Iceland 7-Day Summer Itinerary for Solo Travelers
When I was searching for a destination I could comfortably experience on my own during the summer, Iceland quickly emerged as my top choice.
First, it’s an ideal “coolcation”—a destination where you can escape the heat and crowds that make August uncomfortable in many other parts of Europe. Second, Iceland is surprisingly easy for a solo traveler to explore, even if you have only a week and don’t want to rent a car.
During my one-week stay, I explored Reykjavik, the West Coast, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast, relying on small-group tours and transfers.
My overall impression: Iceland is more beautiful, varied, and otherworldly than I expected. I was staggered by its rugged beauty and the sheer variety of experiences packed into one relatively small country. Here’s how I spent one week in Iceland—without renting a car.
Start with a Soak at the Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon was my first stop after arriving in Iceland, and it was the perfect way to melt away the jet lag. The lagoon is a 20-minute drive from Keflavík International Airport. For a small fee, they will store your luggage while you soak, making it an easy stop between your flight and Reykjavik.
My flight arrived at 9:30 a.m., and I booked a noon timed entry. When I arrived at the Lagoon around 11:15 a.m., they let me enter early. The changing facilities have showers with soap, shampoo, conditioner and towels. If you want a bathrobe, select the premium package when booking.
There is bus transportation from the airport to the Blue Lagoon, but the schedule didn’t align with my arrival time, so I booked a private transfer instead.
After your visit, you can take a bus from the Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik. I recommend pre-booking your seat. Depending on the transportation company, you may be able to depart earlier or later than your original booking, which gives you flexibility.
Explore Iceland Without Renting a Car
For my one-week journey, I relied on Viator and Project Expedition tours, along with airport and local transfers. For a solo traveler, I found this approach particularly convenient. Small-group tours make it easy to see places that would otherwise require a car while also providing the opportunity to meet other travelers.
Here are the experiences I enjoyed.
Take a Two-Day South Coast Tour
This small-group tour was the highlight of my trip. It covered the spectacular South Coast, from Seljalandsfoss waterfall to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. The South Coast has so much to offer that two days is a much better option than trying to squeeze everything into a single day.
Highlights included:
• A boat ride on the glacier lagoon, where we saw harbor seals up close
• A glacier hike, where we walked on the ice with crampons
• Scenic stops in and around the lovely town of Vík
• The stunning Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
• Hof Church, a turf and timber church dating back to the 1880s.
• The vast Eldhraun Lava Fields
• Three major waterfalls
• Diamond Beach, a black sand beach where pieces of icebergs wash ashore
We spent the night at the comfortable Hotel Smyrlabjörg in the remote countryside. The location would be excellent for viewing the Northern Lights, although August is far too early in the season for reliable Northern Lights viewing. That’s one trade-off of choosing Iceland as a summer coolcation: you get long days and relatively mild temperatures, but you won’t see Northern Lights.
Discover the Wild West Coast
This day trip took me to the rugged landscape of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. The weather was rainy and windy, which added to the atmosphere of this remote part of the country. The tour included numerous stops at both natural and historic sites, including a seal beach, picturesque harbors, waterfalls, and a black-sand beach associated with Iceland’s 17th-century fishing industry.
We also had a lunch buffet at a horse farm, where we had time to relax and, for those interested, get an up-close look at Icelandic horses.
If I had to do over, I would have selected an overnight trip to the Snaefellsness region which would have allowed more time to explore this evocative region.
Get Up Close with Icelandic Horses
My next day trip involved a closer encounter with Icelandic horses. If you’re up for an adventure, I highly recommend riding an Icelandic horse at Eldhestar Farm. Icelandic horses are a unique breed with a long history dating back to the Vikings who settled in Iceland over 1,000 years ago.
Eldhestar Farm provided heavy-duty rain gear, helmets, and gloves, which was especially welcome given the weather. The ride lasted about two hours and was followed by lunch at the farm.
Despite the misting rain, this was one of the highlights of my trip. I booked the horse ride in tandem with a Golden Circle tour, although I felt the timing for the second half of the day was a bit compressed.
See the Golden Circle
Golden Circle tours typically include three major attractions:
• Þingvellir National Park, which is fascinating both geographically and historically
• Gullfoss Waterfall, which is stunning; take the lower-road hike to get close to the falls
• Strokkur Geysir, a geothermal area where a small geyser regularly erupts
The time at each stop on my tour was about 30 minutes. That was enough to see the highlights, but I would have preferred more time at Þingvellir. If you have the option, I’d recommend choosing a Golden Circle tour that gives you a little more time at each stop rather than trying to combine too many activities into one day.
Spend Time in Reykjavik
While Iceland is primarily a destination for people who love the great outdoors, Reykjavik has plenty to offer, including arts, culture, music, history, shopping, and food.
During my mid-August visit, the annual Culture Festival and Marathon were taking place. The festival weekend added another dimension to my visit. If the weather cooperates, you can enjoy outdoor music and fireworks and, the following day, cheer on the hardy runners participating in the marathon.
Experience Reykjavik Through Food
Local cuisine is always a great way to experience a destination’s culture, so I joined a Reykjavik food tour through Project Expedition.
The Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market was fun and informative. In addition to sampling meat soup, Icelandic hot dogs, plokkfiskur, fermented shark, and local beer, we toured the weekend flea market, where you can find local foods and other goods. Our final stop was the Taste of Iceland artisanal food store, where we sampled treats such as chocolate, honey, jams and licorice. Local handcrafted souvenirs are also available for purchase. The store is easy to find on Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping and dining street.
If traditional Icelandic food isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Modern Icelandic cuisine is good, although you may find yourself yearning for a few more vegetables. Expect plenty of lamb, cod, and Arctic char on restaurant menus. My favorite restaurant in Reykjavik was The Fish Company, which features Nordic-global fusion dishes. The cuisine is elevated without being fussy.
Can You See Iceland Without a Rental Car?
Absolutely. For a one-week trip, I found that combining small-group tours with local transportation and transfers was an easy way to see a surprising amount of Iceland without dealing with parking, weather conditions, and unfamiliar roads.
If you want to explore the entire Ring Road, however, you’ll need more time. Plan on 10-12 days and either rent a car or join a multi-day small-group tour. Despite what some tour companies may tell you, an 8-day Ring Road trip is very rushed and involves long driving days.
Important Things to Know Before Your Iceland Trip
Book accommodations early
Iceland has a limited supply of accommodations, particularly outside Reykjavik, so book your hotels as early as possible—especially if you’re traveling during the busy summer season.
Consider Icelandair’s stopover program
Icelandair is the airline I used for my trip. One particularly useful feature is the airline’s stopover program, which allows travelers flying to or from Europe to add a stop in Iceland. If you're planning a short stay of less than 7 days, this can be worth considering.
Pre-book your airport transportation
Be prepared for potentially long lines at immigration, and arrange your airport transportation in advance. Also, there are no Uber services in Iceland, so don’t count on opening an app when you arrive.
Don’t schedule an important tour on the day your flight arrives
Avoid booking major tours on your arrival day. Several of the tours I took had passengers who were unable to join due to travel delays. Icelandic weather is unpredictable.
Prepare for Iceland’s summer weather
August weather ranged from breathtakingly gorgeous to heartbreakingly rainy and windy.
Even though you’re visiting during summer, don’t assume you’ll have warm, sunny weather every day. Waterproof shoes, waterproof rain jacket/poncho, and waterproof pants are essential.
Expect some bad weather and be prepared for it. That’s part of the Iceland experience—and one of the reasons Iceland makes such a great coolcation destination.
Ready for Your Own Iceland Coolcation?
Iceland turned out to be an ideal destination for my solo summer travels. I saw waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches, lava fields, geothermal areas, Icelandic horses, and spectacular scenery—all without renting a car.
For solo travelers who want adventure without the stress of driving, Iceland offers an appealing combination of natural beauty, easy-to-book tours, and a welcoming capital city.
If you’re considering an Iceland trip and would like assistance choosing hotels and arranging your itinerary, please contact me for help with your Iceland travel plans.
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