Best Historical Sites in Iceland: Self-Drive Guide to Viking Sites and Landmarks

Iceland attracts travellers with its dramatic volcanic landscapes and cascading waterfalls, but its deep historical heritage holds an equally powerful allure. From the ancient open-air assemblies of the Viking Age to the remote turf houses of the early settlers, the island tells a story of survival, democracy, and exploration. To truly appreciate this history, you need the freedom of a self-drive road trip. Many of the most iconic Icelandic historical sites sit far apart, scattered across the wind-swept shores of the South, the deep valleys of the West, and the rugged cliffs of the North. We design this blog post to help you plan the perfect route to explore these cultural treasures in your own rental car.

Renting a car allows you to explore at your own pace, skipping the rigid schedules of tour buses. You can stand where legendary saga heroes fought, walk the paths of medieval bishops, and touch the stone foundations of 10th-century longhouses. Whether you want to explore ancient Viking ruins or peaceful cultural landmarks, this planner covers everything you need to find the best Iceland historical sites. Let’s prepare your rental car, pack your maps, and embark on an unforgettable journey through the historical places in Iceland.

Iceland Historical Sites: Quick Overview

Before you start your car and head onto the Ring Road, you should understand the distinct eras that shaped the Icelandic nation. Most of the information we know is from two medieval texts: the Landnamabok (Book of Settlements) and the Islendingabok (Book of Icelanders). These texts were written in the 12th century but were based on oral storytelling and give insights into early settlers.

• Land beginnings: Iceland was formed more than 70 million years ago, with a large magma pocket sitting 2000 meters under the island. This magma pocket, known as the Iceland Plume, is located between the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America and caused a series of underwater eruptions that made the land of fire and ice what we know today. 
• Disdain and rejection: Viking house remains give the notion of temporary settlements. The Landnamabok references Irish monks as being the first inhabitants of the land and leaving behind books, crosses and bells that were later discovered by settlers. The Islendingabok reported the presence of nomadic Christians who left the island due to their disdain for the “northern heathens”.
• Early settlers: The history of this island begins around 874 A.D. with the Age of Settlement, when Norse explorers crossed the North Atlantic. Folklore suggests that Ingólfur Arnarson, founder of Reykjavik, alongside his family, threw two carved pillars in the ocean in one of their ocean voyages. He pledged that wherever those said pillars washed up, that is where he and his family would settle, and so it began. These early settlers established a unique Commonwealth without a king, relying instead on a system of regional laws and a national assembly. As you visit the different Icelandic historical sites, you will see how these early political structures influenced the landscape and left lasting archaeological footprints.

Over the centuries, Iceland transitioned through dramatic religious conversions, Norwegian and Danish rule, and severe natural disasters, before finally gaining independence in 1944. Each era left unique markers behind, from the coastal trading posts of the Westfjords to the ancient bishoprics of the South Coast. 

A self-drive trip lets you connect these dots chronologically or geographically between famous Icelandic historical sites. By planning your route carefully, you can experience a seamless journey through time, observing how a resilient population adapted to an unforgiving environment.

Viking Sites, Cultural Landmarks and Historic Landscapes

To make your trip easier to plan, we categorise the historical landmarks of Iceland into three distinct groups. 

• Authentic Viking sites in Iceland: They include archaeological excavations, reconstructed longhouses, and ancient assembly fields. These locations highlight the daily lives, seafaring achievements, and pagan traditions of the early Norse settlers. Walking through these sites brings the world of the sagas to life, offering a glimpse into how these people farmed, feasted, and governed.
• Cultural landmarks: They showcase the post-settlement history of the country, focusing on the spread of Christianity, medieval learning, and rural survival. This category includes beautiful turf-roofed churches, old manor houses, and historic trading ports. 
• Historic landscapes: These represent areas where major events took place, such as the famous battles described in the Icelandic Sagas. 

Understanding these distinctions helps you appreciate the diverse Icelandic historical sites you will encounter along your self-drive route. The table below highlights key sites across different regions to help you create the perfect itinerary to visit each one.

How to get to these historical sites from Reykjavik?

Region	Historical Landmark	Site Type	Approx. Driving Time from Reykjavik
South Iceland	Þingvellir National Park	Viking Assembly & Geologic Site	45 minutes
West Iceland	Reykholt & Snorrastofa	Medieval Cultural Centre	1 hour 30 minutes
West Iceland	Eiríksstaðir (Haukadalur)	Viking Longhouse Reconstruction	2 hours 15 minutes
North Iceland	Glaumbær Turf Farm	18th-Century Cultural Landmark	3 hours 45 minutes
East Iceland	Skriðuklaustur Ruins	16th-Century Monastic Ruins	8 hours (via Ring Road)

Best Historical Places in Iceland to Visit

Exploring the history of the island of fire and ice requires a reliable strategy and a comfortable vehicle. When you begin your journey, you will most likely start in Reykjavik, the bustling gateway to the country. Renting a car directly at Keflavik Airport allows you to drive straight to the capital of Iceland, where you can explore its vibrant cultural centres and historic harbour. The capital serves as an excellent starting point because it hosts some of the country’s most significant cultural institutions.

Before hitting the open road, we highly recommend stopping at some of the museums to view actual archaeological finds, clothing, and ancient longhouse foundations. These collections provide vital context for the Iceland historical sites you will visit later. Our recommendations for museums include: 

Recommended City Museum	Core Focus & Visitor Value
The Settlement Exhibition	An exhibition of the settlement of Reykjavík, detailing archaeological findings of early settlers.
Perlan	A discovery of the wonders of Icelandic nature full of immersive and dynamic experiences.
Arbaer Open Air Museum	This is Iceland´s largest open-air museum, housing a collection of historical buildings and ancient artefacts.
National Museum of Iceland	A chance to explore the fascinating history of the fire and ice nation from the settlements to the present day.
Icelandic Museum of Natural History	A delicate and detailed communication of Icelandic local and global context, with both geographical and zoological information.

To make your planning easier, here you have a map with the best museums for you to see: 

As you leave the city behind, you will encounter the legendary Golden Circle route. This route is a route for sightseeing three of the most visited landmarks: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss waterfall. 

Standing on the wooden pathways of the park connects you directly to the 10th-century chieftains who gathered here annually. For an in-depth companion to navigating this specific geographical marvel, using a dedicated Hertz Iceland thingvellir National Park travel guide will enrich your historical walk through the continental rift. planning your road trip around major events in Iceland, such as the annual Viking Festival in Hafnarfjörður, will elevate your historical adventure with live reenactments and traditional crafts. 

Finally, while walking through ancient ruins, knowing the story behind Viking symbols and meanings helps you decipher the cultural heritage carved into local monuments and memorial stones. These tools will transform your road trip into an immersive historical odyssey.

Thingvellir, Borgarnes, Skálholt and South Iceland Heritage Stops

The southern and western regions of the island contain some of the best historical places in Iceland. You can easily integrate these primary cultural landmarks into a smooth self-drive loop:

• Skálholt Historical Bishopric: Serves as a major anchor point for heritage loops in South Iceland, which seamlessly links to our popular South Coast self-drive road trip itineraries.
  • Epicentre of Medieval Power: Served as the centre of religious and political power in the south for over 700 years.
  • Ecclesiastical Infrastructure: From the 11th century onward, this massive estate accommodated schools, monasteries, and the largest wooden cathedral in the country.
  • Underground Museum Exhibits: Features an expansive subterranean vault displaying ancient relics, stone sarcophagi, and historical documents highlighting the transition from paganism to Christianity.
• Borgarnes Settlement Hub: Positions your driving route straight through the historic territory of Egil’s Saga, one of the most famous literary works of the medieval period.
  • The Settlement Centre: Provides an engaging multimedia experience detailing exactly how the first Norsemen navigated, farmed, and settled the coastal lands.
  • Cultural Context: Offers travellers deep context on how the rugged, volcanic terrain shaped the cultural identity of early Icelandic societies.
• Reykjholt Medieval Estate: Located a short drive inland from Borgarnes, acting as the ancient home of the legendary writer, historian, and politician Snorri Sturluson.
  • Snorralaug Geothermal Pool: Features Snorri’s personal, geothermally heated stone bathing pool, standing as one of the oldest preserved man-made structures on the island.
  • Seasonal Accessibility: All of these prominent Iceland historical sites remain fully accessible via paved roads, meaning you can easily reach them with a standard rental sedan during the summer months.

Best Viking Sites in Iceland

If you want to focus your road trip specifically on the age of Norse exploration, you will find several incredible Iceland historical sites that feature Viking-era longhouses.

• Direct Connections to Paganism:
  • The Norsemen left an indelible mark on the country, and modern archaeology continues to uncover new details about their domestic and political lives.
  • These sites differ from standard historical landmarks because they offer a direct connection to the pagan era, before the island converted to Christianity in the year 1000.
  • Visiting these locations allows you to imagine the lives of early explorers who crossed stormy seas in open wooden longships.

A self-drive itinerary provides the best way to reach these ancient sites, as many of them lie tucked away in remote valleys and coastal fjords. Driving from one excavation to another gives you a sense of the vast distances the settlers had to travel to trade, feast, or attend regional assemblies. As you navigate these coastal routes, you will gain a profound respect for the seafaring skills of the Norse chieftains. Exploring these Icelandic historical sites with your own vehicle means you can take your time, photograph the ruins, and enjoy the dramatic natural backdrops without rushing.

Sagas, Settlements and Norse History Stops by Region

To help you plan your journey of Icelandic historical sites, we have organised the top Norse stops by region. Exploring these regions by car allows you to experience the sheer scale of the island’s settlement history, pairing magnificent views with deep mythology:

West Iceland (The Settlement Lands):

• Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur Valley: This site features the fully reconstructed turf longhouse of Erik the Red, the famous explorer who founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland, and serves as the birthplace of Leif Erikson.
• Living History Experience: Historical experts dress in period clothing to guide visitors through the smoky interior, actively demonstrating ancient weaving techniques, storytelling, and metalworking.
• Peat-Scented Atmosphere: Standing inside this dim, peat-scented structure offers a sensory experience that brings the early Viking Age directly to life.

North Iceland (Communal Turf Estates):

• Glaumbær Historic Estate: A magnificent property showcasing incredibly well-preserved turf farmhouses. While the current buildings date mostly to the 18th and 19th centuries, the site itself has served as a central farm since the Age of Settlement.
• The Legacy of Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir: According to historical records, one of the most widely travelled women of the medieval world lived here during the 11th century. Her travels took her all the way to North America and Rome, making her a legendary figure in Norse history.
• Subarctic Winter Survival: These northern Iceland historical sites show how families lived and thrived in communal turf houses, sharing warmth and stories through long, dark subarctic winters.

Capital and Eastern Regions (Fjords and Folklore):

• The Rugged Eastfjords: You can explore the dramatic coastal Eastfjords where early settlers first spotted the island, harboring rich stories of early settlement and interaction with the supernatural.
• Saga Museum (Capital Region): An interactive exhibit located in Reykjavik that uses lifelike wax figures to recreate dramatic, bloody moments directly from the Icelandic Sagas.
• Herjólfstown (Westman Islands): A fully reconstructed Viking-era farm based entirely on archaeological excavations of the island’s first permanent settler, Herjólfur Bárðarson.

These Eastern Iceland historical sites offer magnificent coastal views alongside rich mythology. Here is a list of must-visit Norse sites to add to your itinerary:

• Eiríksstaðir Viking Homes (West): Reconstructed longhouse and living history museum detailing the lineage of Erik the Red.
• Glaumbær Turf Farm (North): A beautifully preserved cluster of turf houses demonstrating rural living from the settlement era through the 19th century.
• Saga Museum (Capital Region): Multimedia historical exhibit showcasing key chieftains and foundational saga conflicts.
• Herjólfstown (Westman Islands): Authentic structural replica built from local excavation blueprints.

Suggested Historical Road Trip Routes

Combining these diverse landmarks into a cohesive journey requires careful route planning. Fortunately, the layout of the country’s road system makes it easy to design a self-drive history tour. The Ring Road acts as a main artery, while well-maintained secondary roads branch off into historical valleys and historic coastal towns. By planning your stops, you can minimise your driving hours while maximising your time spent exploring ruins and museums.

To get the most out of your trip, you should match your vehicle to the specific route you choose. While standard paved roads lead to many Iceland historical sites, reaching some of the more remote turf houses or archaeological digs in the North and Westfjords might require navigating gravel roads. We offer a wide range of vehicles, ensuring you have the perfect car for your chosen itinerary. Below, we outline three suggested routes that cater to different trip lengths and travel styles.

4×4 Rental Cars Recommendation

1-Day, 3-Day and Ring Road History Itineraries

Since we know it can be frustrating to plan your itinerary with all of the different must-see locations, we have created 3 different itineraries depending on your time availability to enjoy the most Icelandic historical sites possible:

Itinerary Route	Recommended Duration	Core Focus & Key Stops
1-Day Golden Circle Express (The Power Core)	1 Day	Designed for travelers with limited time. Start early from Reykjavík and drive directly to Þingvellir National Park to stand on the site of the ancient parliament. Head south to explore the Skálholt Bishopric memorial church and underground museum. Complete your day by visiting Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall.
3-Day Saga Lands & Strongholds (The West & Northwest)	3 Days	Perfect for a more in-depth experience covering core saga territories. • Day 1: Reykjavík to Borgarnes (Settlement Centre) and Reykholt. • Day 2: Journey north to the Haukadalur valley to visit Eiríksstaðir. • Day 3: Drive the Vatnsnes Peninsula to view the fortified volcanic plug at Borgarvirki.
10-Day Ring Road Epic (The Complete Settlement Loop)	10 Days	The ultimate adventure wrapping around the entire country. This layout allows you to expand your route into a longer 10-day Iceland self-drive itinerary to completely experience the turf farms of the North, ancient monastic ruins of the East, and coastal heritage sites of the South at a safe pace. It gives you a deep appreciation for the massive geographic challenges early settlers faced.

Best Rental Car for an Iceland History Road Trip

Choosing the right rental vehicle is crucial for a successful self-drive exploration of Iceland’s historical sites. The quality of your journey depends heavily on your comfort and safety on the road. Selecting a premium choice from our robust lineup of cars for Iceland adventures ensures you have a vehicle engineered to handle the unpredictable shifts of the highland perimeter with ease.

• Summer Ring Road & Golden Circle Cruising:
  • A standard economy or compact car from our fleet provides excellent fuel efficiency and easy manoeuvrability.
  • Paved highways remain in great condition throughout the warmer months, making a 2WD sedan a practical option for reaching sites like Þingvellir, Skálholt, and Borgarnes.
  • If you prefer an eco-friendly journey with maximum traction on the main paved circuits, selecting an advanced electric AWD rental car in Iceland delivers quiet efficiency alongside dependable road stability.
• Remote Valleys, Northern Turf Farms, & Shoulder Seasons:
  • If you plan to explore the remote valleys of the West, the gravel tracks of the Westfjords, or the northern turf farms, we highly recommend renting a 4×4 SUV.
  • A larger four-wheel-drive vehicle offers higher ground clearance, better traction, and increased safety when driving to remote Icelandic historical sites.
  • If you travel during autumn, winter, or early spring, unpredictable subarctic weather can bring sudden snow and ice. Opting for a rugged vehicle that is perfectly tuned as a 4×4 for Iceland roads gives you the higher ground clearance and traction necessary to cross gravel sections and navigate changing subarctic weather patterns confidently.

Full-size Car Rental Recommendation

For your ease, we have created the following table detailing the differences between Economy vs. 4×4 SUV suitability across gravel valley paths, turf farm networks, and seasonal subarctic weather patterns so you can assess which one to choose: 

Vehicle Category	Recommended Historical Sites	Seasonal Suitability	Gravel Path & Valley Performance	Local Driving Insight
Economy / Compact Sedan	• Þingvellir National Park• Skálholt Bishopric• Borgarnes Settlement Centre	Summer Months Only (June – September)	Limited. Not suitable for rough, unpaved secondary tracks or steep valley approaches.	Ideal for fuel-efficient cruising along the paved Golden Circle and main Ring Road circuits. Highly prone to front undercarriage damage if driven on rugged highland perimeters.
Advanced Electric AWD	• Þingvellir National Park• Reykholt Medieval Estate• Museum Circuits	Summer & Light Shoulder Months	Moderate. Handles light, well-packed gravel roads leading to major cultural sites.	Delivers quiet efficiency and great road stability on paved paths. Always cross-reference your route with active charging stations before embarking on long gaps between landmarks.
Mid-Size 4×4 / SUV	• Eiríksstaðir Viking Longhouse• Glaumbær Turf Farm• Borgarvirki Volcanic Fort	Year-Round(Mandatory October – May)	Excellent. Elevated chassis protects against stone chips and handles packed gravel valleys with ease.	Highly recommended for the unpredictable shifts of the subarctic shoulder seasons. Provides the necessary traction and ground clearance required to confidently cross gravel transitions in the North and Westfjords.
Large / Premium 4×4 SUV	• Remote Eastfjords Excavations• All Long-Distance Ring Road Loops	Year-Round(Maximum Safety Buffer)	Superior. Engineered to navigate deep volcanic ruts and severe washboarding smoothly.	Best suited for large families or photography groups carrying heavy gear sets. The heavy chassis offers the best protection against intense coastal wind gusts when bypassing deep fjords.

Local Driving Expert Tip: When embarking on any historical self-drive route, especially during the autumn, winter, or early spring shoulder seasons, always consult safe.hertz.is to check real-time road conditions, seasonal closures, and active travel alerts before you turn the key.

The ancient longhouses, fortified volcanic strongholds, and historic turf farms of Iceland are best explored on your own schedule. Avoid the rigid timelines of tour buses and uncover the island’s deep pagan history at your own pace. Book your ideal rental vehicle with us today to secure the perfect model for your historical route, complete with unlimited mileage and premium Nationwide Support via our 24/7 emergency hotline across the entire Ring Road.

Iceland Historical Sites: The Questions Every Traveller Asks

When planning a historic self-drive tour, you might have several questions about logistics, road safety, and locations. To help you prepare for your journey, we have compiled answers to the most common questions. 

What are the best historical sites in Iceland?

The top destinations are Þingvellir National Park (the ancient parliament site), Glaumbær Turf Farm in the North (traditional rural architecture), and Reykholt (the medieval home of writer Snorri Sturluson). Renting a car allows you to visit these spread-out Icelandic historical sites comfortably and at your own pace.

What Viking sites can you visit in Iceland?

You can explore Eiríksstaðir in West Iceland, featuring a reconstructed living-history longhouse, and The Settlement Exhibition in Reykjavík, which displays actual 10th-century foundations excavated beneath the city streets. In the Westman Islands, you can also tour Herjólfstown, a replica of an early Norse farmstead.

Can you visit Iceland’s historical sites by car?

Yes, driving is the best way to visit the island’s heritage landmarks because public transportation to remote saga sites and turf houses is impractical. A self-drive trip gives you the ultimate flexibility to explore remote coastal ruins, and we provide the reliable, modern vehicles needed to make your journey safe and easy.

How many days do you need for a historical road trip in Iceland?

We recommend at least 3 to 5 days to cover the Golden Circle and the historical valleys of West Iceland. If you want to travel the entire Ring Road to see the northern turf farms and eastern monastic ruins, you should allocate at least 10 days to drive safely without rushing.

Do you need a 4×4 to visit historical places in Iceland?

No, a standard 2WD car works perfectly for major landmarks along the paved Ring Road and Golden Circle in the summer. However, if you plan to explore gravel tracks in the Westfjords, navigate the rugged North, or travel during the winter, we strongly recommend renting a 4×4 SUV for superior traction and safety.

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