The 6 best scenic drives in Iceland, ranked

The top three

1. Route 1 from Vik to Hofn — 270 km along the south coast, glaciers descending to the ring road on your left, black sand plains on your right, Jokulsarlon at the midpoint. Best five hours of paved road in the country. 2. Route 93, Egilsstadir to Seydisfjordur — 27 km, one pass, one descent into a fjord town at the end, tunnel opening changes things but the old road remains. 3. Snaefellsnes peninsula loop, route 54 — 200 km, Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi cliffs, Budir black church, Snaefellsjokull volcano across the north side.

These three are the drives worth planning your trip around. The Vik-Hofn stretch especially — I’ve done it maybe 20 times and it still makes me pull over. Do it eastbound in the afternoon to have the light behind you on the glaciers, or westbound in the morning for the same reason.

Ranked 4 to 6

4. Westfjords route 60, Isafjordur to Latrabjarg — 200 km of switchbacks, empty valleys, and the bird cliffs at the end (June-August). Gravel in stretches, needs decent tyres. 5. North coast route 76, Varmahlid to Siglufjordur — 90 km through Trollaskagi with tunnels connecting old fjord towns. 6. Golden Circle route 35/37 — 250 km loop, Thingvellir to Gullfoss to Fludir; more familiar than dramatic but earns its slot for accessibility.

What I’d avoid calling scenic: route 41 from Keflavik to Reykjavik (lava fields, industrial, gets old fast), and route 1 west of Borgarnes through Hvalfjordur unless you take the old road around the fjord instead of the tunnel. F-roads into the Highlands are spectacular but not driving in the same sense — you’re wrestling a 4x4 through rivers, not enjoying the view.