Iceland
The Iceland we loved most was the Iceland that required going a little farther.
Go farther than the checklist
We loved Iceland most when we got beyond the busiest stops: driving the Ring Road in a tiny campervan, hiking past Skógafoss instead of turning around, soaking in a thermal river we had to hike to, and taking slow roads through the East Fjords. The Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon are famous for a reason—but they were not our favorite Iceland experiences.
Iceland Ring Road by Campervan
Our flexible road trip: campsites, fuel, food, remote driving and the stops we would make again.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Our pick over the Golden Circle if you only have one extra sightseeing day.
Fimmvörðuháls: Skógafoss to Þórsmörk
Waterfalls, snow, young lava and a green mountain oasis in one huge hiking day.
Reykjadalur Thermal River
Our favorite geothermal experience in Iceland—and it was the one we hiked to.
Glymur Waterfall Hike
A fun, adventurous Reykjavík day trip with a log-and-wire river crossing.
Iceland Hot Springs Ranked
Reykjadalur vs. Hvammsvík vs. Blue Lagoon after trying all three.
Lake Mývatn Volcanic Stops
Hverfjall, Dimmuborgir, Grjótagjá and Hverir in one compact area.
Dettifoss + Selfoss
Do not stop at one waterfall—walk to both.
Stuðlagil Canyon
An ordinary trail with an extraordinary basalt-column payoff.
Jökulsárlón + Diamond Beach
Icebergs, black sand and one of the Ring Road’s most memorable contrasts.
Skaftafell Hiking
A full-day glacier-view adventure—and why we would choose S3 over S4.
Golden Circle vs. Snæfellsnes
Our hot take: with one free sightseeing day, we would choose Snæfellsnes.
Best Ring Road Stops
Our firsthand priorities around the loop—from Mývatn and the East Fjords to Jökulsárlón, plus the stop we would skip completely.