Reykjavík is a city famous for its colourful houses, hipster cafés, and a growing population of men wearing cosy knitwear and sporting full Icelandic beards.

But look beyond the hipster scene and you’ll find a city brimming with arts, culture and history, all of which you can explore at the many museums and galleries dotted across town.

Your first activity on this Golden Circle drive in Iceland is a soak in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon to banish any jet lag. From there, take the short drive into town to brush up on Iceland’s 1,200 years of human history at the National Museum, stroll around Lake Tjörnin and pop into Sandholt for a coffee.

If you’re feeling adventurous, take to the skies for a bird’s-eye view of the city on a Reykjavík Summit helicopter tour!

Your Golden Circle drive in Iceland continues north out of the city and up to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula where you’ll find the small fishing village and former trading post of Arnarstapi.

The town, which hugs the southern coastline, is home to a number of old houses and is considered to be the gateway to the beautiful Snaefellsnes National Park and a number of coastal walks.

On your road trip to Arnarstapi, stop at the iconic Budhir Church, a small black church that sits isolated on a rocky lava field and overlooks the sea. Continue to the town and park your campervan before heading off on the Arnarstapi to Hellnar coastal walk.

This two-hour return takes you past the Hellnar viewpoint, the Arnarstapi sea-cliff rock formation and the Primus Kaffi (perfect for anyone after a hot drink or a hearty bowl of soup).

The small town of Grundarfjordur sits on the north coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula and has become famous the world over for its majestic Kirkjufell Mountain.

So this small fishing village makes the perfect base for a road trip around the peninsula and gives you easy access to nearby walking trails and waterfalls. Get your cameras ready!

While Kirkjufell Mountain is the most popular attraction accessible from Grundarfjordur, you can also spend the day at sea on a whale‑watching trip off the peninsula’s coast. Sea angling and birdwatching tours are also available at various times of the year.

When leaving Grundarfjordur and continuing your Golden Circle drive to Thingvellir, make sure to stop at Sturlureykir Visiting Horse to meet and ride Icelandic horses.

From Grundarfjordur your road trip heads back south to join the famous Golden Circle, a circular route that’s home to some of Iceland’s most-visited attractions.

The gateway to the Golden Circle and the first stop on the route is the glorious Thingvellir National Park, a protected historical site and a popular filming location for HBO’s Game of Thrones. If you’re up for an outdoor adventure, Thingvellir is just the ticket!

Thingvellir is home to two impressive natural attractions, Oxarafoss Falls and Silfra. While the first is a mighty cascading waterfall, the latter is one of the world’s most unique scuba-diving sites, located between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

From here your Golden Circle drive heads east to visit Gullfoss Falls and Stokkur Geysir, two bucket-list Iceland attractions. At the end of your road trip, head back to Reykjavik via the Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths.