Beyond the OverlookIceland
The Iceland we loved most was the Iceland that required going a little farther.
Firsthand guide · Last reviewed August 2026 · How we review our guides
How we would plan Iceland again
For a longer trip, we would choose the Ring Road over building the entire vacation around Reykjavík day trips. The campervan gave us flexibility to choose campgrounds as we went, and some of our favorite experiences came from the less-famous stretches: the East Fjords, Stuðlagil, Dettifoss and Selfoss, Mývatn, Jökulsárlón and the hiking around Skaftafell.
Our biggest priorities
For hiking: Fimmvörðuháls was the huge adventure day, while Reykjadalur combined a manageable hike with our favorite geothermal experience. At Skaftafell, we would choose the S3 route rather than adding the sketchier S4/Kristínartindar extension we did.
For the Ring Road: Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach are one stop in our minds and a must-do. We explored the lagoon and beach rather than taking a boat because we were pressed for time, although the boat tours looked appealing.
If you only have one extra sightseeing day from Reykjavík
We would choose Snæfellsnes over the Golden Circle. The Golden Circle is easier and iconic, but Snæfellsnes felt wilder and more varied to us.
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.
Plan the road trip
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.
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.
Choose your hiking days
Fimmvörðuháls: Skógafoss to Þórsmörk
Waterfalls, snow, young lava and a green mountain oasis in one huge hiking day.
Glymur Waterfall Hike
A fun, adventurous Reykjavík day trip with a log-and-wire river crossing.
Stuðlagil Canyon
An ordinary trail with an extraordinary basalt-column payoff.
Skaftafell Hiking
A full-day glacier-view adventure - and why we would choose S3 over S4.
Choose a geothermal experience
Reykjadalur Thermal River
Our favorite geothermal experience in Iceland - and it was the one we hiked to.
Iceland Hot Springs Ranked
Add the landscape stops
Our Iceland hot-spring hierarchy
For us, Reykjadalur was the best geothermal experience overall because hiking into the valley made the soak feel like part of the adventure. If we wanted a formal spa, we would choose Hvammsvík. Blue Lagoon was the most famous and photogenic, but it felt more crowded and pool-like to us.
See our full Iceland hot springs comparison →