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Iceland is a favorite destination for nature lovers due to its rugged and mostly untouched landscape. The island is of volcanic origin and you see lava fields just about everywhere unless they are hidden under glaciers. This truly makes for a moon-like scenery. Iceland is still volcanically active and this gives rise to hot springs (thermal pools) and geysers. The hills and lava fields create perfect conditions for spectacular waterfalls and, in winter, you can explore large ice caves and bathe in hot thermal pools in a snow covered landscape while watching the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) light up the night sky with its myriads of stars.
This will surely make for a truly special experience and lots of memorable moments.
Not to forget, there are only 370,000 people on the island and there is plenty of solitude and untouched nature to admire.
Iceland is of volcanic origin and you see lava fields just about everywhere unless they are hidden under glaciers. This truly makes for a moon-like scenery. Iceland is still volcanically active and this gives rise to hot springs (pools) and geysers. The hills and lava fields make perfect conditions for spectacular waterfalls. And then there are large ice caves, black sand beaches and iceberg lagoons that you can explore.
If you go in late fall, winter or early spring, you may see the aurora borealis, the Northern lights, which make for a truly outer worldish experience and memorable moments.
Not to forget, there are only 360,000 people on the island and there is plenty of solitude and untouched nature to admire.
For Pinterest users, here are some pins that you can use:
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Our Iceland Travel Guide has detailed information about the individual destinations, links to their locations in google maps, reviews and websites (if available).
Please see the Backpack & Snorkel Travel Store for more information.
This “Iceland Highlights” guide covers a 2-week Iceland’s highlights itinerary, but you can break it up into shorter pieces if you are only here for a few days or a long layover.
Pro tip: Did you know, that airlines will not charge you extra for a long layover in Iceland? Normally, airlines treat multi-day layovers as extra legs on your itinerary and charge you more, but in order to attract tourism, this is not the case with Iceland.
So, if your trip just allows for an extra 1 or 2 days, or even a few hours, there is plenty that you can do. For a layover measured in hours, you can see the Blue Lagoon, which is one of Iceland’s most visited tourist attractions. If you have a day or two, you can explore Reykjavik and you can self-drive the Golden Circle or join a guided tour.
If you have 2 weeks, congratulations, then you can make good use of this guide and you can circle the island on the Ring Road.
For more detailed information incl. links to google maps locations, more reviews, website links, etc., check out our Iceland Highlights Purple Guide.
Rental car counters at the airport: Most rental car agencies are serviced by a rental car shuttle that departs of the airport’s flight arrivals hall – (1) in the picture below. There is good signage and this pickup site is easy to find. The signage tells you exactly which rental; car agencies use this bus stop. Some smaller rental car agencies like Dollar, Thrifty, Ace and others are not using this bus stop and they are not listed on the signs. This fact is not well known be airport personnel and 2 out of 3 airport employees we asked gave us wrong directions and the 3rd person was only half right. So, here is what you need to do: go towards the check-in area of the airport. There you will see a large red-orange Meeting Point sign. From here, exit the airport through the nearest doors and go directly to the road. There is no sign or anything, but this is exactly where your rental car shuttle will arrive – location (2) in the picture below. In our case, it did not come and I had to call them – luckily I had an international cell phone plan and their telephone number. So, be prepared.
Iceland’s Weather from JUNE - AUGUST
Summer is the warmest and most expensive time of the year - I said warm as in mid-50F or 10-13°C and most expensive as in prices going through the roof. You get 20-21h of sunlight per day and it never gets dark. This is also the best time of year to go whale watching. Puffin viewing season ends in mid-August. June is the month of the midnight sun with the longest day being on June 21. July and August are the best times for e.g. scuba diving in Þingvellir or hiking around the country.
Iceland’s Weather from SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
Shoulder season with lower hotel rates and temperatures in the mid- 30s to low 50s (2-11°C). The fall colors make September especially colorful and the rain is not too bad yet.
Iceland’s Weather from NOVEMBER - MARCH
Temperatures will be in the mid-20s to lower 30s (-10°C to 8°C) and this is also the time of the year with the most precipitation. If the sky is clear, then now is your best chance to see the Aurora Borealis. Now is also the time for glacier hiking and ice caving, but keep in mind that many roads outside the cities are closed. December and January only have about 4-5h of sunlight. In December you will see Reykjavik light up for Christmas and Santas are scattered throughout town.
Iceland’s Weather from APRIL - MAY
Shoulder season. The snow is melting and giving rise to green landscapes. The days are getting longer and the temperatures are going up. Puffin viewing season starts in late April. April is also the start of the whale watching season.
May through October is the best time to self-drive the Golden Circle. With the weather being at its best in July and August; this will also be the busiest time.
The best time is in winter as you have the largest temperature contrast. The Blue Lagoon is busiest from May - September.
Iceland's coast has a subarctic climate. It is warmer than other many other places with a similar latitude, because of the comparably warm North Atlantic current, which ensures that Iceland's coasts typically remain ice-free in winter.
The Northern coastal areas of Iceland is colder, dryer and less windy than the Southern part of the island, but there is more snowfall in the north in winter. The coldest part of the country are the Central Highlands.
The record for the highest air temperature stands at 86.9F (30.5°C) and the lowest recorded temperature is -36.4F (-38°C).
The climate of Reykjavik
The climate of Akureyri
The climate of Reykjahlíð
The climate of Seyðisfjörður
The climate of Höfn
The climate of Vik (Vík í Mýrdal)
Iceland is a beautiful and rugged country. It can easily be toured in 2 weeks. If you only have 1 or two days then I propose to either do the self-guided walking tour of Reykjavik or explore the Blue Lagoon and the Reykjanes Peninsula. If you have one week, then you may need to decide between Northern or Southern Iceland. Should you have two or more weeks, congratulations, you can explore Iceland’s highlights. Use the itinerary below and modify it as you see fit.
Day | Night | |
Sun | Arrive at KEF airport and get your rental car; Bridge Between Continents; Gunnuhver Geothermal Area, Reykjanes Lighthouse; Valahnúkamöl; Brimketill lava rock pool | Reykjavik |
Mon | Reykjavik | |
Tue | Reykjavik | |
Wed | Blue Lagoon; Presidential Residence at Bessastaðir; Fjörukráin – Viking Village; drive to your hotel in Skagafjörður; optional stop at Icelandic Seal Center | |
Thu | ||
Fri | ||
Sat | ||
Sun | Grjótagjá Cave; climb up Hverfell; Explore Dimmuborgir; hike up Vindbelgjarfjall; swim at Mývatn Nature Baths | |
Mon | ||
Tue | ||
Wed | ||
Thu | Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, Fjallsárlón, Vatnajökull National Park at Skaftafell, Scenic Green Lava Walk; Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon that was shown in the Justin Bieber “I'll Show You” video | |
Fri | ||
Sat | Fly home (alternatively, you can explore the Highlands today and leave on Sunday) |
The following lists contain links to the best things to see and do in the different regions in Iceland.
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Reykjavik/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Reykjanes/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Golden-Circle/
Day 1: First part of the Diamond Circle
Day 2: Exploring Lake Mývatn and second part of the Diamond Circle
Day 3: Part 3 of the Diamond Circle Tour
Day 4: Part 4 of the Diamond Circle and Eastern Iceland
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Iceland-Ring-Road-Day-4/
Day 1: Drive to Skagafjordur (Skagafjörður)
Day 2: Skagafjordur (Skagafjörður) to Akureyri
Day 4: First part of the Diamond Circle
Day 5: Exploring Lake Mývatn and second part of the Diamond Circle
Day 6: Part 3 of the Diamond Circle
Day 7: Part 4 of the Diamond Circle and Eastern Iceland
Day 8: Visiting one of the best Canyons in Iceland: Stuðlagil Canyon
Day 9: Exploring south Iceland
Day 10: The last day of exploring Iceland
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
More information can be found here: https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Ring-Road/
Here is more information about Iceland: