Icelandic Road Trip Series: The Ring Road

Last updated: 29 July 2023

This is the second post in a 5 part series covering our adventure through the natural wonder that is Iceland! There was just so much to see and do to cover in a single post so we decided to break it up into a 5 part series.

The first post covered the all the reasons why Iceland is considered a must-travel destination and this week I focus on how to get around the country on the Icelandic Ring Road!

If you’re a regular reader of Roaming Required then you know that we love a good road trip so the idea of travelling around Iceland on the ring road was too good an opportunity to pass up!

What is the Ring Road?

Iceland’s ring road (M1) is a national road which runs along the outer edge of the country in a large loop. The ring road serves 2 main purposes; the first is that it’s an essential part of the country’s transport network connecting the majority of towns and villages with the rest of the country. The second purpose is that it’s become the perfect tourist route for sightseeing due to the close proximity to Iceland’s most popular attractions!

When’s the best time of year to visit?

This is a very important question and one you need to ask yourself before you jet off – do I want to roadtrip in Summer or Winter?

Roma and I spent considerable time going back and forth on this topic and it took awhile to make a decision because there’s pros and cons to visiting in both summer and winter. Summer is perfect because the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and you have more time to spend at the natural attractions and take plenty of perfect photos. The drawback is that every other tourist has the exact same idea so all the places you visit tend to be more crowded and just a little more frustrating.…which exactly why we decided to visit in winter.

Yes, that’s right. When every blog you read and traveller you speak to advises to visit in summer, we’re the dynamic duo who decided to visit when the temperatures plummeted, the weather changed every 5 minutes, and when the days were shorter (daylight hours from about 10:00am to 4:00pm). 

But you know what? I wouldn’t have changed our visit for the world, it was simply amazing. So if you plan to visit Iceland during the winter months then this post is perfect for you.

Rental Car Options

There’s plenty of car rental choices in Reykjavik, which is where the majority of ring road adventures start and finish, so it makes sense to rent your car from the airport. The main question which we wrestled with was, 4WD or sedan/hatchback.

If you’ve spent any time looking at photos of Iceland then you know that the terrain could be best described as interesting or full of character (and let’s face it, it’s probably what enticed you to want to travel there, right?). We spent plenty of time reading blogs and car rental reviews trying to determine the best (and most affordable) option but it seemed that opinions were split. Some claimed that there was no point driving in Iceland without a 4WD and others ranted that the cheaper 2WD were fine if travelling the ring road. No clear winner. We decided to err on the side of caution and spent a little bit more on the 4WD.

The benefit of hindsight is that it’s 20/20. If you’re planning on visiting Iceland during the winter months then here’s my suggestion – RENT THE 4WD. I repeat, RENT THE 4WD. I can’t stress this point enough, definitely spend the little bit extra and get the 4WD because it’s worth it even if it’s just for peace of mind. There were some pretty hairy moments driving during the black of night, on the winding roads in the snow, and driving a 4WD with studded tyres made all the difference!

Oh, and if you visit the plane wreck at Solheimasandur then you’re definitely going to need a good car!

From Reykjavik to Hofn…

We decided that trying to drive the entire ring road, all 1,332km of it, during winter on the icy roads probably wasn’t the smartest idea so we decided to focus on the southern part of the Ring Road taking us from Reykjavik to Hofn. This enabled us to take our time and explore each natural wonder at our own pace without needing to worry about losing time or daylight. And ultimately, the best part of a roadtrip is the ability to go at your own pace and make it up as you go along.

After spending a couple of days exploring the capital city of Reykjavik and learning all about its wonderful history (to be covered later in the series) we were ready to move out on the open road. We collected our very swish-looking 4WD from Blue Car Rental, (a big thank you to the very helpful team, you guys were great!) and set out on the road.

Highlights from the the Ring Road

It doesn’t really matter which direction you take along the ring road, north or south, you’re guaranteed to bear witness to some of the most amazing scenery the world has to offer. I mentioned earlier that at times Iceland seemed like another planet, with it’s martian-like landscapes and atmospheric and ever-changing weather patterns. Quite simply, Iceland was one of the most breathtaking and spectacular places I’ve ever visited and here are just a few of the highlights which you can experience when on the ring road.

Thingvellir National Park

Must Do: Take a walk through the Almannagja Rift, a canyon caused by the continental drift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates as they rip apart from each other at a rate of about an inch a year.  

Gulfoss Waterfall

Must Do: It’s worth taking a walk to see the Gulfoss waterfall because not only is it incredible but if you’re a film fan, this is where the opening scene of Prometheus was filmed. And like the movie or not, it was the location which stole the scene.

Geysir & Strokkur

Must Do: You can’t visit a geothermal location and not see Strokkur erupt in a glorious fashion. Have your camera set on burst mode and you’re all set to go!

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Must Do:  When standing at the front of the majestic Seljalandsfoss waterfall take a moment and enjoy the view but then turn to your left and walk a couple of hundred metres until you find the lesser known Gljufrabui waterfall. Climb down towards the rocks and then navigate INTO the rock face and you will find a hidden waterfall which is breathtakingly beautiful.

Eyjafjallajokull Erupts

Must Do: As you drive along the ring road you will see a museum, about the size of a small house, which is covered with signage containing the word Eyjafjallajokull, the infamous volcano which last erupted in 2010. Outside the museum, on the roadside, there are information signs about the volcanic eruption and the chaos it caused, much of it across Europe. It’s worth stopping and having a read about the 2010 eruption and seeing Eyjafjallajokull for yourself. It’s something to behold.

Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

Must Do: If there’s one tourist attraction which is off the beaten path and well-worth the visit it’s the Navy DC-3 plane wreck located on Solheimasandur beach. The co-ordinates are 63.459523 – 19.364618 but follow Google Maps and you’ll find the road you’ll need to take to get to the wreck. Be aware, the road is bumpy. Scratch that, the road is mayhem! Drive slow, take your time. The plane wreck isn’t going anywhere.

Skogafoss Waterfall

Must Do: Stand at the base of this beautiful waterfall and you can feel just how powerful nature is. We visited at dusk and we basically had the whole waterfall to ourselves. Combine this with a visit to the Solheimasandur plane wreck because they’re close to each other.

Vik Black Sand Beach

Must Do: A walk along the black sand beach of Vik was an absolute highlight. It was magnificent. Make sure you visit the cave! Stand in the cave, close your eyes, and listen to the waves. You know that you’re standing in the same place where people have done the exact same thing for a 1000 years.

Lava Fields

Must Do: As you’re driving along the ring road you will pass long stretches of what appears to be moss covered rocks. Stop and take a closer look. What you’re looking at are the remains of volcanic activity, this is moss covered lava!

Jokulsarlon Iceberg Lagoon

Must Do: This might be my favourite part of the trip. We spent hours just walking around the lagoon, taking photos, and just connecting with nature. It was spectacular. The benefit of visiting in winter is that no Zodiac boat tours run, and whilst it might not sound like a good thing, the absence of the tours means you are treated to the sounds of icebergs gently bumping into one another. Magical.

Glacier Walking

Must Do: Take a glacier walk in Skaftafell National Park and stand on 1000 year old ice!

Fjadrargljufur Canyon

Must Do: Take a walk to the top of the canyon and take in the views. The Fjadrargljufur canyon is 100m and 2km long and provides some of the most amazing views I’ve ever seen.

The Town of Vik

Must Do: As you follow the ring road you will pass through the town of Vik but don’t just drive by, stop and stay for awhile. We stayed overnight and explored the small town, a total population of 300, and supremely picturesque.

Dyrholaey

Must Do: You must take a drive to the top of Dyrholaey for some magnificent views. It’s worth navigating the winding snow-covered roads for the views at the top. You’ll see the black sand beaches of Vik from a completely different perspective.     

The Bridge Between Two Continents

Must Do: Visit the bridge which connects the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Stand in North America and stand in Europe! Yes, it might sound like a toursit trap but it’s far from it. There are no hordes of crowds, ticket stands, or commercialism. It’s a newly built bridge with some detailed information boards. When we visited, we had the whole bridge to ourselves!

The Blue Lagoon

Must Do: Arguably the most famous of all of Iceland’s tourist attractions. It’s expensive, commercial, and you’re treated like number. It’s like a visit to Disneyland. However, when you’re soaking in wonderfully warm water whilst the steam envelopes you is pretty amazing.

If you want to try a lesser-known thermal spring then we suggest a visit to The Secret Lagoon, located an hour drive from Thingvellir National Park. It was a simple authentic outdoor hot spring which was half the price of The Blue Lagoon and didn’t contain any of its pretense. We stayed for a good few hours and saw a grand total of 8 other people. Need I say more?

Next week on our Icelandic Road trip Series: Solheimasandur Plane Wreck