A road trip around Iceland’s Ring Road is a journey across Earth’s rawest elements — fire, ice, wind, and time. In just over a week, we chased waterfalls, dipped into ancient pools, wandered black sand beaches, and stumbled into Reykjavík’s biggest cultural celebration. This was Iceland, pixel by pixel.
Day 1: Straight Into the Elements
Keflavík → Blue Lagoon
We landed, grabbed our rental car, and drove straight to the Blue Lagoon — milky geothermal waters surrounded by lava fields. Overhyped? Maybe. Still worth it? Absolutely. The jet lag didn’t stand a chance.
Tip: Pre-book Blue Lagoon time slots — sunrise or sunset hours are most photogenic.
Day 2: Reykjavík in Celebration
Culture Night, Street Art, and Hallgrímskirkja
We happened to arrive during Reykjavík Culture Night (August 21) — live music, open museums, fireworks, and a city-wide energy that made it feel like Iceland was throwing us a welcome party.
Exploring street art in Laugavegur and climbing to the top of Hallgrímskirkja gave us stunning views of colorful rooftops against the sea.
Day 3: Golden Circle + Seljalandsfoss
Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss
The Golden Circle delivered Iceland’s essentials:
- Þingvellir National Park — where tectonic plates drift
- Geysir — a geothermal show
- Seljalandsfoss — the waterfall you walk behind
By sunset, we were wet, windblown, and completely hooked.
Day 4: Hidden Hot Springs
Seljavallalaug — Iceland’s Oldest Pool (1923)
We hiked a short trail through a quiet valley to find Seljavallalaug, built into the hillside in 1923.
It’s raw, unfiltered, and sublime. Soaking in warm water while surrounded by mountains is a core memory now.
Day 5–6: South Coast & Black Sands
Reynisfjara Beach, Vik, Lava Fields
- Reynisfjara Beach: where waves crash violently against basalt columns
- Dyrhólaey Cliff: Puffins + panoramic views
- Vik: A cozy village between glaciers and sea
Be warned: the ocean here does not play. Stay back from the sneaker waves.
Day 7: Ice, Diamonds & Glaciers
Vatnajökull Glacier + Jökulsárlón + Diamond Beach
- Hike near Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier
- Float past icebergs at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Watch them wash ashore at Diamond Beach, glinting on the black sand
Nature flexed hard this day.
Day 8: Into the Wild Northeast
Dettifoss Waterfall
We drove through Iceland’s lunar landscapes to reach Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall.
It didn’t fall — it roared. The spray reached us from hundreds of meters away.
Day 9: The Loop Completes
We started our return toward Reykjavík, hearts full and phones packed with photos. Iceland’s Ring Road wasn’t just a scenic drive — it was a loop through time, space, and scale.