Reykjavik Iceland 5 Day Self-Drive Itinerary
Five days adds Snaefellsnes to the Golden Circle, South Coast, and Reykjanes days from the 4 day itinerary , and it’s the point where the peninsula genuinely earns a rushed single day of your trip rather than being cut for time. For a full week that also covers whale watching and northern lights, see the 7 day version .
Book these before you go
- The Blue Lagoon, pre-booked only and gone 3 to 4 weeks ahead in peak season: book Blue Lagoon tickets
- A Golden Circle tour, if you’d rather not self-drive: check the Golden Circle full-day tour
- A South Coast tour for the longest single day: browse South Coast day tours
- A Snaefellsnes day tour, since 5 hours of driving in a single day is a lot after four straight days already: browse Snaefellsnes day tours
Day 1: Arrival and the Blue Lagoon
Go straight from Keflavik to the Blue Lagoon, 20 minutes (23km) from the airport, before continuing 50km (40 minutes) to Reykjavik. Book weeks ahead: ISK 11,990 Comfort (about $96) up to 18,490 Signature (about $149). Check safetravel.is given the peninsula’s ongoing volcanic activity since 2023. Check into a hotel in the 101 postcode.
Day 2: Golden Circle
Thingvellir (45km, 1 hour), Geysir (a further 100km, 1 hour 40), and Gullfoss (10 more minutes north), a 230km round trip, 6 to 8 hours, entirely paved with no 4x4 needed.
Day 3: South Coast
Seljalandsfoss (116km, 90 minutes), Skogafoss (20 minutes further), Reynisfjara and Vik (187km, roughly 2.5 hours), an 11 to 12 hour round trip. Never turn your back on the water at Reynisfjara; sneaker waves there have killed tourists.
Day 4: Reykjanes Peninsula
Roughly 50km (45 minutes) from Reykjavik, the peninsula both Keflavik and the Blue Lagoon sit on, erupting in episodes since December 2023, most recently the ninth Sundhnukur eruption that ended 5 August 2025. There was no active eruption as of mid-2026 and Grindavik was open, but the Icelandic Met Office considers another eruption likely, and Grindavik remains largely evacuated day to day. Check visitreykjanes.is before building your day around it.
Day 5: Snaefellsnes and departure
Snaefellsnes is 150km (about 93 miles) out, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours each way, which makes this an 11 to 12 hour day for Kirkjufell mountain, Arnarstapi, the black sand cove at Djupalonssandur, and the black church at Budakirkja. Doing it after four straight days of driving is genuinely tiring; a guided seat is worth more here than on the Golden Circle. Route back to Keflavik with enough buffer for an evening or next-morning flight.
| Day | Focus | Distance / drive time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, Blue Lagoon | 50km / 40min from Reykjavik, 20min from Keflavik |
| 2 | Golden Circle | 230km round trip, 6 to 8 hours with stops |
| 3 | South Coast | 187km / 2.5h one-way to Vik, 11 to 12 hours round trip |
| 4 | Reykjanes Peninsula | Roughly 50km / 45min from Reykjavik |
| 5 | Snaefellsnes, departure | 150km / 2 to 2.5h one-way, 11 to 12 hours round trip |
Common questions
Should Snaefellsnes be a day trip or an overnight?
An overnight paces it far better. Doing it as this itinerary’s Day 5, after four straight driving days, works but is genuinely tiring. If your schedule allows a 6th day, staying overnight on the peninsula and driving back relaxed the next morning beats the rushed version.
What’s the single hardest day to self-drive on this plan?
Day 3, the South Coast, and Day 5, Snaefellsnes, both run 11 to 12 hours round trip. The Golden Circle on Day 2 is the easiest self-drive of the three long days, which is why it’s the one to keep even if you book guided seats for the others.
Book the Blue Lagoon and Golden Circle first, then decide on South Coast and Snaefellsnes tours based on how driving-tired four days has left you. Visiticeland.com and bluelagoon.com stay current if prices here have moved.