Top 15 Places to see on Iceland’s Ring Road

We spent a total of 10 days driving around Iceland – 9 days on the Ring Road, and a day around the Golden Circle. Since we hired a campervan, moving around was fairly easy and convenient.

There are times when we parked our campervan near or exactly on the location where we’re supposed to shoot for the sunrise. This way, we saved on our travel time and we get to efficiently manage our schedules and see more places.

There are a lot of awesome places to see in Iceland but due to our limited time, we needed to prioritize those that can be easily reached and accessed by our campervan.

Of all the scenic places we’ve visited during the trip, here are my favorites:

The top 15 places on my list:

  1. Seljalandsfoss – located in the South Region in Iceland right by Route 1 and the road that leads to Þórsmörk Road 249. The waterfall drops 60 m (197 ft), visitors can walk behind the waterfalls into a small cave. Best time to shoot is during sunset / sunrise. I don’t remember paying for parking when we visited last August 2017. It’s one of the most visited places in Iceland due to it’s close proximity to Reykjavik and of course it’s enchanting beauty!

    Sunset at Seljalandsfos

  2. Skogafoss – one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a drop of 60 meters and a width of 25 meters. Beside the waterfalls, there’s a trail/stairs leading up to the top. It was very windy when we went that I had to use a tripod to keep my balance and use it as support.

    Skogafos

  3. Kvernufoss Waterfalls – 30-meters high (98 ft tall) waterfall located near Skogafoss Waterfall. It’s usually overlooked by travellers due to it’s hidden location. The short walk from the Skogar museum where we parked our campervan was pretty interesting. Behind the museum we followed the river which led us to this equally stunning sight!

    Kvernufoss waterfall

    the river that led to Kernufoss

     

  4. Reynisfjara – the world-famous black-sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland. This is also one of the most visited tourist spot in the south of Iceland. The basalt columns sitting beside the shoreline offers interesting photo opportunities. You can sit on one of the columns and pretend as if you’re Daenerys waiting for her dragons!
  5. Dyrholaey – located on the south coast of Iceland, not far from the village Vík. From your position atop the promenade, you can also enjoy staggering views over Iceland’s black sand beaches.
  6. Fjadrargljufur Canyon (Kirkjubaejarklaustur) – 100 m deep and about 2 kilometers long, the canyon has steep walls and winding water. Down the canyon is a nice area to walk and take photos too. We didn’t get the chance to go around the canyon as our time was limited and we had some more places to visit before our sunset location.
  7. Stokksnes Peninsula – One of the stops you shouldn’t miss when you go on a full Ring Road roadtrip. Try to stay at the Vikings Cafe to camp for the night so you can better prepare to shoot the sunrise on the shore.

    Iceland, you are marvelous!

  8. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon – One of the most popular ice lagoon in Iceland. Truly one of the most awesome wonders of nature! Located in Southeast of Iceland, it’s still, blue waters is also home to hundreds of seals.

    Jokulsarlon Glacier

  9. Litlanesfoss – Framed by beautifully formed basalt columns, the waterwall is about 30 meteres high. The hike up from the parking is a bit challenging but achievable. If you continue a bit more, you will find one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland, the Hengifoss. But, we didn’t have time to hike more and probably the energy! Needed to save some for a really long drive!

    Litlanesfoss

  10. Dettifoss – One of the most powerful waterfall in Europe, located in Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland.

    Dettifoss Waterfall

  11. Bruarfoss – the “Bridge Falls” is a relatively small waterfall compared to many of the others found across Iceland. This secretly hidden beauty requires you to pass through a barb-wired fence and a couple of minutes walk along a forest-ish property. Use your sense of hearing and just follow the sound of the water!

    Bruarfoss

  12. Myvatn Nature Bath -The water supplies for the lagoon run straight from the National Power Company´s bore hole in Bjarnarflag. The water has a temperature of about 130°C when it arrives to the huge basin beside the lagoon itself forming an impressive, man-made hot spring. Located in the popular Lake Mývatn Geothermal Area, 105 km from Akureyri; and 489 km from Reykjavík. Much cheaper compared to the Blue Lagoon and just as good.
  13. Kirkjufell – One of the most photographed place in Iceland!

    Kirkjufell

    But truly deserves a visit and a spot on your social media profile! 463 m high mountain on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður. Kirkjufell was one of the filming locations for the ever popular series Game of Thrones.

    church in Budir

  14. Black Church – This black church in Budir has become very popular amongst photographers. Located between the lava fields and some tall grass behind offers a lot of different options for varied perspectives to an image.
  15. Glymur – Second-highest waterfall in Iceland, with a cascade of 198 m. If you intend to hike to Glymur, I would suggest to allot about 2.5 hours starting from the parking lot and back. And, just follow the SIGNS! We had a really epic hiking experience in Glymur because we thought of trying a different route.

Glymur Waterfalls – halfway stopped to take a photo of the beautiful sight!

We didnt get to hike all the way up as we had to reach Reykjavik on time

So, when do you intend to visit Iceland? We went in August and we were very lucky to have good, sunny weather at most times. In Iceland, weather is very unpredictable. To enjoy the rest of your stay, it is very important to always be ready, especially when it comes to proper clothing. Check out the article I’ve written earlier for some tips.

Enjoy your stay in Iceland!