South Iceland Whistlestop Winter

3 days / 2 nights
The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles
Þingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s ancient parliament
Reykjavik and Mount Esja covered in snow
The Strokkur geyser erupting against the winter sun
The Gullfoss waterfall in wintertime
Reynisfjara black sand beach in wintertime
The Gullfoss waterfall in wintertime
Reynisfjara black sand beach in wintertime
The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles
Þingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s ancient parliament
Reykjavik and Mount Esja covered in snow

Take in Iceland’s must-see sights on this winter getaway 

On this express tour, you’ll pack in some of Iceland’s most magnificent winter highlights. Start with a trip to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa before heading to Reykjavík, Iceland’s vibrant capital. And if the weather is clear, you could chase the Northern Lights.

You’ll also get to explore the famous Golden Circle route, complete with its epic natural wonders. Begin by visiting Þingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland’s ancient Viking parliament. Then head to the Geysir geothermal area to see an active geyser. Finally, stop off at the gigantic Gullfoss waterfall, which often freezes over in winter.

Travel styleSelf-drive
Trip length3 days / 2 nights
VibeShort & sweet
SeasonWinter
(1 Oct–31 Mar)
TransportRental car
Starts fromReykjavík
Tour codeSD33

On this tour you will...

  • Check out Reykjavík’s museums and dine out on delicious local cuisine

  • Have the chance to soak in the mineral-rich waters of the iconic Blue Lagoon

  • Visit the site of the world’s first parliament in Þingvellir National Park

  • See Iceland’s most famous geyser next to one of the most active at Geysir geothermal area

  • Marvel at the beauty of Gullfoss waterfall – frozen or not, it’s breathtaking

  • Spend your evenings hunting for colorful displays of the Northern Lights

Top attractions

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

The Gullfoss waterfall in summertime

Gullfoss

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, in autumn colors

Þingvellir National Park

The Strokkur geyser erupting in winter against a sunset

Geysir and Strokkur

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall covered in icicles

Seljalandsfoss

Why book a self-drive trip with Iceland Tours?

  • Start your tour on the date that suits you

  • 24/7 emergency helpline in Iceland

  • Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit

  • New rental cars with 2 drivers as standard

  • Handpicked local accommodation options

  • Best Price Guarantee

Your 3-day self-drive itinerary

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Your memorable Iceland adventure begins the very moment you arrive at Keflavik Airport. Once you pick up your rental vehicle, you’ll head directly for Reykjavik and your exciting, first night in Iceland.

Highlights

The Tjörnin pond in Reykjavík in summer

Downtown Reykjavík

Extra activities

Riders on FlyOver Iceland above a virtual waterfallExtra

FlyOver Iceland

The Sky Lagoon at sunsetExtra

Sky Lagoon Saman Pass

Staying inReykjavík
Driving distance230 km (143 mi)

You can start by a drive to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the geological wonders of the world, where you can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth’s crust. 

You continue to the famous Geysir area where the Strokkur hot spring ejects its water column high into the air every 5–10 minutes and where numerous small springs are boil and bubble. Afterwards you only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, surely one of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls.

Alternatively, you can spend the day driving along the south coast. Here you’ll find Skógafoss waterfall and Seljalandsfoss waterfall which you can walk behind. At Skógar you will find a folk museum showing how people lived in the past in Iceland. If you have time in the afternoon, you can go to Reynisfjara beach and wander along the black sands. 

Your day will end in Reykjavík where you will spend your last night in Iceland.

Driving distance50 km (31 mi)

Now it is time to head back home, after an amazing journey through one of the world’s most picturesque landscapes. You will drive back to Keflavík Airport for your flight back home. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to enjoy your last day strolling around Reykjavík. Or, even better, consider booking an extra night in Reykjavík to really give yourself time to experience all the amazing things Iceland’s capital city has to offer.

What’s included?

Detailed itinerary

Budget, Comfort, or Quality accommodation every night

Continental breakfast every day

Rental car of your choice for 2 days

2 authorized drivers as standard

Unlimited mileage

Unlimited in-car Wi-Fi

Collision damage waiver

24/7 emergency helpline when you’re in Iceland

VAT, taxes & service fees

Flights to Iceland

Fuel & parking charges

Food & drink, unless otherwise stated

Attraction entrance fees, unless otherwise stated

Personal travel insurance

Don’t take our word for it

See what hundreds of fellow travelers have to say about their trips with Iceland Tours.

Read customer reviews

FAQs about our self-drive trips

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.

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.

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 your travel documents to you.

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.

Although Iceland’s weather can sometimes get in the way, it’s perfectly possible to have a safe self-drive trip in winter. The main roads are cleared regularly and there is good 4G coverage in most of the countryside if you need it.

That said, roads can sometimes close in winter if there are storms or heavy snowfall. When you book with Iceland Tours, you’ll get access to a 24/7 helpline while you’re in Iceland. Rest assured that help is at the end of the phone when you need it.

We’ll often contact you proactively if we think your trip will be affected by bad weather and adjust your plans accordingly. This means you’ll always stay safe and get the most out of your trip, no matter the weather.

Adults

Ages 12+

2

Children

Ages 2-11

0

Infants

Ages 0-1

0

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