The ultimate Iceland itinerary - how to make the most of 5 days in Iceland

An honorary Scandi nation, Icelanders are proud of their LGBT+ credentials, going as far as goading self-proclaimed ‘evangelical Catholic’ Mike Pence, Vice-President of the United States, with a row of rainbow flags when he arrived on a state visit. Should he have been surprised by his welcome in a country that repealed laws prohibiting homosexual activity back in 1940, elected the world’s first openly gay head of government, and unanimously voted to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples in 2010? Gay visitors are welcome in Iceland, that’s for sure!

Hiring a car is probably the best idea for anyone limited to an Iceland itinerary 5 days long. It’s certainly possible to enjoy Iceland vacations without recourse to a steering wheel, though the independence a rental car gives cannot be underestimated here. Just be sure to check the local road conditions, as they can change rapidly even in the height of summer. Should you not want to drive, don’t stop planning a trip to Iceland just yet. There are still plenty of ways to see the top Iceland attractions, with tours picking up from hotels and buses connecting urban centres.

The Icelandic capital’s most famous attraction is perhaps the Blue Lagoon, an open-air geothermal spa with mineral-rich waters. Closer to Keflavik International Airport than the centre of town, you might be minded to stop off here on route and wash away some of that aircraft stuffiness. If you manage to pull yourself away for long enough, Reykjavik itself has plenty to occupy the mind, with attractive streets, inspiring works of architecture, and the island’s top night spots.

A dodgy-looking circle it may be, but the Golden Circle should be right at the top of your Iceland wish list all the same. Following the route eastward from Reykjavik make your first stop Thingvellir National Park, not only the site of the Icelandic parliament from the tenth to the eighteenth centuries but also one of the few places in the world where it’s possible to see two tectonic plates pulling apart.

Continue on to the Geysir Hot Springs area to capture exactly that – geysers and hot springs, including Iceland’s largest, Strokkur, which fires superheated water 30 metres into the air every few minutes. From there, follow the road on to Gullfoss, the ‘golden waterfall’, created by a sudden drop in the Hvita River, before returning to your base in Reykjavik via Selfoss and the lower half of the ‘circle’.

The single road route from Vik to Jokulsarlon, part of the island’s Ring Road (Route 1), would take just under two and a half hours to complete – were it not for the long list of attractions along the way. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon should not be missed, with its stunning panoramas where a butter-wouldn’t-melt river has cut through the landscape over thousands of years. Continuing along Route 1 there are plenty of signposts leading to tempting diversions – be that Vatnajökull National Park for the Svartifoss (‘black falls’), or the roadside viewpoint facing Svínafellsjökull Glacier. Your further progress to Jokulsarlon will likely be delayed by Jokulsarlon Lagoon, the deepest, and possibly the most attractive, in the country, and Diamond Beach, so named for the twinkling of gem-like bergs against the black sands.

Travelling back along Route 1 in the opposite direction takes nothing away from these elegant coastal vistas. Break your journey back to the capital as often as you like, catching up on scenes and stopping off in villages you missed the first time around.