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A Guide to the Top 21 Things to Do in Iceland

As the Land of Fire and Ice, with all its contrasting terrain, there are plenty of interesting things to see and exciting things to do in Iceland. This article dives into some of the attractions and activities you simply must add to your Iceland trip itinerary.


So, if you’ve been wondering what to do in Iceland, stick around because, with our helpful guide, you will have a jam-packed trip itinerary in no time. These are the 21 best things to do in Iceland:


  1. Go Northern Lights Hunting


The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is definitely a big pull for those visiting the island. But for these bright, neon lights to start dancing across our skies, conditions need to be just right.


Two of the main ingredients you’ll need in the recipe for the Northern Lights are the cold and the darkness. That’s why winter, with its freezing temperatures and few daylight hours, is the perfect time to go Northern Lights hunting. If you don’t want to DIY your Northern Lights hunting while on the island, you can always book a spot on a Northern Lights tour.


Northern Lights Iceland

2. Go Birdwatching


This is not usually something many will connect with Iceland, but the island is a birding paradise. Over 400 confirmed bird species grace our shores, and quite a few interesting migrating birds, such as our famous Puffins, can be spotted during their breeding season (April to August). A few other birds you may spot during your trip to Iceland include the Arctic Tern, the Gyrfalcon, the Snowy Owl, the Whooper Swan, and many, MANY more.


Birdwatching in Iceland

3. Experience the Midnight Sun


The Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun are essentially two flipsides of a coin when it comes to natural phenomena. When you have the best chance to spot the Northern Lights, the odds of experiencing a Midnight Sun are absolutely 0, and vice versa.


That’s because the Midnight Sun is exactly what it sounds like; experiencing sunlight at Midnight. Okay, technically, it’s more daylight than sunlight since the sun does dip behind the horizon. But darkness never falls when you visit mid-summer in Iceland, and you’ll essentially have 24-hour “days.”


Midnight Sun in Iceland

4. Explore the Capital City of Reykjavík


One of the first places most will find themselves after landing on the island is Reykjavik. But many don’t know that this should also be one of the first places to visit in Iceland on your trip itinerary. The capital city is a magical place with many interesting things to see and do.


Walk along the Old Reykjavik Harbor or visit Hallgrimskirkja, one of the most impressive architectural designs in history. Even better, explore the capital via the Reykjavik Food Walk. This way, you get to explore the capital with an experienced guide at the helm, giving you the inside scoop on the city, all while stuffing your face with delicious food and drink along the way.


Capital City of Reykjavik

5. Go Hiking


This is considered a must-do in Iceland among visitors and locals. How else could you immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes and natural wonders Iceland has to offer? This is an activity truly suitable for all since there are many hiking trails across the country, varying in distance and difficulty level.


You can find day hikes (both long and short), as well as multi-day treks, ranging from Easy all the way to Challenging and Hard. Some of the most popular hikes in Iceland include:


  • Svartifoss Trail, 3.2 km, Moderate Difficulty

  • Fjardrargljufur Canyon Trail, 3.1 km, Easy Difficulty

  • Skogafoss – Skalabrekkufoss Waterfalls Trail, 16.3 km, Hard Difficulty

  • Reykjadalur Hot Spring Trail, 7.9 km, Moderate Difficulty

  • Glymur Waterfall Trail, 6.6 km, Hard Difficulty


Things to do in Iceland: Hiking

6. Traverse a Glacier


You may be forgiven for thinking you can only explore our glaciers during the winter. But these icy marvels are actually open to be explored all year round. Due to safety concerns, any adventures on our glaciers must be via guided tour. But there is a myriad of tours to choose from, and all will provide you any/all gear and equipment you may need. A few tours to consider are Super Jeep tours, snowmobile tours, or hiking tours.


Glacier walking in Iceland

7. Explore the Ice Caves


Although the glaciers are open to the public all year round, exploring the ice caves is a seasonal activity. Most of the ice caves are kept closed during the warmer months of the year due to safety concerns. Exploring the ice caves can also only be done via guided tour because of the same concerns.


But visiting the ice caves in Iceland is an other-worldly experience. Walking through these gigantic caverns of ice with black ash streaks of eruptions thousands of years ago still captured in its walls is an experience one can’t quite explain to anyone. Some of the most famous ice caves to visit in Iceland are Katla Ice Cave, the Blue Ice Cave, and the Crystal Ice Cave.


Ice caves in Iceland

8. Attend a Festival or Event


The Icelanders don’t need a reason to celebrate, so you’ll be sure of plenty of festivals and events to add to your social calendar during your trip. From celebrations such as Reykjavik Pride and music festivals such as the Iceland Airwaves to entertainment such as the Reykjavik International Film Festival and the Viking Festival – you’ll have your pick!


Festivals in Iceland

9. Road Trip Around the Island


One of the best ways to explore the island is by making a road trip out of your travels. There are many popular road trip routes around the island, all with their own unique set of attractions and activities luring road-trippers. Some even take on more than one route during their trip! A few of our most famous routes include the Ring Road, the Golden Circle, the Diamond Circle, and the Westfjords Way.


Road Trip Around the Island

10. Visit a Plane Wreck


The Solheimasandur Plane Wreck is probably one of the most Instagrammable spots in Iceland. But the site isn’t nearly as morbid as it sounds, so you don’t need to feel bad as you smile and snap away. This is merely the skeletal remains of a US plane that had to do an emergency landing, and the cost and effort to retrieve the plane was not something the US was willing to consider. So, today, many visit the dramatic scene to take a few interesting pics. 


Iceland plane wreck


11. Stroll Along Our Black Sand Beaches


The black sand beaches of Iceland have become characteristic of the island. But the black sand isn’t just a beautiful natural wonder, but historical remnants. That’s because the black sand is actually hardened lava of past eruptions that have eroded to mere kernels after thousands of years. Some of the most famous beaches include Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, the Black Sand Beaches of Vik, and Diamond Beach.


Iceland black sand beaches

12. Explore Our National Parks


With breathtaking landscapes like ours, it’s no wonder we boast a few pretty impressive national parks in Iceland. One of which, Vatnajökjull National Park, is even the largest national park in Europe! Each of these parks has its own array of attractions and activities to explore. There is Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Thingvellir National Park, and even though you may still hear people talk about Skaftafell National Park, it now forms part of Vatnajökull National Park.


vatnajokull national park


13. Have a Soak in a Hot Spring


An age-old tradition here in Iceland is to have a relaxing soak in one of our natural hot springs. Some of these hot springs can still be found and enjoyed in their original form, while others are used in our man-made geothermal pools.


The latter, of course, also has all sorts of additional amenities, such as restaurants and spas. A few of our famous natural hot springs include Reykjadalur Valley and Kvika Footbath. Some of our most famous geothermal pools are the Blue Lagoon and the Myvatn Nature Baths.


Things to do in Iceland: Hot Spring

14. Go Horseback Riding on One of the Island’s Own


Exploring the Icelandic landscape on horseback is an immersive experience. But the fact that you do it with the island’s own breed of horse makes this an extraordinarily unique experience.


The Icelandic Horse (yes, the nation’s creativity didn’t shine through when naming them) is a horse that looks more like a pony than a full-grown horse. They are incredibly friendly and can perform a 5th gait. They also boast thick, fluffy fur during the colder months.



Horseback Riding in Iceland

15. Check Out Our Waterfalls


Iceland has an incredible number of waterfalls – over 10,000 of them, to be exact! And even though it would be impossible to visit every one of them during your trip to the island, there are a few famous waterfalls in Iceland that are not to be missed.


These include Dettifoss (the second most powerful waterfall in Europe), Seljalandsfoss (the waterfall you can walk behind), Svartifoss (the inspiration behind Hallgrimskirkja), and Dynjandi (the tiered waterfall).


Waterfalls in Iceland

16. Become a Viking for a Day


Where better to act out your Viking dreams than in the place they originated from? You can have various Viking experiences here in Iceland, such as sailing on an authentic Viking ship, joining a Viking feast in an authentic Viking village, or donning traditional Viking gear and accessories to have your Viking portrait taken at Mink Studios.


Viking activities in Iceland

17. Spot Some Whales


If you’re still wondering what to see in Iceland, whales should definitely be at the top of your list. You will find many whales all along our coast throughout the year. But, if you visit between April and September, you’ll also spot a few of our migratory whale species that call Iceland home during this time. 


Although you might spot a few while walking on the beach or at the harbor, we recommend taking a boat tour for the ultimate whale experience. You will find these tours all over the island. But we suggest booking a spot on a whale-watching tour in Husavik (referred to as the whale-watching capital of Iceland).


whale watching Iceland

18. Try to Take a Snap of an Erupting Geyser


Iceland is home to the very geyser that started the word geyser, called Geysir. Yes, we know, if we say geyser one more time… But these mini water volcanoes, erupting liters of boiling water meters into the air, make for pretty impressive viewing and even more impressive photos (if you manage to get the timing just right). Although Geysir has become practically dormant, its sister geyser, Stokkur, still erupts at least once every 10 minutes.


Things to do in Iceland: Geysir

19. Visit Our Volcanoes


You can’t visit the Land of Fire and Ice and not get close to the island’s fiery side. But this might not be quite what some expect. Although there are many active volcanoes in Iceland, there are only active eruptions every once in a while, with tours that can get you pretty close to the lava action.


Most of the time, visiting volcanoes in Iceland looks more like hiking what appears to be a mountain or a big hole in the ground resembling a lake. Nevertheless, it’s an Icelandic bucket list item that needs to be ticked off, and some of these sites, such as the Askja Caldera, can be incredibly beautiful.


Volcanoes in Iceland

20. Go on a Boat Tour on Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon


The Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is an icy wonderland. This lagoon is filled with gigantic floating icebergs and sheets of ice usually carrying a lazy seal or two. The gigantic icebergs are pieces that break off from the massive glacier you can get within almost touching distance when taking one of the famous boat tours at Jökulsarlon.


There are two boat tours to choose from. The Zodiac Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon boat tours are a bit faster and bumpier as the smaller boat speeds across the lagoon, whereas the Amphibian Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon boat tours have more of a leisurely cruise approach.


Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon

21. Snorkel or Dive Between Two Continents


Iceland sits on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are constantly pushing away from one another. The Silfra Fissure is a spot where this gap between the continents is filled with the clearest glacial water.


This spot is now open to the public to go diving or snorkeling. Just note that to dive the Silfra Fissure, you’ll need sufficient experience and a valid diving license. Anyone else interested in lying suspended in water between two continents can do so by snorkeling the Silfra Fissure.


things to do in Iceland: Snorkel


Now Actually Do All the Things There is to Do in Iceland!


Now that you know the 21 best things to do in Iceland, you can start compiling your trip itinerary. If you’re planning on exploring the island via road trip, we recommend renting a campervan in Reykjavik upon arrival. That way, you can have both your accommodation and transport sorted and take advantage of our affordable (not to mention beautiful) campgrounds.

All that’s left to do after reading our guide is to hit the road and start ticking off all the things to do in Iceland. So, what are you waiting for? Your road-tripping adventure is calling!


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