Iceland’s Ring Road — Route 1 — is a roughly 1,330 km loop connecting nearly every region of the country. Seven days is enough to drive the whole thing if you’re realistic about how much you stop, and ruthless about not over-planning each day.
Days 1–2: Reykjavik to Vik
Leave Reykjavik early and head along the south coast. Stop at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss — both waterfalls you can walk right up to — before continuing to the black sand beach at Reynisfjara near Vik. Overnight in or around Vik.
Days 3–4: Vik to Jökulsárlón and the East Fjords
Continue east through Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park, with access to short and long glacier hikes. By early afternoon you’ll reach Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the adjacent Diamond Beach, where icebergs wash ashore. From there, the road climbs into the East Fjords — quieter, slower driving, with small fishing villages worth a coffee stop.
Days 5–6: North Iceland and Akureyri
The drive north crosses some of the most remote stretches of Route 1. Akureyri, Iceland’s second city, makes a good base for visiting Goðafoss waterfall and the geothermal area at Húsavík, also a strong whale-watching base.
Day 7: Back to Reykjavik via the Golden Circle
On the final day, cut back toward Reykjavik through the Golden Circle — Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall — timed so you arrive in the late afternoon with time to spare before a flight.
A note on pacing
Seven days is tight. If you can stretch to nine or ten, add an extra night in the East Fjords and a detour into the Westfjords on the way back. But if a week is what you have, this route hits Iceland’s major landmarks without long days of driving in the dark.
About Erika Sand
Erika has spent the last decade driving, hiking, and hot-spring-hopping across Iceland in every season. She writes NRF.is’s itineraries, guides, and trip reports to help travelers see the country safely, affordably, and without the tourist-trap detours.