Ten days, two countries — Copenhagen bookends a week around 🇮🇸 Iceland's Ring Road stays.
A relaxed loop through Reykjanes, the Golden Circle, and Iceland's Ring Road, bookended by a few days in Copenhagen. Each tab below covers one day — where you're headed, roughly when, and what's worth stopping for along the way.
Arrival in Copenhagen
Sunday, July 12
Flight to Copenhagen — 08:00 → 11:35
Check in — 25hours Hotel Indre By
North Zealand in the white nights
Monday, July 13 · Sunrise 04:43 · Sunset 21:47 · Dusk lingers to 22:43
Pick up car — Sixt City Center station
Depart straight after, drive south to Dragør, ~20 min.
Open Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00Thatched-roof cottages, cobblestones, working fishing harbour. A quiet warm-up before the castles.
Public area, always openDrive to Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerød
~55 minutes, looping north around Copenhagen.
Drive · 55 minFrederiksborg Castle & gardens
🇩🇰 Denmark's largest Renaissance castle, set on its own island with Baroque gardens to walk.
Open 10:00–17:00Drive to Fredensborg Palace Gardens
~15 minutes.
Drive · 15 minFree, open 24/7. Baroque gardens by Esrum Lake — palace interior is guided-tour-only with advance online tickets, but the gardens are a lovely walk on their own.
Gardens always openDrive to Helsingør
~20 minutes.
Drive · 20 minLunch — Café Dix
Classic smørrebrød, hyggelig atmosphere, strong local following.
Open 10:00–17:00Alternatives nearby: Rådmand Davids Hus (4.4★, traditional rye-bread sandwiches, cosy courtyard, open 10:00–17:00) or Borgerkroen (4.3★, set 3-piece smørrebrød menu, by the ferry, open 10:00–19:00).
Hamlet's Elsinore — casemates, ramparts, and the statue of Holger Danske in the dungeon.
Open 10:00–18:00Coffee — Strandvejsristeriet
Roastery café right next to the castle, views included.
Open 09:30–17:00Drive back to Copenhagen
~45 minutes, direct via the motorway.
Drive · 45 minBack in Copenhagen
Drop off the car, freshen up — plenty of daylight left before dinner.
Self-drive boat — GoBoat, Islands Brygge
Solar-powered picnic boat, up to 8 people, no licence needed — you're the captain. Rented by the boat, not per person, so it's the cheaper option. Bring your own picnic and drinks on board (2 units of alcohol per person allowed), or pre-order a picnic basket. Cruise the main harbour, Christianshavn's canals, and past the Opera House at golden hour.
Daily 09:30–sunsetWalk to Christianshavn
~10–15 minutes on foot from Islands Brygge, over Bryggebroen bridge.
Walk · 15 minSunset — ROOF – Bar & Lounge
8th-floor rooftop terrace in Christianshavn, right by the harbour, with views over Børsen, Christiansborg, and the copper towers — sunset is around 21:47.
Open daily from noonWrap up
Head back to the hotel, still glowing outside — white nights.
SIXT 🇩🇰 Denmark — Skoda Enyaq (or similar Electric SUV)
Copenhagen → 🇮🇸 Iceland
Tuesday, July 14
Drop off car — SIXT 🇩🇰 Denmark, Copenhagen City
Flight to Keflavík — 22:35 → 23:50
Check in — Park Inn by Radisson Keflavik (stay 1 of 2)
Reykjanes highlights → Selfoss → Golden Circle → Geysir
Wednesday, July 15 · Depart Park Inn Keflavík at 09:00
Pick up car — SIXT 🇮🇸 Iceland, Keflavík Airport
Tesla Model Y Long Range. Depart straight after toward Krýsuvík.
Pick-up 09:00 AMDrive to Krýsuvík
~35 km, ~35 min on road 42.
Drive · 35 min · 35 kmBoardwalk loop past bubbling mud pots and steam vents. Paid parking, easy short walk — 45 min for an unhurried look.
Open 24 hours · paid parkingDrive to Krýsuvíkurberg Cliffs
~9 km, ~15 min. ⚠️ Last 3–4 km is a rough gravel road — manageable at low speed, but take it slowly.
Drive · 15 min · 9 kmDramatic sea cliffs and a bird colony. Very windy — keep well back from the edge. 45 min to walk the cliff-top path at ease.
Open 24 hours · freeDrive to Selfoss
~68 km, ~65 min via road 42 and Þrengslavegur (39) onto road 1.
Drive · 65 min · 68 kmLunch & a look around — Mjólkurbúið Mathöll, Selfoss
A renovated 1929 dairy building turned food hall — 8 stalls (Thai, Italian, tacos, burgers, a skyr bar) so everyone can pick their own. Afterwards, a short stroll through the New Old Town (Miðbær) at Bruartorg square and along the Ölfusá River past the old suspension bridge. Penninn Eymundsson nearby for books/souvenirs if you want to browse.
Food hall open 11:30–21:00 dailyDrive to Kerið Crater
~16 km, ~15 min north on road 35.
Drive · 15 min · 16 kmVolcanic crater lake — walk the rim, with an optional path down to the water. Free parking, 55 min for the full loop at a relaxed pace.
Open 08:00–21:00 (summer) · 700 ISK/personDrive to Hotel Geysir
~48 km, ~45 min on road 35, Golden Circle.
Drive · 45 min · 48 kmGeysir geothermal area
A 2-minute walk from the hotel. Strokkur erupts every 6–10 minutes — 75 min gives time for several eruptions and a wander round the wider field.
Open 24 hours · freeDrive to Gullfoss
~10 km, ~10 min on road 35. Park at the upper car park, by the Visitor Center.
Drive · 10 min · 10 kmShort paved walk (~400m) right from the car park to the classic wide panorama over both drops and the canyon, plus the newer canyon-edge platform.
Open 24 hours · freeDown the staircase from the upper viewpoint to the rock-level platform right by the falls — the ground vibrates and the spray is strong here. Bring a rain jacket.
Open 24 hours · freeBack up to the car park — the Gullfoss Café (famous lamb soup) and gift shop are right there, a good last stop before driving off, since the center shuts around 18:30.
Visitor center ~9:30–18:30Drive back to Hotel Geysir
~10 km, ~10 min.
Drive · 10 min · 10 kmBack at Hotel Geysir
Freshen up before dinner at the hotel restaurant — suggest 19:00–19:30.
Geysir → Seljalandsfoss
Thursday, July 16
Check in — Seljalandsfoss Horizons
Onward to Nesjavellir
Friday, July 17
Check in — ION Adventure Hotel (2 rooms)
Reykjavík
Saturday, July 18
Check in — Canopy by Hilton City Centre
Back toward Keflavík
Sunday, July 19
Check in — Park Inn by Radisson Keflavik (stay 2 of 2)
🇮🇸 Iceland → Copenhagen
Monday, July 20
Drop off car — SIXT 🇮🇸 Iceland, Keflavík Airport
Flight to Copenhagen — 10:45 → 15:55
Check in — Radisson Collection Royal CPH
Return home
Tuesday, July 21
Flight home — 11:35 → 17:00