by Iceland’s ring road, officially known as Route 1, is an 820-mile scenic excursion for visitors looking to explore the country beyond Reykjavík.
Rounding the perimeter of the Nordic country, there is a non-stop parade of jaw-dropping natural attractions – waterfalls, glaciers, lagoons, black sand beaches, basalt cliffs, volcanoes.
The route also passes through charming fishing towns and villages as well as some cultural and gastronomic highlights. Starting and ending in Reykjavík and traveling clockwise along the ring road, here are 13 stops along the way that you shouldn’t miss.
Reykjavík
If you haven’t been to Iceland’s capital before, you might want to spend a day or two adjusting to its uniquely laid-out ‘urban fishing village’ vibe and exploring its many museums, galleries, dining and nightlife.
The IS The Making of a Nation: Heritage and History in Iceland The National Museum of Iceland is a great place for a historical overview, and foodies can find plenty of local and international cuisine at the Hlemmur Food Hall, located inside a former bus station. Oh, and don’t miss out on trying the heavenly baked goods at Sandholt.
Borgarnes (and Reykholt)
The charming little town of Borgarnes serves as the gateway to northern and western Iceland and holds a special place in Iceland’s medieval sagas.
At the Settlement Centre, you can find out about the Viking settlement of the region as well as Saga Egil, located in and around Borgarnes; there is also a decent restaurant.
A 30-minute drive will take you to Reykholt, the former home of Snorri Sturluson, one of Iceland’s most famous writers and poets. There is also the Krauma geothermal spa, the most powerful hot spring in Europe, Deildartunghver, and not far from the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls. Borgarnes also makes a great base for exploring the surrounding Snaefellsnes peninsula.
Hofsós Thermal Pool
You can break up the three-hour drive from Borgarnes to Akureyri by deviating from the road to enjoy a swim at this amazing thermal pool.
Designed by the same architect behind the Blue Lagoon, it is built into a hill overlooking the sea and has infinity pool-style views out to the fjord and the island of Drangey.
Just below the pool are the basalt formations of Staðarbjargavík, which according to local lore was once the capital of the local colgan population.
Akureyri
Iceland’s second largest town, Akureyri can be found scenically located at the foot of the Eyjafjörður fjörd. There’s a cute spread of churches, bars, art galleries and museums, as well as botanical gardens, and there’s a variety of hikes in and around town. A good choice of hotels makes it a good option to stay overnight.
For dinner, Rub23 has excellent Icelandic fish, lamb and beef dishes, and some of the best sushi in the country, served with wasabi grown locally in the restaurant.
Diabhfoss
Yes, there are many waterfalls along the ring road but it would be criminal to miss the raw view of Godafoss.
The name, which translates somewhat significantly as “Waterfall of the Gods”, is said to date back to around 1000 AD – when the Jesuits converted to Christianity and the law speaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði threw away his pagan idols into the walls.
Twelve meters high and 30 meters wide, the roar of the cave knocks out everything else around; a footpath provides access and several perspectives.
Husavik
Another worthwhile detour 30-40 minutes off the main road, the beautiful harbor town of Húsavík sits on the coast and offers some of the best whale watching in Iceland, with 23 species to be seen.
The most typical sea creatures seen in the local Skjálfandi Bay are humpbacks, mink, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises and blue whales, and many companies offer different tours to see them. The town also has thermal baths and a whale museum.
Mishap
One of the scenic highlights of North Iceland, this otherworldly lake deserves a good exploration. Rich in flora and fauna, the area can be walked around to take in the dramatic lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the Hverjfall crater – one of the largest explosion craters in the world with a diameter of two-thirds of a mile – and the Namaskard geothermal area.
There are many paved walking paths, but you can also take longer paths through the area. Once done, reward yourself with a well-deserved soak in the Myvatn Nature Baths and lunch or dinner at the Vogafjós farm restaurant, whose cuisine includes locally caught smoked trout, geothermally baked bread and dairy products from the farm cow.
Egilsstaðir
The largest town in East Iceland, Egilsstaðir is a great base for exploring the wider Eastfjords but has plenty to offer in its own right, from spotting reindeer and practicing your ax throwing skills to trekking in the largest forest in the Iceland (Hallormsstaður) and swim in the stylish Vok Baths, located in a local lake. An hour or so away at Hafnarhólmi in Borgarfjörður eystri on the coast, you can also enjoy some puffin watching.
Höfn
The harbor town of Höfn is picturesque, peaceful – and famous for its langoustines. It has its own lobster festival every summer and there are a few excellent restaurants to try the delicacy.
The most famous is the harborside Pakkhús (book in advance) which even has a langoustine pizza. Höfn is also the gateway and base to the majestic Vatnajökull National Park, whose glacial lakes and ice caves can be explored on foot or with guided jeep tours.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
You can find more glacial beauty further on the ring road at the famous Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. The lake is filled with huge chunks of ice broken off from the nearby Breiðamerkurjökull glacier; Boat trips and Zodiac tours bring you close to the chunks as well as occasional stops that you like to relax or play on.
Some of the ice blocks wash up on the nearby black sand beach, hence its nickname “Diamond Beach”. It is a great place for photos.
Vik
Vik, Mýrdal is short for Vík, is a small village by the sea, which is a little further from the lagoon. It has its own entertaining lava show but the local black sand beach (Reynisfjara), with its striking basalt columns, the nearby Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks and Dyrhólaey, a nature reserve popular with giant puffins.
You can use Vik as a base to explore the Mýrdalsjökull glacier by snow scooters, jeeps and snowmobiles. Adding to the thrill is Katla, Iceland’s most explosive volcano, in the glacier.
Skógafoss
Skógafoss is another must-see waterfall. Cascades about 60 meters and spanning 25 meters across, it is located along the nice river Skoga. According to legend there is a treasure hidden behind the waterfall, placed there by a Viking settler, but you are more likely to find the rainbows that are often seen here on sunny days.
You can walk right behind the waterfall to better experience its MAJESTY, and a set of stairs leads to the top of the waterfall as well as the longer Fimmvorduhals trail.
Hveragerdi & the Reykjadalur Valley
Before returning to Reykjavík, turn to Hveragerði. It is famous for its geothermal hot springs, greenhouses and the nearby Reykjadalur valley.
Reykjadalur means “steam valley” and, sure enough, it’s full of hot springs and mud pools, as well as a geothermal river with boardwalks and basic facilities for swimming. There are several walks around the area and activities such as horse riding are also possible.
