The tiny country of Iceland, while the least populated in Europe, is bursting with charm.
While small in size, this island offers sights and experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Whether
it’s active volcanoes or impossible to pronounce names, here are the best things to do in Iceland.
The Ring Road
You may have heard about great road trips, or highways and routes with some good sights. But
how about a drive that takes you literally all around a country? The Ring Road is 828
miles long and is best traveled in a few days. In fact, if you plan well, The Ring Road is the
best way to explore Iceland. This route will take you through the best things to do in the country,
and connect you to its greatest sites. The Ring Road is at the top of the list because
every other great thing to do in Iceland connects in some way, and you’re most likely going to be
taking The Ring Road to get there. It’s possible to take the drive year-round too, although driving
in the middle of winter through thick snow is naturally going to have some challenges.
Whether it’s a rental car and a self-drive, a tour bus, or even an epic bicycle quest,
no other experience is going to connect you to as much of Iceland as The Ring Road will.
Reykjavik The capital city of Iceland,
Reykjavik, is fast growing as an eccentric and exciting destination. Combining history with
modernity, this city is well worth exploring for first-timers. You’ll likely start your
adventure here at Keflavik Airport, then take the Ring Road to go see the sights.
The city holds plenty of museums and historical sites, but one unmissable location is the
Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral, truly one of the most unique churches in the world. Besides that,
visitors need to be out and about on a weekend night, going from trendy bar to club,
soaking in the nightlife, and enjoying the welcoming atmosphere over drinks and live music.
Then in the morning, hit The Ring Road to see what else the country has to offer.
The Black Sand Beach Most people imagine white sands and palms when
they hear the word “beach”. Not on Reynisfjara. Here, towering geometric basalt columns overlook
black sands and thundering waves, making for a beach experience that is entirely unique. It’s
not Iceland’s only black beach, but considering how accessible and eerily beautiful it is,
it’s the best one to visit for first-timers. It’s even been featured in Game of Thrones.
A word of caution: it’s not advised to swim at Reynisfjara. The waves are powerful and violent,
so rather appreciate the waters at a distance. Instead, take some incredible photos of the
volcanically-fed sand, gaze up at the basalt columns, explore caves, watch puffins, or go
exploring for crashed aircraft. The scenery is otherworldly in the best way, and be sure to catch
a sunrise over the jet-black sands and sea stacks rising from the waves. Stay for a few nights in
the nearby town of Vik, right on The Ring Road, so you can explore the nearby glaciers and caves.
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anywhere, Iceland has so much more on offer.
The Northern Lights Also known as aurora borealis,
this magnetic light show is frequently considered one of the most spectacular sights on Earth.
And they are visible in Iceland. While it’s technically possible to see them year-round,
your best chance will be between September and April, and the darker and colder, the better.
The Northern Lights are actually visible nearly anywhere in Iceland,
you’ll just need to get outside of the light pollution of cities to see them the clearest.
Most cities will offer aurora tours to take you to the best places to watch them,
but the best idea for first-timers is to drive at night and look for them.
Alternatively, a camp for a few nights in Thingvellir National Park, which is coming
up later, so you can hike and explore in the day, and watch a beautiful show at night.
The Diamond Circle A lot of Iceland looks alien and otherworldly in
the best way, and The Diamond Circle of Northern Iceland is no different. Featuring clear water,
abundant wildlife, dramatic rock formations, and a landscape defined by volcanic activity,
The Diamond Circle is one of the best places for nature lovers in Iceland.
Connected to the Ring Road, The Diamond Circle is easily worth a few trips. Visitors can soak in hot
springs in the Myvatn Nature Baths, take an easy hike to the summit of Hverfell - also known as
crater mountain, explore the unique volcanic pseudocraters that now teem with birdlife,
visit Goðafoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, or tour the crater-studded forest of Ásbyrgi,
which itself is in a deep canyon. Another popular sight in the Diamond Circle is Lake Myvatn,
a large and clear body of water bordered by strange banks and packed with wildlife.
And be sure to walk through the columns of Dimmuborgir, also known as The Dark
Fortress. Game of Thrones fans will recognize this as another filming location from the show,
everyone else will marvel at the incredibly intricate and twisting rock formations.
The Westfjords One of the best things to do in Iceland
that’s actually not connected to the Ring Road is to visit the western region of the country,
the Westfjords. Because they’re a little harder to get to, the Westfjords are wilder, more rugged,
less crowded, and almost untouched in their dramatic splendor. While they don’t get the
same hype as other attractions, the Westfjords are Iceland at its best.
Nature and wildlife take center stage at Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, one of the least
populated regions of Iceland. Here, birds and creatures of all kinds thrive, and the reserve
has an abundance of arctic foxes. Whales and seals can even be seen from the shores. If you want to
get within arm’s reach of the iconic and adorable puffins, as well as thousands of other birds,
the cliffs Látrabjarg are for you. The Rauðasandur beach beneath Látrabjarg should be visited too,
as the wild expanses of sand can usually be found in a variety of vivid colors.
And be sure to visit the fjords that give the Westfjords their name. Wild, untamed,
and quieter than more densely touristed fjords in the rest of Iceland, these natural formations
will take your breath away. You might even get to see whales gliding through the waters.
The Blue Lagoon “Relaxation” and
“Unwinding” may not be the first things that come to mind when you think “volcanoes”,
but thanks to Iceland’s volcanic landscape, the country is dotted with plenty of geothermal pools.
And while you could find one or several all around the country, the most iconic is The Blue Lagoon.
Located just outside of Reykjavik, it’s clear to see how The Blue Lagoon got its name.
Booking is essential for this popular attraction, and you’re going to want to take your time
literally soaking it in. It’s open and popular all year round, but you can go early in the morning to
beat the crowds. And for added luxury, The Blue Lagoon is home to a spa, resort, and fine dining.
The Land of Ice and Fire
No, this is not about Game of Thrones, although there are plenty of filming locations. Rather,
Iceland has a unique nature that earned it the nickname “The Land of Ice and Fire.”
Where else can you watch a volcano erupt, and later hike over a glacier?
Vatnajökull Glacier is the largest in Europe, and intrepid adventurers can slip into crampons and
go on guided hikes over it. You’ll clamber over plateaus, crevasses, and even through crystalline
ice caves in some unbelievable scenery. There are plenty of other glaciers too, so be sure
to head to one of them on the Ring Road. Iceland is a volcanic country, and visiting
an erupting volcano is surprisingly popular. With over 32 active volcanoes, visiting one is
a unique experience and one of the best things to do in Iceland. Naturally, this is best done with
a guide or a tour, because it’s pretty self-explanatory how dangerous a volcano is.
The Golden Circle Iceland is known for its stunning and diverse
landscapes, and nowhere is that more on display than The Golden Circle. This is a popular day trip
option, but you’re going to want to give yourself as much time as you need to soak this one in.
The Golden Circle connects three of Iceland’s most popular sights:
Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and the Geysir Geothermal Area. From Reykjavik, travelers
take the 186-mile loop that visits all three. Gullfoss is the most photographed waterfall in the
country and is fed by the pristine waters of the country’s second-largest glacier. The hikes and
scenic views of the falls make for an incredible outing. The Geysir Geothermal Area showcases the
country’s volcanic activity with spectacular and frequent water eruptions from the Strokkur,
as well as a variety of colored hot springs. And the Thingvellir National Park takes visitors into
the gorgeous mountains with a network of trails and campgrounds. Incredibly, you can even see
tectonic plates shifting from Thingvellir, and scuba dives to go watch the Earth move
as possible here. All in all, The Golden Circle will offer the quintessential Iceland experience,
and is one of the best things for first-time and repeat travelers to do in the country.
If you’re planning a visit to Iceland, where would you go? And if you’ve been, what do you
recommend for first timers? Leave a comment below and let us know. If you enjoyed the video, let us
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