Seven days is the sweet spot for Iceland's Route 1: enough to circle the island without living in the car, tight enough to keep you moving. This is the plan we'd give a friend — counter-clockwise, sensible drive times, and the stops that actually earn a place on a short trip.
Land at Keflavík, pick up the car, and ease in. The Blue Lagoon sits between the airport and the city — the perfect jet-lag reset if you pre-booked a slot. Sleep in Reykjavík; walk Laugavegur, see Hallgrímskirkja, eat well before the rural stretch.
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in the morning, then drop onto Route 1. Two roadside giants: Seljalandsfoss (walk behind it) and Skógafoss. Sleep near Hvolsvöllur or Vík.
Reynisfjara black sand beach (respect the sneaker waves), then east to Skaftafell for a guided glacier walk. Overnight around Höfn — order the langoustine.
The glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach at first light, before the coaches. Then the quiet, cinematic drive through the East Fjords — hairpins, sea, sheep. Sleep at Egilsstaðir, detour to rainbow-street Seyðisfjörður if you have the evening.
Cross the northern highland edge to Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall. Around Lake Mývatn: pseudo-craters, the Krafla lava fields, and the Mývatn Nature Baths (the north's calmer Blue Lagoon). Sleep at Mývatn or Akureyri.
Morning whale watching from Húsavík, Iceland's whale capital. Afternoon in Akureyri — botanical garden, good coffee, the last real town before the long west leg. Sleep in Akureyri.
The big drive: long lava fields and open country through the west to close the loop. Time-rich? Detour the Snæfellsnes peninsula — "Iceland in miniature" — with Kirkjufell mountain. Otherwise straight to the city for your flight out.
Search live prices for any stop on the route — the map covers Booking, Expedia and local guesthouses.