Hello and welcome to Iceland: the most breathtaking, awe-inspiring, unreal little island I’ve ever been to. An untouched landscape, sheer natural beauty, a vastness that leaves you without words.

We road-tripped Iceland in 10 days, driving along the main highway Hringvegur, aka the Ring Road. 2350 kilometers later, we’d seen mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, and black sand beaches (just to name a few).

Iceland has been my dream destination for as long as I can remember, and it definitely lived up to – exceeded, even – expectations. These photos cannot do the country justice; the wild, the raw, the expanse is something only the unfiltered eye can see. Nonetheless, I hope they give you a glimpse of Iceland’s diversity, and inspire you as much as the tiny country has inspired me.

Day 1

Our first day was a whirlwind of jet lag, excitement, and “wow, are we really here?” After eating a quick breakfast of skyr (yummy Icelandic yogurt) at the airport, we headed to the Blue Lagoon, the perfect stop to relax post-flight.

Lunch was fish soup and lamb soup with bread – soup is a staple in Iceland, one of the only good local meals. Stomachs full, we drove to Pingvellir National Park to see the Almannagja Gorge, Pingvellir Lake, and first Icelandic Parliament site.

To finish off the day, we drove to Geysir, the largest natural hot water geyser in Iceland, and Gulfoss, a pretty waterfall. [Pro tip: Foss means waterfall in Icelandic!] It was super windy and chilly, a common theme for the rest of our trip 🙂

Day 2

Featuring waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and black sand beaches of South Iceland, our Ring Road trip officially began on day 2. First stop: Seljlandafoss, a waterfall crashing over a cliff. We walked behind it and got SOAKED.

Then, we drove to Skogafoss, another waterfall. On the drive, we got a sneak peek of the volcano and glacier Eyjafjallajokull (say that 3x fast).

And on to Skogafoss. This waterfall is taller than Seljlandafoss, with a short accompanying hike. We were even lucky enough to see not one, but two rainbows!

From Skogafoss, we drove into South Iceland towards Vík, the southern-most town of our trip.

A quick detour before Vík, Dyrhholaey is a nature preserve area with a famous arch. Usually, it’s the prime location to spot puffins, but we were too early 😦 The views from the overlook are still worth the steep, winding road to the top, though!

Next up: horse riding in Vík! We rode along the beach and got some views of the idyllic town.

Last stop for the day was Reynisfjara, the most beautiful black sand beach in Iceland. It was so surreal, especially at sunset.

Day 3

On our third day in Iceland, I saw the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. These pictures really, really do not encompass the beauty of the four glaciers, lagoons, and peaks of today. But first, check out these lava fields. I definitely felt like I was on Mars…

Leaving behind the Mars-like landscape, we came to Vatnajökull National Park, home of several glaciers and the volcano Vatnajökull. After hiking to the Skaftafell glacier tongue, we drove past open areas that gave us amazing views of the mountains and glaciers in the park.

A highlight of Vatnajökull National Park is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach. The icebergs look like funky jewels floating in pristine aqua. We took a boat tour of the lagoon, with a Spanish tour guide!

From Vatnajökull, we drove to Hofn and ate at Humarhofnin Veitingihus, one of the most renowned restaurants in Iceland. Known for its langoustine, or lobster tails, we feasted on lobster and char, kale, and rhubarb yogurt – definitely the best meal I ate in Iceland (a country not known for its food). On the way to our apartment for the night, we passed Hofn’s lighthouse and viewing area, just to check it out. And wow, am I glad we did.

Not only did we see a stunning sunset, but we also saw the four glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park all in one stretch. What a perfect end to the day.

Day 4

Today was a Walter Mitty-style adventure. After leaving our cabin with stunning views of the mountain Vestrahorn, we drove along the east coast towards the fjords, passing beautiful peaks, vast blue waters, and even some wildlife!

On our way to Egilsstadir, one of the main towns in Iceland’s East Fjord region, we stopped in the tiny fishing village of Djupivogur.

The stretch of the Ring Road that brings you to Egilsstadir is stunning. Driving through valleys and ridged fjords dusted with snow, I felt like I was in a mythical land.

After doing groceries in Egilsstadir, we decided to check out Seydisfjordur, a coastal town famous for its artwork, troll church, and rainbow road (yes, like Mario Kart!). Route 93, which takes you from Egilsstadir to Seydisfjordur, is the famous “Walter Mitty Road” – for those of you who’ve seen the movie (and if you haven’t, I highly highly highly suggest it!), it’s the absolutely stunning road Walter cruises down on the penny board. Sadly, we got caught in a blizzard coming down the mountain, so while it was super cool to be surrounded by all white flakes, we didn’t see the same beautiful sight that Walter did.

Seydisfjordur was rainy and cold, but we still walked around a little, looking at artwork and walking down the rainbow road. We were definitely ready to head back to our BnB, though, after eating some amazing pizza at a trendy, hipster joint in Egilsstadir.

Day 5

Greetings from Day 5! Halfway through Iceland, and it’s going by way too quickly for all of us. Today was all waterfalls and lava formations in Northeast Iceland. First up: Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and Selfoss, its mother. While Dettifoss has the strength, Selfoss most definitely has the beauty. We hiked up to both falls in freezing rain that turned into snow, in a setting that was so Mars-like it was scary.

From there, we drove to the Lake Myvatn region of North Iceland, basically just a huge lake surrounded by cool remnants of volcanic eruptions and lava flow. First up in the region was Viti, a huge crater filled with bright blue water.

Then, we walked over to Leihrnjukur, a geothermal area with lava fields, where we roamed through smoky lava fields with surprise steam vents. The setting felt like Star Wars mixed with Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Other sights in Lake Myvatn included Hvevir, an area with mud pits and vibrant red-orange colors, Dimmuborgir, whimsical rock formations, and Hverfjall, a cinder cone-shaped volcano with a massive crater inside. The walk up was steep, but so worth it – panoramic views of Lake Myvatn welcomed us at the top.

Day 6

Today is all Northern Iceland, the most north we got on the trip. Before leaving Myvatn, we had to make a quick pitstop at the Lake Myvatn Nature Baths to soak up some warmth for our freezing journey. Unlike the Blue Lagoon, these baths were so quiet and calming – a better version of the famous lagoon, in my opinion.

Next up: Godafoss, a beautiful horseshoe-shaped waterfall north of Myvatn.

For the evening, we drove to Akureyri, the Reykjavik of North Iceland, so to speak. Akureyri is the biggest town in the north, and it was so quirky and cute, Italian town + ski village with an Icelandic touch.

Day 7

Today was a lot of driving, covering ground across the northwest before reaching the Snaefellsness Peninsula on Iceland’s western tip. Along the way, we stopped at several cute towns, including Varmahlid, known for its turf houses and turf church.

For part of the drive, we cruised along the coast, the crystal aqua waters beside us. There were many more wildlife spottings on the way!

For my dad’s caffeine fix, we stopped in Stykkisholmur (Walter Mitty was here, too!) for coffee.

Our last stop of the day was at Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. I think it was featured in Game of Thrones, but I wouldn’t really know. The mountain itself was a unique coiled shape, and it was accompanied by a small waterfall, aptly named Kirkjufellsfoss.

After a long day of driving, we were ready to stretch our legs and relax. For the night, we stayed at the Freezer Hostel in Rif, aka the most hippie place in Iceland. The hostel was full of interesting people, knick knacks, and a vibe that could only be described as hipster Icelandic. It was a blast.

Day 8

On day 8, the last “road trip day”, we drove through the Snaefellsness Peninsula en route to Reykjavik. Snaefellsness Peninsula is known as a “mini Iceland”; all of the natural features in Iceland can be found in this peninsula alone. We saw glaciers, black sand beaches, and waterfalls once again – a great way to tie together our trip.

After a few more stops in fishing villages like Hellnar and picturesque coastal towns like Borgarnes, we made it to Reykjavik! 2350 kilometers of driving across the entirety of Iceland later, I felt overwhelmed with love for nature and wonder for this tiny country.

Now, it was time to relax and explore Reykjavik. The city was like a toy town, with colorful streets and artsy murals, small shops and cute restaurants. I was excited to wander the narrow lanes the next day.

Day 9

Our last day in Iceland was pretty laidback; Reykjavik doesn’t have many attractions, but the streets themselves are filled with artsy and quirky places to explore. We spent the day walking around the different neighborhoods of the city. It was the perfect end to our trip.

Day 10

And that’s a wrap on Iceland. We left early morning for the airport, back to New York.

Iceland was the craziest, most surreal place I have ever been to, and it still feels like a dream. My love for natural wonder has grown exponentially because of this arctic island; the realization of my insignificance in the world has, as well. Places like this make me grateful for the earth. I am in awe of you, Iceland. Hope to see you again soon.