On my first trip to Iceland, I was completely swept up in the raw drama of nature’s powerful waterfalls, stark volcanic plains, beautiful black-sand beaches, and the otherworldly landscapes along the South Coast. And I still love it—but every return trip to Iceland has reminded me just how much more there is to discover once you step beyond the “greatest hits.”
If you are looking to break away from the popular South Coast and the Golden Circle, I have ideas that will get you away from the crowds and make you to fall in love with Iceland all over again.
Sure, you could technically “see it all” on a longer trip around the Ring Road. But after traveling around Iceland multiple times over the years, I’ve learned that trying to “do it all” in one shot often leads to long days in the car and scenery fatigue. Even the most jaw-dropping views lose their magic when you’re rushing from one hotel to the next.
That’s why I encourage people to treat Iceland as a place to return to again and again. Each region feels different, and each trip can stand on its own. Plus, with Icelandair’s stopover program, you can even pair Iceland with a European getaway, get better airfare, and squeeze in a bonus adventure without adding a separate flight.
If your first trip gave you a taste of Iceland’s greatest hits, your second (or third!) should take you somewhere quieter, wilder, or simply different.
3 Alternatives to Iceland’s South Coast
To help you plan, here are three itineraries for returning travelers. Each one introduces landscapes and experiences that most visitors miss.
Want help planning your return trip? I’d love to help you craft a custom itinerary to discover more of Iceland’s hidden gems.
- One Week in North Iceland: Fly into Akureyri
- Capital Region + The Westfjords: Iceland’s Wildest Peninsula
- Short Stopover: Reykjavík + Snæfellsnes Peninsula
One Week in North Iceland (Fly into Akureyri)
Why Go to North Iceland
North Iceland has a quiet beauty that feels worlds away from the busy South Coast, especially if you visit after cruise season ends. The landscapes are vast and varied — packed with geothermal areas, strange lava formations, deep fjords, and colorful coastal villages. Plus, you are closer to the Arctic Circle, increasing your chances of seeing the Northern Lights if you visit form October through March.
Getting There
You could drive from Reykjavik, but if you are visiting in the winter, you may prefer to fly into Akureyri. Just keep in mind that domestic flights leave from the Reykjavik City airport so if you are flying directly from the U.S., you will need to take the FlyBus from one airport to the other. But once you are in Akureyri, you can then fly direct to a number of cities in Europe such as London, Amsterdam, Faroe Islands, and Zurich (on certain days of the week so plan accordingly).
Where to Stay
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- Hotel Kea — Simple and basic, but easily walkable to nearby restaurants, shops and the harbor.
- Hotel Akureyri — Modern, cozy, and well located.
For a scenic splurge:
- Sigló Hotel (Siglufjörður) — A short but stunning drive away, right on the water with incredible mountain views.
Day 1: Arrive in Akureyri
Akureyri’s charm is immediate: a tidy waterfront, mountain views, colorful homes, and cafés with warm lighting even in summer. Spend your first afternoon wandering through the center of town, visiting the botanical garden if the weather is nice, or simply settling into Iceland’s northern rhythm. You may also want to join an express whale watching cruise along the fjord.
In summer, the botanical gardens are a lovely place to stretch your legs. For more of a thrill, Zipline Akureyri is a must-try. Just minutes from downtown, this course combines thrilling rides with stunning views of the Glerá River and surrounding forested canyon.
If you’re visiting between September and April, add a Northern Lights tour during your stay. The skies around Akureyri can be wonderfully dark, and local guides know the quiet spots where the aurora becomes most visible. Shoot for early in your stay so that if the weather isn’t cooperating, you have a few more days to try to see the Auroras.
Day 2: Goðafoss + The Mývatn Geothermal Region
Head east toward Goðafoss, a wide, curved waterfall known as the “Waterfall of the Gods.” The paths on both sides of the river offer stunning views, and the short walk between them is easy and scenic.
Continue to the Mývatn area, one of Iceland’s most diverse geological playgrounds. Hverir’s bubbling mud pots and sulfur vents send steam swirling across an orange-stained hillside. The pseudocraters of Skútustaðagígar form gentle grassy domes perfect for short strolls.
Dimmuborgir’s lava towers twist into arches and strange formations. End your day with a soak at Earth Lagoon Mývatn (reopening in 2026), with its mineral-rich water and wide views over lava fields.
Day 3: Dettifoss + Ásbyrgi Canyon
Drive east into Vatnajökull National Park to visit Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. This waterfall is one of Europe’s most powerful. Trails lead to viewpoints of both Dettifoss and Selfoss, its quieter upstream neighbor. The East Side of the falls offers a better view, but requires a long drive on a desolate gravel road so most people opt for the more accessible West Side instead.
Continue north to Ásbyrgi Canyon, a dramatic horseshoe-shaped depression said in Icelandic lore to be the hoofprint of Odin’s eight-legged horse. Stop at the visitor center to learn about hiking trails and shuttle services.
Day 4: Whale Watching in Húsavík + GeoSea Lagoon
Spend the day in Húsavík, Iceland’s whale-watching capital. Wooden boats and RIBs head out into Skjálfandi Bay, where humpbacks, minke whales, and even blue whales appear during the summer months.
After your tour, head to GeoSea, a geothermal seawater lagoon with infinity-edge pools overlooking the bay. With warm mineral water and wide-open vistas, it’s one of Iceland’s most restorative spa experiences. If you have time, continue to drive around the fjord for more majestic views.
Day 5: Arctic Coast Road + The Beer Spa
Follow the Arctic Coast toward Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður. The drive weaves through long mountain tunnels, emerges into fjords framed by steep ridges, and leads you into some of the most picturesque fishing villages in Iceland.
Stop at the award-winning Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður for a surprisingly immersive look at Iceland’s fishing boom years. On your way, visit The Beer Spa (Bjórböðin), where warm beer baths and outdoor hot tubs overlooking the fjord make for a fun and deeply relaxing afternoon.
Day 6: Free Day in Akureyri + Forest Lagoon
Leave this day open to explore Akureyri and unwind before your departure. Spend a couple of hours at Forest Lagoon, a newer geothermal spa tucked into a hillside of pine trees with tranquil views across the water. It’s warm, scenic, and ideal for a quiet final day.
Day 7: Final Morning in the North
On your last morning, enjoy a relaxed breakfast, take a final stroll along the waterfront, and savor the peaceful northern pace before flying out.
Reykjavík + The Westfjords (1 Week)
Why Go to the Westfjords
The Westfjords are among Iceland’s most remote, dramatic, and rewarding regions—with fjords carved by ancient glaciers, towering sea cliffs full of nesting birds (including the famed puffins at Látrabjarg in summer), and roads that wind between nearly empty landscapes.
It’s a place of wide skies, slow pace, and fewer tourists. While road access has improved, many passes still close in winter—making the high season (June–August) the best window for this region. Summer brings 24-hour light, easier driving, open roads, active wildlife, and puffins in full nesting mode.
Where to Stay
In Reykjavík (before heading west):
- Canopy by Hilton Reykjavík — stylish, central, easy walkability.
- The Reykjavík Edition — modern luxury, excellent for a relaxing first night.
In the Westfjords:
- Hótel Ísafjörður — reliable base in the region’s largest town, convenient for fjord drives.
- Fosshotel Westfjords — modern, comfortable, excellent access to the cliffs and southern fjords.
Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavík & Sky Lagoon
Land in Reykjavík and check into your hotel. Start your Icelandic experience with a soothing afternoon at Sky Lagoon: a coastal infinity-edge pool with views out to the Atlantic, followed by the seven-step ritual (cold plunge, sauna, steam room, warm soak, scrub, drink). This is a great way to ease into Icelandic time, restore from the flight, and prepare for more days ahead. Plus, you probably already tried the more famous Blue Lagoon on your first visit.
Day 2: Reykjavík Sightseeing
In the morning, visit Hallgrímskirkja church and ride the elevator up its tower for panoramic views of the city, sea, and surrounding mountains. Then head to Harpa, Reykjavík’s striking glass-facade concert hall along the harbor. Composed of geometric glass panels that reflect sky and sea, Harpa houses cafés, art installations, and live music; it’s worth lingering inside and out for its architectural beauty.
Or, if you have already seen the main attractions in the Capital city, try one of its museums instead. The Settlement Exhibition Reykjavík tells the story of Iceland’s earliest settlers through excavated ruins of a Viking-age longhouse in central Reykjavík. Another option is the Perlan Museum with its glass dome, planetarium and panoramic views over Reykjavík and its surroundings.
Kids also love the Whales of Iceland Museum and the Reykjavik Lava Show. Or, for a thrilling mini virtual tour of Iceland, try FlyOver Iceland.
After lunch, choose your afternoon adventure:
- Take an express whale-watching cruise from the Old Harbor; Reykjavík is a good base for spotting minke and humpback whales in the summer season.
- Or join a puffin-watching cruise to a nearby island where these colorful seabirds nest in high season.
Day 3: Scenic Drive from Reykjavík to Ísafjörður
Depart Reykjavík and head north-west toward the Westfjords. Make noteworthy stops along the way: in Borgarnes for coffee and a pause by the fjord; at the site of Eiríksstaðir, the recreated Viking longhouse and settlement museum where visitors can step into 10th-century Norse life.
Continue across fjords and mountain roads, watching the landscape widen, the roads narrow, and the feeling of remoteness deepen. Arrive in Ísafjörður in the evening, check in, and enjoy a quiet harbor walk or a dinner of fresh Arctic char or cod.
Day 4: Ísafjörður & Bolungarvík Exploration
Today is about immersing yourself in the fjord town and nearby vistas. In Ísafjörður wander the old wooden houses in Neðstikaupstaður, visit the Westfjords Heritage Museum to dive into local fishing culture, and browse the harbor cafés.
Then drive out to Bolungarvík: steep mountain ridges plunge into the sea, tunnels cut through rock, and high viewpoints reveal fjords within fjords. Stop at the Ósvör Maritime Museum in Bolungarvík, built within old fishing huts, to get a nuanced feel for life on this coast.
Day 5: Dynjandi Waterfall & Southern Fjords
Venture further south into a deep fjord mouth to the iconic Dynjandi waterfall, which cascades down a wide rock face in tiers and spreads out like a bridal veil. A short hike brings you close to its base where you can feel the mist and hear its thunder. After enjoying the waterfall and surroundings, continue the winding drive along remote fjords, past scattered farms and quiet harbors, with few other cars in sight.
Day 6: Látrabjarg Cliffs, Puffins & Rauðasandur Beach
Head to the westernmost edge of Iceland to the staggering sea cliffs of Látrabjarg. In summer, these cliffs become a bustling seabird metropolis—millions of birds nest here and puffins puff by in clusters. The view out over the Atlantic is wild and wide. On the return drive stop at Rauðasandur, a red-sand beach unlike any other in Iceland. This day is one of the most dramatic you’ll experience in Iceland.
Day 7: Return to Reykjavík
Enjoy a relaxed morning in the Westfjords, perhaps a final harbor walk or a stop at a local bakery. Then drive back to Reykjavík at a slow pace, pulling off at scenic viewpoints, stopping to see some more sights like the Grabok Crater or the Glanni waterfall.
Do you need help planning your trip? If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t have the time or resources to wade through tons of information and question your decisions, I help clients plan a custom itinerary, tailored to your interests and travel style. Learn more about my Travel Advisor and trip planning services.
Reykjavík + Snæfellsnes Peninsula (4–5 Days)
Why Go to Snæfellsnes
Snæfellsnes is often called “Iceland in Miniature” because it condenses so many of Iceland’s defining landscapes into one peninsula—lava fields, black-sand beaches, sea cliffs, fishing villages, dramatic coastlines, and the glacier-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano at its center. For a shorter second trip or an Icelandair stopover, it’s a perfect mix of variety and ease. Stay a night or two on the peninsula, and you’ll have many of Iceland’s most atmospheric sights almost to yourself.
Where to Stay
In Reykjavík:
- Center Hotels Laugavegur — modern and comfortable.
On Snæfellsnes:
- Hotel Búðir — iconic, romantic, and beautifully set beside the black church and lava fields.
- Fosshotel Hellnar — dramatic cliffside setting near the coastal trails.
Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavík
Ease into Iceland with a gentle afternoon. Walk the waterfront, explore downtown, or head up to Hallgrímskirkja for sweeping views over the city and surrounding mountains. Reykjavík’s cafés and cozy restaurants make it easy to adjust after a long flight.
Day 2: Sky Lagoon + Scenic Drive to Snæfellsnes
Start your morning at Sky Lagoon, where the oceanside infinity pool and seven-step ritual help shake off jet lag. After lunch, drive north toward Snæfellsnes.
Check into your hotel—Hotel Búðir is especially atmospheric, especially in the evening light when the black church stands out against the landscape.
Day 3: South Coast of Snæfellsnes
Begin your day exploring the lava fields around Búðir before driving west toward Arnarstapi. This tiny fishing village sits above a coastline carved into arches, blowholes, and plunging basalt cliffs. The walking path between Arnarstapi and Hellnar is a highlight—an easy cliffside route with seabirds nesting in the rocks and dramatic views of the Atlantic crashing below.
Stop for lunch in Hellnar at the café tucked beneath the cliffs, then choose one of these two adventure options:
Option 1: Vatnshellir Lava Cave Tour
Join a guided descent 35 meters underground into an 8,000-year-old lava tube. Helmets and lights are provided, and the cave walls glow in shades of red, gold, and charcoal—an otherworldly contrast to the bright coastal light outside.
Option 2: Snowcat Tour on Snæfellsjökull Glacier
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, join a snowcat tour up the slopes of Snæfellsjökull, the glacier-topped volcano that inspired Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.
- Tours typically start near Arnarstapi or the national park edge.
- A specially equipped snowcat or super-jeep takes you up the mountain, often reaching viewpoints where you can step out onto snowfields with sweeping views of the peninsula.
- Available mainly March–July depending on snow and weather conditions.
This option works well for travelers who want to experience the glacier without technical hiking or equipment. Views on clear days stretch from the coast to the cratered heart of the national park.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon—sunset around Búðir is especially beautiful with warm light falling across the lava fields.
Day 4: Northern Snæfellsnes
Head around the peninsula toward Kirkjufell, the arrow-shaped mountain made famous by its reflection in the waterfalls of Kirkjufellsfoss. Arrive early or late for the best light. Continue to Grundarfjörður, a quiet harbor town tucked between mountains and sea, then drive through dramatic fjord scenery toward the peninsula’s northeast corner.
Other worthwhile stops today include:
- Berserkjahraun Lava Field, tied to a tale from the Icelandic sagas
- Stykkishólmur, a charming fishing town with excellent seafood, film-worthy views, and a short climb up Súgandisey Cliff for a wide panorama
- Saxhóll Crater, an easy climb up metal stairs to a rust-red crater rim with sweeping views across the peninsula
Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening or head back to Reykjavík if your schedule is tight.
Day 5 (Optional): Reykjanes Peninsula or Whale Watching
If you have an extra half-day, add one more taste of Iceland: explore the rugged, steaming landscapes of the Reykjanes Peninsula, or join a whale-watching cruise from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor before your flight.
If these itineraries sparked ideas for your own next adventure, I’d love to help you bring it to life. As a travel advisor and Iceland enthusiast, I can tailor a journey around the experiences that matter most to you—boutique hotels, private guides, special access, and the kinds of thoughtful touches that make travel feel effortless. From family trips to an Iceland girls’ trip, I can help you create the trip of your dreams.
Reach out when you’re ready, and let’s plan your next unforgettable trip to Iceland together.
Tamara Gruber is an award-winning travel writer and the founder of Your Time to Fly. With more than a decade of professional writing experience across two travel publications and hundreds of destination guides, she specializes in crafting practical, detailed itineraries that help travelers explore the world with confidence. Her work reflects years of on-the-ground research across the globe. Tamara is a member of SATW and serves on the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association.
