Tours, adventures, experiences, places and sights: Every time I think I have heard of everything in Iceland, seen most of it and start wondering what else could possibly be left: There is always something new to discover!
How are you supposed to do it all? Honestly, you can’t — and you don’t have to. But just for fun, and because I enjoy covering these things as comprehensively as possible, I want to try to list everything I know in this post. I hope you’ll help out by adding the things that are still missing in the comments.
To keep the list from getting too long, we’ll group everything a bit and only mention the places briefly. Where it makes sense, I’ll link to more detailed articles and tour operators.
Here we go…
Tours to hot springs in Iceland
For many people this alone is a reason to come here: the natural hot springs in Iceland. There are dozens of them all over the country, from small pools to large lakes, geothermal rivers and even ice-cold basins.
My favorites when it comes to hot springs in Iceland, especially in the capital region:
- The Secret Lagoon
- Kvika
- Brimketill (not for bathing!)
Something many people underestimate: It doesn’t always have to be the small natural hot springs. Sure, they are usually beautiful and romantic, but they were never meant for the crowds of people visiting Iceland today. That’s why these lovely places suffer particularly from Iceland’s popularity. A great alternative comes in the form of the wonderful swimming pools you’ll find all over the country: Many of them are at least as beautiful as their natural counterparts.
Not only in Reykjavík but all over the country there are many big and small swimming pools, often equipped with hot pots and here and there even with saunas or steam baths. These are usually built for it and can be used by lots of people without falling apart.
The best tours in Iceland
Day tours from Reykjavík are the most popular way to explore the country. Many visitors come during a season when it’s hard to find the right rental car, for example. In winter, I keep recommending to only rent a car if you know exactly what you are doing and have experience driving in snow.
Alternatively, there are guided day tours, sometimes for a single day but often spread over several days. They are led by experienced guides and usually run with small or large buses or jeeps. The advantage is obvious: The guides’ experience and the right equipment make such a tour fairly relaxed, and as a participant you can focus on what really matters: enjoying it.
Golden Circle tours in Iceland
By far the most popular tour is probably the one along the Golden Circle. You drive east from Reykjavík for about a day, stopping at several stations. First at Þingvellir National Park, then usually at the geyser Strokkur and after that at the waterfall Gullfoss. The tours are often offered in several variants or as combinations.
This tour makes particular sense in winter: The weather in this area can change very quickly and be treacherous. It’s not uncommon to set off in sunshine under a clear sky and then have to find your way back in the dark through snow and storm.
If you’re driving yourself, the Iceland App is a great companion — it includes its own tour for the Golden Circle, in which I tell you a bit about the Golden Circle itself and some selected stops along the way.
Tours along Iceland’s south coast
Iceland’s south coast is packed with great sights and therefore very popular with travelers. Right after the Golden Circle, tours here are probably among the most popular activities in the country.
Between Reykjavík and the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón — the area where these tours usually take place — there are dozens of stops: the geothermal river in Reykjadalur, the Lava Center, many different waterfalls such as the famous Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Svartifoss and a few more. Further east you’ll find the dreamy little town of Vík with its famous pitch-black beach, Skaftafell National Park and, later on, the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón.
Weather-wise, the south coast has two faces. Especially in summer it can be so beautiful here: sunshine and a mild breeze from the sea. You can see the road stretching out for miles ahead of you, along with the mountains and beaches that come with it. In conditions like these, driving yourself is certainly a great option. But this region can also be difficult, especially in winter: With the Atlantic wind often blowing hard from the south and temperatures that can be freezing cold, it can get really unpleasant here in autumn and winter. Large cars, motorhomes and campervans in Iceland in particular have a hard time then. At those times of year, a guided tour with professionals who lead you safely and comfortably through Iceland’s landscape might be the better choice.
Tours to Snæfellsnes – Iceland in miniature
Snæfellsnes, also known as “Iceland in miniature”, is one of the most beautiful regions of the country, and here you’ll find everything that makes Iceland special packed into a small area: great hot pots, volcanoes and mountains, caves and waterfalls and much more.
There are day tours here from Reykjavík, and I’ve done them several times myself. I always recommend splitting the tour over two days if possible — it makes the whole thing a bit more relaxed and you can enjoy it much more.
Sights you should see on Snæfellsnes include the waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss, the Vatnshellir cave, Arnarstapi and many more.
Adventures in Iceland
Iceland may be a rugged, natural and rather quiet country, but if you’re looking for action, you’ll get your money’s worth here too.
Diving in the most surreal places you can imagine, snowmobile tours, surfing in the ice-cold Atlantic, skiing on remote mountains and helicopter tours — there’s certainly something for every adrenaline junkie.
As a diver myself I can especially recommend diving in Iceland — and it’s not just for fans of this sport. Don’t worry: even without a diving license you can see the clearest water in the world in Silfra and enjoy the incredible views while snorkeling. Ice-cold 2–3°C water is your challenge — but there’s hot chocolate and cookies afterwards!
Snowmobile tours are also very popular in winter and take place, for example, near Þingvellir National Park. You get to race around quite wildly on these fairly big machines. Thanks to the thick blanket of snow and professional guidance it’s exciting, but relatively low-risk.
If you really want to push your limits, you can try various water sports: In the north of Iceland there’s a whitewater rafting company offering tours on the local rivers — you won’t stay dry, that’s for sure. Surfers have settled especially in Iceland’s Westfjords, because there are a few fjords here that produce breathtaking waves. Surfing is done in a thick wetsuit with a hood, booties and gloves — and it still gets cold. If you’re wondering why anyone would put themselves through that, you probably haven’t seen Chris Burkard’s film “Under an Arctic Sky” yet.
Sports in Iceland
Besides the sporty activities already mentioned above, there are of course more moderate options too.
Horseback riding, for example. In and around Reykjavík — and of course throughout the whole country — there are countless horse farms, most of which also offer riding tours. Short rides are on offer just as much as long ones or even multi-day tours. Please remember: In Iceland, you shouldn’t call Icelandic horses ponies — they’re horses. Otherwise things might get sporty 😉
In addition, the runner Inga Fanney offers running tours in Iceland that are certainly far from ordinary. Not only does Inga know the country incredibly well, she surely also has thousands of great stories to tell from her runs in Greenland and on the Faroe Islands. There are small and big tours — from beginner to pro, Inga pretty much covers it all.
Hiking in Iceland
Hiking tours are not as common in Iceland as you might think. That’s mainly down to the weather: There aren’t really that many days in the year when hiking is truly a good idea if you’re not from here.
One of the most popular hiking routes is the Laugavegur, a trail from the south up into the Highlands, from Skógafoss up to Landmannalaugar.
For a short day hike, the trail into the Reykjadalur valley to its hot springs is a great option. They feed a small river in which you can take a relaxing bath even in snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. The surrounding geothermal area offers plenty more to see on top of that.
A true paradise for hikers can be found in Þórsmörk, the valley of Thor. There are dozens of incredibly beautiful hiking trails here, and thanks to its location only a few tourists find their way here each year. A hike up a nearby mountain is one of the highlights of this tour, and if you’re very lucky you might even spot Icelandic arctic foxes here.
Waterfalls in Iceland
Iceland is the land of waterfalls. In no other country have I seen more of them — and such beautiful and large ones at that.
We’ve compiled all the waterfalls in Iceland in a dedicated article along with various facts about them. So here are just our personal highlights.
Gullfoss is probably the most famous waterfall in Iceland and is visited by everyone doing a tour along the Golden Circle. On the south coast, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are essential. These two waterfalls aren’t famous without reason and shouldn’t be skipped on any tour along the south coast. If you’re traveling around Snæfellsnes, make a detour to Kirkjufellsfoss, a beautiful little waterfall with a stunning mountain in the background. If you’re in the north, visit the waterfall Goðafoss. It’s located slightly northeast of Mývatn. In the Westfjords, the drive to Dynjandi is well worth it — one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls thanks to its sheer size and thundering volume.
For most waterfalls — except perhaps the ones in the south — there are no dedicated tours. So on a round trip in Iceland you should make use of your rental car. Many of them are a great sight in winter too, but often hard to reach, so make sure you pick the right rental car for winter!
Museums & exhibitions in Iceland
The biggest selection is in Iceland’s capital Reykjavík, home to a large number of different exhibitions and museums.
But throughout the rest of the country you’ll also come across scattered little museums, such as the museum at Skógafoss. There are also exhibitions like the Lava Center, which are spread across the whole country as well — such as the Arctic Fox Center in Iceland’s Westfjords.
Among the best museums in the capital, in our opinion, is the Perlan Museum, a little outside the city center. It hosts various exhibitions, including an artificial ice cave, a planetarium and rotating exhibitions on topics like glaciers, volcanoes and the local flora and fauna.
Whales of Iceland is an exhibition of life-size whale models. More than 30 different whales are on display in the big hall at Reykjavík’s old harbour, explained through multimedia. Here you can get a great impression of these enormous marine mammals — and afterwards, just a few hundred meters away, head straight out on a whale watching tour.
Also in the area are the Northern Lights museum and the Saga Museum, both places where you can learn about typically Icelandic phenomena. If you’re here in summer, or simply had no luck in winter, the museum dedicated to the northern lights gets you closer to them than anywhere else. The celestial displays are beautifully presented and explained here. At the Saga Museum you’ll learn about Iceland’s history and stories — the sagas.
A somewhat quirky museum can be found in downtown Reykjavík these days: the Phallological Museum. Yes indeed, a museum dedicated to, well, members (not the club kind!!!).
Whale watching tours on Guide to Iceland
Whale watching tours on GetYourGuide
Conclusion: Way too much to experience in Iceland!
Wow — your head must be spinning, right?
There is simply so much to experience in Iceland that you can’t possibly do it all! And you don’t have to — but with the list above you’re guaranteed not to miss anything and can put together your own perfect trip. Whether you’re into adventures, guided tours, slow travel or anything else: There’s definitely something for you in the list above!
Have fun in Iceland!
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