Iceland Ring Road: Clockwise or Anticlockwise?

Iceland's Ring Road can be driven in either direction from Reykjavik, and the direction you choose has real consequences for photography light, crowd timing at major sites, and the emotional pacing of the journey. This is not a trivial decision — the right choice depends on your specific priorities, travel dates, and sensitivity to light conditions.

Clockwise (East First)

Driving east from Reykjavik means hitting the South Coast attractions (Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón) on the first day or two. For summer photography, driving east means having the morning sun behind you as you photograph the South Coast waterfalls (east-facing) and afternoon sun for Diamond Beach. The South Coast from east to west faces the sea to the south — afternoon light is generally better for the beach compositions. East-first also means arriving at the East Fjords midway through the trip, typically before fatigue sets in.

Anticlockwise (North First)

Driving anticlockwise means reaching North Iceland and Myvatn early in the trip, before South Coast tourist fatigue sets in. Visitors who have done the Ring Road before often prefer anticlockwise precisely because it inverts the standard tourist sequence — North Iceland feels even more remote when you encounter it before the South Coast rather than after. The South Coast waterfalls are saved for the end, when you arrive rested from the quieter eastern and northern sections. In winter, the afternoon approach to Jökulsárlón from the west (anticlockwise direction) provides late-afternoon sun on the icebergs — excellent for photography.

The Practical Verdict

For most first-time Iceland Ring Road visitors, clockwise (south first) is the better choice. The South Coast's concentration of headline attractions — Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón — delivers immediate high-impact reward in the first days when energy and attention are freshest. The East Fjords provides a natural pacing shift as the trip progresses. North Iceland and Akureyri provide a late-trip highlight before the return leg. The counterintuitive element: the Ring Road driven anticlockwise feels more surprising and less predictable for visitors who appreciate that structure. For repeat visitors, anticlockwise provides the inversion of expectations that makes a familiar route feel new.

Best Start Time

Regardless of direction, starting the Ring Road drive on a Tuesday or Wednesday and arriving at the South Coast's most popular locations on midweek days provides significantly better conditions than weekend arrival. The South Coast (Vik, Jökulsárlón) is most crowded on Saturday and Sunday when Reykjavik-based day-trippers supplement the through-travellers. A Tuesday arrival at Seljalandsfoss is noticeably quieter than a Saturday arrival. This timing consideration applies more to the South Coast than to any other section of the Ring Road.

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