Hello and welcome to the first part of our series on Iceland’s Ring Road. This drive has become very popular in the last several years and for good reason. One thing we love is a good road trip, and Iceland is as good as it gets. We know there are many other itineraries and blogs out there going over this, but we hope you enjoy our unique perspective on this epic journey. This blog will cover our favorite places between Reykjavik and Vik, what you have to pack, and other little tips and tricks we picked up along the way. Thank you so much for reading and get ready to be blown away by the beauty of what is now our favorite country and discover the magic of the Iceland Ring Road!!
Iceland Day 1 YouTube video
Reykjavik to Vik – 1st Day of the Iceland Ring Road
Whether you land at the Keflavik airport or the Reykjavik airport, your best bet is to start your journey from Reykjavik. Reykjavik alone is worth the visit, but as the biggest city in Iceland, it’s also your best place for supplies and whatever else you may have forgotten to pack.
Our suggestion would be to get your rental car from the airport and stay in Reykjavik to be well rested to start your journey on the Iceland ring road in the morning. You’ll sleep off some of the jet lag and also give yourself more time at these epic spots you are about to see.
Rental cars and Hotels
Rental Cars – Vans
Car or 4×4
Whether you land at Keflavik or Reykjavik, there will be the major rental car companies located in the airports and the pickup spots will be nearby. If your plan is to just stay on Iceland’s Ring road, you will be fine renting a car or smaller SUV. One thing to consider is if you are traveling in the winter time/snow season, a 4X4 might be worth the extra money as roads can get covered quickly.
If you are planning to go off of the ring road and use the F roads to reach some out of the way spots, a 4X4 is definitely worth your money. While off-roading is illegal in Iceland, F Roads are definitely going to make you feel like you are off roading. They can be rough, muddy, and even have some stream and river crossings, making 4 wheel drive a necessity.
tip
There are plenty of major car rental companies at the airports, they do have 4X4 vehicles you can rent but you will need to book them ahead of time. We used a local car rental place that was supposed to deliver the vehicle to us at the Keflavik airport. When we arrived, we were unable to get a hold of them and had to scramble to get a car for our trip. There are plenty of reputable local car rental companies in Iceland, but do your research first.
Vans
We did not do much research on vans to rent in Iceland, but they were EVERYWHERE. It is a very popular way to see the ring road. From our very limited research this seemed to be cheaper than the rental car and hotel route. Keep in mind you can only park and camp in designated areas with your van. Parking off the side of the road and wild camping is illegal in Iceland. Also note worthy, If you are over 6 ft tall, don’t rent the smallest, cheapest van you find. You are not going to fit. We met a couple from Spain, the husband was as tall as Evan, he was not happy with his tiny van bed.
Hotels
As with any city, pricing is going to vary wildly depending on where you stay in Reykjavik. There are luxury hotels, mid-range hotels, budget hotels, AirBNB’s, and hostels. Make your bookings in advance and enjoy the city. Keflavik also has many options and is where we stayed for our first night. There are good food options either place. As we said above though, if you stay in Keflavik, you are going to add a little bit of drive time to day 1.
tip
We stayed in Keflavik, but when we go back, we will be staying in Reykjavik. There are several reasons for this. It reduces drive time when you set out. Chances are good you will need to stop in Reykjavik for supplies or snacks for the road. By staying there your first night, you can knock some of that stuff out before you go to your hotel for the night and just start driving in the morning. Reykjavik is just a cool city and worthy of as much time as you can spend there.
Things to know before starting your journey on the Iceland Ring Road
Make sure you have everything you need. double and triple check. While there are places to buy essentials along the Iceland Ring Road, your best bet will be Reykjavik.
What to pack
Iceland’s weather is notoriously unpredictable, you can get sunshine, rain, snow, blizzard like conditions, and calm and clear all in the same day. Being prepared is IMPORTANT. You will need layers, water, food and a map is always a good idea.
Our must haves.
Clothing
- Good quality, WATERPROOF heavy coat and pants. These will save you and will even be necessary in the summer months.
- Comfortable and waterproof hiking boots and sturdy warm socks.
- Hiking pack/Day pack. Preferably something 40L or bigger to hold water, snacks, and any layers you might need to remove to stay comfortable while out hiking and any room you need for your camera equipment.
- Gloves, 2 pairs may be necessary during the winter months. One set of base layer gloves and a set of insulated gloves.
- Warm hat or beanie, and a scarf/gaiter is optional depending on the coverage from your coat you use
Essentials
- Electrical outlet power adaptor. Iceland uses type C and F plugs. We usually bring two of these and a power strip from home so we can charge all of our camera equipment and other essential electronics.
- Reusable water bottle. Definitely a need out here. Fill up spots can be few and far between and some of the hikes are long. Buy as big as is comfortable to pack around in your backpack. Keep in mind space it takes too if you have a smaller backpack.
- High quality polarized sunglasses. We were lucky enough to have quite a few sunny days and these were a necessity. Even in winter the glare off of snow and ice can be intense.
- Snacks for the road. There are plenty of supermarkets and even a Costco where you can get supplies in Reykjavik. Some places in Iceland are pretty remote and you can be a long drive from a meal. Having food and water on hand is important, especially in the event your car breaks down.
Other items
- Camera equipment, chargers, and extra memory cards. This country is insane, everywhere you look is jaw-dropping. You are going to take pictures, A LOT OF PICTURES. Don’t get in a situation where your phone storage is full and you have to scramble and be selective about what you take pictures and videos of. Having a good camera or even a GoPro is well worth the money out here. Bring some extra memory cards or bring one with a lot of storage. Bring your chargers and have them available to you in the car. There are portable battery packs that are worth their weight in gold.
- A first aid kit is not a bad idea to have in your backpack for emergencies. You can buy compact ones online or at CostCo
- Maps and Guidebooks. You are most likely going to have good cell service everywhere on the Iceland Ring Road, but having a physical map is never a bad idea, especially if you are venturing out into the highlands or on the F Roads. Guidebooks can give you insight into places if you’re out in the middle of nowhere and Google isn’t working on your phone.
- Binoculars are optional but can be invaluable depending on where you roam around Iceland. They can help you catch some good view of puffins, whales, or wild horses, and there were definitely times where I wish I had mine.
Click here for the travel tested gear we use
tip
If you forgot to pack or don’t own a heavy coat or waterproof pants, don’t fret! We actually had our luggage lost on the flight over (more on that in another blog) and had to go to Reykjavik to get clothing. There is an awesome little shop called Iceland Cover in downtown Reykjavik. This place was a life saver for us. They have everything you need to be comfortable in the most extreme conditions in Iceland. So whether you forgot a beanie, hiking boots, or a waterproof coat and pants, head over to Iceland Cover and they will rent you what you need for the duration of your trip for a lot cheaper than it would be to buy.
The Famous Iceland Ring Road
Alright, now that we got all that important but kinda boring stuff out of the way, lets get to the good stuff, the reason you want to go to Iceland. Here we go…
Reykjavik
This city is cool. We absolutely loved Reykjavik. Lots of good places to eat, very walkable, lots of stuff to do. We only spent a short amount of time here at the beginning of our trip, but we were excited to explore it further when we had time at the end. If you are driving here download the Parka app or the EasyPark app. Both work in Reykjavik and trust me, you want to pay for parking here, fines can be pretty steep. Rental car companies will charge you the fine plus a fee. We used the EasyPark app and it worked everywhere we went across Iceland. The Parka app should work most everywhere too. You will pay for parking at most parking lots of the attractions. So getting these apps set up early is useful.
We will have more on Reykjavik later, but this is most likely going to be your starting point for your Iceland Ring Road Roadtrip, grab an Icelandic hotdog and hit the road.
Hella
Hella is a cool little town about 1 hour and 30 minutes east of Reykjavik. It is a great place to stop and stretch your legs, get a bite to eat if you are hungry, or grab a cup of coffee like we did. The pictures above are from the American Schoolbus Cafe and this place is so cute and fun. The coffee was pretty great too. We did not spend much time in Hella but this little cafe alone makes it worth a stop.
Seljalandsfoss
Your introduction to Iceland’s waterfalls is pretty spectacular. Seljalandsfoss is a half hour away from Hella and my goodness does this road trip start off with a bang. Parking is plentiful and while there were many cars in the parking lot it didn’t feel terribly crowded here. This is a popular daytrip from Reykjavik and is pretty busy most of the time.
After you pay for parking there is a paved path that leads up to the waterfall and provides epic views. This part is easy and flat. Most anyone could make it there to view the falls. If you are feeling more adventurous there is a path that leads up and around the backside of the falls. We highly recommend you do it. This is where your waterproof clothes and a GoPro will come in handy. If we didn’t have the gear from Iceland Cover we would have gotten soaked and froze. You will get wet if you go around back. The trail is slippery and muddy. All that being said, you have to do it.
As you exit the other side of the trail there is a section of the waterfall you will walk right underneath. If your hood on your coat isn’t already up, now is the time to do so. Take your phones and cameras out for pictures at your own risk. Waterproof camera definitely recommended. There is a lot of mist and water flying around everywhere back here and the falls are roaring.
This place is a must see and is worth a stop on your trip. Even if you are just staying in Reykjavik, it is worth the 2 hour drive down to see it. We loved Seljalandsfoss and would definitely say this is a must on the Iceland Ring Road. It is an absolutely epic start to this trip. But this wasn’t our favorite part of this stop…
Gljufrabui
After you exit the path behind Seljalandsfoss, turn right and walk down the path about 10 minutes to the end. TRUST ME. Gljufrabui is something Evan had told me about, but I didn’t really know what to expect. I honestly kinda feel bad ruining it for you with these pictures. The surprise of walking in that canyon and seeing this waterfall is something I will never forget.
EPIC Warning, I am going to use that word a lot, but it applies to so many different places in Iceland, and Gljufrabui is no exception. This place is otherworldly. I have seen a lot of unique and beautiful places, but nothing even comes close to being similar to what is hiding back here. It is one of a kind. Like I said above, it is only a 10 minute walk down and most people don’t even know about it! I sure didn’t, I would have saw Seljalandsfoss and hopped back in the car and been none the wiser. Now that you know it’s there, don’t miss it, thank me later.
There is a stream running out of this canyon that you have to walk through to get to the best view of the falls. You are going to want waterproof hiking boots or else your feet are going to get very wet and very cold. It isn’t far back there, but we were waiting behind a half dozen other people to climb on the rock and get some cool pictures. This will not take up much of your time and is one of the things I recommend the most. This place has got to be a priority for your itinerary.
Skogafoss
Skogafoss is one of, if not the most famous waterfall in Iceland. It lives up to the hype. Enormous, powerful, beautiful, and worth your time. Skogafoss is about 30 minutes down the road from Seljalandsfoss and is pay for parking as well. The parking lot is a little rougher than the previous stop so be careful if you have a car. The walk in is a little bit longer than Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall has been featured on many movies and TV shows and is just flat out awesome. If it isn’t on your list, add it right now.
There is a path on the right side of the river and falls leading up to Skogafoss, and you can get pretty dang close. We even saw some people walking out into the river and standing in front of the waterfall. This place is also a pretty popular daytrip from Reykjavik so it will be pretty busy as well. There was plenty of room to take pictures and plenty of people to ask to take pictures of us. This thing is mighty and very impressive.
After you take your pictures down low, there is a path to the right that leads to a viewpoint of the top of the falls. It is pretty steep, but worth the effort. The views up there are absolutely stunning and I am so glad we hiked up.
Skogafoss is popular for a reason. It’s definitely worth a stop and is something you won’t soon forget. We both loved this place and when we go back will definitely be stopping here again. This is another must see on the Iceland Ring Road.
Solheimasandur Plane Wreck
This place was on our original itinerary, but due to the stop we had to make in Reykjavik to pick up the clothes from Iceland Cover, we decided to cut this out. So, unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of this place, but man does it look cool. Google it and decide if you want to go. We had planned for about 3 hours total here, the hike is about 2 hours out and back.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Reynisfjara Beach is an amazing way to end your 1st day on the Iceland Ring Road. It is a half hour drive from Skogafoss and close to the town of Vik. I was expecting the “sand” to be black pebbles or something similar, but it was actual black sand. Ground up volcanic rock turned into fine soft sand, and this place is so, so pretty. The rock formations to your right, the basalt columns to your left with a wild looking little cave. We absolutely loved this place.
The beach was pretty busy, but it was much larger than I was expecting so it didn’t feel crowded. There is a restaurant near the parking lot and while every place we stopped had public restrooms, these were the busiest. Depending on the time of year you are in Iceland, this place is as good as it gets for a spot to watch the sunset.
Be careful getting too close to the waves here. They will have signs posted when the waves are really dangerous, but there is always danger here of a sneaker wave coming far up onto shore. There is a report of at least 5 people who have died here in the last decade, so this place is no joke. Take the waves seriously and be cautious. We saw a lady running towards the water for a tiktok video and a wave came up and knocked her down, covering her up and soaking her. She was lucky it wasn’t a super strong one that would’ve pulled her out into the ocean. So ya, please be careful.
This place is so dramatic. We had the bonus of the sun setting while we were out there which made it extra special. There are so many cool places to take pictures and just sit and listen to the waves crashing against the basalt columns. I absolutely adored this place and would love to go back and spend a little more time here. The beach is huge. You could walk and be all by yourself for a while if you have the time. Reynisfjara is definitely worth a stop on your trip, you won’t regret it.
Vik
Vik is easily the most popular place to stay on after your 1st day of the Iceland Ring Road. There are plenty of hotels, Airbnb’s and hostels here. There are lots of options for food and Vik is only 15 minutes away from Reynisfjara Beach. So, I will go with the flow and recommend this as your first overnight of the trip. We did and loved this cute little town.
This wraps up our first day on Iceland’s Ring Road. So many epic stops, so many breathtaking views, and we are just getting started. I am not exaggerating when I say this, this trip was the best trip of my life so far. I fell in love with this country and I cannot wait to go back. If you’re undecided on whether or not to add this to your list, trust me, you have to. You will not regret it
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed, This is the first in our series about the Iceland Ring Road. More to come and have a great day!
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