5 Days in Iceland in Winter: The Perfect Road Trip Itinerary (2026)

Before you go

• Rent the right car. A 4×4 is strongly recommended for this route in winter. 👉 4x4 car rental · read our winter car rental guide
• Check the roads every morning: Road Conditions and Weather Warnings. Storms can close the South Coast road for hours or longer, so keep the plan flexible.
• Plan around daylight. In December you get about 4–5 hours of daylight. Drive in the dark only on easy stretches, and check our Light Calendar.
• Book the ice cave and glacier hike early. They sell out from December to February.
• Short on time or nervous about driving? Book a multi-day guided tour instead: 👉 5-day winter tours / packages

Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavík

• Pick up your car at Keflavík Airport, or take the airport bus.
• Blue Lagoon on the way (20 min from the airport): 👉 Blue Lagoon tickets
• Afternoon: Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, Harpa, and the harbour.
• Evening: northern lights tour from Reykjavík, or just check the forecast and drive out yourself. 👉 Northern lights tours · Aurora Forecast

🛏️ Stay: Reykjavík → Hotels in Reykjavík

Day 2: The Golden Circle, then south

• Þingvellir National Park (~45 min from Reykjavík): the rift between the continents.
• Geysir and Strokkur (~1 h): eruptions every few minutes.
• Gullfoss (~10 min): the giant waterfall.
• Optional: Kerið crater, the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir, or lunch at the Friðheimar tomato greenhouse (book ahead).
• Drive south to the Hella/Hvolsvöllur area (~1 h).

Why sleep here? You start tomorrow close to the waterfalls, and the countryside is dark enough for the northern lights.

👉 Golden Circle details: Golden Circle: Tour or Self-Drive? 🛏️ Stay: Hella / Hvolsvöllur → Hotels in South Iceland

Day 3: Waterfalls, glacier hike and Vík

• Seljalandsfoss (~20 min): the path behind it is often closed or icy in winter.
• Skógafoss (~30 min).
• Sólheimajökull glacier hike (~10 min): book a guided walk. Never go onto the ice alone. 👉 Sólheimajökull glacier hike 👉 Compare glacier hikes: Best Glacier Hikes in Iceland
• Dyrhólaey viewpoint (road may close in bad weather).
• Reynisfjara black sand beach: ⚠️ sneaker waves are deadly. Stay far from the water.
• Vík village.

🛏️ Stay: Vík → Hotels in Vík

Day 4: Skaftafell and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

The longest scenic day. Leave Vík before sunrise.

• Drive east across the Eldhraun lava field (moss-covered lava).
• Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon: a short stop, if the path is open.
• Skaftafell (~2 h from Vík): a short walk to see the outlet glaciers, or a glacier hike here instead of on day 3. 👉 Skaftafell glacier hikes
• Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (~50 min from Skaftafell): icebergs floating in the lagoon.
• Ice cave tour (about November–March): most tours meet near Jökulsárlón. It's one of the most memorable things you can do in Iceland in winter. 👉 Vatnajökull ice cave tours

🛏️ Stay: near Jökulsárlón (Hof, Hali) or Höfn → Hotels near Jökulsárlón

Day 5: Diamond Beach and back to Reykjavík

• Diamond Beach at sunrise: ice chunks on black sand, right next to Jökulsárlón.
• Fjallsárlón: a smaller, quieter glacier lagoon (~10 min).
• Long drive back: about 370 km and 5 hours to Reykjavík without stops. Break it up in Vík or Selfoss.

Flying out early on day 6? Sleep in Reykjavík or near the airport tonight.

Alternative: no glacier lagoon (less driving)

If the weather is bad or you'd rather drive less, swap days 4–5 for:

• Day 4: Vík → back west via Selfoss, with an evening hot spring.
• Day 5: Reykjanes Peninsula (lava fields and geothermal areas) + Blue Lagoon before your flight.

Or swap the South Coast for the Snæfellsnes peninsula (Kirkjufell, black churches, Snæfellsjökull): about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík.

What does a 5-day winter trip cost?

A rough mid-range estimate for two people with a rental car, excluding flights:

• Car rental (SUV/4×4) + road fee: ~50,000–80,000 ISK
• Fuel (~950 km): ~15,000–20,000 ISK
• Accommodation (4 nights): ~80,000–120,000 ISK
• Food (mixed): ~70,000–90,000 ISK
• Activities (glacier hike, ice cave, lagoon, northern lights): ~120,000–160,000 ISK
• Parking: ~5,000–8,000 ISK

Total: roughly 350,000–500,000 ISK for two (about $2,800–4,000). Get your own estimate with our Cost Calculator.

My local tips

• Fill up the tank when you can. East of Vík, gas stations are farther apart. See our Gas Stations map.
• Don't stop on the road for photos. Use parking areas. It's one of the most common causes of accidents in Iceland.
• Expect one bad-weather day. Have a plan B: museums in Vík or Hvolsvöllur, or a hot pool.

Book your 5-day winter trip

1. 🚗 Car: 4x4 rental
2. 🧊 Glacier hike: Sólheimajökull glacier hike
3. 💎 Ice cave: Vatnajökull ice cave tours
4. 🌌 Northern lights: Northern lights tours
5. 🛏️ Hotels: Hotels in South Iceland

Rather not drive? 👉 5-day guided winter tours

Want a plan for your exact dates? Try our free Trip Planner.