Road Trip in Iceland: Routes, Budget, Tips
Hooray, we're off to Iceland to see puffins, walk among fjords and volcanoes. However, before traveling, you need to learn quite a lot of details about the country to make the trip enjoyable. We've figured out how to plan an itinerary for Iceland, where to go, approximately how much money to budget for the trip, and how to stay connected. Let's take off!
Budget for a Trip to Iceland
On average, everything depends on whether you go on a tour or not, how many locations you want to visit, and for how many days you travel. On average, prices for a two-day organized tour in Iceland start from 400 € and go up to 3,000 € for a two-week trip. Travelers most often advise budgeting around 25,000-30,000 ₽ per day per person for the trip.
Russians usually buy tickets to Reykjavik on Kupi.com, the capital of Iceland, but you can also fly further to Akureyri in the north of the island and to other points from which you want to start your journey — Iceland has enough airports for comfortable tourism.
We recommend using the services of travel agencies to avoid worrying about organizing excursions, transport, meals, and other important attributes of a comfortable trip. If you plan to choose the most interesting places for a tour or want to create your own itinerary, read about the main locations in our article on a ten-day trip to Iceland.
10-Day Itinerary: Main Attractions of Iceland
Day 1. First — the capital. Reykjavik
We begin our journey with the magnificent Hallgrímskirkja Lutheran church. Be sure to visit the observation deck at its top by booking a tour on any day except Sunday.
In addition, the National Museum of Iceland is a must-visit. It features artifacts discovered on the island from the time of the first settlers to the present day.
And, of course, don't miss Reykjavik's waterfront and the Sun Voyager sculpture located there, dedicated to the Vikings and resembling the 'skeleton' of their ship.
Day 2. Golden Circle Tour — Þingvellir National Park
Distance from Reykjavik: approximately 60 km
Þingvellir National Park is part of the local 'Golden Circle'. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its unique nature. Þingvellir consists of kilometers of petrified magma, covered in moss and crisscrossed by glacial streams. The first parliament, Alþingi, founded in 930, is also located here. It operates to this day.
If you want to stay longer, visit other sites from the 'Golden Circle' — Gullfoss waterfall, considered by locals to be the most beautiful in the country, and the Haukadalur geyser valley, located nearby.
Day 3. To the very south — Vík
Distance from Þingvellir: approximately 180 km
Vík is the southernmost town on the island, located in the Suðurland region. On the way there, you will encounter Skógafoss waterfall, Dyrhólaey cape, and other natural beauties of the area.
Most often, tourists come to Vík to see the Reynisfjara basalt columns and walk along the black volcanic sand beaches. The town itself is very charming and small, looking very authentic unlike the capital, Reykjavik.
Day 4: Ice Kingdom — Vatnajökull National Park
Distance from Vík: approximately 190 km
Vatnajökull is Iceland's largest glacier. The park where it is located is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. And for good reason: such an abundance of ice is rarely found anywhere else. Most often, tourists go to the southern part of Vatnajökull Park, to the territory of the former Skaftafell National Park. This area features glaciers with caves, lakes, and guides lead guests along routes of varying difficulty.
By the way, an interesting fact — some scenes for the movie 'Interstellar' were filmed here when they wanted to show landscapes of other planets.
Day 5: For those who want to slow down — Djúpivogur
Distance from Vatnajökull National Park: 143 km
Djúpivogur is one of the oldest towns in the Eastfjords, founded in 1589 as a trading port. Today, tourists come here to walk through the Búlandsnes nature reserve, visit Mount Búlandstindur, and photograph Atlantic puffins.
Interesting fact: Djúpivogur received the status of a 'slow town' due to its unhurried pace of life without fuss or rush. So if you want to stay longer, that's the magic of the town.
Day 6: Deep in the Fjord — Seyðisfjörður
Distance from Djúpivogur: approximately 200 km
The town is located deep within the fjord of the same name, so the journey there alone is an adventure. Seyðisfjörður was opened to the world in 1848 when Norwegian fishermen began herring fishing here.
Must-visits here include the Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, Gufufoss waterfall, and the Skálanes Nature Reserve, home to many endemic species of animals and plants.
Day 7: In the Heart of Volcanoes — Lake Mývatn
Distance from Seyðisfjörður: approximately 200 km
Tourists visiting Lake Mývatn consider the body of water to be the heart of all Iceland. It formed over 2000 years ago after a powerful eruption of the Krafla volcano. The lava formed a kind of 'bowl'. It filled with water from underground springs that still feed Mývatn.
The shoreline relief is formed by craters of extinct volcanoes, creating a unique landscape with low-growing vegetation and trekking trails. Be sure to visit the Hverfjall volcano crater on the eastern shore of Mývatn — the local area looks like something alien!
Day 8. Another Fjord — Akureyri
Distance from Lake Mývatn: approximately 80 km
New day — new fjord. We head to Eyjafjörður, where the city of Akureyri is located. Among locals, this city is considered the northern capital, much like St. Petersburg in Russia. On the way to Akureyri, we recommend visiting the popular Goðafoss waterfall, near which Icelanders adopted Christianity in 1000 AD.
The main attraction of the city itself is the northernmost botanical garden in the world. It gathers all the rare vegetation of Iceland, growing in its natural environment. Special attention should be paid to a trip to Grímsey Island, which is definitely worth visiting if you want to be in a location that crosses the Arctic Circle.
Day 9. In a Small Area — Stykkishólmur
Distance from Akureyri: approximately 420 km
The journey will be long, but you'll have the opportunity to see nature along the way, and afterwards — visit the volcano museum and taste scallops in Stykkishólmur's establishments. The town itself is small — its area is 10 km². Locals have been engaged in fishing since Stykkishólmur's formation in the 16th century.
Here you can visit the local history museum and one of Iceland's oldest meteorological stations. But if you've already explored the town thoroughly, you should venture beyond its limits and head to the Blue Lagoon hot spring or the Strokkur geyser. A nature retreat is always a good idea.
Day 10: The Circle is Complete — Back to Reykjavik
Distance from Stykkishólmur: approximately 230 km
The long journey across the island is behind you — it's time to revisit the capital to recall its charm. For the last day of your Reykjavik itinerary, we recommend simply strolling peacefully along the central streets to photograph the local architecture, go shopping for quality outerwear, and watch the sunrise by the city pond in the company of swans. What a lovely little celebration of life!
Tips for a Trip to Iceland
to choose the right season for your trip, consider its goals. If you want to see the Northern Lights, go between late November and early February. For nature viewing, it's better to choose the summer period;
if you are traveling for three to five days, it's best to stay in Reykjavik and make daily trips from there to each point of interest. This way, you will always have more comfortable living conditions;
before your trip, get out all your clothes intended for tourism. It's best to immediately take water-repellent spray, clothing with a special coating, and a windbreaker to protect yourself from the spray of fjords, waterfalls, and endless wind;
before your trip, get a local virtual number or buy a SIM card at a mobile operator's store at the airport to always stay connected and have internet access. However, the latter might be difficult in remote parts of the island, so for such purposes, it's better to buy a walkie-talkie.
We wish you windless days and amazing emotions in Iceland.
