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Iceland. Even the name Iceland evokes something magical in your mind. Wide open spaces. Plunging waterfalls. Floating glacial ice. It’s as impressive as it sounds. We’ve been lucky enough to make two trips to Iceland. And both left us wanting more. If you’re thinking about building out an Iceland itinerary, we’ve got you covered.

Our first trip saw us visit Reykjavik in search of the elusive northern lights. Our second trip took us on a road trip adventure along the southern part of Iceland as well as the western Snaefellsnes peninsula. The first trip was in the dead of winter. The second in autumn. Seasons are important considerations for your trip in terms of what is open and available to see. Available sunlight and the search for the mystical northern lights will play a significant role in your planning too.

Given the timing of our visits, our itinerary doesn’t include the full ring road. We’ll have to wait a little longer to complete that trip another time.

With that in mind, we’ve detailed a 9 day Iceland itinerary that makes for a spectacular road trip. It covers some of the very best highlights of Iceland, and in our humble opinion, an arm’s length of bucket list items.

We’ve made this a 9 day itinerary based on how we like to travel. A bit slower with time to admire things along the way. The itinerary could of course be done at a faster pace, but you’ll simply have to cut short some of your visits at key sights. Entirely up to you, we know time is of the essence when travelling.

So with that in mind, let’s get into our 9 day Iceland itinerary for a spectacular road trip.

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Getting to Iceland

Iceland is serviced by a number of airlines from the US and Europe. We flew in and out of London on one occasion (we were living in London at the time). Our latest trip saw us depart London, stop in Iceland and then fly onto Boston. It’s a very popular stopover for US travellers on the way to Europe. Quite frankly, if I lived in the US and travelled to Europe frequently, I’d think about making this a regular stopover, but I digress!

Iceland’s main international airport is Keflavik airport, located around 45 minutes from downtown Reykjavik. Flying into Iceland, you get a great glimpse of the other worldly landscape, so angle for a window seat if you can.

A number of low cost carriers service routes here, and we chose to fly with Icelandair on both of our trips. We couldn’t fault them either time. When booking flights, we always use Skyscanner to compare prices, times and schedules to make sure we get the best deal.

Hiring a car in Iceland

A 9 day Iceland itinerary is best experienced with a vehicle. There is so much to see, and this puts you in charge of your journey. With a variety of sights located in isolated locations, a car provides you with the control to stop for as little or as long as you like.

Car hire in Iceland is best done in advance. During peak periods, you can expect to have limited options, so I’d recommend booking at least 2 months out. There’s typically no payment required until pick up, so there’s really not much to lose. Be sure to check the payment arrangements before booking though!

We used Green Motion car rental on our trip. We found them via Skyscanner Car Rentals who we used to compare vehicles with. They provided a mix of good value and a better range of vehicle selections. Their vehicles are located away from the airport, and we had a representative greet us at the gate for transfer to their office a 5 minute trip away.

Insurance is incredibly important in Iceland. And in a land of volcanoes and volcanic sand, there may be events you aren’t covered for under your travel insurance policy. We opted to take out an additional policy covering sand and ash damage. Remote locations and serious weather means Iceland is one place you don’t want to be underinsured.

9 day Iceland road trip itinerary

Day 1 | Reykjavik | Overnight Reykjavik
Day 2 | Reykjavik and surrounds | Overnight Reykjavik
Day 3 |Golden Circle | Overnight Vik
Day 4 | Vik region | Overnight Vik
Day 5 | Vik to Vatnajokull | Overnight Vatnajokull
Day 6 | Jokulsarlon and Hofn | Overnight Vatnajokull
Day 7 | Vatnajokull to Snaefellsnes | Overnight Snaefellsnes
Day 8 | Snaefellsnes | Overnight Snaefellsnes
Day 9 | Return to Reykjavik

Our 9 day Iceland itinerary will take you throughout the southern part of Iceland as well as the western region of Snaefellsnes. There is quite a bit of driving involved, so be sure that you’ve got some tunes and podcasts loaded. The scenery is amazing. Coupled with the right tracks – can we suggest the soundtrack to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? – makes for a memorable journey.

Looking for Iceland travel tips? We’ve got that covered in our guide here.

Welcome to Iceland! How about that flight in? Hope you got a great glimpse of the vast expanse of this other worldly country from above.

Once you’ve arrived and picked up your car, we’d recommend heading to a supermarket and picking up some supplies. Bonus, Netto and Kronan are the supermarkets you’ll see more regularly. They’re dotted through many of the towns you’ll visit too. Grab some water, drinks and snacks as needed.

Once you’re done there, we’d recommend settling into your accommodation. During our stay in Reykjavik, we’ve stayed in two different properties.

Where to stay in Reykjavik

The Canopy by Hilton City Centre is incredibly well located. Here you’ll find all the mod cons you’d expect with a Hilton and it is a hotel that performs as expected. We didn’t have a car for this trip though, so am unsure of the availability of nearby parking.

On our most recent trip we stayed at Castle House Luxury Apartments. Don’t be thrown by the name, they’re not altogether luxurious. But they do serve as a very comfortable place to stay if you’re after more self-contained lodging. Located right near the Tjornin Lake and opposite the National Gallery of Iceland, it’s also very well located.

A comfortable bed, kitchen and importantly warm rooms made this a perfect stay for us in Reykjavik and would be our pick on a return trip. Street parking was plentiful during our stay.

Your evening in Reykjavik

Hopefully you’ve had enough time to settle in and get accustomed. For your first evening in Reykjavik, a stroll around town is required. Even on a cold evening, there’s a buzz about. Reykjavik is dotted with a range of high quality restaurants. One thing you’ll soon learn about Iceland however is eating is expensive. Iceland is probably the most expensive place we’ve found in the world to eat out. And this means you need to look high and low for hidden gems. Let us introduce you to Icelandic Street Food.

When visiting a new destination, we look to Google reviews to provide some guidance. And it’s not often you find somewhere rated as highly as Icelandic Street Food. Currently rated a 4.9, that’s really about as high as it gets and with good reason.

The menu here is not extensive, but you don’t need a broad menu to provide excellent food. On our visit, we had the option of choosing a lamb or shellfish soup, served in a tasty bread bowl. The best bit? Unlimited soup refills! So make sure you go back for a top up.

During our stay, the incredibly warm restaurant owner brought out a range of cakes at no cost to share around. He has a positive spirit that is around providing his customers with a great experience and leaves everyone smiling. It really is a delightful place, and a perfect destination to start your Iceland trip.

Wander about town until your heart’s content before heading back to your accommodation.

Day 2 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Stay warm at the Blue Lagoon | Learn about Iceland’s history | Admire the impressive Hallgrimskirkja | Do a loop of the Tjornin lake

Day two sees your day start at a must do Icelandic experience – the Blue Lagoon. Now hot springs are plentiful throughout Iceland, but the Blue Lagoon is an experience every visitor needs to have. The chalky aqua water, with the steam coming off the warm water whilst the temperature remains close to zero outside is wonderful.

Now we have to level with you. The pungent aroma of sulphur takes some getting used to. But hey, that’s how the heating of the water works. It’s just nature at play.

The Blue Lagoon is another thing that needs an advance booking. It’s pretty much the most popular activity for visitors in Iceland and you don’t want to miss out on booking in. So make sure you get yourself a ticket! You can book in advance via Get Your Guide here.

Catch up on your Icelandic history

Next up is the Saga Museum. This island of Iceland sits in the middle of the ocean, so how did they people get here? Who were they? The Saga Museum has all of the answers and more. There are some really interesting stories and some legends detailed here which we found fascinating on our visit.

Moving to more modern times, a trip to the Perlan is an easy addition in Reykjavik. Looking like something you’d expect to see in a futuristic film, the Perlan is home to a restaurant, observation deck and a planetarium. It offers 360 degree views of Reykjavik are worth the trip here alone.

Explore the streets of Reykjavik

Reykjavik is not a huge city, and easily explored on foot. So find a park anywhere and wander about. The one landmark you have to make your way to though is the Hallgrimskirkja. It’s a difficult landmark to miss. The church is the biggest in Iceland and also one of the tallest structures in Iceland. Admittedly, there’s not much in the way of tall buildings, but impressive nonetheless! The design is inspired by Iceland’s landscape. For me, it’s far too symmetrical for that, but this structure is indelibly ingrained from our time in Iceland.

Walk the Tjornin Lake loop

By now, you would have noticed the lake in the middle of town known as the Tjornin. Tjornin translates as ‘the Pond’ which feels apt. In our mind, too big to be a pond, but not big enough to be a lake, it’s small enough to be able to wander around. And as the sun sets, I’d highly recommend this stroll. You’ll get some stunning reflections on the glassy water of the spired buildings of Reykjavik’s cityscape.

You can also end with your trip looping you back into downtown Reykjavik for dinner.

Day 3 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Take in Thingvellir National Park | Be mesmerised by the Geysir | Check out the Gulfoss waterfall | Go behind the scenes of a waterfall

With your car packed, it’s time to head on your Iceland road trip proper. Today will be all about getting up close and personal with Iceland’s Golden Circle. Even a short Iceland itinerary will typically include the Golden Circle. In fact, even if you’re super short on time, it is possible to complete this based in Reykjavik as a day trip.

Your first destination today is the Thingvellir National Park. Around 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik, you’ll find this national park. Thingvellir holds a special place in Iceland’s heart as the site of Iceland’s first parliament. Aside from this though, the site holds particular geographical significance. The park is home to the boundary of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. You can even walk between them.

There are some great walks you can do here, and for the more adventurous, scuba diving might be worth a try. The water here is said to be unparalleled in visibility. I’m told the wetsuits keep you warm, but all the same it was an activity we didn’t get to sample.

Watch that geysir blow!

Another 45 minutes on, and you’ll reach your next destination, the famous Geysir. Now you may have seen geysirs in other countries, but this particular Geysir is the one from which they get their name.

The Geysir here is roped off, given the water it spouts out is scalding hot. You can have a feel of some of the water run off as it gets closer to you. With every spout, you’ll see the steam and feel the heat – it is real.

Now there is no timing ritual here. You can get small spouts or large ones. They can be 5 minutes apart or 15. Hang around for about 45 minutes and you’ll be sure to see some really good ones. The double spouts are the most impressive.

Across the road from the Geysir is a restaurant and gift shop. Reasonably priced, it makes a sensible place to stop for lunch.

Your first waterfall – the Gullfoss

A short drive from the Geysir, you’ll find the Gullfoss. This waterfall doesn’t have a huge drop like waterfalls you might imagine. A series of steps where the water plunges further and further downward, but never with a drastic drop.

A change of the wind and you’ll have to be prepared to get wet. It’s a stunning waterfall and will set the tone for the many waterfalls ahead of you on this trip!

Behind the curtain of Seljalandsfoss

Around 90 minutes onwards, your next destination is another waterfall, Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall gushes at a phenomenal rate. The water drops from a much higher level than the Gullfoss. And is impressive from a distance.

Even more spectacular however is the fact that the Seljalandsfoss has a cave behind it. This means you can get up close and personal, right behind the waterfall. Now this comes with some hazards. You’ll need your rainproof gear, because you will get wet. And even if you’re visiting in the summer months, let’s be honest, the water is bloody cold!

It’s such a rush though to stand behind it. Watching the freezing water cascade in front of you, amongst that incredible noise is ethereal. A must on any Iceland itinerary.

After a day of exploring the outdoors, it’s time to head somewhere you can rest your head.

Where to stay in Vik

Vik is the logical location along this stretch to find some accommodation. One of the bigger towns along the south, it’s equipped with restaurants, a Kronan supermarket and fuel stop. Plus there’s a whole bunch of sights we’ll get to in your day 4 itinerary.

During our stay in Vik, we stayed at the relatively new Hotel Kria. We really enjoyed our stay with a spacious room. Breakfast in the morning was a real treat too. We did tend to load up at brekkie to try and avoid spending too much on food during the day.

The rooms had plenty of space for both of our luggage, hanging space and a comfortable bed too. Conveniently located and with plentiful parking, it was the perfect pick for our stay in Vik.

Dinner in Vik

After a day of exploring, you’re probably looking for a hearty meal. The Smidjan Brugghaus is a boutique brewery with a kitchen. Brewing their own local beers, they also serve up a range of reasonably priced Icelandic options for dinner. Burgers, ribs and fries will be well washed down by the local brew.

Day 4 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Another day, another waterfall | Watch for sneaker waves at Reynisfjara | Check out the stunning red church of Vik

Hopefully you’re not waterfalled out? First up today is the Skogafoss waterfall. The Skogafoss waterfall is almost a picture perfect waterfall. Dropping from around 60 metres, it’s wide and is very, very loud. Legend has it that a viking buried some treasure behind the waterfall. Good luck if you were thinking of attempting to find that.

This waterfall is somewhat deceptive. We arrived on a rainy day, but prepared with wet weather gear as you should be every day in Iceland! Walking up closer to the waterfall, a gust of wind will quickly having you running for cover. What looks like waterfall spray quickly becomes a deluge. So prepare to get wet even if you think you’re keeping your distance. And be sure to keep your camera and phone equipment out of sight and protected.

Skogafoss also featured in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Even thought it was meant to be Afghanistan, we spotted it straight away. So it has some Hollywood pull too!

Do your travel pangs get set off by The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? Check out our list of movies like Walter Mitty here.

Check out the black sand beach views

Once you’re done with your drenching – you will get very wet – it’s time to head to your next destination, Reynisfjara. This beach is a popular stop along the way. If you’ve seen it before, it may be because it featured in Game of Thrones as a key location in the earlier series. And it’s easy to see why – it’s an impressive natural landmark, created by rough seas and Mother Nature.

For your first viewing of this beach, head to the Reynisfjara viewpoint. From here, you’ll get a fantastic perspective of the beach. On our visit, the wind was strong, and the waves crash against the rocks at a scary height. Luckily this vantage point is high up and it is roped off, so completely safe.

When you’ve lost your hat, head towards Reynisfjara beach proper. On your drive, you will go past Reyniskirkja. This church is quintessential Iceland. All by itself, with its pristine red roof and white body, it’s a worthy photo stop.

Onwards to Reynisfjara beach, there’s a car park available before making your way down to the beach. Now one thing that shouldn’t be on anyone’s Iceland itinerary is drowning. As Australians, we’re accustomed to being beach aware. However, the waves in Iceland are something else. Along this beach, there are signs indicating the danger of sneaker waves. These waves come out of nowhere, and don’t even appear to be large at first glance. But please look out for these and don’t get too close to the water, they’re seriously dangerous.

With that knowledge in mind, make your way around to Halsanefshellir Cave. Hidden amongst stacks of basalt columns, the cave has a stunning echo to it and is another reminder that you’re somewhere far from home. You can wander around and explore the cave. The basalt columns are mesmerising. How nature shapes these so perfectly beggars belief.

Take your time here to soak up the scene. If you’re hungry at this point, the restaurant near the car park offers a small number of options.

A different perspective on Reynisfjara

Further east, you can visit the Reynisdrangar view which provides a spectacular view of the rock columns that dot the ocean. With the rough seas and the narrow rocks, it’s hard to think these columns will be around for much longer. Erosion and time will surely take these at some point.

Wander the black sand beach and ask yourself if you’ve just stepped onto another planet. The views here are beyond breath taking.

Head back to Vik. By now you would have seen it, but the church overlooking Vik is also a spectacular spot to take the views of the area. The Vik church overlooks all of Vik and out to the Reynisdrangar. It is worth the slight detour. Head back to your accommodation and freshen up before dinner.

Dinner at Vik again

If you’re looking for something reminiscent of Icelandic Street Food in Reykjavik, head to The Soup Company. Unsurprisingly, soup is the predominant dish served here. Our pick was the Hurry Curry Cod soup. It’s the perfect accompaniment after a day of being wind blown and wet. Whilst there were no unlimited soup refills, you could have as much bread as you like, so that’s a win!

Day 5 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Take in the river canyon of Fjaorargljufur | Investigate the peculiar basalt columns of Kirkugolf | Be blown away by the Vatnajokull Glacier

After your two nights in Vik, it’s time to pack the car and continue your drive east. Pick up any supplies in Vik you might need. Don’t stress if you don’t, Kirkjubaejarlauster is just an hour away. By the way, I have no idea how to pronounce that – even typing it makes me tongue tied. If you’re all good, head onto your next destination which is 15 minutes west of Kirkjubaejarlauster.

Admire the River Canyon of Fjaorargljufur

Iceland keeps surprising. When you think one destination is other worldly, up jumps another. The river canyon of Fjaorargljufur is no different. A marked contrast to the beaches of Reynisfjara, the canyon is around 2kms long and a hundred metres wide. There is a spectacular (there’s that word again) vantage point to take it all in.

For those seeking some activity and adventure, you can navigate the paths below, although there is some wading into water at different points. Not our cup of tea, but an option if it’s something you’re interested in.

As you head east, there is a national park visitor centre at Skaftarstofa – Vatnajokull National Park visitor centre. If you need any guidance, this can be a useful place to drop in, even if just to find out what else is about in the area.

The basalt columns of Kirkjugolf

Basalt columns make yet another appearance on this Iceland itinerary.  The Kirkjugolf columns are similar to those in the cave you saw yesterday. They look like a man made floor or structure, but are indeed another of Mother Nature’s wonders. Its name means ‘church floor’ however there has never been a church here. An interesting geological site, that is worth a pit stop on your Iceland road trip.

Pit stop for lunch

Your next stop will be around an hour’s drive away. Söluskalinn i Freysnesi serves as a gateway to a range of activities relating the Vatnajokull glacier. The Vatnajokull National Park covers around 14% of all of Iceland. And much of that is under the glacier.

At this pit stop you can grab a bite to eat. Prices are reasonable, although not food to get you excited about like our previous recommendations.

From this base, you can arrange glacier hikes and all sorts of activities. We didn’t for our trip based purely on our timings, but it’s a popular stop for exploring the glacier region.

There’s a petrol station and hotel available too if you’d like to make this an alternate overnight base.

The church hiding under the lawn

Many homes and churches in Iceland were made with turf or lawn serving as a roof. There are a handful of churches like this left, and the Hofskirkja is a perfect example of this. Tucked away up a goat track an hour from Kirkjugolf is this stunning little church. The earth around it looks almost fake in its wild lumpiness.

If you’re in luck, you might even have it to yourself like we did to explore.

Get up close with Fjallsarlon

I’ve mentioned Vatnajokull already. And by this point, you would have had many glimpses of this mighty glacier. Its size is difficult to fathom. Until that is you start to see lakes and icebergs that make up broken parts of the glacier.

Your next stop Fjallsarlon is a lake that is made up of melted glacier and some smaller icebergs. It’s an impressive sight, but something of a teaser for what is to come tomorrow.

Where to stay in the Hofn region

Around this area there are quite a few accommodation options. A smattering of guesthouses abound, or you could push on to the nearby town of Hofn. We settled for the Fosshotel Vatnajokull. This hotel was sat off the ring road in an isolated area. The views here were tremendous, back overlooking the glacier in the distance. It’s quiet and serene. The hotel has a good quality bar with a great assortment of drinks.

We found food here to be a little expensive for what it was – in line with most places in Iceland though. For our first night, we went with some two minute noodles using our kettle in our room. Was a fine solution for us.

The rooms are similar to Kria Hotel in Vik. A comfortable bed, and a large window in our room. Very useful if you happen to have a northern lights show put on for you.

Day 6 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Get out on the Jokulsarlon Lagoon | Play with the ice on Diamond Beach | Dinner in Hofn

Wake up and enjoy a comprehensive breakfast. The breakfast options here were very good. Once you’re finished with brekkie, it’s time to backtrack past a destination you would have driven past yesterday.

The magical Jokulsarlon lagoon

When we saw pictures of Jokulsarlon, we knew it needed to be on our Iceland itinerary. The road trip down to here is very much worth it. Jokulsarlon is a large lagoon which has huge shards of glacier broken off. They’re the size of mini icebergs, and so close you can even sit on a few of them!

The lagoon is packed with ice which dazzle with a magical blue, aqua and teal against frosty white. Ever so slowly, they float effortlessly out to the ocean.

With Iceland’s varying weather and multiple seasons in one day, the slightest change in light changes the whole complexion of the lagoon. A darker sky feels more menacing, some sun illuminates the icebergs. It’s magical to watch. And in full disclosure on our trip, we actually visited here three times.

Part of the reason for that was because we were booked to go onto the lagoon with one of the local companies who operate at the Glacier Lagoon. Unfortunately the weather was such during our time that made it too dangerous and unpredictable to get out onto the lagoon. If you’re lucky enough to be able to do this, I’d suggest exploring it. The boats let you go out and get up close with some of the larger icebergs. I can only imagine that it must be an absolute thrill.

All that said, viewing the icebergs and lagoon from the shore was still a wonderful experience etched in my memory.

Picking out the diamonds on Diamond Beach

The next stop on your Iceland road trip is all of a couple of hundred metres away. Once the icebergs float out from the lagoon, they head out to sea. These depart through Diamond Beach. Another black sand beach, the icebergs, much smaller from their trip through the waves wash up on the black sand. This results in the icebergs and shards being incredibly clear. Almost diamond like. You can wander the beach for hours looking at the range of different shaped ice shards. It’s a mesmerising experience.

Your easternmost stop – Hofn

Depending on what time you’ve left for Jokusarlon and Diamond Beach, you may have time for some downtime. On a longer road trip like this one, we always find space to have some relaxation. Once you’ve caught your breath, you can head east towards Hofn. This is the easternmost destination on our road trip.

The drive to Hofn from Fosshotel Vatnajokull

Hofn is the closest big town. Technically, the Fosshotel Vatnajokull is in Hofn. But I’d suggest this is the furthest expanse of Hofn.

Hofn town proper has a petrol station and a Netto if you need some supplies. The town is quaint, and the airport also doubled as Nuuk airport in the Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It’s an easy town to enjoy and has a great selection of restaurants to eat at.

For dinner, we’d suggest Ishusid Pizzeria. A warm, homely restaurant, the pizzas here were superb. Friendly staff who took great interest in us visiting all the way from Australia.

Day 7 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Driving day – stops at your leisure

After yesterday’s lower key day of exploring, your Iceland road trip will contain quite a bit of driving. You’ll now be backtracking and heading up to the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Get your snacks. Fill up the car. And make sure you’ve got some good music on hand.

At another time, we would have kept driving clockwise, but alas travelling late October was a bit tough and go. Many services and shops in the north were starting to close up too. Driving in some of these parts in the colder months can be problematic and a little dangerous. Some car rental places will also make you sign a waiver stating you won’t take the vehicle into these areas. So unless you’re supremely confident in challenging driving conditions, you’d be best visiting this area in a different season.

We departed Fosshotel Vatnajokull early in the morning to cover as much ground and get us into Snaefellsnes before nightfall.

Where to stay on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula

There are a good range of small apartments and Airbnbs in Snaefellsnes. We felt very fortunate to stumble across Bjarg Apartments in a town called Grundafjordur. If we could package up this cute apartment and take it with us everywhere, we would. A one bedroom apartment, it was complete with kitchen, bathroom and thankfully by this time on our trip, a laundry.

With a kitchen, we took the opportunity to cook dinner ourselves, another advantage of a self-contained apartment. We can’t speak more highly of this property and would love to stay there again on a future stay.

Day 8 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Visit the mountain that looks like an arrow | Take in the best of the Snaefellsnes National Park | Explore the Raudfeldsgja canyon | Wander the isolated black church of Budir

There is a lot to see in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. And more time would certainly not go astray here. Particularly during October as we dealt with shorter daylight hours and at some times, quite heavy snow. We departed early in the day to make the most of our precious daylight.

First stop just outside of town is Kirkjufellsfoss. This small waterfall itself is quaint in comparison to the ones to date on this Iceland road trip itinerary. But coupled with the view of Kirkjufell mountain, it’s an iconic Icelandic scene. Some say the most photographed scene in all of Iceland, and it’s fair to see why.

If this unique mountain looks familiar, it’s another star of Game of Thrones. Fans will recognise it as the mountain shaped like an arrow north of the wall. Not a Game of Thrones fan? That’s cool, you’ll still enjoy admiring it.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, read our article on some of the great destinations Game of Thrones has been filmed at here.

Beginning the Snaefellsnes circuit

Once you’ve taken in Kirkjufell, you can commence the Snaefellsnes circuit. There are many stops along the way, but we’ve called out the highlights below.

First up is Djupalonssandur. This beach was once home to a series of fishing boats. Today it isn’t used for anything, but is an interesting sight to behold. In particular with the remains of a fishing trawler that was wrecked in the late 1940s that remains there today.

Next up is another iconic coastal set of columns. Londrangar are basalt towers that pry out near the edge of the ocean. The craggy coastline is accentuated with these towers. Similar to others mentioned in this Iceland itinerary, it’s difficult to see Iceland’s harsh weather sparing these over time.

The small town of Hellnar village is worth a visit. Housing a handful of homes, there are some more iconic rock formations to take in along here. We had some dastardly weather whilst here – snow and sleet, but from what we could see, it looked a pretty spot.

Lunch stop at Arnarstapi

The nearby town of Arnarstapi is home to another small number of homes and restaurants. We stopped by the Arnarbaer restaurant for lunch. Another great find with reasonable prices. Given the captivity of the location, it felt like one you could be taken for a ride on. But alas, it was good food and good value. Enjoy some fish and chips or a pizza.

Kirkjufell would be my favourite sight in all of Snaefellsnes, closely followed by the cavern of Raudfeldsgja. A long winding track leads you to a crack in the mountain. It feels like slipping into another part of Iceland, but in the crack you can get into some very tight spaces as the water leaks down.

It takes some deft steps to navigate it internally, and a few leaps up some wet stones. It’s well worth exploring as you feel like you’re getting into the inside of a cavernous waterfall.

The black church of Budir

This Iceland itinerary has covered quite a number of quaint churches. The Budir Black church however is the oldest wooden church in Iceland. And possibly our favourite for its remoteness. It is planted in the middle of nowhere with impeccably maintained grounds around it. It’s a picture postcard destination and worth the slight detour.

For something very different, the Olkelduvatn mineral spring is worth a detour. Bring a bottle with you, to top up your water with some highly mineralised water. The water is said to be incredible for personal health. Be warned, the water tastes extremely metallic and may not be for everyone. All I know is I slept like a baby that night, but it may have had more to do with freezing during a day of exerting activities. In any case, it’s another novel detour which requires just a 200kr donation at the tap.

There are numerous other stops around the Snaefellsnes National Park – so please take these as a guide only. There might be a few more stops of interest for you too!

We had some time left over on our day here, and used that to drive to Stykkisholmur. And not only because it felt like the only place we could pronounce. This had also been used for filiming Walter Mitty. A fishing village, it has all the usual amenities you’d expect from a larger town.

And with that, either grab some dinner in Stykkisholmur, or grab something to cook back at your accommodation.

Day 9 Iceland itinerary

At a glance | Get back to Keflavik for your departing flight

Your last day will be dictated by your flight time. We had an afternoon flight which allowed us to get back to Keflavik airport at our leisure. A cruisy drive and drop off before we hit our flight. Just be sure to account for the 2.5 hour trip from Snaefellsnes to Keflavik.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our 9 day Iceland itinerary. This adventure was one of our most fun road trips. Iceland is packed with surprises (not least of all the weather). It’s a bucket list country that we feel should be on the radar of anyone planning a European adventure. Even if you can only do part of the trip, it’s worth the stop.

Have you been and believe  we’ve missed some key destinations? Let us know below!

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