Iceland’s Ring Road
By Terry
Last Updated: 11th May 2024
This post is an account of our recent 10-day ‘Ring Road’ adventure detailing the route and sights we visited, along with the inaccessible places planned but closed for that time of the year – or through just bad weather on that day. We also tended to stray off route in sight of anything that remotely associated itself with Björk!
10 Years had passed since we last visited Iceland. Back then, we leisurely spent 3 days in Reykavik, 2 days around the Golden Circle Thingvellir, Laugarvatn, Geysir, Gullfoss, Kerið), 3 days driving eastwards past waterfalls, icecaps (Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui, Skógafoss), visits to national parks (in particular, Skaftafell), and onto drifting icebergs at Jökulsárlón. An amazing trip with incredible mind-blowing sights and of course, driving through some challenging road conditions. That trip began towards the end of March, but 10 years later we now set off in Mid-April, hoping to miss the winter weather, and more than that, drive around the infamous Ring Road – 1300km/810miles (nearly double when detours are included!)
Ring Road Planner
We predominantly followed Rte 1 in an anti-clockwise direction starting from Reykjavik. On many occasions we detoured onto other major roads, many of which were unsurfaced but quite driveable. We definitely did not drive along any F-roads, for two reasons; (i) the roads were usually very steep and icy, and many tracks would be covered with deep snow, and (ii) our car hire insurance did not cover accidents/damages if occurred on an F-road.
Each day we would check the weather forecast and for any road closures using Icelandic Met Office Website: vedur.is. Also ideal for planning where to view the Aurora. We found this site vital as it saved a lot of wasted driving time towards attractions that we could never reach. We therefore had a few back-up plans in case of weather disruptions. Some attractions that we would have liked to have seen are listed within each day’s account below‘Worth a short detour – weather permitting! These suggestions should take about 60 to 90 minutes and can easily fit within the route suggested. We had between 15 – 17 hours of daylight which provides quite a lot time to visit and experience all sorts of places in Iceland.
In addition, don’t forget about the geothermal swimming pools/baths in more or less every town and village throughout Iceland. We particularly enjoyed the swimming pools in Northern Iceland as they provided surreal experiences and astonishing views.
Another useful website is the veggjald.is, which is used to pay for Iceland’s only toll road just outside Akureyri (although there is a more scenic route that bypasses the toll along Rte 84, adding 20 mins onto the journey.
Food and Alcohol
Food: Iceland is generally an expensive country to eat out every night, so apart from 1 hotel, all our accommodation had access to kitchen facilities or at least a microwave. This cut costs down as supermarkets prices were far more resonable, and in every village/town there was a food shop. As we travelled over two weekends within our road trip the opening hours can fluctuate from one day to the next so stocked up on provisions for 2-3 days rather than daily. N1 and named supermarkets. Apart from Restaurants, the only place to buy alcohol, is the Government run Vín búð stores (about 50 in Iceland), and some of these are only open for 2 hours a day!
Its also worth noting that within each day’s drive there were numerous stops on the road’s lay-by where we would not only stretch our legs but also absorb the breathtaking panoramic vistas of enormous snowcapped mountains, naturally formed fjords, near ‘vertical’ cliffs and valleys with enormous mountain ranges on either side of the road – just made us feel so insignificant in our Dacia Duster 4wd! PARKING
Car Tips
A few post road ring thoughts when hiring a car in Iceland
1. As with every car hire, you need to check that the vehicle is safe and that the condition of it ‘appears’ in good working order. I usually take many photos of the car at different angles before I drive off. I also point out and damage to the car such as scratches and marks so that it can be recorded by the representative. On this particular hire there was a slight chip chip in the window screen which was not seen, but when checking the front screen photograph it was clear that there was a chip before we drove off the forecourt.
2. Check the insurance and ‘waiver insurance’ as well. We did not take out and additional cover but for a piece of mind it can help especially when driving in ever changing weather conditions.
3. Also its worth spending time becoming familiar with dashboard icons. When we drove around northern Iceland an icon on the dashboard lit up indicating that the car required service ‘urgently’ (a term taken from the car manual!) The call to the hire company put our minds at ease – but it was a worry nevertheless.
4. Be prepared for some hefty car parking prices in sights along the route. Some (e.g Kerid crater, Seljalandsfoss and Jökulsárlón Lagoon). Cameras in very part of the parking lot!
5. Finally, ensure the speed limit is adhered to. Driving 20 kph over the national limit (easily done in open roads) can fetch a hefty fine in excess of over 200 euros – believe me, its not a proud moment (Say no more!)
DAY 1: Keflavik to Reykjavik
Drive Distance: 45km/28 miles
Arrived in Keflavik (International airport) late in the afternoon and quickly located car hire booth in the airport. A quick transit drive to the hire office and within 1 hour driving off to Reykjavik city centre – 42km away. Although it was early evening, we were staggered at how bright the skies were and so began to walk around this great city and reminiscence from our first visit, 10 years ago. Straying not too far from the main streets; Laugavegur and Bankastraeti, we searched of supermarkets and a reasonably priced restaurant (which was a lot more trickier than finding a supermarket!). Seeing a few sights in Reykjavik at night was gorgeous: especially the beautifully designed Harpa (Auditorium), Hallgrimskirkja (church), the Old Harbour and just wandering around the cafes and bars along the main streets. Being a Friday, it was certainly was very lively. Below are our choices of things to see in Reykjavik…but a few days would be needed to appreciate them all
Top 10 Reykjavik Sights: There are countless other sights to see in Reykjavik, but the following are well worth visiting:
–Old Reykjavik area (local walking tours, historical building city centre lake;
–Old Harbour (area with many places to eat to visit art galleries and several small museums, and to just wander);
–Laugardulur Park/Area (4km east of the city centre, with a huge swimming complex and various other entertainment sites)
–National museum (excellent exhibits of Iceland’s history and culture;
–Hallgrimskirkja (an huge white-concrete church dominating the skyline and with an unmissable view of the city for the top);
–Harpa (a beautifully designed Arts and Cultural centre, with a surreal experience when walking around inside view the harbour outside)
–Reykjavik Art Museum (split over three sites focusing on contemporary arts, rotating modern arts and sculptures)
–Saga Museum (an interactive informative, and at time ‘bloodthirsty’ museum, which brings Icelandic history to life)
–Lava show (immersive experience recreating volcanic eruptions and demonstrating what happens to the real ‘super hot’ lava as it flows done.
–Whales of Iceland (Multimeadia museum which houses over 20 full-sized species of whales found off Iceland’s coast.
Accommodation: We stayed at Hotel Fron – Lovely clean, cosy room, including breakfast (which was excellent). Location was amazing and at a reasonable price. Although we had to pay, parking was available.
DAY 2: Reykjavik to Vik
Drive Distance: 272km/169 miles
Driving out of Reykjavik at 10:00 was quite easy as the traffic was light and all junctions had very good signage. Our first stop was Kerid just off Rte 1 about 12kms north along Rte 35. Kerid is a 6500 year old crater which, in the summer a green lake can be seen, but at our time it was iced over. For a small fee, we were able to walk around the whole of the crater and also descend downstairs to the lake – a fantastic introduction to our road trip.
About 6km west of Hvolsvollur on Rte 246 we arrived at the turf-roofed farm at Keldur. Although it was closed at the time of our visit, it was worth walking around the narrow footpaths and lambing houses, peering inside the windows and just imagining life inside this once small settlement.
Next were two wonderful waterfalls; Seljalandsfoss, where its possible to walk behind the waterfall along a slippery path, and then 0.5 km further on is Gljufurarbui which was probably one of the most dramatic waterfalls in Iceland. After walking through a small dark gap in the rock face, Gljufurarbui’s thunderous sound can be heard as the water gushes into an unseen canyon. The atmosphere inside is slightly spooky as the fall is virtually surrounded by cliffs.
Approxiamately 25km further along Rte 1 jfkvpoipigorig
DAY 3: Vik to Höfn
Drive Distance: 326km/202 miles
We started the day going back on ourselves, west of Vik then south down Rte 215 to the blustery black sand coast for an impressive view of the black sea stacks of Reynisfjara. Back on the Rte 1 and about 60 km driving east, we had a quick stop at the snow covered Eldhraun Lava field and then 5km further, the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. This remarkable picturesque canyon, carved out by the river Fjardra, provides visitors with a walking trail with plenty of viewing platforms to look down the rocky depths along the top of the 2-3 kilometres trail. Fortunately, we reached canyon on Rte 206, before it became an F road.
A further 80km was the stunning Svartifoss waterfall which is flanked by black basalt columns and easily seen by following the 1.8km walking trail from the Shaftafell National Park visitor’s centre. Before moving on, we admired the incredible Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue. About 15 mins later, we stopped at the delightful Hofskirkja church at Hof with its turf roof and surrounded by mounds of grassy soil.
Next stop was one of the most popular landmarks of Iceland – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. This glacial lake is filled with spectacular, luminous-blue icebergs drifting through from the nearby glacier. Its a surreal spectacle where the scenery constantly changes as the floats drift out towards Diamond Beach where many have been washed ashore. Although too cold on embark on a boat tour it was fun spotting seals from the short walking trails starting from the main car park.
Final stop of the day was a 10 minutes drive to the quirky Þórbergssetur museum/cafe dedicated to one of Iceland’s famous writers, with its exterior designed as a shelf of books. Late afternoon, after another 65km driving through mainly barren wasteland, we arrived in stunning Höfn.
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Vik):
–Yoda Cave (15km): The turnoff to the cave was completely iced over at the time, but we’d heard that the cave opening does actually resemble little old Yoda!
–Skaftafellsjokull (139km): From Skaftafell National Park visitor centre, the 3.7km return trail leads to the glacier face where its possible to hear groans of ice.
–Boat tour at Jökulsárlón (192km): At the time we did not any boat tours, but when operational its recommended to get the early boat tours (approx 1 hour long) to get the best scenery
–Sunset at Diamond Beach (193km): Apparently, its quite magical – although it could be quite late in the day!
Accommodation: We stayed in Guesthouse Dyngja – very well equipped kitchen, variety of room types and overall a very clean and comfortable place to stay.
DAY 4: Höfn to Egilsstaðir
Drive Distance: 341km/211 miles
Today was a long drive, predominantly weaving around Iceland’s East fjords – Iceland’s least developed region, but with spectacular scenery and wildlife. Before setting off we strolled around pretty Höfn, visiting Columnar Basalt with ice-capped mountain views out to the west and Ósland, with amazing views of ‘batman-shaped’ mountain Vestrahorn on the Stokksnes Peninsula.
Leaving Höfn we passed through our first mountain tunnel – Almannaskarð, (1.3km in length), on the way to Djúpivogur a further 90km. This small fishing village with a pretty harbour also had an interesting piece of art work called Eggin í Gleðivíkof (The Eggs of Merry Bay) which are 34 oversized granite eggs each representing a nesting bird in the area. Next stop, 60km further on, situated in a beautiful valley was the delightful small fishing village of Breiðdalsvík. After another 20 minutes of scenic driving we arrived in Stöðvarfjörður, where the quirky Petra’s Stone Collection can be visited.
By early afternoon, just after we drove through the Fáskrúðsfjörður Tunnel (6km in length), the weather improved dramatically with not a cloud in sight! So we took advantage of our luck and drove along Rte 92, through to town of Neskaupstaðar via the very long Norðfjörður Tunnel (8km in length). On route to town we drove along the highest highway pass in Iceland as well as the daunting experience of diving through the tunnel in a single lane. Once out of the tunnel and the necessary eye adjustments made, we seemed to plummet down where the road just ended in a small car park at the eastern end of town at the edge of the fjord. A very surreal journey.
From the car park, we followed a walking trail in the town’s nature reserve Fólkvangur Neskaupstaðar. This was just as spectacular as the drive into town as the paths were clearly marked and passed several miniature waterfalls, wooden bridges, cliffs, large boulders and eventually the sea.
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Höfn):
–Höfn (0km): A few nature trails including the Ósland conservation area and an interesting trail following a stars within the solar system.
–Petra’s Stone Collection (in: Stöðvarfjörður) (179km): Closed at the time of our visit (opens early May) A collection of stones and minerals piled from floor to ceiling, and a garden with rocks, gnomes and beautifully preserved flotsam and jetsom found nearby.
–Lay-bys (Eastfjords): Select a few places to stop for a while and view the immense scenes. If you have the need to feel insignificant, this part of Iceland is as good as ever!
Accommodation: We stayed in Lyngás Guesthouse in Egilsstaðir – Lovely budget accommodation. Ideal for a 2-night stay, clean and warm throughout with a very large kitchen and dinning area. Its located in the centre of town, near shops and supermarkets, and has free parking!
DAY 5: Egilsstaðir and the North East
Drive Distance: 276km/171 miles
Staying for 2 nights in Egilsstaðir was ideal for today’s journey. Twice we had to return to Egilsstaðir in order to visit different places within the regions. It was also nice not having to pack up our luggage and store in the car! Our first stop was a drive around Lagarfljót Lake – a beautiful, clear drive down Rte 95 and onto Rte 931 with a a stop at Hengifoss – Iceland’s second highest waterfall, 35km away. From the car park its about a 90 minute return walk, and although much of the waterfall was iced over, occasionally a deafening sound could be heard where parts of the ice crush into the pool below – sounded like an explosion.
Now heading north we passed through Egilsstaðir on our way to Borgarfjörður Eystri, 110km from Hengifoss. About half way along Rte 94 we came across another quirky attraction. In the middle of flat land there appeared a green hut with benches outside housing a solar panelled refrigerated vending machine and lots of photos and good will messages from countless tourists that have past by. 30km from Borgarfjörður Eystri the route became a road of beauty with sharp hairpin bends and steep ascents/descents, and with thick snow either side of the road, in some places up to 5 feet high – it felt like we were driving through a tunnel of snow – awesome scenery!
Borgarfjörður Eystri is charming village in a stunning location north east of Iceland with rhyolite peaks exuding a surreal, multicoloured terrain on one side and the spectacular Dyrffoll mountains on the other. However, the main reason to visit is 5km onward journey to Hafnarhólmi, with a small fishing harbour and home to a puffin colony. Unfortunately, it was a tad early in the year to spot any puffins, but still an interesting place to explore especially; the walking the viewing platforms, the specially adapted hide and many other seabirds squawking around.
The last sight seeing stop of the day involved another return to Egilsstaðir turning east along Rte 93 for 27km until we arrived at the popular gorgeous town of Seyðisfjarðarvegur. Best known for its rainbow path leading towards the local church, trendy multicoloured rooftops and a cruise liner arriving at the quayside, it was simply the gorgeous windy road that was one of the nicest things in getting here.
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Egilsstaðir):
–Hafnarhólmi, (79km): Towards the end of April puffins begin to arrive as well as many other types of seabirds, and as the Spring months approach, evenings would be driven in daylight!
–Vök Baths (6km): North of Egillstadir on Rte 1, this one of the newest geothermal baths, usually open until 10 PM and is highly recommended.
Accommodation: We stayed in Lyngás Guesthouse in Egilsstaðir (see above for review)
DAY 6: Egilsstaðir to Laugar (west towards Mývatn)
Drive Distance: 250km/155 miles
Using vedur.is in the morning, we could see that the roads leading from Rte 1 to Dettifoss were closed. Although disappointing, the knowledge gave us a chance to amend plans and explore elsewhere. So we opted to visit the Krafla Power Plant and Viti aka Krafla volcano crater, 167km from Egilsstaðir. However, the road leading to the crater from the power plant was impassable by car, so we walked through the thick snow and upon reaching the crater (40 mins away) there was so much ice and snow within, it was quite tricky to actually work out where the rim was!
Returning back on Rte 1, we turned right at the junction and within a couple of minutes on the left was the car park for Hverir – a unique landscape of mud , steaming vents, fumaroles and a smell (or stench!) of sulphur. After, we followed Rte 860 to Grjótagjá (10 mins further on), a fascinating underground lava cave with steaming water inside. A short 3km drive south led to Hverfjall, the epitome of a volcano – this was a truly awe-inspiring sight to see.
By now, a snow drift was coming in, outside temperature dramatically dropped and visibility was quite poor, so we opted to drive around Lake Mývatn within the comfort of the warm car. From a distance we could see Dimmuborgir lava field, which was virtually covered in snow and on the southern side of the lake we think we could make out the pseudocraters at Skútustaðir, but inaccessible at the time of of our arrival.
Within 10km of the lake, the bad weather had cleared and paved the way for a delightful, early evening drive to the delightful village of Lauder (40km away) which provided great accommodation, swimming pools, restaurants and tucked into a a delightful mountainside
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Egilsstaðir):
–Dettifoss (162km): One of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, and it’s a must-see when visiting Iceland. Rte 862 is the easiest road as its paved all the way to the parking lot. From there its a 15-20 mins walk.
–Leirhnjúkur area (166km): Within walking distance of Krafla caldera with bubbling mudpots and steaming vents.
–Mývatn (174km) If we were luckier with weather and road conditions we would have visited; Dimmuborgir lava field and a few short hiking trails esp the Kirkjuhringur (a loop of about 2.2km); forested lava headland of Hofdi with lave pillars and small caves and, Skútustaðir for interestingly formed pseudocraters.
Accommodation: We stayed in Guesthouse Hvitafell in Laugar. A very nice apartment with complete kitchen, comfortable beds, adjustable heating and very clean. The owner was very attentive to our needs and the hot tub was…awesome!
DAY 7: Laugar and the North
Drive Distance: 243km/151 miles
We only drove 14km to our first stop of the day, the beautiful Goðafoss Waterfall. Again, because the short road to the fall was impassable we had to park the car at the N1 petrol station and walked the 600m. The Goðafoss footbridge provided additional views with the water ripping violently below. Next stop was along Rte 85 to the town of Húsavík, 62km from Laugar. Iceland’s whale watching capital in a picturesque setting with a beautiful harbour, , colourful houses, a highly recommended whale museum, amazing snowcapped peaks across the bay and a lovely wooden church (Húsavíkurkirkja) in the centre of town.
Next stop was Ásbyrgi canyon, 62km further along Rte 85. It was a safe ‘slow’ drive down deep into the canyon on the Rte 861 from the useful visitor centre, but once there short paths took us around the horseshoe shaped canyon with sheer, dark walls rising up to 100m and for the best views – Botnstjörn Pond. There are other viewing platforms that provided in the area seeing the canyon from different angles. When we arrived it was completely silent, no wildlife (or people) with an eerie feeling of remoteness, but that experience and views were well worth the effort.
Not as much driving and stopping for sights today, mainly due to a lazy breakfast and the eagerness to get back to Laugar for a relaxing swim and sauna in the local pool as well as another night time dip in the Guesthouse’s hot tub!
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Laugar):
–Husavik (62km): Highly recommended boat trips for whale watching – although on the windy morning we visited, an irate tourist told us ‘worse day of my life…don’t do it…3 hours in the freezing cold…and I didn’t even see one whale!’. In reality, Husavik is the whale-watching capital of Iceland, best to go early May onwards, although when we visited in mid-April, there were many boats tours in operation.
–Geothermal pools: Although we did not visit these pools we heard that both Geosea, in Husavik and Myvatn Nature Baths are very good. Both are similar in price. Husavik and has a limit on the number of people allowed at the same time, but it provides amazing ocean views. Whereas Myvatn Nature Baths are much better known and can get quite busy (similar to the Blue Lagoon)
Accommodation: For the second night, we stayed in Guesthouse Hvitafell in Laugar (see above for review)
DAY 8: Laugar (Tröllaskagi Peninsula) to Akureyri
Drive Distance: 336km/209 miles
Today we drove along one of the nicest areas of Iceland – Tröllaskagi Peninsula. From Laugar we drove towards Akureyri, but instead of driving through the toll road we took a more scenic alternative along Rte 84, which passes the small village of Svalbarðseyri (50km from Laugar). Here there is a quirky art gallery and also a very picturesque orange lighthouse in the village itself, which is just a small detour off the main road – a great photo stop.
We drove through Akureyri and then followed Rte 82 and onto Dalvik (60km from Svalbarðseyr), a sleepy town that resembled a modern day western movie set with not a lot happening! However, the approach to town was spectacular as we drove along a long bridge just after a village Ólafsfjörður at the mouth of the fjord Eyjafjörður. After three mountain tunnels, 2 of which were single lane, and 35 km from Dalvik, we arrived in an extremely picturesque harbour of Siglufjörður.
There are some nice things to do in Siglufjörður, but we found that walking around town among colourful houses, shops and the historical quayside was just as enjoyable.
We continued further along the coast on Rte 76, passing Trollaskagi Lighthouse at the northernmost tip of the peninsula. As it was such a clear day, we had a few stops here and there as the scenery was so incredibly beautiful. In fact, Rte 76 was one of the most scenic roads in Iceland.
The next stop was a small village called Hofsós, 60km from Siglufjörður. Disappointingly, the swimming pool (main reason to come here) was closed for the afternoon, but it was still a nice place to wander around for a bit. Undeterred, we drove another km to one of the oldest turf churches in Iceland, Grafarkirkja. A beautiful isolated wooden building built with grass and peat, and local stone surrounded by mountains to the east and a fjord to the west…just memorable.
The day ended with a fairly long drive back to Akureyri (140km from Hofsós), but enabled us to drive through Öxnadalur, an extraordinary 30km stretch of road (starting about 10km outside Akureyri) with stunning peaks and pinnacles of rock that flank both sides of the mountain pass.
Walking around a city the size Akureyri felt quite liberating especially after spending the previous 7 days in small towns and villages. High streets, busy thoroughfares, banks, restaurants/cafes and supermarkets on every street corner increased the excitement! Strangely enough the evening stroll around the central streets colourful port, the Hof (cultural centre) and shopping malls (including a well earned hot dog!) seemed a perfect way to start the visit to this city.
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Laugar):
–Siglufjörður (140km): Many interesting things to visit in this beautiful town; Herring Era Museum (at the time of our visit, it opened by appointment only); Icelandic Folk Music Centre; many hikes and skiing at the head of the fjord, 7km south of town centre.
–Hofsós swimming pool (199km): Although we did not swim here, it is one of the best pool views in Iceland overlooking the island of Drangey and the fjord. It is not classified as an infinity pool but when you swim in the geothermal water you are right near to the sea’s edge.
–Sauðárkrókur (234km): A pleasant fishing and tanning town with a couple of interesting museums. Rte 75 (just off rte 76) is reportedly stunning drive along the fjords, with a recommended geothermal bath next to the sea. A very good alternative for an overnight stay on the ring road
Accommodation: We stayed in Hafnarstræti Hostel in Akureyri. Super wide pods (capsules) that were very modern, comfy with nice terrace to enjoy dinner/breakfast and good size kitchen. Plenty of toilets/showers and everything is very clean and tidy. If you have never stayed in a capsule, this is probably a great place to start
DAY 9: Akureyri to Borganes
Drive Distance: 360km/224 miles
With such a great friendly hostel (Hafnarstræti), it was difficult to get up and go before 10:00am! Eventually, once we packed the car, we strolled around Akureyi for a couple of hours (including another hot dog!). We visited: the Akureyrarkirkja (a grey church with great views designed by the same designer as Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik); Lystigarður (botanical gardens – so slippery along the paths it was more a survival course than a visit for shrubs!), Akureyri Art Museum (which was not all entirely ‘Free’ as advertised!); admiring the huge cruise liner in the port and then walking around the high streets enjoying the cafe culture vibe.
We started our day’s driving with a small detour heading East on Rte 1, across the fjord and turning right down Rte 829 for a very scenic drive (after 20 mins, we past another ‘Björk‘ hamlet!) in which we switched back up Rte 821 till we arrived at one of the quirkiest attractions in Iceland –Jólahúsið (Christmas House). With all its festive activities including a log fires and sleigh rides, it’s Christmas all year in this shop!
Back on Rte 1, now heading West towards Borganes, we again marvelled at Öxnadalur, but with snow fall the previous night, it appeared equally as stunning as yesterday yet strangely different in appearance. The next photo stop was Víðimýrarkirkja. One of Iceland’s 6 turf churches, beautifully preserved inside and out, and although closed during our visit we were able to walk around the well-tended grounds.
The last ‘unplanned’ photo stop was Minnisvarði um Stephan G Stephansson monument (100km from Akureyri) which was commissioned to mark the centenary birth of one of Iceland’s greatest poets – Stephan G. Stephansson. Amazing views in every direction of the surrounding region.
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Akureyri):
–Akureyri (0km): Apart from the sights already mentioned there were other things worth exploring, namely: Minjasafnskirkjan (Akureyri museum and gardens); Flugsafn Íslands (Icelandic aviation museum); Nonnahús (an interesting artists’ home providing an insight into life in 19th-century Iceland), and if you have an additional hour, try the new Forest Lagoon literally surrounded by birch and pine trees (5 mins drive east on Rte 1).
–Glaumbær Farm & Museum (100km from Akureyri, 10km on Rte 75, off Rte 1): A reconstructed farm which demonstrates how people used to live in Iceland about 150-250 years ago.
–Fosslaug waterfall (100km): Taking this small detour south from Rte 1 onto Rte 752 (at the same junction as Glaumbær Farm & Museum) there appears a beautiful gentle waterfall with a gorgeous mountain background.
Accommodation: We stayed in Englendingavík Homestay at Borganes. A nice comfortable place to stay – we were the only guests – with good kitchen facilities, spacious rooms and a restaurant next door. Odd that a bedroom was virtually affixed to a small lounge area, right next to the kitchen.
DAY 10: Borganes to Keflavik (via Geysir/Gullfoss)
Drive Distance: 327km/203 miles
An early start today. After driving through the Hvalfjörður tunnel (46km from Borganes) we drove all the way to Gullfoss (yes, it does have its own website! – 120km) on Rte 36, after turning left at Mosfellsbaer junction with Rte 1. The drive was very scenic but there was a lot of traffic – maybe because its a Sunday as well as being a major sight on the Golden Circle. With visibility being very good and only a slight wind as opposed to the wild snow storm 10 years ago, Gullfoss was out of this world. Similar to Godafosss in shape but definitely larger and more powerful. With mists rising from the falls and rainbows appearing from the cascades made this a very wonderful place, and…the car park was free!
We bypassed all other golden circle sights and drove straight Reykjavik via Rte 35 and then west on Rte 1 (135km from Gullfoss). Being a Sunday, parking was more or less free, which gave us more time for another couple of hours around this great city.
–Hallgrimskiikja church (had to have one last look at this iconic building!)
–Einar Jónsson Sculpture Park (Iceland’s first prominent sculptor. There is an indoor museum, but the sculptures were fascinating enough.
–Laugaveguyr (Another walk along main street, this time with an ice cream in hand)
–Punk Museum (Stayed in there longer than expected. Terrific small museum with lots of interesting information on the development of punk (and rock) music in Iceland. The vinyl records on the ceiling and headphones hanging down to listen to the music is a brilliant feature.
-A Stroll (Old town and Old harbour including another look at Harpa)
With a quick return drive up to Mosfellsbær (8km from Reykjavik) for no reason at all, but to just say that now we have completed the Ring Road of Iceland!
We stayed in Keflavik that night for our early morning car return and flight back home, and spent the evening in an Icelandic bistro reminiscing this amazing and unforgettable 10 day adventure.
Worth a short detour – weather permitting! (kilometres from Borganes):
–Borganes (0km): Strange place to visit as it felt quiet when we were there, but in hindsight maybe a place spend an hour or two, in particular: One of Iceland’s best museum, the Settlement centre (interactive insight into the country’s history and especially the Saga era with free ipad apps following local significant sites featured in Egil’s saga); Safnahús Borgarfjarðar (unique museum showing exhibition in the history of Iceland particularly through the eyes of children over the past 100 years);
–Golden Circle: In addition to Gullfoss, there are many other places to visit, within an hour’s drive from the capital, such as Thingvellir National Park (Iceland’s first parliament), Laugarvatn (trekking and geothermal pools) Geysir (astonishing erupting geysers) and Flúðir (a beautiful getaway spot for locals to relax and enjoy).
–Kaflevik (following Rte 1 its 118km, via Rte 35 from Gossfoss/Geysir its 327km): Iceland’s museum of Rock and Roll and Viking world museum are both interactive and interesting. However, the Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s highlights whether at the end of the beginning of your journey – a very unique (and pricey!) place to visit. The Sky Lagoon is also very popular and located closer to Reykjavik center.
Accommodation: We stayed in Start Hotel Keflavik in Keflavik. Great stay in hotel near airport and car rentals. Our room was spacious, well heated, comfortable bed and the bathroom was clean and spacious. Breakfast was great (it started from 04:00), and there was a kitchen with all necessary utensils.