Iceland: Ultimate 8 Day Road Trip Itinerary

Grab your rental car and head into the capital and largest city of Iceland, Reykjavík - urban area population = ~200,000 people (or two-thirds of Iceland's population). This place is the centre of culture and life of the Icelandic people, and is definitely one of the focal points of tourism in Iceland. The city centre, however, is a very small area characterised by eclectic and colourful houses, with good shopping, dining and drinking. Reykjavik has the distinction of being the northernmost capital city in the world, though its winters are surprisingly mild for a city of its latitude.

Laugavegur is the main street in downtown Reykjavík. It is also one of the oldest shopping streets in Iceland. There are plenty of shops, exclusive stores, bars, nightclubs and restaurants on this charming historic street.

Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran (Church of Iceland) parish church. It is the largest church in Iceland and one of the tallest structures (74.5 metres/244 ft high) in the country. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674), author of the Passion Hymns.

Sólfar (aka Sun Voyager) is a sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason. This outdoor sculpture is described as a dreamboat. An ode to the sun, conveying the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom. (wikipedia)

Strokkur is a geothermal fountain geyser. It is one of Iceland's most famous geysers, erupting random and frequent.

Gullfoss Falls is a hugely popular attraction of Iceland. Coming off the Hvítá river, water curves across a 3-step drop then straight into the bowels of the earth. This waterfall has a total height of 32m with average flow speeds of 140 cubic meters per second.

Þingvellir (aka Thingvellir National Park) is one of the most popular tourist destinations. It is a site of historical, cultural, and geological significance. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian. It (the park) was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004. To its south lies Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula region has some spectacularly dramatic landscapes.

Búðir is the home of the popular country inn and restaurant Hotel Búðir and a very old small church.

Arnarstapi (aka Stapi) is a small fishing village at the foot of Mt. Stapafell. Today Arnarstapi is still a somewhat busy harbor during the summer and is a popular destination of tourists during that time of the year. There is a variety of natural and culinary attractions here. There is much beauty to be found in nearby attractions, and an old horse trail past Neðstavatn is now a popular hiking trail across the lava and along the beach between Arnarstapi and Hellnar. This walk is about one hour. The lava field is called Hellnahraun, and its coast where at its westernmost edge can be found the ancient small village of Hellnar is a natural preserve. Along the coast there are some unique rock formations to be seen. (wikipedia)

The Lóndrangar are a pair of rock pinnacles (volcanic plugs of basalt) that have been hewn out from softer surrounding rock by erosion. At 75 and 61 m tall, they are a singular sight, rising above and outside the ocean front. History has it that the taller of the cliffs was ascended in 1735, while the smaller one was not climbed until 1938. The Lóndrangar are remnants from a bigger crater which has mostly eroded away. There are many bird nests in the steep slopes of the twin towers. Birds which can be observed are black-legged kittiwake, common murre, puffin and northern fulmar. At one time the coastal area around Lóndrangar, Drangsvogur, was used for the landing of fishing vessels with up to 12 fishing boats making use of it as a natural harbor.

Djúpalónssandur beach is a beautiful black lava beach. It was once home to the peninsula's most prolific fishing villages on the Snæfellsnes peninsula but today the bay is uninhabited.

Kirkjufell (Church mountain) is a 463 m high mountain. This place was one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones season 6 and 7, featuring as the "arrowhead mountain" that the Hound and the company north of the Wall see when capturing a wight.

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall comes from the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull through the Seljalands River, and drops 60 m (197 ft). Walk behind the falls into a small cave.

The Skógafoss waterfall comes off the Skógá River. Since the coastline had receded seaward, the former sea cliffs remain. These cliffs run parallel to the coast over hundreds of kilometres, creating together with some mountains a clear border between the coastal lowlands and the Highlands of Iceland. These falls drop a height of 60 m (200 ft).

The Seljavallalaug pool, near Seljavellir, was built back in the 1920's. This pools is cleaned every summer and is free to use - at one's own risk.

First built in 1910, this lighthouse is an interesting square concrete tower, painted white with red trim. It stands at 13m (43 ft) tall.

Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall. These stacks are framed by a black sand beach that was ranked in 1991 as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. Legend says that the stacks originated when two trolls dragged a three-masted ship to land unsuccessfully and when daylight broke they became needles of rock. Contemporary legends note the story of a husband who found his wife taken by the two trolls, frozen at night. The husband made the two trolls swear to never kill anyone ever again. His wife was the love of his life, whose free spirit he was unable to provide a home for; she found her fate out among the trolls, rocks, and sea at Reynisfjara. (wikipedia)

Fjaðrárgljúfur is a canyon almost 100 m deep and 2 kilometers long. The Fjaðrá river flows through it. The origins of this canyon dates back to the cold periods of the Ice Age, about two million years ago. It was created by progressive erosion by flowing water from glaciers through the rocks and palagonite over millennia. A one-mile hike up the eastern edge brings you to an observation platform. From which you can see the waterfall which flows down the western side of the canyon.

Svartifoss (Black Falls) is one of the most popular sights in Vatnajökull National Park. It is surrounded by dark lava columns, and at its base are sharp rocks. New hexagonal column sections break off faster than the falling water wears down the edges. These basalt columns have provided inspiration for Icelandic architects, most visibly in the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík, and also the National Theatre. (wikivoyage)

Jökulsárlón (glacier lagoon) is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. Situated at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Large blocks of ice break off the edge of the glacier, which is about 30m high, keeping the lagoon stocked with icebergs. Jökulsárlón has been a setting for four Hollywood movies: A View to a Kill, Die Another Day (BMW chase scene), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Batman Begins, as well as the reality TV series Amazing Race. (Wikipedia)

Vík is a very small village, with about 300 inhabitants and a very photogenic church with a pointy red top.

(optional) Here lies the remains of a classic 1973 United States Navy DC-3 plane which ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach at Sólheimasandur. It's a 45 minute walk to the wreck from the main road. Photographers love this place.

This is one of the most popular attractions. If you visit Iceland, you will have to get your bathing suit on and soak in the warm healing waters rich in minerals silica and sulfur. Water is heated and piped in from the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi - the largest in the world. Various pools provide a range of water temperatures from warm to hot(er). Do note the strict code of hygiene. Guests are required to thoroughly shower prior to entering the geothermal spa. Get your wrist band on (for payments within the spa area) and enjoy this real Icelandic treat.