You can hike across ancient lava fields, visit volcanic craters, or even witness new eruption sites like the Sundhnukagigar Craters on guided volcano tours. For a closer experience of these striking natural features, you can join glacier tours to hike on the ice or visit natural ice caves, both unforgettable things to do in Iceland. For those with half a day before departure or after arrival, Reykjanes is easy to explore by car.
Exploring the Westfjords is one of the most adventurous things to do in Iceland, ideal for second-time visitors and travelers who appreciate dramatic landscapes and solitude. There are well-maintained walking paths with great viewpoints, and it’s easily reached on a Golden Circle day trip from Reykjavik, either with a guided tour or a self-drive trip. One of the most popular areas is Skaftafell Nature Reserve, where you can join glacier hikes and visit Svartifoss, the striking basalt-column waterfall that inspired Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik. When researching what to see in Iceland, geothermal hot springs are always near the top of the list.
What Should You Avoid in Iceland?
- Here, massive icebergs break off from Breidamerkurjokull Glacier and drift across the lagoon before reaching the sea.
- The tour is one of the best things to do in Vik, and it’s suitable for all skill levels, making it an accessible adventure for couples, families, and solo travelers alike.
- Modern distilleries on Iceland produce vodka (Reyka), gin (Ísafold), moss schnapps (Fjallagrasa), and a birch-flavoured schnapps and liqueur (Foss Distillery’s Birkir and Björk).
- Akureyri Airport opened an expanded international terminal in 2024.190 There are a total of 103 registered airports and airfields in Iceland; most of them are unpaved and located in rural areas.
- The must-see destinations in North Iceland include thundering waterfalls, volcanic scenery, quiet fishing villages, and abundant wildlife like whales, seals, and birds.
- The total power output of the Torfajökull (Torfa Glacier) area, the largest of the 19 high-temperature solfatara regions, is estimated to equal about 1,000 megawatts.
Important compositions from the 15th to the 19th century include sacred verse, most famously the Passion Hymns of Hallgrímur Pétursson, and rímur, rhyming epic poems. Originating in the 14th century, rímur were popular into the 19th century, when the development of new literary forms was provoked by the influential National-Romantic writer Jónas Hallgrímsson. In recent times, Iceland has produced many great writers, the best-known of whom is arguably Halldór Laxness, who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955 (the only Icelander to win a Nobel Prize thus far). Steinn Steinarr was an influential modernist poet during the early 20th century who remains popular. The entire country is in a single ecoregion, the Iceland boreal birch forests and alpine tundra. The country is one of the few states with little involvement in international conflicts, and ranks high for its social safety and lack of militarisation.
Skogafoss Waterfall
This is especially convenient for hikers who plan to do the famous multi-day Laugavegur hike. Because of this variety and accessibility, Snaefellsnes tours are popular both as day trips from Reykjavik and as detours on longer Ring Road journeys. Visiting Iceland in summer means experiencing one of the country’s most magical natural phenomena, the midnight sun.
Landmarks include Vestrahorn Mountain on the southeast coast, Studlagil Canyon near Egilsstadir, activtrades forex broker review and Hengifoss Waterfall, set in striking red and black cliffs. Lagarfljot Lake, said to hide a mythical serpent, adds a touch of folklore to the region. The Lake Myvatn region in North Iceland is an incredible place to visit that offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, geothermal activity, and rich birdlife. Travelers can join hot spring tours to relax in naturally heated pools, or visit geothermal areas with steaming vents, colorful mineral soils, and bubbling mud pools. Beyond sightseeing and coastal walks, visitors can explore fishing villages, go whale watching or kayaking, hike beautiful trails, take snowcat tours on Snaefellsjokull Glacier, or venture into dramatic lava caves. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring glaciers, or relaxing in geothermal spas, this article covers the very best of Iceland for your dream adventure.
This European country has been named the most peaceful place to visit in the world
In the southwest several fine natural harbours have directed interest toward the sea, and good fishing grounds lie off the shores of this region. Because of its extensive lava fields and heaths, the southwest has little farmland. The middle west is divided between fishing and farming and has many places of great natural beauty.
Education and science
Some are wild and remote, while others have been developed into geothermal spas. Puffins are one of the most popular things to see in Iceland, nesting on sea cliffs from May to August. The biggest puffin colony in the world can be found on the Westman Islands off the South Coast. Many visitors consider this one of the best things to see in Iceland and a highlight of their trip.
Up next, we’ll walk you through the top attractions in Iceland to include in your itinerary, to help you make the most of your adventure. The best tours depart from Husavik, often called the “whale-watching capital of Europe,” as well as Reykjavik, Akureyri, and other smaller coastal towns around Iceland. They cover large parts of the country and feed spectacular lakes like Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, where icebergs drift out to sea. Some, like Gullfoss, are massive and powerful, while others are smaller and more delicate. There are even some waterfalls you can walk behind, with Seljalandsfoss being the most famous example. South Iceland is also one of the best regions in Iceland for outdoor activities, with opportunities for glacier hiking, ice caving, and horseback riding.
The animals of Iceland include the Icelandic sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, the sturdy Icelandic horse, and the Icelandic Sheepdog, all descendants of animals imported by Europeans. Wild mammals include the Arctic fox, mink, mice, rats, rabbits, and reindeer. It plunges dramatically in two tiers into a glacial canyon formed during the last ice age. For travelers based in Reykjavik, the Into the Glacier Ice Cave tour in Langjokull Glacier offers a unique alternative.
- Reykjavik is compact and walkable, making it easy to explore neighborhoods filled with colorful houses, street art, and cozy cafes.
- It’s a flexible and scenic way to enjoy nature at your own pace, but you’ll also find great options here for those based in Reykjavik.
- The biggest puffin colony in the world can be found on the Westman Islands off the South Coast.
Ice caves in Iceland can only be accessed on guided ice cave tours, as conditions inside the glaciers are constantly changing and safety is a top priority. Luckily, there are several highly rated options available, from short and easy walks into the ice to longer adventures deep inside the glacier. Thanks to the extended daylight, you can fit more into your days, from evening hikes and sightseeing to late-night photography sessions. The unique lighting conditions also make Iceland’s landscapes feel even more surreal, especially in the highlands, on the coastline, and by waterfalls. The Westfjords are one of Iceland’s most remote regions, far from the Ring Road and rarely visited.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is often called “Iceland in Miniature” for the way it brings together so many landscapes in one place. Just two hours from Reykjavik, you can see everything from glaciers to volcanoes, black sand beaches, lava fields, and dramatic sea cliffs. Often called “Iceland in Miniature,” the Snaefellsnes Peninsula brings together many of the country’s most famous landscapes in one scenic region. Within Snaefellsjokull National Park, you’ll find lava fields, volcanic craters, sea cliffs, and striking black sand beaches. Icelandd is a Nordic island country between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Europe and North America.
Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite being at a latitude just south of the Arctic Circle. Its latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of its islands have a polar climate. Here you’ll find sea cliffs filled with puffins, remote beaches, waterfalls, and winding roads through untouched fjords.


