Overview
A first week works well as two days in Reykjavík, a Golden Circle drive and a south-coast trip as far as Vík, with a hike near Hveragerði on the return. Allow roughly an hour from Reykjavík to Þingvellir and about 2 hours from Vík to Hveragerði before longer breaks. Use Selfoss and Vík for overnight stops instead of commuting back to the capital after every visit.
May through September gives this route more daylight and a better chance of open walking paths, although wind, rain and closures still affect plans. Winter brings much shorter days and icy routes, so it needs a different driving and sightseeing schedule. Check official road and trail conditions each morning, keep away from rough surf and do not enter geothermal ground outside marked routes.
When to go
Bird nesting can restrict Dyrhólaey access from mid-May into late June. Follow the current reserve signs; an open summer road does not guarantee that every viewpoint is accessible.
Every month in detail: weather and recent faresItineraries
Where to stay
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Getting around
- Airport bus: Flybus links Keflavík with Reykjavík's BSÍ terminal in about 45 min of driving, with extra time for boarding, traffic and any hotel connection.
- In Reykjavík: Walk between the central streets and harbor, then use a taxi for Perlan or when the wind makes a longer walk impractical.
- Self-drive: Use a rental car for the Golden Circle and Route 1 south-coast stops, checking road conditions and the rental contract before taking smaller access roads.
- Guided day trips: A guided Golden Circle trip can replace the self-drive day, but use its actual pickup and stop schedule rather than assuming it follows this itinerary.