Reykjavik Iceland 7 Day Self-Drive Itinerary
A full week is the version where the South Coast stops being a rushed single day and becomes an overnight in Vik with a real push to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, on top of the Golden Circle, Reykjanes, Snaefellsnes, whale watching, and a northern lights attempt. Shorter on time? The 5 day itinerary covers everything except the glacier lagoon extension and whale watching.
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 and glacier hike tour, for the two-day push toward Jokulsarlon: browse South Coast and glacier tours
- A Vik hotel, since the town has limited rooms for a full week of travelers doing the same overnight: check Vik hotel rates on Booking.com
Day 1: Arrival and the Blue Lagoon
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) per bluelagoon.com . Check safetravel.is given ongoing Reykjanes volcanic activity since 2023.
Day 2: Golden Circle
Thingvellir (45km, 1 hour), Geysir (a further 100km, 1 hour 40, where Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes), and Gullfoss (10 more minutes north), a 230km round trip, 6 to 8 hours, fully paved with no 4x4 needed.
Day 3: South Coast to Vik
Seljalandsfoss (116km, 90 minutes), Skogafoss (20 minutes further), and Reynisfjara’s black sand beach (187km, roughly 2.5 hours from Reykjavik) end at Vik for the night rather than pushing back to the city. Never turn your back on the water at Reynisfjara; sneaker waves there have killed tourists who stood too close. An overnight here paces the South Coast properly instead of the 11 to 12 hour slog a single-day version forces.
Day 4: Jokulsarlon and back toward Reykjavik
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon sits roughly 190km (2.5 to 3 hours) further east of Vik, where icebergs calve from the glacier and drift toward the adjacent black sand beach. This makes the full South Coast to Jokulsarlon push a genuine two-day trip rather than the rushed version most single-day tours attempt. Drive back toward Reykjavik or break the return with a second night if the day’s run long.
Day 5: 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. No active eruption as of mid-2026 and Grindavik was open, but visitreykjanes.is tracks current access since the Icelandic Met Office considers another eruption likely.
Day 6: Snaefellsnes
150km (2 to 2.5 hours each way), 11 to 12 hours round trip, for Kirkjufell mountain, Arnarstapi, and the black sand cove at Djupalonssandur. By this point in the week a guided seat is worth considering over another self-drive day.
Day 7: Whale watching, northern lights, and departure
Morning whale watching from the Old Harbour, 3 to 3.5 hours into Faxafloi bay, needs no drive at all. If your dates fall roughly September through April, fit a northern lights tour into whichever evening this week actually had clear skies rather than forcing it onto the last night specifically; no operator can guarantee a sighting regardless of the date. Route to Keflavik with at least 2.5 hours before an international 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 to Vik (overnight) | 187km / 2.5h one-way from Reykjavik |
| 4 | Jokulsarlon, return | Roughly 190km / 2.5 to 3h further east of Vik |
| 5 | Reykjanes Peninsula | Roughly 50km / 45min from Reykjavik |
| 6 | Snaefellsnes | 150km / 2 to 2.5h one-way, 11 to 12 hours round trip |
| 7 | Whale watching, northern lights, departure | 0km, Old Harbour departure; short evening drive for aurora |
Common questions
Is a week enough to add Jokulsarlon without exhausting yourself?
Yes, specifically because it gets an overnight in Vik rather than being bolted onto an already 11 to 12 hour South Coast day. Splitting the drive across Day 3 and Day 4 is the difference between seeing the glacier lagoon properly and seeing it from a bus window on the way back to the airport.
Which single day should you cut if 7 days becomes 6?
Snaefellsnes. It’s the most self-contained day trip on this itinerary and the easiest to drop without breaking the logic of the days around it; the 6 day itinerary builds the week without it.
Book the Blue Lagoon and Golden Circle first, book a Vik room early since the town is small, and check visiticeland.com for anything that’s shifted by the time you land.