Day01
KEF → Reykjavík · about 50 km / 45–60 min
Arrive in Reykjavík
- Ease into the trip with coffee, a downtown walk, Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, Harpa and the Old Harbor.
- Sky Lagoon was the right first-day reset before dinner downtown.
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Travel guide · Iceland · 7 days
Seven days through Iceland’s South Coast
Best in early JuneRental carReykjavík + South Coast
Reykjavík to Vík, Glacier Lagoon and back—with dramatic landscapes, geothermal water, good hotels and enough breathing room to actually enjoy the trip.
This is the Iceland route I planned and loved: Reykjavík to Vík, Glacier Lagoon and back, with dramatic landscapes, geothermal water, good hotels and enough breathing room to actually enjoy the trip.
A route that keeps moving without feeling frantic
My favorite part of this itinerary is the shape of it: start in Reykjavík, drive the Golden Circle into the South Coast, slow down around Vík, push east for Glacier Lagoon, then return to Reykjavík before flying home.
Book the hotels early, protect time for the glacier day and leave room for weather, roadside stops and unplanned views.
I went in early June and recommend it. It rained often, but the tradeoff was daylight for nearly 24 hours a day—ideal for staying flexible and seeing more without racing sunset.
The route
A loop that keeps moving without feeling frantic.
Route overview
One loop, split across the outbound and return drives
- StartKEF Airport
- Days 1–2Reykjavík + Sky Lagoon
- Day 3Partial Golden Circle
- Days 3–4Vík + South Coast
- Day 5Glacier Lagoon
- Day 6Return west
- Day 7Blue Lagoon → KEF
The Golden Circle is intentionally divided: cover one side on the drive toward Vík, then use the westbound return to pick up what you skipped.
Day by day
The seven-day plan.
Day02
Reykjavík day · little or no driving
Reykjavík and puffins
- Keep the morning simple with brunch and shops before a puffin boat tour from the harbor.
- The afternoon is perfect for Perlan, FlyOver Iceland, harbor time or a local geothermal pool.
Day03
Reykjavík → partial Golden Circle → Vík · allow 5–7 hours
Golden Circle to Vík
- See Þingvellir and the Geysir–Strokkur area, then peel southeast rather than forcing the entire loop.
- Continue on Route 1. Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi and Skógafoss make the drive part of the day.
Day04
Vík-area loop · roughly 1–3 hours behind the wheel
Vík and the South Coast
- Slow down for Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey, the Vík church viewpoint and a real lunch.
- Heading east, Laufskálavarða, Eldhraun and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon make the road feel like the destination.
Day05
Vík → Glacier Lagoon · about 190 km / 2.5–3 hours
Glacier Lagoon
- Protect this day for Skaftafellsjökull, Fjallsárlón, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach.
- If there is one splurge to prioritize, make it a glacier or lagoon tour.
Day06
Glacier Lagoon → remaining Golden Circle → Reykjavík · full day
Finish the loop
- Drive west without overpacking the day, catching missed waterfalls and the stops skipped on the way out.
- Return to Reykjavík for the final night, with the airport and Blue Lagoon saved for Day 7.
Day07
Reykjavík → Blue Lagoon → KEF · about 1.5 hours
Blue Lagoon and the airport
- Make Blue Lagoon the final planned stop of the trip.
- Continue directly to Keflavík Airport with enough time for the rental-car return and check-in.
Priorities
What I would make room for.
StayHotels worth recommending
Three very different stays make sense at three different moments in the route: a design-forward Reykjavík splurge, a strategic glacier-lagoon base and a quieter historic hotel in the center of town.
Old Harbor · Reykjavík
The Reykjavík EDITION
- Best for
- Harbor views and an intentional city splurge
Beside Harpa and within walking distance of Laugavegur, with harbor-facing rooms, a Nordic wet-area spa, sauna, steam room, 24-hour gym and TIDES restaurant downstairs.
Official details
Suðursveit · Southeast Iceland
Hótel Jökulsárlón
- Best for
- Protecting the glacier-lagoon day from extra driving
A remote base with doubles, triples and family suites, plus guest-only outdoor hot tubs and a sauna. The on-site restaurant covers breakfast, a daytime bar menu and dinner—useful when you do not want another drive after the lagoon.
The hotel currently publishes 07:00–22:00 for the hot tubs and sauna; check current hours.Official details
Old Reykjavík · City center
Reykjavík Konsúlat Hotel
- Best for
- History, walkability and a quieter boutique feel
Rooms blend modern comfort with references to the former Thomsen department store. The bathhouse uses an original 19th-century stone wall and includes a hot tub, sauna and relaxation area; Harpa and the Old Harbor are nearby.
Official detailsDoMake the glacier day count
A glacier or lagoon tour is a must. The glacier landscapes are what make the trip feel unforgettable.
PaceDo less, better
The best days leave space for weather, roadside stops, hot tubs and the kind of view that makes you stop talking for a minute.
EatLeave room for the food
Arctic char was my favorite, with cod close behind. I would plan one polished Reykjavík dinner, one unfussy road-night meal in Vík and at least one Icelandic hot dog.
Tryggvagata · Reykjavík
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
- Best for
- A fast first-day snack or late-night stop
Order one with everything: the official build layers a lamb, beef and pork hot dog with remoulade, sweet Icelandic mustard, ketchup, fresh onion and fried onion. The original Tryggvagata stand has served Reykjavík since 1937.
Official details
The Reykjavík EDITION · Old Harbor
TIDES
- Best for
- A polished seafood dinner without leaving the harbor
The EDITION’s signature restaurant centers Icelandic seafood, locally sourced meat and seasonal ingredients. The adjacent TIDES Café is the easier move for coffee, pastries and sandwiches before a driving day.
Official detailsVík í Mýrdal
Smiðjan Brugghús
- Best for
- A relaxed road-night dinner after waterfalls and black-sand beaches
A local restaurant, bar and brewery serving burgers, ribs and hot wings, with ten house craft beers on tap. It is the useful counterweight to a more formal Reykjavík meal.
Official detailsFavorite moments
The views that stayed with me.
“Leave enough room in the plan for Iceland to interrupt it.”Andrew P. Robinson · A note on pacing