Venture inside a natural glacier ice cave to admire its crystal formations of stalactites and stalagmites. Guided tours such as Vidgelmir in Husafell or Perlan in Reykjavik allow visitors to discover these icy wonderlands.
Put on your Icelandic gladrags and dance along to the music in Reykjavik. Or don VR goggles at 1238 to experience one of Iceland’s historic battles first-hand!
Roam around Reykjavik
If you don’t have access to a car, the best way to see Reykjavik is on foot. Explore Grafarvogur and admire its views of the sea; its beach, Sculpture Park and playground offer great stops for families with young children. Kayak through Heidmork nature reserve for stunning color contrasts or hop aboard one and take in all its rocky coves on Heidmork nature reserve in Heidmork itself.
Explore Reynisfjara to uncover its black pebble beach, unique sea stacks and cave. Keep an eye out for any sudden surges of waves; some tourists have been washed away by strong waves.
Explore Iceland’s past at the Settlement Exhibition before heading over to FlyOver Iceland for an exhilarating multi-projection experience that combines storytelling with technology. It is an engaging way of getting to know its landscape and culture more intimately. When choosing Reykjavik as your travel destination, time of year matters immensely – spring or autumn offer better chances at northern lights viewing compared to winter whereas for crowd avoidance summer is usually your best bet.
Glide over glaciers
Few places captivate our imagination quite like Iceland and its mesmerizing icy terrain is part of its appeal. Take an icy stroll, explore otherworldly caves or do a glacier activity as you take in its breathtaking scenery – your stay here won’t soon forget!
Experience Iceland from an unparalleled vantage point with this helicopter tour and see its glaciers and volcanoes from above! This experience will take your breath away with breathtaking aerial views that allow you to witness its dramatic landscape from an entirely unique viewpoint.
Iceland’s glaciers are truly captivating when covered with new ice, as is often the case during winter. Explore them with a guide on this glacier walk, leading you to an idyllic glacial lagoon full of shimmering ice sculptures. No prior hiking experience is needed – make this unforgettable memory last a lifetime and remind yourself why Iceland holds so much allure!
Visit an Icelandic beach
Iceland boasts many breathtaking beaches. Diamond Beach boasts jet black sand bordering a glacial lagoon and studded with crystal ice chunks, while Reynisfjara, with its Goth-black beach where waves crash against gorgeous basalt stacks is another must. Raudasandur also stands out with its pink-gold hued sand or take in the dramatic view from Skagafjordur Fjord’s Stadarbjorg basalt columns for another great experience.
Iceland’s deep waters and temperate climate create the ideal habitat for marine life such as puffins and migrating whales, both of which can be seen regularly between June and September. Bring out your inner David Attenborough by going on one of Iceland’s whale and puffin-watching tours from Reykjavik between these dates!
Enjoy nature on horseback by joining an Icelandic horseback tour! These specially-bred horses can withstand Iceland’s rugged terrain, making riding them an exhilarating and memorable experience – plus, should the weather become less favorable, your tour guide can always relocate you to a more suitable venue! Become an Atlas Obscura member now to access more curated content without ads and pop-ups – it’s free!
Hop through the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most beloved scenic routes. However, during summer it can become particularly busy, particularly at Gullfoss Waterfall which draws more than 2000 visitors daily – so guided tours are an ideal way to witness its power as well as Thingvellir National Park and its geologically unique rift valley home.
Take a detour off the Golden Circle to visit the gorgeous Thorufoss waterfall for something different – located along Laxa Kjos river, it features smaller but equally impressive waterfalls that even made an appearance in Game of Thrones!
Extend your trip and visit Fontana Geothermal Baths or Dyrolaey Peninsula and Reynisfjara beaches, both offering volcanic hot springs. Be sure to make arrangements well ahead of time for these attractions; entry fees can be costly! It is great that the Golden Circle can be experienced year round–though winter offers reduced crowds and stunning landscapes.
Wander the waterfalls
Iceland offers breathtaking landscapes from another world and thrilling activities such as chasing the northern lights; but its waterfalls truly add the final flourish to this island nation.
Attracting tourists, visitors, and hikers, alike is no small feat, so we strongly suggest venturing off-path in search of lesser-known waterfalls that are equally stunning. Here are a few spots we recommend visiting on your own or as part of a guided tour:
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is an impressive spectacle that you can walk behind if the weather permits. While it can become busy at certain times of day, we advise arriving around sunset so as to experience its incredible reflection off green moss and tan rock faces.
Gljufrabui Waterfall can be found tucked away at Hamragardar. Less frequented than its more famous neighbor, Gljufrabui offers a magical fairytale feel thanks to its moss-covered walls.