilsstaðir
The Eastfjords coastal drive — slow, scenic, no major sights.
Stops: Vestrahorn (if not done Day 2) · Djúpivogur (Eggin í Gleðivík sculptures) · Fáskrúðsfjörður (the "French fjord") · Reyðarfjörður · Optional detour to Seyðisfjörður (rainbow street, +2 hours) · Overnight in Egilsstaðir or Seyðisfjörður
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Day 4: Egilsstaðir to Mývatn
The Diamond Circle preview — Stuðlagil canyon, Dettifoss, the Mývatn area.
Stops: Stuðlagil basalt canyon · Hverfjall crater · Dettifoss (Europe's most powerful waterfall) · Námaskarð geothermal mudpots · Optional Hverfjall hike · Mývatn Nature Baths (geothermal pool) · Overnight near Mývatn
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Day 5: Mývatn to Akureyri
Goðafoss + whale watching out of Húsavík or Akureyri.
Stops: Goðafoss · Whale watching from Húsavík (best chance) or Akureyri (easier) · Akureyri Botanical Garden · Akureyri swimming pool · Overnight in Akureyri
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Day 6: Akureyri to Borgarnes
Long driving day west. Few highlights, but real distance.
Stops: Glaumbær turf house museum · Vatnsnes peninsula seal-watching (optional, +2 hours) · Hvítserkur sea stack · Stykkishólmur / Snæfellsnes glimpse (optional, +3 hours) · Overnight in Borgarnes or Reykholt
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Day 7: Borgarnes to Reykjavík + airport
One Snæfellsnes taste, then Reykjavík and the airport.
Stops: Optional half-day Snæfellsnes — Kirkjufell, Búðir, Djúpalónssandur · Hraunfossar + Barnafoss waterfalls · Krauma geothermal spa · Drive back to Reykjavík · Late afternoon airport drop-off
Why anti-clockwise
Two reasons:
- You start strong. South Coast → Jökulsárlón is the headline reel. Doing it in days 1–2 when you’re fresh and excited is more memorable than doing it on day 6 when you’re tired and full.
- Long driving days fall at the end. Day 6 (Akureyri → Borgarnes) is a slog with fewer must-see stops. Hitting it on day 6 lets you tolerate the dullness — by day 6 you’ve already seen the best.
Where most people get the pacing wrong
- Day 3 (Eastfjords) is slow and scenic. People rush through it because there’s no headline waterfall. Don’t. The fjord pull-outs are the trip.
- Day 4 (Egilsstaðir → Mývatn) is dense — Stuðlagil + Dettifoss + Námaskarð is a full day on its own. Don’t add side trips here.
- Day 6 (Akureyri → Borgarnes) is long. Skip Snæfellsnes detours unless you’re staying an extra night in Borgarnes.
Where to add a day if you have one
- Extra night in Höfn for an Eastfjords half-day (Mjóifjörður)
- Extra night near Mývatn for the full Diamond Circle (Húsavík + Ásbyrgi + Dettifoss)
- Extra night in Akureyri for whale watching from Húsavík (better than Akureyri)
- Extra day for Snæfellsnes between Days 6 and 7 — stay in Stykkishólmur
Seasonal notes
- June is busiest at the major South Coast stops; arrive early or late to avoid coach tours.
- July has the most reliable Eastfjords weather but the worst midge swarms at Mývatn.
- August–September is the sweet spot — fewer tourists, returning darkness for aurora at the end of the trip.
- October loses daylight fast and Highland access is gone but the Ring Road is still doable.
- November–March is winter mode — see 5 days in Iceland in winter instead. The full Ring Road in winter needs 10+ days with weather buffers.
Frequently asked questions
Should I do the Ring Road clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Anti-clockwise from Reykjavík is the conventional choice — it puts the most popular sights (South Coast, Jökulsárlón) at the start while you're fresh and saves the long western drive for the tired end. Clockwise works too but feels backloaded.
Is 7 days enough for the Ring Road?
It's the minimum. The trip is 1,400 km plus side trips — 7 days lets you do it but every day is full. 10 days is the comfortable version with Snæfellsnes and the Diamond Circle baked in.
Can you do the Ring Road in winter?
Yes but it's risky. Storms close Route 1 between Vík and Höfn or in the north several times every winter. Add 2 buffer days and accept that you might re-route through Reykjavík flights to skip closed sections.
Where are the food deserts?
Between Höfn and Egilsstaðir — bring lunch. Between Akureyri and Borgarnes — fuel and food are sparse west of Sauðárkrókur. Top up at every town you see.
How much driving per day?
2–4 hours moving, 4–6 hours total with stops. The longest day is Day 6 (Akureyri → Borgarnes, ~400 km).
Should I rent a 4×4?
Route 1 is paved end-to-end. A regular 2WD car handles it summer through autumn. A 4×4 buys you (a) more confidence in side-road gravel, (b) the option to dip into F-roads. Up to budget.
What about the Highlands?
Not on this itinerary. F-road access is summer-only and requires a 4×4. To add Landmannalaugar or Þórsmörk, plan a separate 1–2 day side trip from the south.