7 Days in Southern Iceland

Iceland is best seen on a road trip. Although you can take tours and day trips, driving your own rental car gives you the freedom and flexibility to stop where you want and check out hidden gems. When you land, pick up your rental car.

Depending on the time you touch down in Reykjavik, you can either check straight into your hotel or go drop your bags off and start exploring. Reykjavik is a small but surprisingly hip town that is very walkable and safe. Check out some of the fun shops and see the beautiful Hallgrímskirkja, the huge church that is hard to miss. Head to the top of the church for the best view of the town. For dinner, head to the Old Iceland Restaurant for some delicious traditional Icelandic food such as Atlantic char or lemon sole. Head to your hotel and get a good night's rest for a week of adventure.

Today, the goal is to drive to Vik — home base for the next few days — and stop at some incredible waterfalls along the way. Make a stop in the town of Selfoss to load up on gas and snacks or any food for today's adventure. All of today's stops are on the way to Vik, so it's a perfect way to break up the road trip.

Drive about one hour from Selfoss and arrive at the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. You can see this waterfall from the road as it pours over the steep green cliffs. This waterfall is special because you can actually walk behind it. Be sure to bring a rain jacket! Walk around here for a bit then drive down the road about 25 minutes until you get to Skogafoss waterfall. This is the iconic waterfall that you often see in pictures of Iceland. It is massive and you can walk right up to it without a hike. This is also a great place to eat lunch that you brought with you or go to Hotel Skogafoss Bistro and Bar for lunch.

Next, drive about 25 more minutes to reach the Dyrhólaey peninsula. This is an incredible spot to see views of the black sand beaches and the different cliffs and rock formations around the coast, along with a lighthouse. It's even possible to see puffins here at the right time of year.

Now, it's only a 15-minute drive to the picturesque town of Vik. Check into your hotel and explore town a little bit. Have dinner at Halldórskaffi and enjoy a beautiful Icelandic sunset.

If you wake up early, catch the sunrise at the Vík i Myrdal Church. This church is an icon of Vik and has amazing views of the coast. Grab some delicious bagels at Skool Beans or some next-level white chocolate and lavender hot chocolate.

Today can be spent visiting local sights such as Reynisfjara Beach for unique rock formations and dark volcanic sand. Also, check out Hálsanefshellir Cave here. The Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach is also an amazing beach to walk on right in Vik — just always be cautious of the waves and be safe!

After your morning strolls on the beach, grab some lunch at The Ice Cave Bistro. This afternoon, go on a beachside horseback riding trip with Vik Horse Adventure and some adorable Icelandic ponies. Another option for the afternoon is to drive about 30 minutes to Sólheimajökull glacier for some amazing glacier views.

Tonight, have dinner at Black Crust Pizzeria for some unique and delicious pizza with charcoal-infused dough. Get some rest for an epic adventure tomorrow!

This morning, grab a quick breakfast and some snacks for the road and head to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. It's a bit of a drive from Vik at two and a half hours, but it is so worth the trip. This glacier lagoon is massive and here you can do a variety of tours such as zodiac and amphibian boat tours where you'll be suited up in warm flotation suits. You can also take an ice cave tour from here. After your tour, grab a freshly made sandwich at Glacier Lagoon Cafe.

Directly across the street from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, visit Diamond Beach. This beach is quite spectacular, with grand icebergs floating in the ocean and ice blocks of all shapes and sizes resting on the black-sand beach. The contrast of the dark sand and sparkling ice is a photographer's dream.

Next, drive an hour and a half (in the direction back to Vik) to the iconic Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. This moss-covered canyon is one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, in my opinion. It's an easy walk to get there from the parking lot, but be prepared to walk about an hour in total. There are several overlooks to see a waterfall and the winding river cutting through the majestic canyon.

It's less than an hour back to Vik where you can stop for dinner at The Soup Company. Try the red hot lava soup served in a bread bowl with some fresh Icelandic yogurt. If you're still feeling adventurous, take a stroll on Vik's black-sand beach before sunset.

Today's goal is to return to Reykjavik by way of the famous Golden Circle, with lots of fun stops along the way. Leaving Vik, drive about an hour and a half to Kerið Crater, a 3,000-year-old crater lake. You can walk down to the lake — just be prepared for a lot of wind! After this fun stop, drive about 45 minutes to Gullfoss Waterfall. This is a huge and beautiful waterfall that doesn't require a lot of walking. After you see the waterfall, eat lunch at the Gullfoss Cafe.

Ten minutes down the road, stop at Strokkur Geysir to see this very active geyser from a safe distance that erupts about every five minutes. It's quite an experience, as you will be surrounded by a variety of geysers, Strokkur Geysir being the largest.

The next stop on the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park, about a 40-minute-drive from the Strokkur Geysir. This is a very walkable area with sweeping landscape views. Visiting the gap between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates is a must. You can even snorkel or scuba dive in the crystal-clear water between the plates.

From the national park, it's a casual 40-minute drive to arrive in Reykjavik. Check into your hotel and have dinner at Fröken Reykjavík Kitchen & Bar. Try the lamb tartare and the seafood pasta for a well deserved meal after a day of adventure.

After some serious fun and adventures this week, take today to relax a little bit and do some fun, low-key activities in Reykjavik. Have breakfast at your hotel at your leisure. Next, head to the world-famous Blue Lagoon. This is definitely a touristy thing to do, but personally I loved it and thought it lived up to the hype. The blue lagoon is a warm, geothermal lagoon with skin-nourishing minerals that occur naturally. Make sure you book ahead of time and choose what category of booking you would like. All bookings include things like a mud mask, towels and a drink or smoothie from the swim-up bar. Relax in the tranquil water and even visit their world-class spa if you would like. Have lunch right at the Blue Lagoon at the Lava Restaurant, which is built right into an 800-year-old lava cliff.

Head back into town for some shopping in Reykjavik's quaint streets. Stroll down Laugavegur street and Ingólfur Square and stop in and out of the different shops and pick out some fun souvenirs.

For dinner tonight, try a famous Icelandic hotdog at Bæjarins Beztu. This is a well-known hot dog stand that's close to all the shopping and has been voted the best hot dog stand in Europe. I don't even typically like hot dogs and personally, I loved these ones.

For your last day in Iceland, it's time to get out on the water and experience some incredible wildlife. Whales have been important to Iceland's history for centuries, and today is your chance to see them up close. Join a whale-watching trip this morning for views of humpback whales. Often times, you can see the whales breaching and may even see some young calves. This is sure to be an experience to never forget.

Back on shore, grab some lunch at the oldest restaurant in Iceland, Kaffivagninn. After lunch, continue to learn about Iceland's rich history with whales at the Whales of Iceland Museum, right next to the harbor.

For your last night in Iceland, experience a unique and memorable night at the Lava Show. Essentially, they create a demonstration of a volcanic eruption using heated-up real lava. Watch the lava flow into the showroom and observe the different heating and cooling stages. You can even buy homemade lava jewelry here. Enjoy an incredible dinner at the Food Cellar and skyr and white chocolate or warm brie with honey. Reflect on your wonderful trip as you spend your last night in Iceland.