Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries our team has ever had the pleasure of visiting. The vast amounts of waterfalls, glaciers, geysers and jaw-dropping views has this place near the top of our list of must-see bucket list destinations. We’ve outlined all of the best places to check out below, splitting them out by region to easily plan out a vacation. Get started on planning your trip to Iceland by reviewing the list below, or follow our incredibly detailed 6 day travel guide and itinerary here.
Time Spent: 45 minutes or 3 hours (with tour)
Best Time to Visit: Early Morning or Late Afternoon
Type: Glacier Lagoon
Cost: Free
Jökulsárlón is an absolutely stunning attraction that we recommend everyone adds to their “must-see list” when visiting Iceland. We loved every minute of this incredible and expansive glacier lagoon, and would also highly push everyone to also take the Ice Lagoon Zodiac Boat Tour.
Time Spent: 1 hour 15 minutes
Distance: 1.2 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Beginner
Type of Trail: There & Back
Best Time to Visit: Morning
Type: Canyon
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 3 hours 30 minutes
Distance: 1.2 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Beginner
Type of Trail: There & Back
Best Time to Visit: Morning
Type: National Park
Cost: $9 / 1,000 ISK
Þingvellir is a stunning national park in Southwest Iceland, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik, that sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Crowds of tourists flock to this attraction every year to walk between the two continents, see the beautiful Öxarárfoss waterfall, go snorkeling at Silfra and hike out to the abandoned farms of Skógarkot.
Time Spent: 50 minutes or 3 hours
Distance: 5.5 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Beginner to Moderate
Type of Trail: There & Back
Best Time to Visit: Midday
Type: Waterfall
Cost: Free
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest and most powerful waterfalls that features an epic 60 meter drop. Located on the Skógá river, this waterfall is visible from the road and is one of the best attractions along south coast of Iceland. It offers not only a view of one of the world’s most prestigious waterfalls, but you can also take a set of stairs to the top and enjoy a beautiful hike along the Skógá river.
Time Spent: 1 hour 15 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Morning or Midday
Type: Glacier
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 35 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Daytime or Sunset
Type: Waterfall
Cost: Free
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is one of Iceland’s most visited and photographed waterfalls on the South Coast. This waterfall differs from others, in that you can walk behind the falls to see the incredible force of the water and unique views.
Time Spent: 30 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Morning
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 35 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Daytime
Type: Waterfall
Cost: Free
Gljúfrabúi translates to “one that lives within the canyon,” and that’s exactly where this waterfall resides. Found tucked away between a small entry between two rocks, you will find a legendary Icelandic waterfall that makes you feel like you’re in a bubble from the outside world. Although this waterfall is only a short five minute walk away from the incredible Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, this is a less visited attraction and doesn’t draw a big of crowds, which makes it a bit more exclusive.
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Time Spent: 30 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Dusk / Sunset
Type: Glacier Lagoon
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 2 hours 25 minutes
Distance: 3.4 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Beginner to Moderate
Type of Trail: Loop
Best Time to Visit: Afternoon
Type: National Park
Cost: $9 / 1,000 ISK
Time Spent: 2 hours 25 minutes
Distance: 3.4 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Beginner to Moderate
Type of Trail: Loop
Best Time to Visit: Afternoon
Type: Waterfall
Cost: $9 / 1,000 ISK
Time Spent: 30 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Morning
Type: Beach
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 25 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Early Morning or Evening
Type: Waterfall
Cost: Free
Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) is an iconic waterfall of Iceland offering a spectacular view of the forces and beauty of untouched nature. Gullfoss is part of the Golden Circle tour, located in South Iceland on the Hvítá (White) river which is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. The water plummets down 32 meters in two stages into a rugged canyon which walls reach up to 70 meters in height.
Time Spent: 50 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Late Afternoon
Type: Crater
Cost: $3.50 / 400 ISK
Time Spent: 40 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Early Morning or Evening
Type: Geysir
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 3 hours
Distance: 2.4 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Beginner to Moderate
Type of Trail: There & Back
Best Time to Visit: Morning to Midday
Type: Hot Spring
Cost: Free
The Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River is a hot spring and hike in that offers an amazing experience of being able to bathe and relax in the naturally heated Icelandic water.
Time Spent: 2 hours 25 minutes
Distance: 3.4 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Beginner to Moderate
Type of Trail: Loop
Best Time to Visit: Midday
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: $9 / 1,000 ISK
Time Spent: 25 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Daytime
Type: Waterfall
Cost: Free
More water flows over Urriðafoss falls in Þjórsá River than any other Icelandic waterfall. Þjórsá is Iceland’s longest river that flows about 230 km from source to sea and, in very cold winter conditions, ice can be piled up at the waterfall up to 30 meters in thickness.
Time Spent: 1 hour
Best Time to Visit: Early Morning or Sunset
Type: Mountain & Waterfall
Cost: Free
There are plenty of reasons why Kirkjufellsfoss is a photographers dream location to visit and capture moments from. Located near the town of Grundarfjörður on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, this waterfall has an amazing backdrop whichever way you look at it and is very easy to get to. During the winter, this attraction draws many travelers chasing the northern lights to get a glowing shot of the legendary Kirkjufell.
Time Spent: 4 hours
Distance: 3.8 Miles (Roundtrip)
Hiking Difficulty: Advanced
Type of Trail: Loop
Best Time to Visit: Daytime
Type: Waterfall
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 20 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Morning
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 25 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Morning
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 5 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Afternoon or Sunset
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 3 hours
Best Time to Visit: Morning or Night
Type: Spa
Cost: $91.15 / 9,987.31 ISK
The Blue Lagoon Iceland is a geothermal spa that is a well known, highly visited attraction in Iceland. The spa, located in a lava field near Grindavík, is open all year round and is supplied by water used in the nearby Svartsengi Power Station, which is a very comfortable 39°C/102°F on average. The location is easy to get to from both Reykjavík and Keflavík International Airport.
Time Spent: 10 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Dusk / Sunset
Type: Church
Cost: Free or $9 / 1000 ISK (for entry to the tower)
Hallgrímskirkja church is Reykjavík’s main landmark and is visible throughout the entire city. This 244 ft tall masterpiece’s design was inspired by Iceland’s landscape, but focuses on features from Svartifoss Waterfall and Hálsanefshellir Cave. Directly in front of the church, there is a statue of Leifur Eiríksson, who was the first European to discover America. The church is free to enter, but admission to the tower is $9 / 1000 ISK. The tower provides a view over Reykjavík, but may not be worth the trip to the top.
Time Spent: 5 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Dusk / Sunset
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: Free
Sólfarið – Sun Voyager is a sculpture by Icelandic artist Jón Gunnar Árnason. The iconic statue was unveiled in 1990 and is meant to portray a dream of hope, progress and freedom. It is located on the Reykjavík harbor near the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre.
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Time Spent: 2 hours 30 min
Type: Restaurant
Cost: $125 / 13,900 ISK
Dill Restaurant is the real deal. It was founded by Gunnar Karl Gíslason in 2009, but is now in the hands of Ragnar Eiríksson, and is located in the heart of Reykjavík. Dill Restaurant became the first Icelandic restaurant to earn a Michelin star in February of 2017. The style of the restaurant’s food and its presentation, featuring authentic Icelandic cuisine, makes for a very unique experience and is highly recommended.
Time Spent: 1 hour 10 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Daytime
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 20 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Daytime
Type: Lake
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 30 minutes
Type: Hot Dog Stand
Cost (per hot dog): $4 / 450 ISK
Time Spent: 5 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Dusk / Sunset
Type: Venue
Cost: Varies (Dependent on Event)
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is one of Reykjavik‘s greatest and distinguished landmarks. It is in the heart of the city and features stunning views of the surrounding mountains and Reykjavik’s harbor. Harpa has won multiple architecture awards and is a powerful attraction that is a must-see when visiting the city.
Time Spent: 20 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Daytime
Type: Geothermal Area
Cost: Free
Time Spent: 20 minutes
Best Time to Visit: Daytime
Type: Sightseeing
Cost: Free
This mid-Atlantic ridge is pulling apart the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at a rate of 2.5 centimeters per year. While most of this happens deep on the ocean floor, this portion of the ridge runs right through the middle of Iceland. The Bridge Between Continents offers a unique experience to walk across the tectonic plates!
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