Iceland Ring Road Self-Drive in a week - 7 Days

Yes! Completing the Iceland Ring Road in 7 days is absolutely possible and one of the most popular ways to experience the country. This itinerary circles the entire island via Route 1, covering approximately 1,300 kilometers while visiting all major attractions including the Golden Circle, Lake Mývatn, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the Eastfjords, and the South Coast. While the pace is more energetic than longer tours, you'll have time to stop at waterfalls, explore black sand beaches, and soak in the dramatic landscapes that make Iceland special. Daily drives average 3-5 hours, with plenty of scenic stops to break up the journey.

The best time for an Iceland Ring Road 7 days adventure depends on what you want to experience. Summer (June-August) offers the longest daylight hours, warmer weather, and easier driving conditions, making it ideal for first-time visitors. The midnight sun means you can explore well into the evening. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) provide fewer crowds and potential Northern Lights viewing, though weather can be more unpredictable. Winter (November-March) offers stunning snowy landscapes and Northern Lights opportunities, but requires more caution due to shorter days and challenging road conditions. We offer this tour year-round, so you can choose the season that best matches your travel style.

The Iceland Ring Road 7 days itinerary involves approximately 3-5 hours of driving per day on average, with some variation depending on how many stops you make along the way. The total circuit covers about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) around Route 1. The longest driving day is typically when you traverse the Eastfjords, but the scenery is spectacular throughout. Because you have control over your schedule on this self-drive tour, you can break up driving with frequent stops at waterfalls, viewpoints, and attractions. Most travelers find the driving relaxing and enjoyable, as Iceland's landscapes provide constant entertainment and Route 1 is well-maintained year-round.

The Iceland Ring Road 7 days tour covers all of Iceland's most iconic attractions in one comprehensive journey. You'll experience the famous Golden Circle (Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir), the geological wonders of Lake Mývatn with bubbling mud pools and volcanic craters, the stunning Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where icebergs float in turquoise water, and dramatic waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. You'll also explore the remote Eastfjords with charming fishing villages, walk on black sand beaches at Reynisfjara, and witness the raw power of Dettifoss (optional detour). This route showcases Iceland's incredible diversity from glaciers and volcanoes to fjords and coastlines, all in one week.

Absolutely! While the Iceland Ring Road 7 days itinerary is packed with incredible sightseeing, you can enhance your journey by adding optional activities at checkout. Popular additions include glacier hiking at Skaftafell, bathing in the Blue Lagoon or Mývatn Nature Baths, whale watching tours, ice cave explorations (winter only), horseback riding, and snorkeling in Silfra fissure at Þingvellir. You can also extend your trip by adding extra days in Reykjavík before or after your Ring Road adventure to explore the capital's restaurants, museums, and nightlife. This flexibility allows you to create the perfect balance between sightseeing and active adventures that matches your travel style and interests.

The Iceland Ring Road 7 days tour is perfect for first-time visitors who want a comprehensive introduction to Iceland. This itinerary covers all the must-see attractions and gives you a complete overview of the country's diverse landscapes and natural wonders. The self-drive format provides flexibility to explore at your own pace, stop for photos whenever you want, and spend more or less time at each location based on your interests. Route 1 is well-maintained and easy to navigate, with clear signage and our detailed itinerary guiding you every step of the way. Plus, our 24/7 emergency helpline provides peace of mind throughout your journey. Many first-time visitors choose this tour because it delivers an unforgettable Iceland experience without requiring multiple weeks off work.

On a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours, you’ll be at the wheel of the rental car of your choice and free to go pretty much where you want, whenever you want.

We provide a detailed itinerary to help you plan your route and where you want to stop along the way. But it’s up to you whether you want to stick to it or go your own way. If you do take detours, make sure that you aren’t too far from your accommodation on any given night.

That said, it’s a good idea to stick to the suggested itinerary if you’ve never visited Iceland before. Created by our Reykjavík-based travel experts, it contains plenty of things for you to and see and do on each leg of your trip. One thing’s for sure: you won’t be short on ideas!

You also get unlimited in-car Wi-Fi, so you can stay connected and use maps on your phone for navigation.

It’s best to book your trip at least a few weeks before you travel. This gives us enough time to organize your preferred accommodation and itinerary. For this reason, we’re unable to accept bookings with less than 1 week’s notice.

In the summer, which is the most popular time of year, booking a few months ahead is a good idea. In certain parts of the countryside, accommodation options are more limited and can be booked up well ahead of your trip.

You have to be at least 20 years old to rent a car in Iceland, or 23 years old for larger vehicles like jeeps and vans. You’ll need to have held a valid driver’s license for at least 1 year and present a credit card when you collect your car.

You don’t need an International Driving Permit unless your license is not in Latin script (for example, Arabic or Chinese).

Find out more about car rental in Iceland.

Yes! It’s possible to add extra activities or extend your trip with additional nights in Reykjavík or the countryside. Check the itinerary above to see what activities are available on what day.

Of course you can add extra adventures! We want you to be able to get the absolute most out of your trip to Iceland, so you can pick optional extra activities at checkout. You’ll be shown exactly what’s on offer for each day of your trip.

And if you feel like you just don’t have enough time to fit it all in, you can also add extra days.

The rules of the road in Iceland are similar to most other countries, although there are some local quirks that you might not be familiar with.

Iceland drives on the right and steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Distances and speed limits are given in kilometers only.

Roundabouts are very common in Iceland, especially in towns. If you’re not familiar with these, make sure you understand how to give way (yield) to other traffic.

In the countryside, you might encounter sheep on the road, or even reindeer in East Iceland. You may also come across gravel roads, single-lane bridges, and blind summits.

For all the info on how to handle these, see this guide to driving in Iceland.

Once you’ve paid your deposit for your trip, we’ll finalize bookings for your accommodation, rental car, and any activities. As soon as we receive confirmation of everything, we’ll email you, letting you know your travel documents are available in our portal.

We aim to finalize everything within a few weeks of receiving your booking request, but in busy periods this might take longer. That said, you’ll always receive all of your documents before your departure date.

You’ll be able to pick up your rental car at Keflavík International Airport from the arrivals hall. Before your trip, we’ll send you information about where to go in the terminal to collect your keys.

Make sure you have your driver’s license and credit card ready when you collect your vehicle.

If you land late at night, you can use the out-of-hours phone at the pick-up desk to contact someone who will be able to help you.

You also have the option to collect your rental car in Reykjavík, if you’re planning to spend some extra days in the city before your trip starts. If you’d like to do this, please let us know in the ‘Special requests’ box at checkout.

Yes, you can easily collect your rental car from Reykjavík instead of Keflavik Airport.

During the booking steps on our website, just let us know you'd prefer your pick-up/drop-off location to be in the city centre. We'll take care of it for you, no problem.

Just a quick heads-up: if you request different pick-up and drop-off locations (e.g. collect from the airport, drop off in the city, or vice versa) there's a one-way fee of around ISK 7.900 ISK (EUR 60). You'll pay this directly to the rental company when you pick up the car.

All of our self-drive tour packages include the following as standard:

• Rental car of your choice, with unlimited mileage
• Basic liability insurance coverage
• Collision damage waiver
• Authorization for second driver
• Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi
• Accommodation level of your choice
• Breakfast every day
• Detailed itinerary crafted by local travel experts
• 24/7 helpline in Iceland, just in case you need it

When you book your vacation on our website, you’ll be able to choose your preferred rental car and accommodation level.

You can see what vehicles are available on this car rental page.

On a self-drive package with Iceland Tours, you can choose from 3 levels of accommodation:

• Budget – Guesthouses and country hotels, with shared bathrooms
• Comfort – Hotels or guesthouses of around 3 stars, with private bathrooms
• Quality – Hotels or guesthouses of around 4 stars, with private bathrooms

Each accommodation level offers different types of rooms. We’ve described them below to help you choose the best one for you. Just keep in mind that not every hotel has all these room types available.

• Single room: one single bed in a room, perfect for solo travelers.
• Double room: a full-sized double bed for 2 people.
• Twin room: a room with 2 single beds that fit 1 person each.
• Triple room: these vary in size and layout, but are designed to fit 3 adults. Triple rooms feature a combination of double, single or sofa beds, depending on the hotel.

No matter which accommodation level you pick, breakfast is included. Read more about the differences between the levels on this accommodation page.

Feel like getting closer to nature? Check out these self-drive camping tours.

In Iceland, you can expect all weathers no matter what time of year you visit. With that in mind, it’s good to make sure you’ve got everything you need to stay cozy, warm, and dry.

Here’s a packing list to help you get ready for your trip:

• Tough, waterproof walking boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Sweaters or fleeces
• Waterproof raincoat
• Warm winter jacket
• Scarf, hat, and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear (for pools and hot springs)
• Lip salve and moisturizer

For more tips on what to bring with you, see this Iceland packing list.

No worries! Iceland Tours is already offsetting the carbon footprint of your tour package. We've teamed up with an environmental fund in Iceland to cover the carbon offset for all our tours.

Carbon offsetting for international flights is not included, but we suggest checking with your airline or through a local environmental fund for options.