43 Best things to see & do in Iceland

Iceland’s most popular – and photogenic – geothermal pool is surrounded by black lava fields and framed by the steaming towers of the Svartsengi geothermal plant. It’s an otherworldly place that looks like something out of a science-fiction movie – and an essential experience to tick off your Icelandic bucket list.

Averaging 37–39°C, the steaming pools are actually a by-product from the power plant, but don’t let that deter you. The waters are rich in minerals and silica, absorbed from the volcanic bedrock, a tonic for skin inflammation.

The psychedelic, blue-green water comes from naturally occurring algae which thrive in the balmy water.

Circumnavigate Iceland on the spectacular Route 1, which links all of the country’s top bucket list experiences together. In our expert’s 13-day itinerary (some days optional), you’ll snowmobile and/or hike on glaciers, delve into ice caves and lava tunnels, ride Icelandic horses, goggle at gargantuan waterfalls, relax in steaming geothermal baths, soak up incredible scenery, and, if you’re lucky, see the dazzling Northern Lights.

Iceland, being in the so-called ‘Aurora Belt’, is one of the world’s top places to see the Aurora Borealis, the multi-coloured meteorological phenomenon more commonly known as the Northern Lights.

These shimmering, shifting, ethereal displays of light are caused by charged ions striking the earth’s upper atmosphere. They can be many different colours: commonly green, but sometimes pink, blue, red or yellow. Seeing them dancing over Iceland’s volcanic topography is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a bucket list must-see that’s up there with the best.

There’s no specific best place to see them – they can appear anywhere where there are dark, clear skies and low levels of light pollution. You can even see them around Reykjavik, although the further you travel from the towns, the more intense the light show is likely to be.

For guaranteed sightings, it’s worth taking an organised tour with a professional aurora-hunting company, as they have access to detailed aurora forecasts, know the best spots and sometimes offer a second trip if you don’t manage to see the lights.

With a bit of luck, though, you may see the aurora as an unexpected bonus while you’re off on another Icelandic adventure – perhaps while exploring remote areas like Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the Westfjords or cruising on the Jokulsarlon lagoon. Hotel Ranga has a special in-house observatory. See the links in our recommendations below.

Glaciers – vast sheets of permanently frozen ice – are remnants of the last Ice Age which have never melted – at least not yet. Sadly, due to climate change, many of them are now retreating at an alarming rate.

With more than 11% of its land surface covered, and over 269 named glaciers, Iceland is probably the best destination in the world to explore these wonders of nature. They are relatively easy to access here too, and served by plentiful, well-run tours for adventure enthusiasts.

Exploring glaciers

There are many different ways to explore the ice: on a glacier walk, by snowmobile or via a scenic flight.

Hiking on a glacier is the best way to see the ice up close: using crampons and ice-poles, you’ll trek out onto the glacier in the company of an experienced guide to see crevasses, seracs, ice caves and other formations.

Snowmobiling is a much more high-octane activity: wrapped up in polar-style suits, you’ll race over the ice at surprisingly fast speeds. It takes time to master, but it’s hugely thrilling fun.

Ice cave tours

Iceland is also one of the best places to see ice caves. These magical subterranean spaces glint and dazzle with polar colours, while strange ice sculptures adorn the walls, floor and ceiling. Little wonder they’re often featured in Icelandic myths as the homes of trolls, elves and other creatures.

Some of them are actually rock caves that are coated with ice, but there are also pure ice caves (usually located inside glaciers). Some are semi-permanent, while others only exist for short spaces of time before the ice swallows them up again.

These can usually only be reached on a guided glacier hike; many glacier tours include a tour of one or more along the way.

Like many Nordic nations, Icelanders are obsessed with bathing in the great outdoors – only here, they have the advantage that many of their favourite swimming spots are as warm as a bath.

Iceland is littered with natural hot springs, or ‘hotpots’, a by-product of the violent volcanic activity that’s continually roiling just beneath the island’s rocky crust. Some, like the Blue Lagoon and Myvatn Nature Baths, are very well-known – but there are hundreds more ‘hot pots’ hidden away deep in the countryside or along the coast which are known only to locals.

Bathing in the hot, mineral-rich waters is said to be good for the body and the mind. The naturally warm waters are especially rich in sulphur and silicate minerals – believed to be beneficial to skin conditions like psoriasis.

Volcanoes aren’t just about the craters: sometimes, there’s even more to see underground.

Iceland is one of the few places on the planet where it’s possible to venture down into ‘lava tubes’. These tunnels of volcanic rock are formed around molten lava flows, usually close to eruption points. As the flows peter out, the rock surrounding them cools, leaving behind hollow tubes that can be 15m wide and hundreds of metres long.

Hiking into these subterranean structures is a seriously spooky experience: dark, cold and lined with peculiar rock formations, it feels like venturing into the lair of some gigantic, monstrous worm.

Most lava tubes can only be visited on a guided tour. Access is variable: some of the more accessible caves have walkways built into them, while others involve scrambling, sliding and uneven footing.

Iceland’s pristine waters are among the best places in the world to spot wild whales. Tour boats take you out into the North Atlantic to see these gentle giants as they pass Iceland on their annual north–south migration, especially the main feeding and breeding season from May to November.

Humpback and minke are the most commonly sighted, but with luck you might also see sei, fin and, very occasionally, blue whales. Humpbacks – the most curious and playful of all the whales, so the best for whale watching – congregate in the far northern fjord of Eyjafjord.

The town of Husavik is the main base for whale watching, although it’s also possible to take tours from nearby Akureyri. Tours from Reykjavik head to wildlife-filled Faxafloi Bay, where dolphins, porpoises and puffins are also regularly sighted.

The tours guarantee sightings (or you get a free trip) and it’s common to see the whales up close. If you’re really lucky, you’ll be treated to a breach – an unforgettable display of whale acrobatics, in which the animals leap from the water before smashing back down in an explosion of spray.

40km from Reykjavik, this landscape of lake, lava and rock is a geological wonder. It sits astride the divide between the North American and European tectonic plates, and in many places you’ll be able to see the geological stress at work in the form of steaming fissures, hot water spouts and cracks. If you feel up to it, you can even snorkel or dive down into the Silfra divide.

It also provided the backdrop for one of Iceland’s most important historical events. A thousand years ago, Icelanders gathered here to found the Althingi, the world’s first democratically elected parliament. You can still see the Logberg (Law Rock), where the parliament gathered and the lawspeaker recounted the agreed rules.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience: the chance to travel down inside a dormant volcano, the only place in the world that it’s possible to do so.

It combines a 3km hike (around 45 mins each way) and a cave tour: the volcano is accessed via an elevator that descends into the volcano’s underground chambers. If you’re feeling flush, you can skip the hiking part with a helicopter trip.

The volcano hasn’t erupted in the last 4,000 years, but it’s still an unnerving experience as you descend on the elevator into its inky depths, like descending into the Icelandic underworld. The main chamber is just over 120m deep: the molten magma that once filled it is thought to have drained away, leaving behind a cavernous, cathedral-like space.

Reaching out into the icy ocean from Iceland’s west coast, this rocky, remote 100km peninsula offers a wealth of wilderness adventures.

It’s only a few hours’ drive from Reykjavik, but you’ll feel like you’ve reached the end of the earth here: with its deserted beaches, sheer cliffs, volcanic mountains and frozen lava flows, it offers an unforgettable snapshot of Iceland’s wild side.

It’s also topped by the shining expanse of Snaefellsjokull, a great ice cap which Jules Verne namechecked in Journey to the Centre of the Earth. And if you’ve always wanted to do a glacier walk, this is a fine location to do it.

For the more adventurous-minded, racing across icy wilderness, surrounded by nothing but mountains and fresh powder, is a heart-in-the-mouth thrill.

Snowmobiles (also known as a skidoo) are surprisingly fast (you can hit speeds up to around 45mph/70kph), and they enable you to reach remote areas inaccessible on foot.

Best places to do it

Vatnajokull is the best glacier for snowmobile adventures, with large expanses of ice and snow to race across, and several offshoot glaciers in addition to the main ice sheet. Its size means it can accommodate a number of different operators, all of who offer slightly different routes. Trips onto Vatnajokull can easily be arranged in Skaftafell and the surrounding areas.

Langjokull, the ‘Long Glacier’, is another great place. Tour companies like Arctic Adventures combine a snowmobile trip with a visit to one of the glacier’s many ice caves.

Myrdalsjokull is a glacier on the south coast, often used for day trips from Reykjavik. Snaefellsjokull on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula also has tours.

If you want to see the infamous Eyjafjallajokull volcano up close (or at least as much as you can see of it, since it’s buried under ice), the easiest way to do it is by skidoo. South Adventure offers a couple of possible trips.

The granddaddy of all the world’s geysers (and the one after which all others are named), Geysir is one of Iceland’s classic, must-see sights. Situated in the Haukadalur geothermal area, a maze of steaming hot springs and mineral pools, Geysir is arguably the most famous geyser on the planet, and everyone who visits Iceland wants to see it.

In fact, the site isn’t one geyser, but several. The original ‘Great Geysir’ is thought to have been active for around 800 years, but it waxes and wanes according to local volcanic activity; currently it’s going through a dormant phase.

However, nearby Strokkur blows its top like clockwork, shooting a steaming jet skywards every five to 10 minutes. On a good day, it blows up more than 30m, sending a spray of hot water over the crowds gathered below.

If you want to know more, The Geysir Centre has a geothermal area and multimedia museum that explains the science behind the spurt.

Landmannalaugar is a truly stunning region of glaciers, volcanoes, mountains and lava fields – and one of the finest places to hike in all of Iceland, if not the world.

Part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, it’s the official start point for the Laugavegur Trail, an epic 55km, 4-day hiking route that winds its way to the valley of Porsmork and an area of hot springs way up in the Icelandic highlands (the route’s name literally means ‘hot spring road’).

There are six camping huts that you can stay in along the way, but you’ll need to reserve a place several months in advance. Most of the huts also have space for tent camping, but wild camping is not permitted anywhere along the trail.

Icelandic horses – smaller, shaggy-coated and with a distinctive gait known as the tolt – have been specially bred here since Viking times. Found nowhere else, these hardy beasts hold a special place in Icelandic life and culture.

Tour operators offer whole-day and half-day riding tours from stables close to Reykjavik, as well as longer excursions. If you like horses – and even if you don’t – it’s a worthy excursion.

Slashing through the Bardardalur lava field, and clearly visible from the Ring Road, Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) is not just one of the most beautiful of Iceland’s waterfalls, it’s also one of the most historically important.

Here, it is said, is the site where Iceland officially became a Christian nation: way back in the year 1000, the lawspeaker of the Althingi parliament, Thorgeir, threw pagan idols into the thunderous waters of the falls, bringing Iceland’s pagan past to a dramatic end.

But even without the history, Godafoss is a glorious sight: a crescent-shaped cascade of water, roughly 30m across and 12m high.

A hiking trail winds its way around the falls and offers brilliant photo opportunities, and a less visited – and less crowded – viewpoint.

Nowhere on earth is it possible to see quite as many active volcanoes as Iceland. Often, they’re literally under your feet.

At the junction of two tectonic plates, Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on the planet. Evidence of the geothermal activity bubbling just beneath the surface is plentiful, from gushing geysers to hot water pools – but if you want to see a volcano up close, you’ll probably need to lace on your hiking boots.

Several of the island’s volcanoes can be visited on foot, while others are best seen from the air or by snowmobile. But don’t expect big spews of lava and smoking craters: while volcanic eruptions happen all the time in Iceland (most recently at Fagradalsfjall), volcanic eruptions here tend to be so violent that the most active sites generally aren’t safe to visit.

This glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland is a unique sight. Shimmering under the great ice cap of Vatnajokull, the lagoon is filled with icebergs, which glint in a rainbow of icy colours, from snow white to translucent blue.

Simply wandering around the lagoon’s edges is an experience in itself, but the best way to explore is to hop on a guided boat cruise. Steering through the enormous icebergs allows you to see them up close and appreciate their shape and colours. Around the mouth of the lagoon, look out for seals diving for fish.

The icebergs are shards of the nearby Breidamerkurjokull glacier, which cleave off into the lagoon, and are pushed towards the sea as the glacier moves down the valley. It’s well worth walking down to the beach at the mouth of the Jokulsa river, where icebergs wash up onto the black volcanic sands. For obvious reasons, it’s dubbed Diamond Beach.

Unsurprisingly, Jokulsarlon is a favourite location for film crews: Lara Croft, Batman and James Bond are just a few of the big-name movies which have used it as a backdrop.

If you’re after icy adventures, you won’t want to miss a visit to this immense ice sheet – the largest in Iceland, so huge that it stretches all the way from the south coast to the north.

A weird world of glaciers, crevasses, aretes, canyons and volcanoes, it offers a wealth of activities from glacier walks to snowmobiling, hiking, wildlife spotting, ice climbing and sightseeing flights.

Most visitors visit the southern part of the park around Skaftafell, where most of the activity providers are based.

Iceland isn’t short on waterfalls, but precious few can match mighty Dettifoss for sheer, jaw-dropping power.

100m wide and 45m high, the falls handle about 400 cubic metres of water every second – the largest volume of any waterfall in Europe – creating a vast plume of spray that can be seen for miles around. It’s quite a sight, and the sound as it echoes from the surrounding canyon walls can be utterly deafening.

When conditions are just right, you’ll see double rainbows lighting up the falls. Film buffs might recognise it – it’s been used by many big-budget movies, including Ridley Scott’s Prometheus.

The Silfra Rift running right through the middle of Thingvellir Lake is the tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates. The glacial meltwater is pure and crystal-clear, creating excellent visibility and emphasising the striking underwater scenery.

This is the only place in the world where you can dive between two tectonic plates and two continents – the rift between Eurasia and America. The water is never warmer than 4°C (you’ll need to wear a drysuit) and the glacial meltwater is so clear, it makes some divers feel dizzy.

Family-friendly snorkelling trips are available in summer, so non-divers can go too, and it all takes place in the beautiful surrounds of the Thingvellir National Park.

Iceland often looks like a film set from Lord of the Rings, and nowhere is that truer than the area around Myvatn Lake.

A blasted, volcanic landscape of strange rock formations, smoking volcanoes, plopping mudpools and geothermal ponds, it’s the nearest you’ll ever get to a real-life Mordor.

There are numerous active volcanoes to see around Krafla, but the weirdest sight of all is Dimmuborgir, a bizarre forest of volcanic pillars criss-crossed by colour-coded hiking trails.

This high-tech, glass-domed museum recreates the geological wonders of Iceland in an immersive, sound-and-vision experience.

Among the exhibits, you can walk inside an ice cave, experience a volcanic eruption, see a recreation of the seabird cliffs of Latrabjarg and feel what it’s like to watch the Northern Lights (without having to stay up till midnight for the privilege).

It’s a fun, informative experience, and makes a good primer should you choose to visit some of the sights in real life. Don’t miss the views over Reykjavik from the Observation Deck.

Iceland’s tallest church, built from 1945 to 1986, has become a symbol of Iceland’s identity and a Reykjavik landmark. It’s striking design is inspired by Iceland’s geothermal geology – it’s supposed to resemble basalt lava and trap rocks. It’s also a decent viewpoint. Take an elevator ride to the top for sweeping views over the city.

Another impressive 60m-high cascade on the south coast which has one unique reason to visit: it’s one of the only waterfalls in Iceland which you can walk behind. Be prepared to get wet.

At 200ft (60m) high, this mighty column of water is one of the most impressive of all Iceland’s waterfalls. Local legend claims that there is treasure hidden behind the falls.

The Westman Islands, off the south coast of Iceland, were formed from volcanic eruptions, and there are many extraordinary rock formations.

None more so than the Elephant Rock. the overhang that forms the eye, the grey basalt rock resembling wrinkled skin and the upper section of the trunk all create the image of an uncannily life-like pachyderm.

Iceland is the land of the Vikings, and this museum traces the history of how the island was settled more than a millennia ago. Learn about Viking gods, view Viking artefacts and marvel at the museum’s centrepiece – a replica of a Viking longship, which sailed all the way to New York to mark the year 2000.

Even the beaches in Iceland are weird. Instead of soft white powder, here you’re more likely to find the beaches made of jet-black sand – a reminder of the volcanic forces that continue to shape the island. Reynisfara is probably the most famous of all, located on the south coast, roughly halfway between Reykjavik and Skaftafell.

This Tolkienesque, timber-framed chapel was given to Iceland by its Norwegian cousins to mark the new millennium – and the 1000-year anniversary of the building of the island’s first church in the year 1000.

Where else in the world but Iceland could you explore an ice cave under an active volcano? That’s exactly what you get at Katla, which burrows deep beneath its namesake volcano.  It’s a famous filming spot, featured in Star Wars: Rogue One and Game of Thrones. 3-hour guided tours depart from the nearby town of Vik.

An art museum and sculpture collection featuring white Viking figures and curvaceous shapes, housed in the former studio of Icelandic sculptor Asmundur Sveinsson. One of three museums that officially make up the Reykjavik Art Museum. Open daily.

One of the longest lava tunnels in Iceland – 1360m long, 30m wide and up to 10m high. The ‘Standard’ lava tunnel tour (1 hour) visits the most accessible section of the cave, while the longer ‘Adventure’ tour (3-4 hours) ventures into the deeper sections.

This traditional Viking midwinter feast – named after the Norse god of thunder, Thor, for whom it was set up to praise – involves consuming a lot of unusual, traditional food.

Many locals feast at home, but for visitors, restaurants run special menus featuring tempting gourmet treats like sheep’s head, rotten shark, whale blubber or seal flipper, enough to test even the most adventurous foodie.

Iceland’s traditional schnapps, brennivin, known affectionately as the ‘Black Death’, is a traditional beverage you’ll also be coming across. It tastes better than it sounds, and is great for washing some of the more ‘interesting’ delicacies.

Many Icelanders dress up in customary style in a lopapeysa – a traditional, colourful hand-knitted jumper.

A dynamic National Museum focusing on the island’s turbulent and colourful past but also examining life in modern-day Iceland. There are treasures dating back to the Vikings and Saga Age, alongside modern displays on fashion and photography.

An art museum showcasing modern paintings and sculptures by well-known Icelandic artists, notably Johannes Kjarval, housed in a striking Nordic Modernist building. One of three museums that officially make up the Reykjavik Art Museum. Open daily.

The quiet west coast town of Bogarnes is home to the Settlement Centre, an interesting museum that tells the story of how settlers came to Iceland from Scandinavia during the 9th century. A second exhibition brings one of the most famous sagas, Egils Saga, to life. Open daily.

Fishing is a central part of Icelandic identity, and this surprisingly fascinating museum recreates the golden age of Iceland’s fishing industry, with renovated warehouses, historic fishing boats and traditional ‘salting’ shows, accompanied by accordions and dancing.

A museum with a difference: the chance to experience a key moment in Icelandic history, the battle of Orlygsstaoir in 1238, using VR headsets to really bring the experience to life.

Despite the name, this landmark geothermal bathing pool is far from a well-kept secret: in fact, it’s said to be the oldest hotpot in Iceland, and it’s very popular as it’s easily reached from Reykjavik, and makes an ideal stop for visitors tracing the Golden Circle.

This notorious volcano brought Iceland’s air traffic to an abrupt halt when it blew its top in 2010, sending huge age clouds up into the atmosphere. The volcano is concealed beneath a huge ice cap that’s clearly visible as you drive along the south coast towards Skaftafell. If you want to get closer, you’ll need to arrange a guided snowmobile tour.

Hofn is a salty fishing town on the southeast coast, but amongst Icelanders it’s famous for one thing: its seafood, especially its langoustines. These tasty crustaceans can be tasted at several restaurants around town – you’ll never taste them sweeter or fresher. Time to get cracking…

This folk museum is one of the few places in Iceland where you can view traditional turf houses, which were still in use into the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The grass roofs and turf walls acted as insulation, and made a convenient construction method in a place where timber was pretty much non-existent. There’s also a cute little cafe where staff wear traditional Icelandic dress.

Way out on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a spiral staircase leads down into this deep lava tube – estimated to be one of Iceland’s oldest (circa 8,000 years). With a guide, it’s possible to walk around 200m into the cave: wear good shoes as the base of the cave is unstable underfoot. Tours last 45 minutes.