Iceland via tour or on our own?

I did a Golden Circle tour, I think with Greyhound?? It was good. I think if I hadn't been alone I may have preferred driving it so that we could set our own pace. My son and his wife spent 7 days in Iceland, rented a car and planned their own itinerary. Loved it. I'm pretty sure they overnighted in Vik. Now, there is a Rick Steves guide for Iceland that must be super helpful.

@jules m maybe that is the factor, the number of people. Thanks for the insight. I saw Rick's Iceland guide refresh comes out in April, so was waiting. Also a bummer that the Scandinavia (the 2nd part of our trip) refresh comes out the month after our trip. Hoping the older version is still useful.

I didn't look up the south coast...sorry. However, the Golden Circle is easily done with your own car in about a day. Stick to a time limit for each site. Tell the family that you will allow x hours and leave for x at x time. That's what we did and it was fine. We barely spent 4 hours in Reykjavik. We saw the icebergs near Solfoss on a veeerrry long day trip from our bnb in the nw part of Reykjavik. This link shows a super cool hike that I highly recommend: https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/reykjadalur-hot-spring-valley-in-south-iceland. I think your boys would love it. We didn't dunk into the hot springs river, but there were many naked people doing it and jumping out. I would propose the Golden Circle one day and the hike the next day with leftover time into Reykjavik. I think these two items will give the cool factor experience to Iceland for your short time.

It's "possible" to go from Reykjavik to Vik in one day. I think from your other posts your are going in May? You are looking at over five hours of just driving, so it would be a very rushed trip to stop at the various points along the way. I would suggest doing the Golden Circle on your second day, and spending the night in Selfoss. The next day you could drive to Vik and return to Selfoss for the night there, then head back to the airport on Day 4 (depending on time of fight).

I see a lot of people recommend tours in the winter months, just because driving is so challenging. Going in May you should be fine driving yourself.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/western-iceland-by-car-summer-2023

You cannot rely on a printed guidebook for hours of operation and closing days. The rest of the material stays pretty much the same.

Iceland does not have enough hotels to satisfy the demand and they book up months and months in advance. So you'll need a tour if you cannot get a room between your drives. Distances between attractions are massive, so you need a good American driver who loves being behind the mighty wheel.

We started at 6 AM airport arrival for the south coast. We only looked at the Blue Lagoon and had a coffee there and then it was an hour and a half to our first waterfall. We had to skip going into the Folk Village, and didn't really make it to Vik, but we had a hotel room in Geysir to for the night.

South Coast best: waterfalls
Golden Circle best: Thingvellir National Park

It's hard for me to imagine enjoying visiting a thermal pool as a schedule item on Rick Steves death-march!

If you are coming in May, then definitely self drive. Staying the first night in Reykjavik is smart. We also fly out of SEA and have been to Iceland a number of times and know how brutal the arrival day can be. Spending it in Reykjavik is a great way to get over jet lag and see what all the city has to offer, which is quite a bit! There are the local pools, the Citywalk "free" walking tour (tip at the end), the food tour, Harpa inside and out, the Sun Voyager, the wharf, rainbow road, go to the top of the church for amazing views of the city, Braud for cinnamon rolls, etc. Plus a variety of museums. We. use Wakeup Reykjavik for the food tour and they have a coupon right now. They use the original food tour. We are also doing that again on our Feb. trip.

The drive up to Jokulsarlon is a good 5 hours each way, just driving. So the next morning head up that way, but plan to stay the night up there and then on your way back the next day you can easily fit in the golden circle. No way would I drive there and back in a day as there is just way too much to see.

If you want to do a lagoon, either do that upon arrival or if you have time on your last day before your flight. There are a number of options. TheBlue Lagoon is wonderful and perfect right when you land or right before you go to the airport. Sky Lagoon is in Reykjavik, but on the outskirts, so you would want to drive. In the Golden Circle there is Fontana and Secret Lagoon. Just north of Reykjavik is Hvammsvik. We have done Blue and Sky twice, and the others once. Sky has the 7 step ritual which is sooo good and we are actually headed back to it for the 3rd time soon. Hvammsvik is hands down our favorite commercial one in all of our trips to Iceland.

I did tours because I was solo and didn't want to drive by myself in winter hours. I did South Coast with a small group and the Golden Circle on a big bus tour. I'd offer a couple of thoughts. First, no matter what option you choose, everyone is going the same places, so the crowds are the crowds. If you're driving you may be able to pace the visits to offset the main bus traffic. Second, as has been noted, the airport is a good long drive from the places you want to see (45 minutes just to Reykjavik) and rentals are expensive plus you need the extra insurance. Pricing out those costs versus tours that efficiently get you to/from sights would be a useful exercise. Also parking in Reykjavik is difficult. Third, re: northern lights, you are unlikely to see them as you need minimal daylight to see them. It never really gets completely dark May-August so your chances are very slim, so I would suggest you not plan locations based on that factor.

Re: the food tour, I did one with Your Friend In Reykjavik. They offer later afternoon tour options which would work with your arrival time. It isn't cheap, but nothing in Iceland is cheap https://yourfriendinreykjavik.com/tour/reykjavik-food-lovers-tour/

I chose the smaller tours, 19 px or less. Personally, I really like tours, hearing tips, history, etc. from the guides. Trying to use a guidebook sounds like a lot less fun.
If one person is driving, they cannot look out the window. Would that not be a shame for that person? If it was me and all that unique scenery was available, I would want to look at it and not concentrate on driving.
Will either of you be jet-lagged? If so, driving should not be on your plan for arrival day.
With my tours of the South Coast one day and Golden Circle the next, I think I saw so much more than if I would have been driving a car.
My trip report for 2.5 days in Iceland might give you some more information if you are interested and the names of the companies I used.

Thank you all for your keen insights. Based your feedback of our limited time and jet lag I am going to stick to the South Coast. As a family we are accustomed to long drives, however do agree having a guide is valuable for thier sharing of knowledge/insight of the area. Here is my current plan...trying to incorporate most feed back:

Day 1: Land and go straight to Blue Lagoon and then spend the afternoon in Reykjavik. Spend the night in Selfoss to help reduce the drive the next day. (Just an hour drive)
Day 2: Sight see our way out the south coast ending at Diamond Beach. We will stay in Öræfi near Jökulsárlón, allowing us to see diamond beach in the evening and/or morning.
Day 3: Drive back towards Reyjavik and visit anything we want to see again. If time do hike near Selfoss and spend rest of the evening in Reykjavik. Stay in Rykjavik so we can end the night visiting Sky Lagoon.
Day 4: Fly out

Still open for any tweeks of the plan.
Much appreciated.

I don't think that you really mean Öræfi; do you mean the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon?

Do you know what time your flight will be on Day 4?

Your updated plan is a whole lot of driving - by my quick math, you'd have upwards of 10 hours out and back to south coast, without any stops. Even if you have drivers switch off, that's a lot of car time for such a short visit. But you all do you!

As the prior poster asked, what time is your flight on day 4? KEF is a solid 45 minute drive from central Reykjavik, and you need to make sure you have time to return your car, get through security, etc. I wouldn't stay in Reykjavik proper on your last night if you're going to the Sky Lagoon, I'd find lodgings closer to the airport (search posts on the forum for ideas) to make your departure day go more smoothly.

And though it could change, make sure you check that the Blue Lagoon is actually open closer to your departure day. It's currently closed due to volcanic activity.

All your feed back is much appreciated. Amended again:)

Day 1: Land at 9:20am. Go straight to Blue Lagoon and then spend the afternoon in Reykjavik. Spend the night in Selfoss to help reduce the drive the next day. (Just an hour drive)
Day 2: Sight see our way out the south coast ending in Vik. We will stay at Hotel Kria.
Day 3: Drive back towards Reyjavik and visit anything we want to see again. If time do hike near Selfoss and spend rest of the evening in Reykjavik. After dinner we will go to the Sky Lagoon and then spend the night near the airport at Marriott Courtyard.
Day 4: Fly out 10:30am

Last two questions:
5/15 is my husbands birthday. He is not a real adventurous eater and my kids don't like seafood. However, I am adventerous and like seafood. Ha! But this is my husband's dinner...so, any good recommendations before we head to the Sky Lagoon? Finally, how long do you all alot at the lagoon? Would 2 hours be good? Arrive by 8 and they close at 10pm.

Your amended plan looks more reasonable to me. I can't answer about the time at Sky Lagoon, but are you planning to drop off your rental car before staying at the Marriott or in the morning before your flight? I'd want to make extra sure you know the rental company hours and whether you can drop off after/before hours depending on your plans. And make sure to confirm that you have late check in ability at the Marriott, as if you stay until 10 p.m. at the lagoon, you won't be arriving until nearly 11 p.m.

Also, perhaps others who have traveled in Iceland more than me could suggest restaurant options that are on your route home from the south coast, but not in city center Reykjavik. It seems a hassle to go all the way back in to town for dinner (and mess with parking) just to head back out of town shortly after. It could allow you more time to see sights on your way back and not rush.

@CL Thank you!
Since we are going to Sky Lagoon right near Reykjavik I thought we would have dinner prior. I guess it doesn't have to be "in" Reykjavik, just somewhere between the end of our South Coast trip and the lagoon.

Don't worry about parking in Reykjavik. There is plenty. We almost always rent cars there have never had a problem.

For restaurant suggestions between. GC and Sky, look in Selfoss in downtown for Messinn. That is our favorite restaurant in Reykjavik, but they have this location as well. We had lunch at this one.this summer and it is just as good as the other. Another really good place just outside of Selfoss right on the ring road and is called Ingolfsskali Viking Reestuarnt. Beautiful place, amazing food, and the owner/chef is very personable. You can't go wrong with either these.

Thank you. Those restaurants look amazing!

They are! Be sure to make reservations as the good places turn people away even during the slow months.