A Detailed 5-Day Iceland Itinerary - All Year Round!

5 Day Iceland Itinerary

blog authorBy Johanna Sigurðardóttir shield verificationVerified Expert

    Iceland is full to the brim with breathtaking landscapes and astonishing natural wonders. So many in fact, it can make planning your 5-day Iceland tour feel overwhelming. Lucky for you, we’ve made an Iceland itinerary for 5 days, so you don’t have to. 

    Read on to see sample Iceland itineraries for all seasons, summer, winter, and more.

    Travel Options For A 5-Day Trip to Iceland: Campervan, Car or Organized Tour?

    There is a lot to see in Iceland, and cramming it all into 5 days is a challenge. Choosing the right mode of transport will make a huge difference to your experience, and hopefully, allow you to make the most of your 5 days in Iceland. 

    Campervan

    Hiring a motorhome or campervan is our preferred way to explore, especially if you’re only planning a 5-day trip to Iceland. It’s cheaper than booking hotels and a car, and warmer than camping in a tent. It gives you the ultimate freedom to come and go as you please, unlike an organized tour. You can even hire campervans with four-wheel drive, so you can travel those bumpy F-roads with no bother. 

    5 day itinerary in Iceland

    Car

    Smaller than a campervan, cars are great for nipping in and out of the city. You can hire one during your stay in Iceland, or bring your own on the ferry. Travelling by car and camping in a tent might be an adequate option for the summer months, but less than ideal during the Icelandic winter.

    Organized Tour

    There are many options when it comes to choosing an organized tour on your 5-day trip to Iceland. You can opt to stay in the capital of Reykjavík and only take day trips, or sign up for an all-inclusive 5-day Iceland tour. Doing it this way is great if you’re not a confident driver, but it tends to be more expensive and affords you less freedom. 

    All Seasons Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    Worried that the fickle Icelandic weather will ruin your 5-day trip to Iceland? With our all seasons Iceland itinerary, you can be sure to have a great time no matter the season and no matter the weather. 

    • Day 1: Reykjavík.
    • Day 2: Golden Circle.
    • Day 3: South Coast to Vik.
    • Day 4: Vik to Jokularson.
    • Day 5: Retracing the route back to Reykjavík. 

    5 day Iceland tour

    Spring Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    Despite Iceland being located just south of the Arctic Circle, it does have four distinct seasons. Spring in Iceland is a transitional season; and so the weather is likely to be changeable. One moment you can expect brilliant sunshine, and the next pouring rain, or maybe even snow! As a result, not all roads will be open on the island.

    This Iceland sample itinerary will be suitable for those travelling in spring, when the weather's getting warmer and the days lighter.

    • Day 1: Pick up your rental vehicle and get out of the city. Find a campsite along the Golden Circle to see the Northern Lights. If you visit Iceland in April, you can still catch them!
    • Day 2: Visit a waterfall on the Golden Circle route. With the snow melting, the waterfalls are wilder than usual.
    • Day 3: Head west or north for some whale watching. With over 20 species of whales and dolphins, you stand a good chance of seeing these majestic beasts.
    • Day 4: Puffins return to Iceland in the spring, head to the coast and take part in a spot of Puffin watching.
    • Day 5: Pack up and head back to Reykjavík.

    5 days in Iceland in spring

    Summer Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    You’ve managed to book yourself 5 days away in Iceland over summer. Nice! With the weather being so much better in the summer, you’ll be able to explore parts of the country usually closed off in winter. This 5 day Iceland tour will get you away from the crowds and have you exploring volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs, fjords, and more.

    • Day 1: The capital of Reykjavík.
    • Day 2: Scenic drive to Akureyri.
    • Day 3: Godafoss, Husavik, Asbyrgi Canyon, Dettifoss.
    • Day 4: Lake Myvatn.
    • Day 5: Return to Reykjavík

    Iceland trip itinerary 5 days

    Fall Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    Planning a trip to Iceland in fall can be tricky, it’s a transitional season; and so the weather can be a little changeable. With the weather getting colder, not all roads will be open. Luckily, we have some ideas of how to make the best out of your trip to Iceland.

    • Day 1: Reykjavík, Blue Lagoon, Hallgrimskirkja Church, and the Sun Voyager statue.
    • Day 2: Golden Circle route, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss waterfall.
    • Day 3: South Coast to Vik.
    • Day 4: Vik to Jokulsarlon, and back to Vik for the night. 
    • Day 5: Vik to Reykjavík, taking in any sights you missed on the way.

    5 day Iceland tour in fall

    Winter Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    If you’re looking to book a winter holiday, the likelihood is you want snow and ice. Well, you’re in luck because Iceland has plenty of that during the winter. This Iceland trip itinerary for 5 days has been designed with winter in mind; glaciers and ice caves galore!

    • Day 1: Golden Circle route.
    • Day 2: South Coast waterfalls, followed by a hike across the Solheimajokull glacier.
    • Day 3: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, followed by a visit to the Crystal Blue Ice Cave.
    • Day 4: South coast highlights to Reykjanes Peninsula.
    • Day 5: Explore the Reykjanes Peninsula and return to Reykjavík.

    Winter itinerary in Iceland

    South Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    It’s more than likely that your 5-day Iceland tour will start at Reykjavík, so why not get out of the city for a few days and explore the south coast of Iceland

    • Day 1: Explore the Golden Circle.
    • Day 2: Reykjanes Peninsula and Reykjadalur hot springs.
    • Day 3: Vik, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss.
    • Day 4: Jokulsarlon.
    • Day 5: Reykjavík.

    5 days Iceland itinerary

    North Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    This is the perfect Iceland itinerary for those who have already experienced the famous Golden Circle. North Iceland is less travelled, but no less beautiful. This Iceland itinerary for 5 days will take you away from the busy crowds and let you explore Iceland a little deeper. 

    • Day 1: Reykjavík to Akureyri.
    • Day 2: Diamond Circle route.
    • Day 3: Lake Myvatn
    • Day 4: Troll Peninsula
    • Day 5: Return to Reykjavík.

    North Iceland 5 day itinerary

    East Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    5 days in Iceland sounds like absolute heaven, but the crowds do not. Due to its distance from the capital of Reykjavík, East Iceland is one of the areas less visited by tourists. If you’re looking for a 5-day Iceland tour that explores lesser known parts of Iceland; read on.

    • Day 1: Reykjavík to Vatnajokull National Park.
    • Day 2: Bulandstindur.
    • Day 3: Lagarfljot, Hallormsstadaskogur National Forest, Hengifoss waterfall.
    • Day 4: Viti crater.
    • Day 5: Return to Reykjavík.

     Iceland itinerary 5 days

    West Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    Are you looking for an alternative to Iceland’s famous Ring Road? Maybe you’re planning a 5-day Iceland tour but want something a little special. Don’t get us wrong; Iceland’s Route 1 (another name for the Ring Road) is fantastic. It enables you to travel around the whole island in a big circle, allowing easy access to the most well-loved attractions in Iceland. But there’s a lesser known route that’s just as good; Ring Road 2.

    Iceland's Ring Road 2 will take you through Iceland’s Westfjords, a less travelled part of Iceland. Here are some sights you can look forward on your self drive trip to help you create your own Iceland itinerary for 5 days in West Iceland:

    5 days itinerary in West Iceland

    Highlands Iceland Itinerary for 5 Days

    The F-road F35, known as the Kjolur Route, is Iceland’s route through the Highlands (the center of the island). Most of the other F-roads through the Highlands will stop in the middle of nowhere, meaning you have to turn around and retrace your route. But F35 goes right the way through the center of the country, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of central Iceland. 

    This list is less of an itinerary, and more of a guide on how to enhance your 5-day trip to Iceland with a little extra trip though the Highlands. 

    • Visit sights on the Golden Circle route.
    • F35 starts after Gullfoss waterfall (a sight on the Golden Circle).
    • Follow F35 and enjoy sights like Hvítárvatn glacier and the Kerlingarfjöll Mountains.
    • Rejoin the Ring Ring (also known as Route 1) in North Iceland.

    5 days in the Highlands of Iceland

    The Best 5 Day Trip to Iceland

    Now that you’ve picked the best Iceland trip itinerary for your needs, all that’s left to do is rent a campervan. Let the adventure begin!



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