A 12-day Iceland Road Trip

Iceland isn’t just a destination—it’s an experience.

Over 12 days, we chased waterfalls, stood in awe of unreal landscapes, and lived moments that felt straight out of a dream. And then… the Northern Lights appeared, painting the sky in ways no camera can truly capture. Sharing the perfect itinerary so you can experience it all too. 🇮🇸

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🚗 How We Got Around

We explored Iceland by car—and honestly, it made the trip. The freedom to stop anywhere, take detours, and discover hidden spots is unmatched.

While the highlands and F-roads require a 4×4 (these roads are rough, remote, and can include river crossings), we didn’t explore the highlands on this trip.

If you’re short on time or prefer not to drive, guided tours are a super easy way to see Iceland’s highlights without the hassle. You can find tours here

10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO ICELAND

• Always carry layers - the weather flips in minutes. The winds are no joke, so dress smart.

• When renting a car, get full insurance. Windshields and doors can literally break because of strong winds, and credit cards usually don’t cover it. We took Gold Insurance - a bit pricey, but totally worth the peace of mind in remote areas.

• Get an eSIM from Airalo — super convenient with great packages.

• Follow Leave No Trace principles.

• Don’t overspeed. Even 10 km/h over the limit can cost you hundreds of dollars in fines.

• Stay far from sneaker waves — they’re unpredictable and extremely dangerous.

• Check the SafeTravel app daily for road and weather conditions.

• Pay attention to road tolls and parking fees — skipping them can lead to heavy fines.

• Food is expensive (no surprise there). Either explore local options or stock up from grocery stores — or come prepared.

• Iceland has the most cleanest drinking water, but we still preferred buying bottled water.

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Day 1: Sky Lagoon, Kerid Crater

Landed at Keflavik International Airport and took a shuttle to pick our car. A Hyundai Tucson from Geysir car rental. Drove straight into Reykjavik Downtown for lunch at Sandholt. From there we headed to Sky Lagoon instead of Blue Lagoon since we prefer fewer crowds. Booked the Sky Lagoon Entry Pass for 2 P.M slot and honestly the best decision. We initially considered sunset, but there is no Sun. So afternoon turned out perfect — peaceful and barely crowded. If sunset is your thing, book in advance because those slots sell out fast.

Sky Lagoon

After that, checked into Hotel Eldhestar - a quiet stay surrounded by horses.

Wrapped up the day with a quick visit to Kerid Crater, which is just 15 minutes away the hotel.

Kerid Crater

This is located on Iceland’s Golden circle. A 3000 year old volcanic eruption later formed with groundwater and it changes color depending on light conditions. This is younger than most craters in Iceland. We chose this as it’s not that crowded with free parking and the walk around just takes less than an hour. So, we added it to our list.

Coming Soon.........