Categories Summer Tours Scandinavia Self Drive Tours

Combine the best of Iceland’s colourful capital city with the freedom and exploration of a self-drive. Each day, you’ll discover the delights of South Iceland’s wild natural wonders at your own pace. Your home away from home each night is Reykjavík, celebrated for its rich cultural and dining scene.

We’ve developed this fun new package based on suggestions from our agent partners for a short self-drive holiday based in Reykjavík.

If you prefer the freedom of a self-drive over taking a guided day tour and prefer staying in the same hotel for your trip, this is YOUR ideal Iceland holiday! Explore Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, Reykjanes, and South Coast regions, home to glaciers, volcanoes, black-sand beaches, and geysers.

Itinerary

Once you have landed at Keflavík Airport you will collect your rental car there. Travel to your hotel in Reykjavík and check-in. The rest of the day is open for your own activities, and we getting to know your “home away from home.” We’ve listed some suggestions for you below.

-Take a stroll in the old city centre, perhaps visiting one of the museums or relaxing with a cup of coffee in a cosy café

-Visit Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík’s famous landmark. The architecture takes inspiration from Iceland’s mountains and basalt columns. You can get an amazing panoramic view of the city from the church tower.

-Enjoy the utterly unique architecture of Harpa Concert Hall, a beautiful structure of glass that reflects the sky and sea.

-Within walking distance of Harpa is the famous Sólfar (Sun Voyage) sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason. Sólfar depicts people taking a dream boat towards the sun and a hopeful future.

-From Harpa, you can also walk to the Old Harbour area, known for its local food scene, whale watching tours, and several interesting museums.

-The Old Harbour is also home to FlyOver Iceland simulated flying experience, and the educational Icelandic Lava Show, which uses molten lava to recreate a glacier volcanic eruption.

-Drive to the Perlan Wonders of Iceland exhibition for an interactive introduction to Iceland’s glaciers, northern lights, volcanoes, and seacoast.

-Discover Reykjavík’s past at Árbæjarsafn Open Air Museum, a “village” of buildings from 19th and 20th century Reykjavík. You can visit a turf-roof farm, church, general store, blacksmith workshop and more. Árbæjarsafn is about a 25-minute drive from central Reykjavík.

-Enjoy a visit to the Sky Lagoon, a hot spring experience with unforgettable views over the sea and mountains. Indulge in a relaxing seven step geothermal experience called Skjól.

-Join the Reykjavík Food Walk for an intro to the city and Icelandic cuisine This is a great tour for ideas of sites and restaurants to visit during your stay.

Please note check-in for most hotels begins at 14:00 – 16:00 (2:00pm-4:00pm).

Overnight in Reykjavík.

OPTIONALS:

Sky Lagoon Pass

Reykjavík Food Walking Tour

Lava Tunnel Tour – Caving

Whale Watching Classic

Lava Horseback Riding Tour

Wonders of Iceland & Áróra Planetarium Show

Reykjavík Beer and Booze Walking Tour

FlyOver Iceland

Volcano Express

Golden Circle

Approximate Distance:

230 km / 143 miles

National Park with Geological Wonders – Lively Geysers – Golden Falls

This morning, head for the UNESCO-listed Þingvellir National Park, where the world’s oldest parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. This is also the meeting point of the tectonic plates dividing the North American and European continents. You’ll have that rare chance to take a walk between two continents!

Visit the quirky geothermal fields of Geysir. Stroll along a footpath around colourful bubbling mud pools and spouting geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, which erupts about every ten minutes. Then visit the iconic, two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, a spectacular sight in winter when frozen mid-cascade, or in summer when a rainbow crowns the falls. You can get great views of the waterfall from different angles on a variety of paths.

During the day, we suggest a stop at the interesting greenhouse farm of Friðheimar, where tomatoes and other vegetables are organically grown using geothermal energy. The farm’s café offers what might be the best tomato soup lunch buffet in Iceland! (Reservations recommended).

Afterwards head back to Reykjavík, where you can enjoy the city’s restaurants and nightlife.

Travel idea: the Golden Circle area is full of hot springs, and there are three great local favorite bathing pools.

The Secret Lagoon is a lovely historical stone-lined natural geothermal pool. A scenic walkway around the pool takes visitors by tiny bubbling geysers, including one that erupts regularly.

Laugarás Lagoon is a unique spa experience featuring a two-storey pool and miniature forests.

Laugarvatn Fontana is built on top of a hot spring, and its steam baths are good for your skin and joints. There are also several mineral geothermal pools and a Finnish sauna to enjoy.

You can even join a guided visit to Fontana’s unique outdoor geothermal bakery where sweet Icelandic rye bread is naturally baked in hot sands. You can taste some of the freshly baked bread, hot from the ground. (This visit must be booked in advance).

Overnight in Reykjavík.

OPTIONALS:

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Secret Lagoon

Lava Tunnel Tour – Caving

Gullfoss Canyon Rafting – From Drumbó Base

Silfra Snorkelling (Meet on Location)

Laugarás Lagoon Entrance

Iceland’s South Shore

Approximate Distance:

390 km / 242 miles

Twin Waterfalls – Volcanic Landscapes – Black Sand Beaches

Today you’ll explore the iconic South Shore, a region lined with volcanic mountains and glacier views. We suggest a visit to the LAVA Centre in Hvollsvöllur town. Here you’ll enjoy interactive exhibits about the volcanoes and earthquakes that helped create Iceland.

Visit two spectacular waterfalls that have a special beauty of their own. Seljalandsfoss is a ribbon-like fall that drops gracefully down a cliff. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, you can hike a trail that leads behind the falls. Majestic Skógafoss has become one of Iceland’s most photographed waterfalls – make sure you have your camera ready for a selfie!

As you drive, you’ll also see Mýrdalsjökull glacier. A glacier hiking tour takes you up on Sólheimajökull, an extension of the larger glacier. During the summer, you can enjoy kayaking amid icebergs in a lagoon created by Sólheimajökull.

Head to Vík, Iceland’s southernmost village. In the area you can view the seabird cliff of Dyrhólaey*, a popular spot to view puffins (generally in Iceland between mid-May and mid-August). Continue to Reynisfjara beach and its striking black sands. You can really feel the power of nature in this area of thundering waves and extraordinary rock formations.

Other activities you might enjoy today include guided ATV safaris or horseback riding on the black sand beaches near Vík. You might also enjoy taking on a thrilling series of Zip-lines in the scenic landscape near the village.

After this day of waterfalls and glaciers, head back to your hotel in Iceland’s vibrant capital.

*Please note that Dyrhólaey is closed during nesting season in spring, from around mid-May until June 23rd.

Travel tip: If you want to spend a longer day exploring the South Coast and enjoying activities in the area, consider spending the night in Vík instead of Reykjavík. Let us know at booking time, and we’ll make the arrangements for you.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

OPTIONALS:

Glacier Experience – Sólheimajökull Easy Glacier Hike

Black Sand Beach & Plane Wreck ATV Tour

Zipline Adventure in Vík

Kayaking by Sólheimajökull Glacier

Icelandic Lava Show in Vík

Reykjanes GeoPark and the Blue Lagoon

Approximate Distance:

140 km / 87 miles

Volcanic landscapes – Bubbling mud pools –Geothermal spa

Today explore a different side of Iceland with a visit to Reykjanes peninsula. Designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2015, Reykjanes lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It has over 50 geosites related to geothermal and tectonic plate activity. It’s a paradise for geologists and photographers alike! Visit the moon-like surroundings of Lake Kleifarvatn and the Krýsuvík geothermal area with its multicoloured bubbling mud pools. You can also cross the Mid-Atlantic ridge on the Bridge between Continents.

Reykjanes is also home to the famous Blue Lagoon where you can treat yourself to a relaxing soak in the soothing mineral waters. Note: The Blue Lagoon must be booked in advance. We can help with that!

If you enjoy adventure, you can try guided ATV tours, hiking, snorkeling, and golfing. Or indulge your inner explorer at the Víkingaheimur museum where you can learn about Viking discoveries between Iceland and the New World.

Afterwards, head to Reykjavík for your overnight. Enjoy the food scene and lively culture of Iceland’s capital.

Overnight in Reykjavík.

OPTIONALS:

Blue Lagoon Entrance

Panorama ATV/Quad Tour

Hvammsvík Hot Springs

Approximate Distance:

50 km / 30 miles

Drive back to Keflavík International Airport. We recommend departing your hotel in Reykjavík no later than at least 3 hours before your flight departure. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport, and check-in will start 2 hours before your departure.

If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon on your way to the city on your first day but have some free time today, you might want to use the opportunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2-2,5 hours extra so you’ll have ample time at the Lagoon.

Want to extend your tip? We have the perfect suggestion: Snæfellsnes Peninsula!

Add an extra night in Reykjavík and visit the enchanting Snæfellsnes Peninsula of West Iceland. Home to Snæfellsjökull National Park, this peninsula is called “Iceland in a Nutshell” because it contains examples of all different landscapes in the country. Discover amazing coastal views, charming villages, and Viking history. You can enjoy activities like cave exploring, whale watching, beach horseback riding, and summer sea kayaking. Snæfellsnes is about a 2 -hour drive from Reykjavík.

Notes