Ring Road Iceland: Complete Route 1 Driving Guide

The South Coast packs more iconic landmarks per kilometre than any other stretch. Heading east from Reykjavik, the first major stop is Seljalandsfoss, a 60-metre waterfall with a footpath behind the curtain of water. Thirty minutes further, Skogafoss drops the same height but with far greater volume, producing a near-constant rainbow in summer. Beyond Vik, Iceland's southernmost village, lies Reynisfjara -- a dramatic black sand beach with towering basalt columns and Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Continuing east, the landscape transitions to the vast outwash plains flanked by Vatnajokull, Europe's largest glacier. Here you will find glacier hiking on Svinafellsjokull, the ethereal Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon where icebergs calve and drift toward the sea, and Diamond Beach where ice chunks wash ashore on black sand.

The East Fjords see a fraction of the tourist traffic but travelers who linger here consistently describe it as a highlight. The road winds in and out of deep fjords along the coastline, threading between steep mountains and the ocean. You encounter colourful fishing villages like Djupivogur, Faskrudsfjordur, and Seydisfjordur, each with their own character. Seydisfjordur is perhaps the most photogenic, known for its rainbow-painted street leading to a blue church. The East is the only part of Iceland where you can spot wild reindeer. Studlagil Canyon reveals stunning rows of basalt columns rising above a turquoise river.

North Iceland reveals an entirely different side of the country -- volcanic, geothermal, and wild. The first major landmark is Dettifoss, widely considered Europe's most powerful waterfall. Nearby, Asbyrgi canyon shelters a lush birch forest. Together with Husavik, these sites form the Diamond Circle. Lake Myvatn is the centrepiece of the region: the Skutustadir pseudocraters, the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir, the steaming Hverir geothermal field, and Krafla volcanic system with its Viti crater lake. Godafoss -- the Waterfall of the Gods -- lies directly on Route 1 between Myvatn and Akureyri, Iceland's second city and the Capital of the North.

The western stretch is the section travelers most often rush through, but it rewards those who stop. The road passes through Skagafjordur, Iceland's horse country, where you can arrange riding experiences amid stunning valley scenery. Hvitserkur, a 15-metre basalt sea stack on the Vatnsnes Peninsula, resembles a drinking dragon. The final stretch passes through Borgarfjordur, where Hraunfossar (lava waterfalls seeping through porous rock) and Barnafoss offer a completely different waterfall experience. Nearby, you can explore Vidgelmir lava cave or visit Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula -- often called Iceland in Miniature -- is one of the country's most rewarding detours.