Top Routes
The list:
- The Ring Road or selected sections
- The Golden Circle
- North Iceland & Diamond Circle
- The Snæfellsnes Peninsula loop
- The remote Westfjords region
- The Fjallabak highland track
- The Great Divide crossing Iceland’s interior
Cycling through Iceland offers a different way to experience the country – slow enough to notice the details, but adventurous enough to feel the elements. From lava fields and mountain passes to quiet villages and wide-open coastlines, travelling by bike lets you connect with the landscape in a simple, honest way.
Here we share the routes that became our favourites along the way. Whether you’re planning your first ride or looking for new inspiration, we hope our highlights help you enjoy Iceland on two wheels as much as we do.
The Ring Road is Iceland’s big lap – 1,330 km of “wow, look at that!” moments stitched together by long empty stretches and sheep cheering you on from the sidelines. It’s the kind of ride where you curse the headwinds, love every waterfall, and finish feeling like you’ve cycled through another planet.
Distance: ~1,330 km ( ~826 mi)
Time: Typically 15 – 20 days
Difficulty: Moderate to tough due to long stretches and unpredictable weather
Accommodation: Campsites, hostels, guesthouses and farm stays (summer booking recommended)
Bike type recommended: Touring bike – hybrid or mountain bike, or gravel bike
Starting point: Reykjavík, heading clockwise or counter-clockwise
When to go: March-November
Highlights: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, Vatnajökull National Park, East Fjords villages like Seyðisfjörður, geothermal areas around Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss, Akureyri and Snæfellsnes detours
The Golden Circle is Iceland’s “greatest hits” tour – geysers bursting, waterfalls roaring and scenery changing faster than your legs can complain. It’s a small loop with a big personality, perfect for a short adventure that still feels epic.
Distance: ~230 – 250 km (140 – 155 mi)
Time: 3 – 5 days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate – manageable distances with some hills and wind
Accommodation: Campsites, guesthouses, hotels and farm stays (summer booking recommended)
Bike type recommended: Touring bike – hybrid or mountain bike, or gravel bike
Starting point: Reykjavík, looping through Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss
When to go: March-November
Highlights: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, Kerið crater, Secret Lagoon and big rolling countryside views
The Diamond Circle takes you through Iceland’s dramatic north – waterfalls roaring into canyons, steaming geothermal fields, black craters and coastline that feels almost Arctic. It’s a ride full of big landscapes and big energy, with quiet roads and long horizons that make every pedal stroke feel wide open.
Distance: ~250 – 300 km (155 – 186 mi)
Time: 4 – 6 days
Difficulty: Moderate – some climbs, wind exposure and longer stretches between services
Accommodation: Campsites, guesthouses and hotels clustered around towns
Bike type recommended: Touring bike, gravel bike
Starting point: Húsavík or Lake Mývatn, often riding it as a loop
When to go: June-September
Highlights: Goðafoss waterfall, Ásbyrgi canyon, Dettifoss (Europe’s most powerful waterfall), geothermal fields near Mývatn, whale watching in Húsavík, lunar-like lava landscapes
The Snæfellsnes Loop is Iceland in miniature – glaciers, cliffs, fishing villages, lava fields and ocean views all squeezed onto one dreamy peninsula. It’s the kind of ride where every corner feels like a new postcard, crowned by the mysterious Snæfellsjökull glacier looming over the western tip.
Distance: ~270 – 350 km (168 – 217 mi)
Time: 5 – 7 days
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, mostly paved roads with some rolling climbs and coastal winds
Accommodation: Campsites in most villages, guesthouses, farm stays
Bike type recommended: Touring bike, gravel bike
Starting point: Borgarnes
When to go: May-October
Highlights: Snæfellsjökull National Park, basalt cliffs and sea stacks at Arnarstapi and Hellnar, black sand beaches, quiet fishing towns like Stykkishólmur and Grundarfjörður, volcanic craters, wildlife spotting and sweeping ocean views
The Westfjords Loop is Iceland’s wild frontier – long fjords, steep climbs, gravel stretches and tiny villages tucked between mountains and sea. It’s remote, raw and ridiculously beautiful, where every descent drops you to the ocean and every climb gifts another jaw-drop view.
Distance: ~500–600 km
Time: 7–12 days
Difficulty: Moderate to hard – big elevation days, remote sections and gravel roads
Accommodation: Campsites, guesthouses, farm stays and occasional hotels
Bike type recommended: Gravel bike or mountain bike
When to go: June-August
Starting point: Hólmavík
Highlights: Dynjandi waterfall, endless fjord coastlines, quiet fishing villages, Arctic fox country, hot springs like Hellulaug, seaside gravel climbs
The Fjallabak Track is Iceland’s wild side on two wheels – a rollercoaster through lava fields, glacial plains, neon-colored mountains and valleys that feel like they forgot people exist. It’s full of contrasts: one minute you’re crunching over black sand deserts, the next you’re coasting through lush green valleys or soaking in secret hot-pots like you’ve stumbled into nature’s private spa.
Distance: ~300 km (185 mi)
Typical Time: ~5 days riding
Surface / Conditions: Roughly 95% unpaved, mostly gravel / dirt roads and tracks; very little singletrack (~4%)
Difficulty: Rated ~7/10; physical demand is high, while technical difficulty is moderate – expects some hike-a-bike and water crossings.
Accommodation: Campsites, mountain huts (https://www.fi.is/en/mountain-huts/all-mountain-huts)
Bike type recommended: Gravel bike or mountain bike
When to go: July-September
Starting point: Hvolsvöllur
Highlights: Landmannalaugar’s rainbow mountains, black volcanic plains, hidden hot springs like Strútslaug, Álftavatn valley, lava fields, glacier views and long, empty tracks where you might not see another rider all day.
The Great Divide slices straight through Iceland’s interior – a ride across ash plains, glacier shadows, empty deserts and highland tracks where the only company might be the wind. It’s remote, raw, and beautifully simple: just you, your bike and a horizon that barely moves.
Distance: ~550 km (340 mi)
Time: 7 – 10 days
Difficulty: Hard – remote terrain, river crossings, rough surfaces and big weather exposure
Accommodation: Mountain huts, limited campsites and wild camping
Bike type recommended: Gravel bike or mountain bike
Starting point: Either Vik or Akureyri
Highlights: Crossing Iceland’s vast highlands, black desert plains, geothermal areas, glacier views, long empty tracks, silence, hot springs and a huge sense of space.
