Get inspired for spending one week in Iceland in the summer with this one week itinerary – including seeing puffins, riding Icelandic horses, walking behind a waterfall, climbing volcanoes and exploring lava caves.
Updated: January 2025
Iceland is amazing, the scenery is just incredible. I spent one week in Iceland in the summer and had a great time. I went to Iceland in early July, and even though I wasn’t that lucky with the weather (it was fairly cold and a bit rainy some days), I still had the best week. There were so many great adventures. I saw puffins, rode Icelandic horses, walked behind a waterfall, climbed up a volcano, saw nesting seabirds and walked through lava caves. There were just so many amazing experiences against a backdrop of scenery that looks like you’re on another planet. Iceland in the summer is just amazing. Here’s my one week itinerary for Iceland to help you plan your trip.
Staying in Reykjavik for one week in Iceland
I stayed in Reykjavik for the whole week. And I hired a car and took day trips from Reykjavik to some amazing sights and activities. Some days involved quite a lot of driving. But it felt ok, because driving in Iceland was really easy. And it was nice not to be changing accommodation too often. A lot of Iceland itineraries focus on driving all around the ring road, which means changing your hotel every night. But, if that travel style isn’t for you, then you can see loads of Iceland and have great experiences while just staying in Reykjavik.
Another advantage of staying in Reykjavik for a whole week is that you can find cheaper accommodation in the city. And you can choose a self-catering apartment, if you want to cook some meals yourself. Iceland is quite an expensive country to visit, and eating out at restaurants every night can get very expensive. So you can stay at a self-catering apartment in Reykjavik and do long day trips to Iceland’s highlights. I thought this was a great way to see Iceland. Here’s my one week itinerary for Iceland, if you’re based in Reykjavik for one week.
Day 1: The Golden Circle
On day one of my one week in Iceland, I decided to visit one of Iceland’s most famous highlights. Iceland’s Golden Circle is a short route that covers three of Iceland’s most impressive and iconic volcanic sights. It was great, and I definitely recommend trying to do Iceland’s Golden Circle on a decent weather day for the best views.
Pingvellier National Park
I started off at Pingvellir National Park, which is about 40 minutes’ drive from Reykjavik. It was easy to drive to, with plenty of car parking spaces when you get there.
This is the part of Iceland where you can see where the European and American tectonic plates meet. The views here were great. From a high vantage point, you could get great views across the stunning scenery. I loved how green the volcanic landscape was in July.
It was fairly busy near the car park and on the main path, but if you walk a bit further it doesn’t take long to get away from most of the crowds and absorb even more wonderful views. There’s a great selection of footpaths here so you can walk a long way to explore further.
Geysir and the hot springs
Next stop on my tour of Iceland’s Golden Circle was Geysir. This is the famous hot spring area after which all geysirs are named. It was easy to drive there from Pingvellir National Park, and again there was plenty of good car parking spaces.
The walk around the hot springs area was really impressive. You could really get a sense of the volcanic activity here, and how alive Iceland is. The main Geysir reliably erupted every few minutes, giving plenty of great photo opportunities. I walked around it to get photos from different angles at each eruption. It was really impressive to see the huge jet of steam escape every few minutes.
But it’s not the easiest thing to take a photo of, as the eruption happens quite quickly! I also spent a lot of time spent with my finger poised over the camera waiting for the crucial moment and then turning away at the wrong time and almost missing it!
The other hot spring areas were great too, and I enjoyed a relaxing walk all around the area. I particularly liked this pool where you could see really far down. It felt like you could see down into the core of the earth.
Gulfoss Waterfall
The third and final stop on the Golden Circle route is Gulfoss. This is one of the most famous and most impressive waterfalls in Iceland. It’s only about a 10 minutes drive from Geysir so it’s really easy to get to.
The waterfall is huge, and so impressive with the amount of water that gushes over it every second. It’s hard to put into words just how huge this waterfall is. It’s definitely somewhere you need to see for yourself to understand the full scale. And the noise was just incredible as well.
If you can, try to visit Gulfoss on a sunny afternoon. If you’re lucky, you can see the rainbow that is created when the sun hits the water. The rainbow made an already impressive view even better.
Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula
One day two of your one week in Iceland, you can take a long drive from Reykjavik to the west. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is on the Western tip of Iceland, and has some amazing volcanic scenery and beaches.
It was a fairly long drive to get out to Snaefellnes Peninsula from Reykjavik. It took about 3 hours to get there. But the views on the way were great. And the driving was easy. You just need to follow the well-signposted ring road. The road was fairly empty in early July, so it was a really relaxing and enjoyable drive.
When you get to Snaefellsnes Peninsula, there are parking areas where you can park the car and go for a walk along the cliff tops. The walking paths weren’t as clearly marked as those around Iceland’s Golden Circle, so you’ll need to be careful with directions so you don’t get lost. And you’ll definitely need to wear good hiking boots as well as the volcanic landscape is very uneven. But I loved walking here. It felt really rugged and remote.
Seabirds and birdwatching on Snaefellsnes Peninsula
The highlight of my trip to Snaefellsnes Peninsula was seeing the nesting seabirds on the cliffs. I visited in early July and the cliffs were full of birds. It’s best to visit this area in the spring or early summer if you want to see nesting sea birds.
I loved seeing the nesting Kittwakes and fulmars on the cliffs, with their fluffy chicks. If you want to get close up photos of the birds, you’ll need a decent camera with a zoom lense.
The end of the peninsula was great too, with fascinating rock and lava formations leading down to a black beach scattered with remains of shipwrecks.
Even though it was quite a lot of driving to visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula from Reykjavik as a day trip, I really enjoyed my day. The 6 hours of driving was easy, and there was so much amazing scenery around on the drive. And the nesting seabirds and sea views on the cliffs around the peninsula were definitely worth the trip.
Day 3: Seljalandsfoss and Heimaey Island
On day 3 of your one week in Iceland, you can visit another of Iceland’s famous waterfalls, as well as take a short ferry trip to a nearby island to see puffins and climb a volcano.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Seljalandsfoss is another of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. It’s the one you can walk behind. It took around 1 hour 20 minutes to drive there from Reykjavik, and again the drive was easy and well-signposted. You can easily visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall as a day trip from Reykjavik.
When you arrive, make sure you put on a waterproof coat and trousers and walk behind it. It’s a very wet experience!
The path was slippery and rocky, but easily manageable with hiking boots. But it was very wet (understandably as it was behind/in a waterfall…) so full waterproofs are a definite necessity.
Car ferry to Heimaey Island
The car ferry to Heimaey Island leaves from Landeyjahöfn, just a short drive away from Seljalandsfoss. If you want to take the car it’s a good idea to book in advance, and I’m really glad I did take the car – the island wasn’t huge, but having the car meant I could explore the whole island and get to the more remote places…and find puffins! (more about puffins later).
The ferry took about 40 minutes, and the views going into Heimaey past the cliffs were great, with nesting guillemots.
Seeing puffins on Heimaey Island in Iceland
One of my highlights of my one week in Iceland was seeing puffins on Heimaey Iceland. I visited in early July, and was lucky to see nesting puffins on the island.
The best puffin viewing points I found are right at the end of the island, furthest from the ferry port. The puffins were flying around – I saw several in the air first. And then, as I got closer to the grassy cliffs, I could see the puffins nesting on the cliffs. It was amazing to watch them hop around and interact with each other. And I took a lot of photos. They’re just such cute, charismatic birds.
Remember to always keep your distance so you don’t disturb the puffins, and never try to feed or touch one. There were lots of other nesting seabirds here too, including more kittiwakes and fulmars, and I also saw a golden plover:
Climbing a volcano on Heimaey Island in Iceland
I finally managed to drag myself away from the puffins and drove to the volcano on Heimaey Island. This volcano erupted in 1973 and caused an emergency evacuation of the island. Today, it’s a calm volcano that you can climb to get great views.
The path up the volcano is well-marked but very steep. It probably only took 20-30 minutes to walk to the top, but it was very steep. And the stones underfoot kept sliding around, so you’d take a step up and slide back down to where you started, so it was hard going.
The climb was worth it though, the views from the top over the volcano crater and Heimaey town were amazing. I loved seeing the red rocks, where the iron in the rocks is rusting and showing the bright colours. Even on a cloudy day, the views were spectacular.
Day 4: Reykjavik
One day 4 of your itinerary for one week in Iceland, I recommend spending a day in Reykjavik. If you’re staying in Reykjavik for your one week in Iceland then you’ll have time to walk around the city a bit in the evenings after day trips. But it’s still worth spending one day out of your one week in Iceland in the capital city, Reykjavik.
Reykjavik is an easily walkable city. The most famous sight in Reykjavik is the Hallgrimskirka. This huge church is really impressive. It has a typical Scandinavian interior, of clean lines and vast space. Don’t expect the church here to look anything like the churches and Cathedrals in Italy or Catholic countries in Europe – the style here is very different. But it’s beautiful in its own way.
Reykjavik also has a great area by the waterfront. It’s nice to walk along the waterfront, and there’s a good selection of bars and restaurants here.
I don’t know if it was just because I was tired, or because it was a fairly cold rainy day, but I didn’t love Reykjavik. I’m glad I saw it, but it didn’t even come close to the amazing scenery I’d been seeing the last few days. But I’m keen to go back sometime to give it another chance – I’ve heard a lot of people really like Reykjavik, so I’d like to visit again and see if I like it more.
Day 5: Lava caves and Reykjadalur hot springs
One day five on my itinerary for one week in Iceland, I was glad to get back to exploring Iceland’s amazing volcanic scenery.
Lava caves near Reykjavik
I booked a trip to go underground and visit the lava caves at Raufarhólshellir. The only way you can see the lava caves here is in one of their tour groups. The weather on my trip today was really rainy and windy, so it was good to do an underground activity to get out of the wind and rain.
In the rainy carpark we were given helmets with a headtorch, then led down the cave in the tour group, deeper into the tunnel, away from all light.
The caves were well lit, and the path was easy to walk on. The tour guide explained the formation of these ‘lava tubes’ and the different layers and types of rock. It didn’t feel too cold down there, but that might have just been because it was nice to be out of the wind and rain outside (summer in Iceland didn’t always feel very summery…).
At the furthest point in the caves, our tour guide asked everyone to turn off their helmet lights and turned off the lights in the cave, so we could experience how dark and silent it really is. The whole tour took about an hour and was really interesting and well worth doing.
Hot springs near Reykjavik
That afternoon I went to another set of hot springs nearby at Reykjadalur. These hot springs are much less famous than the hot springs around Geysir in Iceland’s Golden Circle. But they’re still really impressive, and a lot less crowded which is nice.
The steam rose from the rocks all around, mud puddles bubbled, and rocks were stained yellow with the sulphur. The whole area just felt alive.
The only downside of this area of hot springs was that it was smelly…very smelly…really really bad…The sulphur in the rocks smelt of rotten eggs, and in some areas it was really strong. I enjoyed seeing the volcanic landscape, but it took me a long time to being to forget the smell.
Day 6: Riding Icelandic horses
My day of riding Iceland horses in Iceland was another highlight of my trip.
A short drive out of Reykjavik is the horse riding centre, Islenski Heistrum. I’d researched various places and this place seemed to have really good reviews, and I’d definitely recommend it. The horses looked well cared for, and they took a lot of care to match you with a horse that suited your level of experience.
The kind, experienced staff talked through the history of the Icelandic horse and the basics of how to ride for about 40 minutes. It was nice to get this introduction and learn more about the horses. Then, everyone in the group got matched with a horse. Mine was called Snot, pronounced Shnort!
Then we were off riding the Icelandic horses. The horses are small and full of character. We started off walking, with all the horses following the leader. There were other members of staff riding with us as well, and keeping an eye on the whole group. It was amazing to see the volcanic landscape from the horses.
After a while of walking, we then all started ‘tolting’, which is somewhere between a walk and a trot. This movement is specific to the Icelandic horses. We were told it was smooth, but it definitely wasn’t as smooth as they implied…and my bruises the next day confirmed that…I was definitely only wanting to sit on soft surfaces that evening…
Despite the bruises and aching limbs, I loved riding the Icelandic horses. You don’t need any horse riding experience for this activity. You just need a love of horses. I loved spending time with the horses after riding them as well. It was a great activity.
Day 7: The Blue Lagoon
On the final day of my one week in Iceland, I visited Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. This is one of the most famous and popular sights in Iceland. It’s close to Reykjavik, so it’s just a sort drive to get there. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Blue Lagoon, but I really enjoyed it. I felt it deserved its place as one of Iceland’s most popular activities. And it was a nice thing to do one my final day in Iceland, when my muscles were still recovering from my day of riding Icelandic horses.
The changing rooms were clean and spacious, and there were plenty of lockers to put your things.
The water was warm and it was a lovely place for a relaxing hour or two. It felt really luxurious to be bathing in the warm water, with the black volcanic rock all around. The Blue Lagoon isn’t very deep – you can stand up in the water. But it’s deep enough to have a bit of a swim if you want.
There’s an area where they give you a free mud face mask. The volcanic mud in this area is meant to be full of minerals and really good for your skin. So there’s an area where you can try the mud, and smear it over your face and skin. You can then wash it off in the water of the Blue Lagoon. I’m never a fan of mud face masks, but I still did it and it’s a fun thing to do.
If you want, you can spend all day at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. You can book additional spa treatments, that all use the mineral-rich natural treatments. Or, if you’re not a spa-type of person, you can just spend a few hours there.
I don’t think I’d want to stay there all day at the Blue Lagoon like some reviews were implying. By the time you’ve swum around a bit (or walked as I’m not sure the water ever got deep enough to be completely out of your depth), played around with the free mud face mask they give you, and swum around a bit more, there’s a limit to any more you can do. But still a lovely way to spend the final afternoon of your one week Iceland.
One week in Iceland – final thoughts and future trips
I really loved my one week in Iceland. It was full of amazing scenery, and I feel like I saw and did a lot. I thought it worked well staying in Reykjavik. It was nice having a ‘home’ base for the week, and nice to be able to cook some meals and save money. The driving in Iceland was easy, so it’s definitely worth hiring a car and doing long day trips.
I visited Iceland in the summer, which was a great time of year for exploring. Everything was green, and it was a great time for bird watching and seeing puffins. If you’re thinking of visiting Iceland in the summer, check out my top tips and answers to all your questions about Iceland in the summer.
The only thing missing from my trip was another good weather day to do a whale watching trip. You can do whale watching boat trips from Reykjavik, which I’d have loved to do. However, whale watching is even better in the North of Iceland. So I’ll just have to plan another trip back to Iceland, where I can drive around the ring road and stop in the North to go whale watching. And also I want to visit the Vatnasjokull ice cap in the East, which looks amazing…and I want to visit in winter as well to see the Northern Lights. I’ll definitely be planning more trips to Iceland!
Enjoy your itinerary for one week in Iceland! Make sure you also check out my top tips for visiting Iceland in the summer, as well as the best pictures of Iceland in the summer. Iceland is a great destination for solo female travellers as well – check out my blogs about solo female travel here.
I visited Iceland on a school trip once and absolutely fell in love with the country! We didn’t visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula though – it looks beautiful! I’m hoping to return soon on our honeymoon so this guide will be handy – thanks for sharing it!
Iceland is an amazing place to visit on a honeymoon – I hope you have a great time!
I’ve never been to Iceland, but it is a destination I want to go to. The Blue Lagoon, the waterfalls and the Northern lights are some of the things I want to discover. And the stunning landscapes as well.
The landscape really is stunning – I hope you’re able to visit soon!
Iceland is on my bucket list. I have heard so much about the Golden Circle and the Northern Lights that I just want to pack my bags and go. Thanks for the inspiration, I hope to enjoy Iceland myself soon.
Iceland is an amazing place to travel, I hope you’re able to visit soon!
Iceland is definitely my new favorite country. What a place! I can’t wait to go back again and again and keep exploring. You covered some of my favorite things from my trip too, although I didn’t manage to see puffins. I actually really liked Reykjavik, maybe because it was more like a small town but you’re right that it’s difficult to compare to the gorgeous scenery outside of the city
There are so many cool things to do in Iceland! The geysers and Blue Lagoon were some of my favourites when I visited the country.
Great post. Iceland has been on my bucket list for a while now. The puffins look so cute!
I cannot find Islenski Heistrum online. Do you have a link?
I’ve never been to Iceland, but would love to visit the country. The landscape must be so magical.
The landscape is amazing, it’s so unique and feels so different from most other places I’ve been. I hope you’re able to visit soon.
I really liked your focus on the wonderful birds of Iceland. You got a stunning puffin photo.
Thank you! It’s an amazing place for bird watching, seeing puffins was definitely one of my highlights.
I visited Iceland in March, when there was still a ton of snow on the ground. It looks so much different in summer! And your photos are beautiful 😊
Thank you! I’d really love to go back in the winter, I can imagine it looks so different and beautiful. I’m hoping if I can go in winter I’ll be able to see the Northern Lights as well!
Wow awesome landscape, love how the geysir looks like.
Stunning nature..
The scenery in Iceland is amazing!