The Best Places to Stop on Iceland’s Ring Road

Known as Route 1, Iceland’s Ring Road is one of the best ways to discover the land of fire and ice. The 2-lane road encircles the entire country and showcases dozens of its natural wonders. Stretching for 1,332 km (828 miles), you should spend 1-2 weeks road tripping around the Ring Road. If you attempt to rush this breathtaking route, you’re sure to miss many of Iceland’s unbelievable scenic beauty.

Since nearly all of the Ring Road is paved, it’s possible to road trip around Iceland throughout the year. But it’s recommended to stick with summer since driving conditions are better, and you can travel beneath the midnight sun. With waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and enormous glaciers awaiting you, deciding where to stop takes a serious game plan. Here are 10 of the most beautiful sights on Iceland’s Ring Road to help organize your itinerary.

1. Seljalandsfoss

About 2 hours from Reykjavik, Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most popular natural wonders. The 60-meter waterfall plunges off a rocky wall and can be spotted while driving the Ring Road. You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss during the summer months and feel the mist crashing against your face. If you venture into the canyon, the hidden Gljúfrabúi waterfall cascades into a small pool between rocky walls.

2. Skógafoss

Continue chasing waterfalls and encounter the mighty Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls with a height of 60 meters and a width of 25 meters. The powerful cascade is easily visible from the Ring Road and ranks among the most visited attractions on Iceland’s South Coast. When you approach Skógafoss, you can feel its sheer force from its misty spray.

The waterfall plummets into the Skógá River, and the peaceful river attracts fishermen searching for char and salmon during summer. Whenever the sun is out, a beautiful rainbow shines over Skógafoss for an unbelievable panorama. For an alternate view, climb the staircase to admire the waterfall from above as it plunges over the rocky cliff.

3. Reynisfjara Black-Sand Beach

Located near the quaint fishing village of Vik, Reynisfjara is another beautiful attraction on the South Coast. Backed by impressive basalt columns, its glossy black shores are a nature photographer’s paradise. You’ll find black pebbles strewn across the beach and an enchanting rock cave for shelter. Just offshore, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks tower high above the water’s surface.

While visiting Reynisfjara, always be on high alert for dangerous sneaker waves that push incredibly far up the shoreline. Maintain a safe distance from the crashing waves to avoid being swept away by ferocious rip currents.

4. Dyrhólaey

The southernmost part of mainland Iceland, the Dyrhólaey Peninsula juts into the Atlantic Ocean and offers remarkable seaside views. Its enormous rock arch forms a 120-meter high bridge that you can walk across for dramatic vistas of black-sand beaches, rugged sea stacks, and a beautiful lighthouse.

Dyrhólaey is one of the best Ring Road attractions for birdlife, and you’ll spot numerous species along the promontory. Atlantic puffins are the main highlight, but thousands of birds nest here during summer.

5. Jökulsárlón

Nestled beside Vatnajökull National Park, Jökulsárlón dazzles visitors with its deep-blue waters and floating ice chunks. Large icebergs break off the nearby glacier and float in the lagoon to create a magical setting. Snow-capped peaks form the backdrop, and you’ll often spot seals lounging on the blocks of ice. If you’re feeling adventurous, embark on a boat tour across the lagoon for up-close glimpses of the icebergs.

6. Diamond Beach

Just beside the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach might be the magical black-sand beach in Iceland. Icebergs you watched floating in the lagoon find their way onto the black-sand shores and dot the coastline. The ice chunks sparkle like diamonds and form a photographer’s nirvana along the strip of volcanic sand.

7. Vestrahorn

Standing at 889 meters, Vestrahorn is one of East Iceland’s most popular natural wonders. The rugged peak juts from the landscape and creates an epic vista above the shoreline. Nature photographers adore Vestrahorn due to the breathtaking shots of the mountain glistening on the water. Purple lupines dot the landscape around Vestrahorn, and it’s a magical location to explore during the midnight sun.

8. Lake Myvatn

Situated in North Iceland, the volcanic Lake Myvatn is a hotspot of geothermal activity and biodiversity. The heated waters around Myvatn provide the chance to soak in the soothing Mývatn Nature Baths and ease your muscles. Its surrounding wetlands and lush vegetation nurture a thriving population of insects and birdlife. Located in the Lake Myvatn area, Ásbyrgi is a wide glacial canyon with a dense forest beneath its sheer walls.

9. Dettifoss

Although it’s a slight detour off the Ring Road, Dettifoss is a must-see sight while driving around Iceland. Dettifoss is Europe’s most powerful waterfall and standing beside the cascade sends a shiver down your spine. Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, feeds the waterfall and enables it to have an astronomical average flow rate of 193 m³/s.

Dettifoss plunges into the 100-meter wide Jökulsárgljúfur canyon and roars as the water crashes below. When you’re close enough to feel its rumble, it’s a moment you’ll never forget.

10. Godafoss

While Godafoss doesn’t have the thunderous power of other Iceland waterfalls, its surreal setting makes up for it. The Skjálfandafljót River drops 12 meters into a 30-meter wide aqua-blue pool, and a rainbow stretches across the cascades beneath the sunlight.

Between the peaceful flow of the waterfall and the surrounding lush landscape, it’s among the most popular sights in North Iceland. Godafoss holds the nickname “Waterfall of the Gods” since Icelandic folklore tells the tale of Norse god statues tossed into the waterfall when Iceland adopted Christianity as its religion.