I know I know everyone says give it 7-10 days and drive the Ring Road but I won't have the time. Do I do an out and back adventure from the capital up the east coast and then back or do I chose the west? I have no idea, please help. This would be early October if that makes a difference. Also, do I HAVE to have 4x4 if I'm not going to the norther part? I'd prefer just a standard rental if it's doable.
Thanks for any help :-)
How much time do you have just in Reykjavik proper? If "no time", I would pick to spend all 4 days there. It's a wonderful little place to spend time and no car needed at all because everything can be reached on foot or by bus. I've been twice but took tour trips to various sites (did not rent a car). Do you have some specific interests you want to see via car? The Ring Road is paved and doesn't require a 4x4 - are you planning on off-roading somewhere?
Check out Lonely Planet or the Icelandic or Reykjavik websites - they'll give you a very good sense of where to go if your time is limited as well as how long it takes to get there. I couldn't even spell half the names of the places I visited from memory.
Beware of traveling without a map and using the GPS as an autopilot measure. There's a funny story about that:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/world/europe/iceland-american-tourist-gps.html
Reykjavik is on the western side of Iceland, so it'd be easier to venture out either to the north or south via the Ring Road. If going south, you could reach Vik in a couple hours from Reykjavik and then the Jokulsarlon Lagoon in another couple hours or so. If going north, you could either take the Ring Road toward Akureyri (about 4.5 hours from Reykjavik) making stops along the way or you could head along the Ring Road and then head off into western Iceland.
With your limited time, I would study each of these three general areas and see what appeals to you most. Only pick one of the three. And leave yourself with a day or two in Reykjavik itself.
Regarding a 4x4, you will not need that for the Ring Road destinations. You'd only need a 4x4 if you are going off the main roads into the mountains.
When hubby and I only had four days in Iceland, we drove around the Snaefellsnes peninsula, the golden circle and part of the Reykjanes peninsula to Seltun and the blue lagoon. We chose to be out in nature rather than spending time in Reykjavik and saw a wide variety of scenery in just those areas. Obviously we missed a lot by not going further but we'll just have to make a longer return visit to see the north and east. We had no problems driving in the small hatchback we rented.
Thanks everybody, much appreciated! I'm thinking 24 hours or so in the capital but aside from that driving. I'll look at all of these and see which would work best. Also, thanks for the GPS tip! I'll bring a map!
