Self-Drive Southwest Iceland

Arrive in Iceland and pick up your rental car. After an overnight flight we arrived early in the morning and had quit a bit of time to kill before we checked into our accommodations. The Blue Lagoon was the perfect filler for this time. A highlight of any Iceland itinerary, the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal lagoon that reaches 100 degrees and is perfect for relaxing post-flight. I recommend purchasing your tickets in advance on the website. They are good for the whole day but you have to pick an arrival time. Pro tip: stay here! There are two hotels on site that promise sophisticated luxury.

After the Blue Lagoon, meander around downtown Reykjavik. A quaint town, it is very easy to see on foot. Don’t miss Hallgrimskirkja Church. One of the most visited places in Iceland, it towers over the city. Admission to the church is free but for a fee you can go up to the top of the tower.

Once the sun goes down, get ready to see the Northern Lights! You can book a tour or you can also drive outside of town yourself and see what you can see. Some nights will be better than others to see the Northern Lights. Check the forecast to see which days you have the best chance of seeing them. Pro tip: 2024 is projected to be the best Northern Lights viewing in decades!

Hop in the car and head out to the Snaefellsbaer Peninsula, a three-hour drive north from Reykjavik with and end point in the Snaefellsjokull National Park. Stop along the way at POI such as Kirkjufell Mountain, Gatklettur “Hole Rock” and Londrangar. Londrangar was my favorite place of the day. It was so peaceful, we ended up just sitting cliffside and relaxing.

Today you will head east to drive the Golden Circle loop. The whole loop takes about three-and-a-half hours to drive but you will be stopping along the way. Start the day at Þingvellir National Park where you can actually scuba or snorkel in-between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates! If diving in freezing cold water isn’t your thing, you can still stand in the middle of the tectonic plates; there is a beautiful waterfall here as well called Oxarafoss. Continue on to see Gullfoss Waterfall and the geyser Strokkur that shoots a stream of boiling hot water 30 meters in there air every eight to 10 minutes. End your loop with a visit to Kerið Crater Lake.


Today you will leave Reykjavik for the four hour and 15 minute drive to the small town of Vik, located in the south of Iceland. There are several must see POI along the way so plan to stop and enjoy the sights!

Two hours from Reykjavik will be your first stop at the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland. Pro tip: wear waterproof gear and you can walk behind the falls!

Continue on about 30 minutes on the Ring Road to Skogafoss Waterfall that is another well known and popular waterfall. Climb the 527 stairs to the top of the falls where you will be rewarded with an epic panoramic view. You can also continue on the walking path for a beautiful hike that we really enjoyed. Pro tip: bring water with you!

Once you’ve gotten your fill of Skogafoss, continue on the Ring Road east another 30 minutes and stop at Reynisfjara, the Black Sand Beach and Reynisdrangar, the Basalt cliffs. From here, the town of Vik will be another 20 minute drive east where you will end your day.

Today you will check out of your accommodations and head two-and-a-half hours east to the small town of Höfn. This part of the trip was definitely my favorite. En route to your accommodations you will again be making several stops along the way. Stop at the Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon and take a zodiac boat tour. We had such a fun time doing this as a group! Since there were six of us we opted for a private tour, but shared tours are also available. This was such a unique experience, I highly recommend.

Continue on the Ring Road about 10 minutes and explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. Both of these places were the highlight of the trip for me. Breathtakingly beautiful and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Do not skip them!
From here, head another 50 minutes east to Höfn and your accommodations for the night.

Check out of your accommodations and begin the five-and-a-half hour drive back to Reykjavik. Given the length of the drive I would recommend not flying out on this day even if you leave in the morning and your flight is in the evening. The roads can be treacherous in Iceland and weather conditions change very rapidly. Road closures are common. Give yourself the full day to get back to Reykjavik. Maybe stop along the way and see your favorite waterfall again! Check in to your accommodations in Reykjavik and wander around the town. Have a drink and eats at SÆTA SVÍNIÐ. We actually came here twice we enjoyed it so much.