The Iceland Ring Road: Complete Driving Guide
Route 1 around the whole island: days, stops, rules and seasons.
Read the guide →
Discover Iceland / Journal
The journal
Iceland, one question at a time.
53 practical guides, each built around one of our own maps. Start with the guide marked “Start here” in each topic.
8 articles
Ring Road & itineraries
Routes, day-by-day plans and drive times for every trip length.
The Ring Road in 7 Days: Day-by-Day Itinerary
The classic loop in one week, with distances and nightly stops.
Read the guide →
The Ring Road in 10 Days: The Slower Route
The same loop with shorter days, more walking and Snæfellsnes.
Read the guide →
Driving the Ring Road in Winter: Is It Safe?
Closures, tyres, daylight and how to plan a winter loop safely.
Read the guide →
5 Days in Iceland Without the Full Ring Road
Golden Circle, south coast and the glacier lagoon in five days.
Read the guide →
3 Days in Iceland: A Plan from Reykjavík
Golden Circle, the south coast and Reykjavík, all from one base.
Read the guide →
Westfjords Road Trip: The Detour the Ring Road Skips
Dynjandi, Látrabjarg and empty fjord roads, far from Route 1.
Read the guide →
Ring Road Driving Times and Distances
Every leg of Route 1 in kilometres and hours, plus the detours.
Read the guide →7 articles
Waterfalls
Where to find Iceland's best falls, and how to see them well.
Iceland's Best Waterfalls: The Complete Map
Every major fall around the island, with heights, walks, fees and seasons.
Read the guide →
South Coast Waterfalls in One Day
Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skógafoss and Kvernufoss in a single day.
Read the guide →
Waterfalls You Can Walk Behind in Iceland
Seljalandsfoss, Kvernufoss and Fardagafoss, and when their paths close.
Read the guide →
Dettifoss: East or West Side?
Paved road 862 or gravel road 864: views, walks and winter access.
Read the guide →
East Iceland Waterfalls: Hengifoss and More
Hengifoss, Litlanesfoss, Fardagafoss, Gufufoss and Rjúkandi around Egilsstaðir.
Read the guide →
Iceland's Waterfalls in Winter: What's Open
Which falls you can reach from November to March, and how to stay upright.
Read the guide →
Photographing Iceland's Waterfalls
Shutter speeds, filters, spray and the best light through the year.
Read the guide →6 articles
Glaciers & ice
Glacier lagoons, ice caves and guided glacier walks.
Iceland's Glaciers: Where to See, Walk and Explore
Viewpoints, lagoons, guided hikes and ice caves, and how to plan them.
Read the guide →
Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach: Visitor Guide
Parking, boat tours, the best light and how to stay safe on the ice beach.
Read the guide →
Iceland Ice Caves: Season, Safety and Tours
Natural blue caves in winter, Katla all year, and how to choose a tour.
Read the guide →
Glacier Hiking in Iceland: Which Glacier to Choose
Sólheimajökull or Skaftafell, what a hike involves and why it is guided only.
Read the guide →
Vatnajökull National Park: A First-Timer's Guide
Iceland's largest park, and the parts first-time visitors should see.
Read the guide →
Fjallsárlón and Iceland's Other Glacier Lagoons
Fjallsárlón, Breiðárlón and Heinabergslón: quieter ice, closer to the glacier.
Read the guide →6 articles
Golden Circle
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, and the stops around them.
The Golden Circle: Self-Drive Guide and Map
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in one day from Reykjavík, with times, fees and a map.
Read the guide →
Golden Circle: Self-Drive or Tour?
Car or coach? Costs, crowds and winter driving compared.
Read the guide →
Þingvellir National Park: Between Two Continents
Walk the rift between two plates, on the site of Iceland's first parliament.
Read the guide →
Geysir and Strokkur: What to Expect
Strokkur erupts every few minutes; here is how to see it well.
Read the guide →
The Best Extra Stops on the Golden Circle
Craters, greenhouses, hot pools and quiet waterfalls along the loop.
Read the guide →6 articles
Hiking
From short walks to the Laugavegur Trail.
Hiking in Iceland: The Best Day Hikes and Treks
From short waterfall walks to four days across the highlands.
Read the guide →
Laugavegur Trail: Stage-by-Stage Guide
55 km from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, hut by hut.
Read the guide →
Fimmvörðuháls: Hiking Between Two Glaciers
Waterfalls, new lava and a pass between two glaciers.
Read the guide →
Easy Hikes in Iceland Under 3 Hours
Waterfalls, canyons, craters and a hot river, all in an afternoon.
Read the guide →
Landmannalaugar Hiking: Trails, Roads and Tips
Coloured mountains, steaming vents and a hot spring at the trailhead.
Read the guide →
Iceland Hiking Packing List: What to Bring
The checklist for wind, rain, rivers and long highland days.
Read the guide →6 articles
Hot springs
Lagoons, wild pools and how Icelanders bathe.
Iceland's Hot Springs and Pools: The Complete Map
Nineteen lagoons, village pools and wild springs, region by region.
Read the guide →
Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon: Which Should You Book?
Two famous lagoons, two very different visits: how to choose.
Read the guide →
Free Hot Springs in Iceland: Where to Bathe
Wild pools that cost nothing or very little, and how to treat them.
Read the guide →
Reykjadalur Hot River: Hike and Bathing Guide
A one-hour walk to a warm river you can bathe in, 45 minutes from Reykjavík.
Read the guide →
Mývatn Nature Baths, Now Earth Lagoon Mývatn
The north's famous lagoon, rebuilt, renamed and reopened in July 2026.
Read the guide →
Iceland Swimming Pool Rules and Etiquette
The naked shower, the hot tub chat and the other rules locals expect.
Read the guide →5 articles
Volcanoes
Eruptions, lava tunnels and staying safe near active volcanoes.
Iceland's Volcanoes: A Visitor's Map and Guide
Seventeen volcanoes on one map, and which ones you can actually visit.
Read the guide →
Reykjanes Volcano: Eruption Sites and Status
Twelve eruptions since 2021, the trails to the lava and what to check first.
Read the guide →
Iceland Volcano Safety: Is It Safe to Visit?
Gas, closures, flights and the official sources to check before you go.
Read the guide →
Inside a Volcano: Þríhnúkagígur and Lava Tunnels
A lift into a magma chamber, and two lava caves you can visit all year.
Read the guide →
Eyjafjallajökull, Hekla and Katla Explained
How to say Eyjafjallajökull, and why Hekla and Katla are watched so closely.
Read the guide →6 articles
Highlights & regions
The top sights and the regions they belong to.
Things to Do in Iceland: 29 Top Sights on One Map
Waterfalls, glacier lagoons, canyons and hot rivers, numbered on one map.
Read the guide →
South Coast Iceland: Every Stop from Selfoss to Höfn
Waterfalls, black beaches and glacier lagoons along about 400 km of Route 1.
Read the guide →
North Iceland: Akureyri, Mývatn and the Diamond Circle
Akureyri, Mývatn, whales and Dettifoss on one 250 km loop.
Read the guide →
Snæfellsnes Peninsula: Iceland in Miniature in a Day
Kirkjufell, lava caves, black beaches and a glacier volcano in one loop.
Read the guide →
Black Sand Beaches in Iceland and How to Stay Safe
Where to see Iceland's black beaches, and the rules that keep you safe.
Read the guide →
Iceland's Regions Explained: Where to Go for What
What each part of Iceland is best for, and how much time to give it.
Read the guide →3 articles
Planning
When to go, where to stay and how to get around.
Best Time to Visit Iceland: A Month-by-Month Guide
Midnight sun, northern lights and the months with the easiest roads.
Read the guide →
Where to Stay in Iceland: Bases Compared
Reykjavík, the South Coast, Akureyri and more, by route and style of trip.
Read the guide →
Getting Around Iceland: Car, Bus & Flights
Renting a car, the Ring Road, F-roads, and when the bus makes sense.
Read the guide →