After spending two weeks exploring the island by camper van, I’ve consolidated my trip down into the perfect Winter Iceland 7 day itinerary!
This itinerary will focus on exploring Iceland’s Southern Coast. To be frank, I think you could spend months exploring Iceland, but I’ll do my best to consolidate all of my favorites down into a bite size seven day trip.
For my journey, I picked up a camper van from Go Campers which is situated near Keflavik International Airport, which you should be starting from.
The heating unit in my van kept it warm each night, so you shouldn’t have any reservations about going this route for your trip. In fact, I think a camper van is the absolute best way to experience winter Iceland.
If you’d prefer to go a more traditional route, you can browse great deals on Iceland hotels here.
The biggest downside to booking hotels is that you’ll need to move around a lot, so you’ll need to pack up and move locations each night to get around.
Hotels will usually cost you more as well, since you’ll need to book a rental vehicle in addition to your room.
Disclaimer: this website uses affiliate links which may allow me to earn a commission when used at no additional cost to you.
The route below covers all of the big highlights along Iceland’s Southern Coast.
I recommend this route for a winter trip because the roads in the region tend to be the clearest, the weather a bit better than the north and because you can thoroughly enjoy almost every sight here just as you would during other seasons.
While preparing for your trip, don’t forget to check out my complete Winter Iceland packing list.
This itinerary will set you up nicely for a future summer trip to Iceland where you can focus your time in the north or highland regions.
7 Day Winter Iceland Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Iceland
Most international travelers will arrive at Keflavik Airport in the very early morning hours which means you'll have a full day of exploring ahead of you!
I rented a camper van from Go Campers and their rental facility is near the airport. They'll have a shuttle you can pre arrange or you can take a short taxi over to their lot. You'll have similar options if you book with someone else.
If you do rent a vehicle from near the airport, then consider making Gardur Lighthouse your first stop.
I wouldn't consider this a must see spot, but it was super close to my camper pickup, and I was really eager to see the ocean upon landing so this is a quick way to accomplish that.
From there work your way over to the iconic Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
This is a great way to unwind after your long flight, and given its location makes for an easy stop on your drive towards Reykjavik.
Just make sure to reserve your entry time well in advance, because the Blue Lagoon is notorious for selling out.
For this itinerary we'll skip over Reykjavik for now (we'll get there later), but you might want to swing by the Costco near town to stock up on supplies. Otherwise I suggest shopping at the grocery chain called Bonus.
Whatever you do, avoid the grocery store chain named Iceland. Their supplies are so overpriced, that a cashier at one even told me not to shop there!
Next, set your sights on driving to Thingvellir National Park. I'd suggest parking at either the Oxararfoss Parking P2 car park or the Thingvellir National Park Visitor Center.
From either end, you can take a stroll through the Logberg volcanic rock formation and through a really scenic valley with great view points.
Try your luck viewing Oxararfoss waterfall as well, but during my trip this was the only waterfall that was so frozen over you couldn't see it! But don't worry, if that's the case, all of the other main ones should be viewable.
Once you've had your fill of Thingvellir, head over to the National Park camp site where you can park your camper van overnight. This will set us up nicely for snorkeling in Silfra tomorrow morning.
If you aren't planning to rent a camper, then find a hotel in the area that suits your budget.
You can browse deals on hotels in Iceland here.
Day 2: Silfra & The Golden Circle
We'll start off our second day in Iceland with a snorkeling adventure in the Silfra pond.
Set between the continental divide, Silfra is known for having some of the clearest water on earth.
You'll need to book with a licensed activity provider to access Silfra and you can find a list of those providers here.
Your guide will outfit you with a dry suit, fins and mask to ensure you stay dry and warm during the activity. I used Adventure Vikings during my visit and had a great experience.
While it might seem crazy to do this during the winter, the water temperature here is always extremely cold so it doesn't actually make much of a difference when you go.
I think the snow covered landscapes make this activity a lot more fun during the winter!
Be sure to check out my dedicated guide to snorkeling at Silfra if you're interested in learning more about what to expect.
Once you're wrapped up at Silfra, say your goodbyes to Thingvellir National Park and make your way to Bruarfoss Waterfall.
This was my favorite waterfall that we'll visit on this itinerary. The vibrant blue water contrasts beautifully against the jet black stone and white snow that covers the area.
There's a car park situated near the main viewing bridge, so getting down to the waterfall shouldn't take very long.
While there is a slightly longer trailhead in the area that goes for a few miles and tracks the stream, it's likely to be snow covered when you visit and for the sake of time I'd suggest skipping this option.
After taking in views of Bruarfoss, we'll make our way into the heart of the Golden Circle and visit Strokkur (aka the Geysir area).
Be warned, this stop and the next are likely to be extremely busy even during the winter.
Golden Circle tours from Reykjavik will drop off bus loads of visitors to view Strokkur erupt.
You can find parking across the street, and the geyser is just a few minutes walking from there.
During my visit Strokkur was erupting every 5 minutes or so which means I didn't have to wait long for an amazing eruption.
There's a little bit more geothermal activity in this area, but the main event here is Strokkur so once you've seen it erupt a few times make your way back to your vehicle.
From here we'll drive a few minutes up the road to Gullfoss Waterfall. This is another popular Golden Circle tour location so expect crowds.
There's a short path leading down to the main viewing platform which overlooks the waterfall. It's likely to be at least partially frozen over during your visit but its power is impressive nonetheless!
After enjoying the waterfall views we'll head south towards Kerid Crater.
Kerid Crater is known for its vibrant colors and volcanic crater lake that resides in its basin.
During my trip in February, the snow here had already partially melted which revealed some of the vibrant colors that make this such a popular spot.
I have read elsewhere that it's a bit unimpressive if there's still a lot of snow here. But if the conditions are just right, I think you'll have an experience better than in the summer as the snow adds an extra dimension to its beauty.
You can walk down to the water, or along some of the ridges that take you high above the volcanic crater lake and provide sweeping views of the surrounding area.
If you're doing good on time and want to hit a hot spring today, be sure to check out Secret Lagoon. It's usually a bit less crowded than the Blue Lagoon, but you'll still want to reserve a ticket in advance if possible.
Tonight you'll want to park your camper in the town of Selfoss, there's a camp site here that I stayed at a few times during my visit which I really liked.
If you're not renting a camper, you can browse deals on hotels in Selfoss here.
Day 3: Iceland's South Coast
We're going to start off day three with one of my favorite Winter Iceland adventures by taking a hike out to the Reykjadalur hot spring river!
This roundtrip hike is going to be around 4 miles total (6.4 km) so make sure you've brought a good pair of snow boots.
You'll need to bring a swimsuit and a towel with you out to the hot spring. And as a heads up, the changing facilities here are pretty basic. You'll almost be changing out in the open so this might not be a great activity for you if you're not comfortable with that.
When you make it to the swimming area, you'll find some small dividers that provide minimal cover for changing and stairs that lead down into the stream.
The wooden stairs and platforms were pretty slick when I visited, so be extra careful.
The stream felt like warm bath water and despite the frigid temperatures and surrounding snow, I felt perfectly warm and comfortable soaking in the hot spring stream.
Once you're properly relaxed, make your back down to the car park and consider grabbing a hot coffee at Reykjadalur Cafe near the exit.
Our next stop for today will be the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.
This waterfall is one of the most recognizable and photographed in all of Iceland. Part of its popularity derives from being able to walk behind it (during the summer).
While it won't be a great time to approach this waterfall, don't worry, there's another one in the area.
Don't miss out on the nearby Secret Waterfall! If you continue walking from Seljalandsfoss another 10-15 minutes, you'll stumble upon a stream that leads into a cave.
Known as Gljufrabui (which is impossible to pronounce), you'll need to walk upstream a little bit to access the waterfall.
Your feet will get wet, and the mist from the waterfall will quickly soak whatever you're wearing. Either wear waterproof gear, or make this a quick pit stop.
If you do enter the Secret Waterfall cave, you'll be rewarded with an up close and intimate experience with Gljufrabui. Make sure you get a photo climbing up on the rock!
Once you're finished up here, it's time to knock out some driving.
Make the 2.5 hour drive east, beyond the town of Vik, all the way to the Skaftafell campsite.
If you're hungry, consider stopping in Vik for some Black Crust Pizza. Their pizza was delicious, and they have local Icelandic beers available as well. You'll have another opportunity to experience Vik on the return drive, so don't worry about skipping over Reynisfjara Beach for now!
After a quick pizza stop in Vik, finish your drive to Skaftafell and get a good nights rest.
Day 4: Vatnajokull Glacier
Next up we have one of my favorite Winter Iceland activities, and that is to venture into the blue ice caves of Vatnajokull Glacier!
You'll have a one hour drive from Skaftafell to Jokulsarlon Lagoon where this activity departs from. I used Local Guide of Vatnajokull for my experience, but you can also browse other glacier activities here.
Many providers will have shorter and longer ice cave experiences. I recommend booking the longer one since you'll visit more caves, and get further onto the glacier.
Be sure to arrive with good gear, these tours typically operate rain or shine. During my ice cave tour we had a lot of wind and icy conditions, but it didn't take away from the experience since I dressed plenty warm.
Guides will provide safety harnesses, crampons, helmets and transportation to the caves.
Once you're done on the glacier, be sure to spend some time exploring Jokulsarlon Lagoon.
This was one of the most beautiful places I encountered during my visit. It's really incredible to watch the massive icebergs floating through the bay.
After taking in views from Jokulsarlon Lagoon, you'll want to walk across the main road where you'll find Diamond Beach.
Diamond Beach is notorious for its black sand and because chunks of the ice from Jokulsarlon Lagoon eventually wash up on the shores here.
Once you've had your fill of icebergs, make your way back to your vehicle.
Our final destination for tonight will be the Vestrahorn Campsite. If you're doing good on time you could even consider stopping for dinner in Hofn and to explore town beforehand.
If you have time tonight, consider making your way down to the Stokksnes Lighthouse.
The lighthouse itself isn't that impressive, but the ocean views are. During my stop here, there were massive waves crashing into the cliffs below which made the pit stop worthwhile.
If there's still some daylight, you could explore the nearby Viking Village or take in your first views of Vestrahorn, but we'll have more time for this in the morning.
Day 5: Vestrahorn Views
If you didn't have time or daylight last night, start your morning by taking in views of Vestrahorn from the surrounding area.
You can even venture out to the Viking Village if you'd like, which was used as a movie set and sits at the base of the mountain.
This is one of the most photogenic spots in Iceland. Despite that, I still feel like photos have a difficult time doing the magnitude of this place justice. It's just something that you have to see with your own eyes!
Our next stop today will take us east to Eystrahorn Mountain which resides in the Hvalnes Nature Reserve.
Here you'll find a lighthouse, cliff views that overlook the ocean, the uber prominent Eystrahorn and access to an insane black sand beach.
This was my favorite view point from the entire trip. Walking out along the black sand beach I found that I had the entire place to myself and this place felt like something out of a fairy tale.
Be sure to take the time to walk out on the beach during your visit to Hvalnes!
Conditions were extremely windy the morning that I visited, but I stuck around long enough to get my drone out and capture this photo which did a great job of capturing the moment.
After you're done on the beach, our next stop will be the furthest east we'll travel on this trip, out to Fauskasandur Beach and the Stapavik viewpoint.
The drive to this viewpoint will take you along some really incredible roads that sit high above the ocean and track along a super steep stretch of mountains.
The views at the beach from the main viewpoint are incredible, but there are also some pullouts along the way you might want to stop at as well.
Make sure to stretch your legs since we'll have a bit of driving ahead of us from here, as we'll need to start working back west.
Next we'll work back to the Skaftafell campsite which is a 2.5 hour drive from our current location.
The goal will be to make it here before sunset, since we'll be doing the short hike out to Skaftafell Glacier before wrapping up our day.
The hike out to Skaftafell is short, flat and easy. It's around 1 mile (1.6 km) each way and shouldn't take you too long to reach epic glacier views like this.
It should make for the perfect sunset wind down activity!
Day 6: Black Sand Beaches, Waterfalls & More!
Make sure you get an early start today because we've got a lot to see before wrapping up our time along Iceland's South Coast!
Start your morning with a hike from the Skaftafell parking lot, out to the Svartifoss Waterfall.
This short hike is about 2 miles long (3.2 km) and will take you up close with the basalt columns and icy daggers that frame the waterfall itself.
You'll also pass Hundafoss Waterfall on your way out, and a viewing area that sits high above Svartifoss itself.
Once you've wrapped up here, hop back in your vehicle and continue west for a pit stop at Fjadrargljufur Canyon.
Admittedly it was so cold and the windiest it had been during my entire trip when I made this stop so I ended up not spending much time here.
I arrived late in the afternoon when the entire canyon was cast in shadow, so it didn't make for great photography conditions.
I do suspect this area is a little bit more worthwhile in the summer, when it's covered in green moss and lit by the Midnight Sun. If you end up tight on time or weather conditions aren't great, you might consider saving this area for a future trip to Iceland.
Once you're done at Fjadrargljufur Canyon keep working West and make a pit stop in the town of Vik.
If you didn't have time for Black Crust Pizza on your initial pass through Vik, make sure to grab some now!
After fueling up on pizza in town, make your way to the nearby Reynisfjara Beach.
This is one of the most popular black sand beaches in all of Iceland, just be extra careful near the water as large sneaker waves are common here.
Be sure to walk the beach and check out Halsanefshellir Cave, which sits at the base of the large mountain here (you can't miss it).
There's a cafe near the beach as well which makes for a great spot to grab a coffee before venturing on to our next stop.
Minutes up the road you'll find the Dyrholaey Cliffs and viewpoint.
The views from Dyrholaey are insane, as you'll overlook miles of black sand beaches that stretch until they disappear into the horizon.
There's a lighthouse and some walking paths that lead you back towards an overlook of Reynisfjara Beach, along with some interesting rock formations shooting up from the ocean.
From here we've saved the best waterfall for last! Hop back in your vehicle and continue westward to Skogafoss.
This waterfall is seriously impressive, and if the lighting conditions are just right it's not uncommon to see a massive rainbow in front of the falls!
The waterfall is a short walk from the main parking lot, so this can be a quick stop if you'd like.
Consider taking the time to march up the metal staircase next to the falls for overhead view of the area.
There's a longer trail atop Skogafoss that takes you past some other waterfalls which I trekked on for another mile or so before the terrain became impassable.
Once you've thoroughly enjoyed this area it's time to get back on the road.
If you're good on time, consider checking out Kvernufoss Waterfall, which is just a few minutes driving from Skogafoss. This can be another quick stop, and if you're in the mood to get wet, you can even walk behind this one!
Your next objective today is to decide how much driving you want to do before calling it a day.
Our goal tomorrow is to be in Reykjavik, but it's a two hour drive from our current location.
You can either buckle down and get there tonight, or split the drive in half and spend the night back in Selfoss.
Day 7: Best of Reykjavik
I like saving Reykjavik for the end of our trip, since it will be a nice opportunity to acclimate back to civilization after spending a week living out of your camper and exploring remote areas of Iceland.
My recommendation would be to fill your day with two primary activities. But if you prefer to spend more time wandering around town, you could forgo one of them, or stay an extra night here.
I'd suggest starting your day with a whale watching safari.
I did this activity with Sea Trips Reykjavik and had a great time, but there are a number of other operators if you want to compare options.
The humpback whales were particularly active when I visited in February, and if you're lucky you might see some other whale species as well.
A nice thing about whale watching in Reykjavik is the whales tend to hang out a short distance from town, so you'll get into the whale action rather quickly.
You can read all about my Reykjavik whale watching experience here in a dedicated post.
After spending your morning on the water, I'd suggest booking a Reykjavik walking food tour to round out your afternoon.
I had a great time with a company called Your Friend in Reykjavik and you can learn more about what to expect at this post covering my Reykjavik walking food tour experience.
This is the perfect way to try a variety of local foods like the Icelandic hot dog and fermented shark.
During your tour the guide will provide insights into their life in Iceland while you explore Reykjavik on foot.
After your food tour, daylight hours will likely be running out. This would be a great time to explore town on foot, perhaps popping over to the Hallgrimskirkja Church for a quick view.
If you decide to spend an extra day in the area, you could also consider joining a volcano hike with a geologist.
They'll take you to some prior volcano fields and you'll get to learn all about what makes Iceland's landscapes so unique. Just a heads up, it's unlikely you'll actually see flowing lava on these tours.
You can either spend the night in Reykjavik (at the campsite if you have a camper) or make your way towards the airport.
During my visit I spent two weeks along the South Coast of Iceland, so I elected to spend my last evening at a Marriott hotel near the airport. This allowed me to return my van, enjoy a real bed and a hot shower before hopping on my long international flight back home the next morning.
Check out my group tour to Iceland!
Interested in joining me in Iceland?
Check out my 8-10 day Iceland Ring Road Tour.
This trip takes place during the summer which allows us to experience Iceland's Midnight Sun and tons of daylight while we set out to cover the entirety of Ring Road.
If you've always wanted to visit Iceland, but aren't comfortable spending the time to research and plan it yourself, let me take care of the dirty work for you!
Not only that, but you'll have a great guide (that's me!) to help ensure everything goes smoothly.
I've custom curated the itinerary to make sure we hit all of the best stuff, all you've got to do is show up and enjoy!
You can read more about my Iceland Group Tour at the link.
Watch the video version of this guide on YouTube
Check out my camper van setup on YouTube
Browse for more activities to do while visiting Iceland
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to round out your trip, check out some of the activities below!
Additional Travel Planning Resources
My Favorite Cheap Flight Hacks
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My current trip offerings are outlined below. If you're interested in joining me on a future adventure, you can submit your interest for group travel here.
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Tips for visiting Iceland during the winter
While this post focuses on a 7 day itinerary, I’ve also compiled a ton of useful information on what to expect when visiting Iceland during the winter.
It will cover everything I wish I knew before my trip. I’ll even highlight the different apps that you need to download before visiting to ensure a safe time exploring the land of fire and ice!
Iceland is growing in popularity as a winter travel destination and after spending two weeks there myself, I can easily see why.
Hopefully this 7 day winter Iceland itinerary comes in handy for you while planning your trip!
