Want to go for long enough to discover the country’s spectacular landscapes?
Here’s all my advice for choosing how many days to spend in Iceland based on your expectations and what you want to see.
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How long to spend in Iceland: quick answers
- Minimum for a glimpse of the south and Reykjavik: 4 to 5 days
- Number of days for a complete tour of the island via the Ring Road: 7 to 10 days
- Ideal number of days to really enjoy it, in our opinion: 12 to 14 days
- To explore the Westfjords and highlands in addition to the complete tour: 15 to 21 days
- The season strongly influences what you can see: some roads are closed in winter, northern lights are visible from September to March, midnight sun from May to August
There’s no universal answer to this question. It depends on many criteria. We give you more details in the article to make your decision.
For all our tips on organizing a road trip, see this article.
How many days in Iceland to see the must-see places?
In my opinion, the truly unmissable places are:
- The Golden Circle (Geysir, Gullfoss, Þingvellir)
- The south coast (Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Sólheimajökull glacier)
- The Blue Lagoon or natural hot springs
- Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and Diamond Beach
- Reykjavik and its architecture
- Lake Mývatn and its geothermal formations
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- The East Fjords
- Watching the northern lights (September to March) or enjoying the midnight sun (May to August)
I think in 10 days, you can drive the Ring Road and see the major sites without rushing. In 7 days, it’s possible but the pace will be fast. For the south only, 5 days is enough.
Size and driving time
Iceland is a medium-sized country but distances can be deceiving. The Ring Road (Route 1) is about 1340km. However, road conditions, weather and many stops to admire the landscapes significantly extend travel times.
Some examples of driving times between main points of interest:
- Reykjavik – Golden Circle (Geysir): 1h15
- Reykjavik – Vik (south coast): 2h30
- Vik – Jökulsárlón: 2h30
- Jökulsárlón – Egilsstaðir (East Fjords): 3h
- Egilsstaðir – Akureyri (north): 2h45
- Akureyri – Reykjavik (via northwest): 4h30
Highland roads (F-roads) and some portions of the Ring Road are closed in winter, generally from October to May. Weather conditions can also close roads without notice, even in summer.
Need to rent a car in Iceland?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
5, 7, 10 or 15-day itineraries
To help you plan your itinerary:
- See my suggestions for a 5-day Iceland itinerary
- See my suggestions for 7-day Iceland itineraries
- See my suggestions for 10-day Iceland itineraries
- See my suggestion for a 15-day Iceland itinerary
- or plan your own: See my eBook with practical maps and structured information to make planning easier.
Criterion 1: Budget
Iceland is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe. Assess how much you can afford in total, this helps you determine how many days you can stay.
The main expense categories are:
- Car rental: essential to explore the country, depending on the type of vehicle (4×4 necessary for some roads). Since 2026, a per-kilometer tax is applied in addition.
- Accommodation: from €30 in a hostel to over €300 for a quality hotel
- Fuel
- Restaurants:
- Activities: glacier excursions, paid hot springs, lava tubes…
We recommend cooking for yourself in equipped accommodations to reduce costs. Supermarkets offer more reasonable prices than restaurants.
Criterion 2: Your desires, interests and goals
Photographing landscapes? Hiking on glaciers? Watching the northern lights?
Your desires determine the time needed to fully enjoy the destination.
An in-depth photographic exploration requires more days than a simple scenic tour.
In Iceland, the natural offerings are exceptional:
- Number of spectacular waterfalls: very high (several dozen easily accessible)
- Number of accessible glaciers: high (Vatnajökull, Langjökull, Mýrdalsjökull)
- Number of geothermal sites: very high (geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, natural baths)
- Number of hikes: very high (from short walks to multi-day treks like Laugavegur)
- Number of black sand beaches: moderate but remarkable (Reynisfjara, Diamond Beach)
- Number of fishing villages: moderate (mainly in the west and east fjords)
- Number of cultural sites: moderate (museums in Reykjavik, churches, historic farms)
- Wildlife observation: whales, puffins (May to August), seals, reindeer
Just by visiting the south you can see: Waterfall, black sand beach, geothermal site with geyser, glacier, icebergs, lava fields…
Really all durations are possible.
Reminder of our answer at the beginning:
- Minimum for a glimpse of the south and Reykjavik: 4 to 5 days
- Number of days for a complete tour of the island via the Ring Road: 7 to 10 days
- Ideal number of days to really enjoy it, in our opinion: 12 to 14 days
- To explore the Westfjords and highlands in addition to the complete tour: 15 to 21 days
- The season strongly influences what you can see: some roads are closed in winter, northern lights are visible from September to March, midnight sun from May to August
Where to stay in Iceland?
My favorites:
- Reykjavik, capital city: see best rated accommodations – or my article on where to stay
- Selfoss, between Golden Circle and South Coast: see best rated accommodations
- Vik, near waterfalls and glaciers: see best rated accommodations
- Höfn, gateway to the East fjords: see best rated accommodations
- Egilsstadir, between fjords and North Iceland: see best rated accommodations
- Reykjahlid, for the wonders of Lake Myvatn: see best rated accommodations
- Akureyri, capital of the North: see best rated accommodations
- Grundarfjordur, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula: see best rated accommodations
Criterion 3: Visa
Iceland is part of the Schengen Area.
If your passport is from outside this area, the traditional tourist visa allows you a maximum of 90 days continuously to travel in the Schengen Area, including Iceland.
ETIAS requirement (Schengen area authorization) to enter from October 2025.
Here is the official website to check if you need a visa.
Criterion 4: Personal circumstances
Take into account your own schedule, including your professional commitments and personal responsibilities. This will help you realistically assess how much time you can dedicate to the trip.
Also consider your tolerance for extended driving. We spent several hours a day behind the wheel during our complete tour, which can be tiring over time.
Criterion 5: Weather, conditions, events
The season radically influences your experience in Iceland:
Summer (June to August): midnight sun, all roads accessible, temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, high tourist season so high prices and crowded sites. The highlands generally open mid-June.
Days are long, you can see a lot.
Winter (November to March): northern lights visible, ice caves accessible, highland roads closed, some portions of the Ring Road may temporarily close, temperatures between -5°C and 5°C, fewer tourists so lower prices. Very short days in mid-winter (4 hours of light in December) so possibility to see fewer places each day.
Shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October): good compromise between weather conditions and tourist crowds, possibility of northern lights in September-October, highland roads still closed, moderate prices.
We recommend checking daily road conditions on the official site road.is and weather forecasts on vedur.is, as weather changes rapidly.
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Frequently asked questions
Are 5 days enough in Iceland?
With 5 days you can discover southern Iceland and the Golden Circle, including Reykjavik, the main waterfalls, the black beach and possibly Jökulsárlón. You won’t have time to do the complete tour of the island.
Are 7 days enough in Iceland?
With 7 days, we think you can drive the complete Ring Road but the pace will be fast. Expect between 4h and 6h of driving on some days. You’ll see the major sites but will have little time for detours or long hikes.
Is 10 days too long in Iceland?
No, 10 days is not too long. In our opinion, it’s the ideal duration to do the complete tour comfortably, enjoy hikes, explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, do glacier or ice cave excursions, and not spend all your time in the car.
Is 14 days too long in Iceland?
Absolutely not. With 14 days, you can explore the country in depth, include the Westfjords or highlands (in summer), do multi-day hikes, spend time in less touristy villages, and have a truly pleasant pace. Iceland offers such diversity of landscapes that you’ll always find something new to discover.
Do you need to rent a 4×4 in Iceland?
For the Ring Road in summer, a regular car is sufficient. A 4×4 becomes necessary if you want to explore the highlands (F-roads), travel in winter on some secondary roads, or access remote sites. We did our first trip in a regular car in summer without problems, then opted for a 4×4 on our winter trip.
Plan your trip to Iceland this Summer:
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