Iceland

Most trips to Iceland start in Reykjavik, and many of the country's best-known sights are within a day of the capital. The Golden Circle links Þingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser and Gullfoss, while the South Coast runs past Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss to the black sand at Reynisfjara and, further east, the icebergs of Jökulsárlón.

If it's your first visit, start with our guide to the best things to do in Iceland, which covers the Golden Circle, the South Coast waterfalls, glacier hikes, Silfra, the lagoons and the northern lights, with costs and distances from Reykjavik for each. When you're ready to plan the route, our Iceland itinerary has day-by-day plans for 5, 7 and 10 days, including the full Ring Road. To choose between regions, see the best places to visit in Iceland, and if you'd rather stay in one hotel, our guide to day trips from Reykjavik compares 12 options with travel times.

Most visitors fly into Keflavík International Airport, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik, then either hire a car or take day tours. Summer brings very long days and the best conditions for driving and hiking, while the northern lights season runs from roughly late August to mid-April. Weather and road conditions change quickly, so check road.is and vedur.is every day.