Summer is when the whole of Iceland, including the highlands, is open to travellers.

Why summer opens up the whole country

Hiking in Iceland is best during the long summer days. Mountain roads open only for a short summer window, and the dates depend on the weather. The summer months are not the time to see the northern lights.

Making the most of the midnight sun and long days

Around midsummer the sun barely sets before rising again, giving daylight well into the night. In the rest of Iceland the sun sets briefly around midnight in summer, and the further north you are, the shorter it stays below the horizon. In Reykjavik in summer the sun dips just below the horizon and lights the sky until it rises again. Use the Daylight Calculator to help plan your trip.

Building a summer loop around the ring road

Route 1, also called the Ring Road, is Iceland's main national road and loops around the country. The Ring Road is more than 1,300 km long. Route 1 is paved for its full length.

The village of Vik is about 188 km from Reykjavik, about a 2 hour 50 minute drive without stops. Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is about 380 km from Reykjavik, about a 5 hour 30 minute drive without stops. Akureyri is about 382 km from Reykjavik by road, about a 5 hour 35 minute drive without stops. Lake Myvatn is about 84 km from Akureyri, about a 1 hour 15 minute drive.

The Ring Road does not go through the Westfjords, the Snaefellsnes peninsula or parts of North-East Iceland, which are reached by side roads.

Adding the highlands: F-roads and river crossings

An F-road is a mountain road that is very rough or steep, or has one or more unbridged river crossings. F-roads have unbridged rivers, change quickly and need slow driving, and not all four-wheel-drive vehicles are suitable for them. No insurance covers damage to a vehicle while crossing a river.

Landmannalaugar is the main destination in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, with colourful rhyolite mountains and hot springs.

Treks and wildlife to plan your days around

The Laugavegur trail starts at Landmannalaugar and ends in Thorsmork. Hornstrandir Nature Reserve has no road access, and most visitors go in summer, when the boat services run. Every traveller should leave a travel plan with someone who can react if something goes wrong.

Comparing summer tours and self-drive options

You can compare highland tours to see the current options.