After arriving in Reykjavík, make FlyOver Iceland in Grandi your first stop. The experience lasts about an hour and is a good, gently immersive introduction to Iceland’s glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, and open landscapes before you begin driving around the country. Allow roughly 90 minutes from Keflavík International Airport by airport bus or rental car; if you are collecting the car today, parking is available around the Grandi harbor area. Timed tickets commonly cost about 6,000–8,500 ISK per adult, and advance booking is wise. Check in first if your accommodation is nearby, since luggage is awkward in the attraction.
Walk from Grandi toward Old Harbour, about 10–15 minutes along the waterfront. Spend around 45 minutes browsing the small design shops, galleries, and harbor-side businesses; this is a pleasant place to slow down rather than rush into sightseeing. Continue on foot or take a short taxi ride to the National Museum of Iceland in Vesturbær—about 20 minutes walking from the harbor, or 5 minutes by car. The museum usually opens from around 10:00 to 17:00, with admission generally around 3,000 ISK. Its compact collection gives useful context for the coming road trip, particularly the settlement era and the practical realities of life in Iceland’s isolated farm communities.
From the museum, head to Hallgrímskirkja in Skólavörðuholt, roughly 10 minutes by car or about 25 minutes on foot. Visit the church interior and, if the tower is open, take the elevator up for broad views over Reykjavík’s colorful rooftops and the surrounding mountains; tower admission is usually about 1,300–1,500 ISK, and hours can vary with services or events. Finish at Café Loki, directly across from the church, for an easy first-night dinner. Order a traditional Icelandic tasting plate or rye-bread dishes—approximately 3,500–6,000 ISK per person. It is a cozy, unfussy choice, but confirm the evening closing time before setting out, as hours can change seasonally.
Pick up your rental car in Reykjavík and leave around 7:00–7:30, when the roads are quiet and the main sights are still peaceful. Drive first to Þingvellir National Park via Route 36, allowing roughly 45 minutes from the city and about two hours on site. Follow the marked paths through the Almannagjá gorge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart, then continue toward the historic assembly area beside Þingvallavatn. Parking is paid by plate registration—use the Parka app or the on-site machines—and sturdy shoes are useful, as the paths can be uneven and damp.
Continue about 50 minutes to the Geysir Geothermal Area in Haukadalur. The original Geysir is mostly quiet, but Strokkur erupts every few minutes, so wait for a couple of bursts rather than rushing after the first one. Allow around an hour, keeping behind the ropes and watching the wind direction around the steaming vents. From here it is a short drive to Gullfoss, where a paved path leads to viewpoints over the two-tier waterfall plunging into the Hvítá canyon. Spend about an hour; spray can be heavy, even on a sunny day, and the upper viewpoint is the better choice if the lower path is slippery.
Drive roughly 25 minutes to Friðheimar in Reykholt for lunch inside its warm tomato greenhouse—a welcome change from Iceland’s exposed viewpoints. The tomato soup and freshly baked bread are the signature order, with other tomato-based dishes and desserts available; budget approximately 4,000–7,000 ISK per person. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for the 2026 season, and check the restaurant’s current service hours before setting out, as greenhouse dining is usually daytime-focused. After lunch, allow about 45 minutes toward Hvolsvöllur and spend 1½ hours at the Hella Lava Centre, an engaging museum about Iceland’s volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the forces beneath the island. Check its current opening hours online—typically daytime hours—and arrive with enough time before closing.
From Hvolsvöllur, continue approximately 25 minutes along Route 1 and Route 26 to Hella. This is a comfortably full day, so settle into your accommodation rather than adding another major stop. If you still have energy, take a quiet evening walk along the Ytri-Rangá river; otherwise, pick up groceries in town for the following morning, when you will be heading toward the South Coast. Check road.is and SafeTravel before driving, particularly if rain or wind is forecast.
Leave Hella after breakfast and make Seljalandsfoss your first stop. The waterfall is right beside Route 1, with a paid parking area (roughly 1,000 ISK per car) and a short, wet walk to the viewing path. If the trail behind the falls is open and wind conditions are calm, walk behind the curtain—but wear waterproof layers and sturdy shoes. Allow about an hour, and consider adding the nearby Gljúfrabúi waterfall only if you have extra time; the entrance can be slippery and involves shallow water.
Continue east for around 25 minutes to Skógafoss, where the waterfall drops in a broad, thunderous sheet beside the village of Skógar. The main viewpoint is easy to reach from the parking area, while the staircase beside the falls gives a higher perspective if your legs are up for it. Spend roughly an hour here, then walk or drive a couple of minutes to Skógar Museum. Its open-air collection of turf-roofed farm buildings and transport exhibits makes a useful stop in changeable weather; allow 90 minutes. Check the seasonal opening hours before setting out—September hours are commonly shorter than summer hours—and expect admission of approximately 2,500–3,000 ISK for adults.
From Skógar, drive about 35–40 minutes toward Dyrhólaey Lighthouse and Cliffs. The upper viewpoint has sweeping views over the black coastline, sea arch, and Reynisfjara area; the access road can be rough and is sometimes closed in strong wind, so follow local signs and never approach cliff edges. Allow about an hour, keeping a respectful distance from nesting birds if they are still present. Continue into Vík to leave your bags at the accommodation, then make the planned late-afternoon detour to The Red House in Eyrarbakki only if access has been confirmed in advance. It is roughly an hour each way from Vík, so treat it as a viewing stop rather than an interior visit: private properties and heritage buildings may have restricted access, and coastal weather can make the return drive slow. If viewing permission is unavailable, do not trespass—use the village’s public shoreline and historic streets instead, then return to Vík for dinner at Smiðjan Brugghús, where local craft beer and hearty burgers or other casual dishes make an easy end to the day. Reserve if possible; budget about 4,000–7,000 ISK per person, and avoid driving after drinking.
Start before breakfast at Reynisfjara Beach, aiming to arrive around 8:00 while the light is soft and the shore is relatively quiet. Park in the marked lot near the café and spend about an hour walking beneath the black basalt cliffs and looking toward the sea stacks. Treat the beach seriously: stay well above the wet sand, never turn your back on the waves, and keep far from the waterline—sneaker waves here can travel much farther than expected. Afterward, continue east on Route 1 toward Kirkjubæjarklaustur, with roughly 1 hour 10 minutes of driving in normal conditions.
Turn off Route 1 for Fjaðrárgljúfur, where the short viewpoint trail follows the rim of the moss-covered canyon. Allow about 1½ hours, including time for photographs; stay on the marked path because the delicate moss is easily damaged. The access road and trail can close temporarily after rain or during restoration, so check Safetravel.is and local signs before setting out. Have a packed lunch or a quick snack in the car rather than relying on nearby services, then continue east toward Dverghamrar, a compact stop on Skeiðarársandur with striking basalt formations and sea stacks. Forty-five minutes is enough here, and the uneven ground calls for sturdy shoes.
Spend the main part of the afternoon at Skaftafell, inside Vatnajökull National Park. The visitor centre is a useful place to check trail conditions, weather, and parking information; parking generally costs around 1,000 ISK per vehicle, while the centre’s exhibits and facilities may have seasonal hours. Choose either the trail toward Svartifoss—allow roughly 1½ to 2 hours round trip—or a gentler route toward a glacier viewpoint if you are tired from the morning. Keep a warm layer and waterproof jacket handy: conditions around the ice cap can change quickly, even when the coast feels mild.
Drive back west on Route 1 to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and settle in with dinner at Systrakaffi, a relaxed local café-restaurant serving filling Icelandic dishes, burgers, soups, and cakes. Expect approximately 3,500–6,000 ISK per person; opening hours vary by season, so check the current schedule before leaving Skaftafell. This is a good night to keep quiet after the long outdoor day—refuel the car in town, stock up on breakfast supplies, and check road.is and Safetravel.is before tomorrow’s drive toward the glacier lagoons.
Leave Kirkjubæjarklaustur around 8:00–8:30 and follow Route 1 east toward Svínafellsjökull, allowing roughly 1 hour 15 minutes of driving before your first stop. The turnoff is easy to miss, so have the location saved offline and check road.is before leaving; weather can change quickly along this stretch. From the parking area, use only the marked viewing routes and keep well back from the glacier edge—no climbing onto the ice without a certified guide. Spend about an hour taking in the blue-grey ice against the dark mountains, then continue east on Route 1 toward Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, with another 45–50 minutes on the road.
By late morning, walk the shoreline at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and watch seals and icebergs drift toward the outlet. The main parking areas can fill by midday, and parking is generally paid, so keep a card or phone-payment option ready. A short walk across Route 1 brings you to Diamond Beach, where chunks of ice wash onto the black sand. Allow around 45 minutes, but stay clear of the surf: sneaker waves are a real danger here, especially when you are focused on photographing the ice.
Continue a few minutes west along Route 1 to Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon, a calmer and usually less crowded place to appreciate the glacier panorama. Give yourself about an hour on the marked paths; the wind can be sharp even on a sunny day, and the shoreline is uneven and muddy in places. From there, drive roughly 55 minutes east to Höfn, checking in before dinner and taking a brief stroll around the harbor if you still have energy. Reserve ahead for Pakkhús Restaurant, particularly in September, and order the local langoustine or another seafood dish; expect approximately 5,000–9,000 ISK per person. It is a relaxed harbor setting, but dinner service is limited, so confirm the opening hours and booking time before setting out.
Leave Höfn by about 7:30–8:00, allowing roughly 45 minutes to reach Stokksnes and Vestrahorn. The access road and photography area are on private land, so expect an entrance fee of approximately 1,000–2,000 ISK per person; check the current arrangement locally before driving in. Give yourself around two hours here: the black dunes, shallow lagoons, and sharply rising Vestrahorn are especially beautiful in early light, but wind can make the beach unpleasant. Keep well back from the water and avoid climbing fragile dune vegetation. Continue west along the Eastfjords road to Djúpivogur, about 1 hour 20 minutes farther, for a relaxed harbor walk and the outdoor Eggin í Gleðivík sculpture, a row of large stone eggs representing local bird species. Allow about an hour; cafés and small shops may open later in the morning, so carry coffee and snacks from Höfn.
From Djúpivogur, follow the coast toward Stöðvarfjörður, a scenic drive of roughly 50 minutes, with frequent pull-offs but no need to stop at every viewpoint. Spend about 1½ hours at Petra’s Stone Collection, the famous home museum of local mineral collector Petra Sveinsdóttir. It is typically open seasonally from late morning into the afternoon, with admission commonly around 2,000–3,000 ISK; verify September hours before setting out, as this is one of the day’s more time-sensitive stops. The collection is wonderfully eccentric—rooms, sheds, and gardens filled with glittering Icelandic stones—so allow extra time if you enjoy geology. Continue about 25 minutes to Fáskrúðsfjörður, where a short waterfront stroll and a look at the French-influenced harbor buildings make a good late-afternoon pause. The village is compact, and one hour is enough to wander without rushing.
The final drive to Seyðisfjörður takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via Route 92 and Route 93. Check road.is and the Icelandic weather service before leaving Fáskrúðsfjörður: the mountain road over Fjarðarheiði can be foggy, snowy, or temporarily difficult even in September. Once in town, park near the center and walk to Skaftfell Bistro, inside the local arts center, for dinner. Reserve if possible; evening service is limited and the small dining room can fill up. Budget roughly 4,000–7,000 ISK per person, and take a few minutes afterward to stroll Seyðisfjörður’s colorful streets while the town is quiet.
After leaving Seyðisfjörður, stop at Vök Baths just outside Egilsstaðir for a restorative soak in the floating geothermal pools. Allow about two hours, and reserve an early entry if possible; September opening times vary, but morning sessions are usually the easiest to fit into a driving day. Tickets commonly cost around 7,000–9,000 ISK, with towels and swimwear available to rent. Have a quick breakfast or coffee in Egilsstaðir before continuing west, and check road.is first—both the mountain road out of the fjord and the approach toward Dettifoss can change quickly in autumn.
Continue to Dettifoss, allowing roughly 1½ hours at the waterfall including the walk from the parking area. The western approach on Route 862 is generally the more straightforward choice when open, while the eastern viewpoint on Route 864 gives a wilder perspective; confirm road conditions before committing, as these roads can be rough or seasonally restricted. Wear waterproof layers—the spray is intense even on a calm day. From there, drive toward Námafjall Hverir, where a short marked loop passes steaming vents, bubbling mud pots, and vividly colored ground. Stay strictly on the paths and keep your distance from the hot earth; the sulfur smell is strong, so this is a good brief stop rather than a picnic location.
Carry on to Dimmuborgir for a slower walk among the twisted lava formations. The easiest marked circuits take around 45 minutes, while the longer routes can fill 1½ hours; late afternoon usually brings softer light and fewer coach groups. The paths can be uneven, so sturdy shoes are worthwhile. If you need supplies, Reykjahlíð is the practical place to refuel and buy snacks before the final drive to Húsavík.
Arrive in Húsavík and settle in before dinner at Gamli Bærinn, a relaxed harbor-side choice for burgers, fish, and other casual plates. Expect roughly 3,500–6,000 ISK per person, and check current opening hours or reserve ahead if you are traveling on a weekend. Afterward, take a short wander along the harbor and the quieter streets around Hafnarstétt; the town is particularly atmospheric in the evening, with views across Skjálfandi Bay and, if the sky is clear, a chance of northern lights later at night.
Book North Sailing in advance for a morning departure from Húsavík harbor, ideally around 9:00. Arrive 20–30 minutes early for check-in, warm layers, waterproof outerwear, gloves, and motion-sickness tablets; even a calm September sea feels cold on deck. The classic whale-watching cruise lasts about three hours and typically searches Skjálfandi Bay for humpback whales, dolphins, and seabirds. Allow roughly 12,000–18,000 ISK per adult, depending on the vessel and current season, and keep your schedule flexible because sailings can be delayed or canceled in rough weather.
After returning to the harbor, have a quick lunch nearby before visiting the Húsavík Whale Museum. Its exhibits are particularly worthwhile after the cruise, giving context to the species you may have seen and explaining Iceland’s relationship with the surrounding waters. Allow about 1½ hours; September hours are commonly around 10:00–16:00, but check the current timetable that morning. From the museum, Húsavíkurkirkja is a short, easy walk uphill through the compact town center. Spend about 30 minutes admiring the pale wooden church and its quiet setting; it is usually open during daytime visiting hours, but services may limit access.
Continue to GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths on the waterfront, roughly a 10-minute walk or a few minutes by car from the church. Reserve a late-afternoon entry for about two hours, bringing a swimsuit and flip-flops; towels and swimwear are generally available to rent. The pools use warm mineral-rich seawater and look directly across Skjálfandi Bay, making this an especially good place to unwind after the boat trip. Admission is usually around 6,000–8,000 ISK per adult, with timed entry often required in September. Finish at Naustið near the harbor, where seafood and hearty Icelandic dishes make an easy dinner; budget approximately 4,000–7,000 ISK per person and reserve if you want an early table, since Húsavík’s small dining scene fills quickly.
Leave Húsavík after breakfast, around 8:00–8:30, and follow Route 85 and Route 1 toward Goðafoss. The drive takes roughly 45 minutes, and the waterfall is an easy roadside stop with two main viewpoints on opposite sides of the river. Allow about an hour to walk between the viewing areas and watch the Skjálfandafljót split around the rocky islands. The paths can be slippery, so sturdy shoes are useful; parking is free, and there are basic facilities nearby.
Continue for approximately 35 minutes to Akureyri, entering town across the impressive bridge over Eyjafjörður. Head first to Akureyri Botanical Garden, where paths wind through native Icelandic plants as well as surprisingly varied alpine and temperate collections. It is usually open daily from morning until early evening in September, with free admission. Afterward, take a relaxed lunch in central Akureyri—Café Berlin on Hafnarstræti is convenient for soup, sandwiches, and coffee, while Bláa Kannan is a characterful option for cake and a warm drink.
Walk uphill through the center to Akureyrarkirkja, the town’s landmark church. The interior is worth a quiet look for its suspended ship, organ, and distinctive stained-glass window; opening times can vary around services, so treat this as a flexible 30–45-minute stop. From the church, drive about 10 minutes toward Akureyri Airport for The Aviation Museum of Iceland. Set aside roughly 1.5 hours for its collection of aircraft, rescue equipment, and exhibits covering the practical history of flying in Iceland. Check the September timetable before setting out, as seasonal hours are more limited than in summer.
Return to central Akureyri and leave the car parked for the evening—most of the compact center is easy to explore on foot. For dinner, reserve a table at Strikið, on Skipagata, where the upper-floor setting gives broad views over Eyjafjörður and the surrounding mountains. Expect approximately 5,000–9,000 ISK per person depending on drinks and courses. If the evening is clear, take a short post-dinner stroll along the waterfront before turning in; the light can remain beautiful well into the evening in September.
Leave Akureyri around 8:00 AM for Reykjavík, allowing 4½–5½ hours of driving before stops and a full 7–9 hours for today’s route. Check road.is and Safetravel.is first, as wind, rain, or early-season snow can change conditions quickly. Follow Route 1 west and keep fuel and snacks in the car; services become more spread out once you leave the north. Your first break is Kolugljúfur Canyon, reached via a short detour from the main road. Allow about 45 minutes for the viewpoint and brief walk, taking care near the unfenced edges and in wet weather.
Continue to Borgarnes and visit the Borgarnes Settlement Centre, a worthwhile 1½-hour stop in the old waterfront area. Its exhibitions explain Iceland’s settlement history and Egils’ Saga, making it a more engaging break than simply stretching your legs at a petrol station. The museum generally opens from late morning into the afternoon, but check the current September schedule before setting out; parking is straightforward nearby. For lunch, use the centre’s café or pick up something casual in town before turning inland toward Reykholtsdalur.
Drive to Deildartunguhver, where steam rises dramatically from Europe’s highest-flowing hot spring. Stay on the marked paths—this is a working geothermal area, not a place to wander off-trail—and allow around 30 minutes. A few minutes farther on is Krauma, the ideal final pause before Reykjavík. Reserve a bathing slot if possible, especially for the late afternoon; plan roughly two hours for the geothermal baths, relaxation rooms, and changing facilities. Bring a swimsuit and flip-flops, and note that admission is usually in the region of 7,000–8,000 ISK, with towel rental extra. Afterward, continue to Reykjavík, return the rental car according to your booking instructions, and finish at Skál! in Hlemmur Food Hall. It is an easy, informal dinner stop with small plates and drinks—budget approximately 3,500–7,000 ISK per person—and a convenient place to toast completing the road trip.