2 weeks in Iceland: the perfect itinerary

“You’re going to spend 2 weeks in Iceland!? What will you do there?” a colleague of mine asked.
Still considered a cold and tiny island “somewhere in the sea”, few people are aware of its sheer size.
But Iceland is not like any other country, where the main cities are connected by motorways and driving is pure bliss. No, in Iceland, prepare yourself for gravel roads, weather conditions that slow you down and the beauty of the place that will make you want to stop literally at every corner!
This itinerary, that mainly follows the Ring Road, gives you the chance to spend  2 weeks in Iceland and discover the diversity of the country. You’ll pass waterfalls, fishing villages, lave fields and boiling mud pools, with time to take in a few hikes as well.
But before we head off, you might want to check out these things you should know before going to Iceland.

2 weeks in Iceland: the full itinerary

Day 1-2 Reykjavik

Depending on when your flight arrives and how long it took you to get here, you might want to settle in, relax, have a bite to eat or just take a walk around to get a feel of the place. Don’t sweat it, Reykjavik is small, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the next day! And on the way from the airport to Reykjavik, why not stop at the famous Blue Lagoon for a soak?

Is it museums you’re after? Architecture? Nightlife? The capital of Iceland has it all! There are plenty of things to do in Reykjavik!

Day 3 – The Golden Circle

The proper road trip starts! And what a start! Today you’ll be driving the Golden Circle that encompasses three of the main attractions in Iceland: the historic site of Thingvellir National Park, the spouting Strokkur Geysir and the iconic Gullfoss waterfall. All three are a great introduction to the diverse landscapes of Iceland. Bear in mind that the Golden Circle is the busiest road in Iceland, so be prepared for crowds, especially at the Geysir.

Day 4- Seljalandsfoss- Skogafoss

Today is a waterfall day! Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss are two of Iceland’s most photographed waterfalls. And rightly so! Seljalandsfoss drops at 60m and you can even walk behind it! Be cautious cause the path can be slippery. Don’t forget to walk a few hundred meters further along the main path at Seljalandsfoss to visit the hidden Gljufurarfoss.
Standing at the base of Skogafoss, with its millions of gallons of water thundering down over the cliff, makes you feel very small. Climb the stairs next to the waterfall to get a view from the top as well. If you’re up for a hike, this is where the walk to Thorsmork starts. (+/- 10 hours walking) You don’t have to do the whole trail, even one hour makes for some serious gorgeous scenery!

Day 5- Glaciers and beaches galore

From Skogafoss, it’s only a short drive to the Solheimajökull glacier tongue. You can walk to the base on your own, but if you want to do some proper glacier-hiking, you will obviously need to book a guide.
Continue to the black sand beach of Vik and the basalt rock formations at Reynisfara. Rainy and windy weather truly make for an apocalyptic atmosphere!
From there on, it’s off to Skaftafell National Park (+/- 1h30 drive) If you still have energy left, you can take a walk to yet another glacier tongue: Skaftafelljökull, where a marked trail and free brochure will explain you the geology of the place.

Day 6- The Land of Ice

Still in Skaftafell National Park, take a walk up to the dramatic looking waterfall of Svartifoss. Drive to the famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon to see huge ice boulders rest on the black beach or in the lagoon and spend the night in Höfn.

Day 7 – the beautiful East Fjords

From Höfn, drive along the coast and discover the remote East Fjords. The highlight and probably the best place to stay overnight is Seydisfjördur, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dripping waterfalls. The road up there is steep and even in June you may encounter fog, be careful! This part of the island is definitely a highlight during my 2 weeks in Iceland.

Day 8 – Puffins, Lake Pools and Mud

Take a wander in the beautiful surroundings of Seydisfjördur, passing waterfalls and bizarre sound sculptures. If you are here between May and August, go and check out the puffins in Borgarfjördur Estri.
A 2h30 drive will take you to Myvatn, THE must see in the north. There’s plenty to see and do: lava formations, volcanoes, geothermal activity, … Don’t forget to have a soak in the Myvatn nature baths!

Day 9- Canyons and Waterfalls

Stay another night in Myvatn. and make a daytrip to Dettifoss waterfall and the Asbyrgi canyon. On the way back, you can go whale-watching in Húsavik.

Day 10- Waterfalls and Herring.

Take some time to explore the second city of Iceland: Akureyri . On the way to Akureyri, make sure you stop at Godafoss, my favourite waterfall by far! From there on, continue towards the beautiful village of Siglofjördur to discover the herring-history of Iceland (it’s much more interesting than it sounds, trust me!)

Day 11- Stykkishólmur

It takes about  hours to get to Stykkishólmur, where gorgeous little islands dot the bay of Breidafjördur. Why not take a boat ride to check some of them out? Or indulge in some fresh fish at the little harbour and climb the basalt rock formation of Súgandisey. Don’t forget to visit Stykkishólmur’s futuristic church!

Day 12: Snaefellsness

The Snaefellsnes peninsula is one of my favourite parts of Iceland, it packs in so much in a relatively small area: crunching lava, black beaches, stunning rock formations, … There are plenty of walking opportunities too!

Day 13: Time for some History

Spend an extra day on the Snaefellsness peninsula. There is so much beauty to discover! Or on your way back to Reykjavik, stop at Borgarnes where the Settlement Centre tells you about Iceland’s fascinating history!

Day 14: Back to Reykjavik

I know, it’s sad, you don’t want to leave, do you? Two weeks gave me a great overview of all the variety Iceland has to offer, but there is one area I didn’t cover: the Westfjords. Seems like a good reason to come back!

Have you visited the country of fire and ice? What places would you add to this two week itinerary for Iceland?