A Guide to Road Tripping Iceland from Reykjavik to Hofn
Iceland is the country for adventure seekers. We recently visited Iceland for the first time and had some amazing experiences. We’re going to share our complete guide to road tripping Iceland from Reykjavik to Hofn.
When to Visit
The time of year to visit Iceland really depends on two things: the Northern Lights and hours of daylight. If your main goal in visiting Iceland is to see the Northern Lights, we would recommend late March to mid-April. You have a pretty good chance of spotting the Northern Lights during this time, and you still have plenty of daylight hours to explore. If you’re looking to maximize your time spent exploring, we would recommend visiting during the summer months of June and July when the sun doesn’t fully set. Keep in mind that the summer months are considered peak season in Iceland, so prices are often higher and places to stay can be fully booked. Plan your trip well in advance.
Road Trip Rental Options
You will obviously need a vehicle for your road trip around Iceland. If you’re really up for an adventure, a camper van might be the best option for you. Campervan Iceland has several affordable options for rentals from camper vans to 4x4s with roof tents. They also offer add-ons like wi-fi, table and chairs, and navigation systems. The other option for your trip is a rental car. We booked our rental car through IceRental 4×4 and would highly recommend renting from here. A shuttle picked us up from the airport, and the customer service agents made sure we selected the right car for our road trip route.
When renting a car or van in Iceland, it is very important to add insurance. While we don’t usually pay for full coverage when traveling, we did in Iceland. We specifically chose full coverage because of the gravel, sand, and ash protection. Many roads in Iceland have loose gravel and without that insurance, chipped paint or cracked windshields would not be covered. One thing that is never covered by insurance is a blown door. Iceland can be very windy at times; it is important to always hold the car door when getting in or out of the vehicle. This became such a cautionary habit that I found myself holding my car door after we were back home in Florida.
Foreign Currency
Iceland’s currency is the krona, often seen as ISK. It really is not necessary to exchange currency before your trip as you can pay with a card almost everywhere. We did not use anything other than our travel cards for the duration of our trip.
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A Guide to Road Tripping Iceland from Reykjavik to Hofn
Reykjavík
The best airport to fly into for this road trip route is Keflavik International Airport. We found passport control to be a breeze here. Once you’ve arrived and picked up your rental car, you’ll start your trip in Reykjavik.
Where to Stay
There are a number of amazing hotels in Reykjavik. We stayed at The Exeter and found the location to be perfect for exploring the city. One downside to this hotel (and to many downtown Reykjavik hotels) was the lack of parking. However, the front desk told us about a free gravel lot located at 5322+VC7, Rastargata, 101 Reykjavik. It wasn’t too far of a walk from the hotel, and we had no issues leaving our car here for the duration of our stay.
What to Do
We recommend staying in Reykjavik for 1-2 days. This will give you enough time to adjust to the time change, and we found that this was plenty of time to experience the city.
Hygge Coffee
Coffee is a must after a long travel day, especially when your flight lands well before check-in time at a hotel. Hygge Coffee is beautiful inside and very quiet. They also have a micro bakery with lots of treats to choose from.
Icelandic Street Food
This was probably our favorite meal of the whole trip. If you visit Icelandic Street Food, you have to try the shellfish soup. It definitely hits the spot when it’s so chilly in Iceland.
Hallgrimskirkja Church
If you’ve seen pictures taken around Reykjavik you’ve probably seen Hallgrimskirkja Church. You can visit this church and view the interior for free when a religious service is not taking place. For about $10, you can also climb the church’s tower for a view of the city from above.
Harpa
This iconic building is beautifully designed and a must-see while you’re in Reykjavik.
The Blue Lagoon
You can’t visit Iceland without experiencing the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a relaxing geothermal spa with a unique milky blue color. There are several ticket options (we chose the comfort package), and while you have to select an entrance time, you can stay as long as you want.
Northern Lights
If you’re visiting Iceland when the Northern Lights are visible, Reykjavík is actually one of the best places to spot the colorful display. We intentionally traveled all the way to Hofn in hopes of catching a glimpse of the lights in a more remote location. While we saw the faintest hint of the Northern Lights in Hofn, we watched the lights dance across the sky for hours in the parking lot of our airport hotel right outside of Reykjavik.
Vik
About two and a half hours from Reykjavik is your next stop: Vik.
Where to Stay
We would recommend staying in Vik for 2 nights. While we were in Vik, we stayed at Black Beach Suites. This was an amazing property minutes from some of the main sights like Reynisfjara Beach and Dyrholaey. There is not much in this area in terms of restaurants, however there was a small bar with snacks and pizza located just off the lobby.
Black Beach Suites has a number of room options, and each room is equipped with a kitchenette and cooking essentials. We originally found these suites on Airbnb, however booking through the Black Beach Suites website was considerably cheaper.
What to Do
Reynisfjara Beach
Known as one of the most dangerous beaches in Iceland, Reynisfjara Beach is a unique black sand beach with basalt columns and a cave. Due to dangerous “sneaker waves” that crash hard and high up on the shore, it is very important to be cautious and never turn your back to the waves. Plan your visit around low tide if possible.
Dyrholaey Peninsula
The Dyrholaey Peninsula is one of the most scenic parts of Iceland. Parking and entrance to Dyrholaey are completely free. Walking around you will see views of the Dyrholaey Arch, the Endless Black Sand Beach, and the Dyrholaey Lighthouse. This is also a great place to see puffins in their natural habitat.
Skogafoss
Another sight that is free to visit is Skogafoss, a stunning 197 foot waterfall. You are able to explore the base of the falls. and can also climb 500 stairs to the top. This waterfall is located about 30 minutes before Vik, so you might want to make the stop on your drive from Reykjavik.
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Hofn
Hofn will be the last stop on this road trip, however, there are a couple places to visit along the way: Jokusarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. The total driving time from Vik to Hofn is about 3 and a half hours.
On the Way to Hofn
Jokusarlon Glacier Lagoon
This lake is full of various sized glaciers. You might also spot some seals swimming around. While viewing the glacier lagoon is free, you do have to pay a small fee for parking.
Diamond Beach
Right across from Jokusarlon Glacier Lagoon (you can pay for parking once and walk over) is Diamond Beach. This black sand beach is covered in large pieces of ice or “diamonds”.
Where to Stay
Hofn feels a bit like the middle of nowhere. Your best option for a place to stay is probably an Airbnb. We stayed at Rey Stays (an Airbnb) and found it perfect for one night. We would recommend one to two nights; keep in mind if you’re flying out of Reykjavik, you’ll have to drive all the way back.
Read More: The Pros and Cons of Airbnb Stays
What to Do
Vestrahorn
Vestrahorn is a mountain in southern Iceland easily recognized by its two peaks.
Stokksnes Beach
For the best views of Vestrahorn, you should visit Stokksnes Beach. Getting to this beach is a bit of a hassle, as there is a nearby Viking village that was once a movie set. There is also a cafe on site where you will pay admission to the beach. It is about $8 per person, but you can stay on the beach as long as you want after paying.
Now for the long drive back to Reykjavik. We would recommend making some stops along the way, as the drive is about 6 hours if you’re staying near the airport. We ended up visiting some of our favorite sights along the way, making repeat visits to Diamond Beach, Reynisfjara Beach, and Skógafoss.
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We hope you found this guide to road tripping Iceland from Reykjavik to Hofn to be helpful in planning your trip!
