Few destinations capture the imagination like Iceland.
This volcanic land of ice and fire, of glacier-carved fjords, of freely-roaming horses, feels like nowhere else on earth.听Here, you can take a soak in its geothermal baths and spas, delve into the history and legends of the Icelandic sagas, and explore otherworldly ice caves.
Iceland keeps visitors entranced for entire trips 鈥 and for years after. Experience some of that magic with these top things to do.
These are the 12 best places to visit in Iceland
1. See history brought back to life at Iceland's living museums
Iceland revels in bringing history back to life with numerous living museums that invite visitors to step back in time. You might bake bread over an open fire, listen to a story of ancient heroes and heroines, or swing a sword in an epic fight.听You can step inside a replica longhouse at 贰颈谤铆办蝉蝉迟补冒颈谤听in West Iceland or don VR goggles at to get an immersive experience of one of Iceland's most fearsome battles.
Each summer, a historic marketplace near Akureyri is brought back to life for the . Watch a blacksmith hammer a blade or smell scorched birch as it's transformed into charcoal. See boiling herbs dye wool or have a witch tell your fortune with ancient runes. You can even test your skills with a bow and arrow, or help to egg a thief. The country has plenty of other historic sites and intriguing exhibitions.
Planning tip: For more historic and mythic inspiration, check out the .
Get to know more about Iceland's history with听our guide to Icelandic sagas
2. Soak in geothermal baths and spas
For years the high-end bathing market in Iceland was听dominated by听. The milky blue geothermal seawater in the middle of a lava field is still perfect for jetlag recovery 鈥 it helps that it's 20 minutes from the airport 鈥 but more geothermal baths and spas have popped up in recent years, attracting visitors for their elegant architecture, stunning settings, and unique bathing experiences.
The in northern Iceland overlook Lake M媒vatn and the surrounding bird-filled wetlands and volcanic landscapes. Situated on the banks of Lake Laugarvatn, pipes in natural steam for its steam bath.
If you're looking for solitude, the include a guided hike through stunning Icelandic wilderness followed by a dip in the secluded geothermal pools.听For Insta-worthy views, overlooks Skj谩lfandi Bay and its snow-tipped mountains. near Egilssta冒ir features geothermal pools floating in Urri冒avatn Lake. Right on the capital's doorstep,听 in K贸pavogur brings a fully Icelandic spa experience within reach for visitors to 搁别测办箩补惫铆办. Relax in the two pools (with swim-up bars) surrounded by woodland at the听听just outside Akureyri.
Local tip: Iceland has some serious etiquette rules, especially when it comes to hot springs. You should always shower with soap before taking a dip.
3. Have a night out in 搁别测办箩补惫铆办
In a country with comparatively high booze prices, 搁别测办箩补惫铆办's nightlife is unmatched. Happy hours in 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 usually begin at 4pm听鈥 cozy and are good places to start. For creative cocktails, head for听 and 听and find a spot on听's rooftop bar, which is wonderful on sunny days.听If pubs are more your thing, check out and , where there's often live music to boot.
and are good choices if you want to dance the night away. The crowd at always goes crazy when "rock'n'roll grandma" Andrea J贸nsd贸ttir starts DJ-ing at the weekends, and you'll find a similarly joyful atmosphere at听.
4. Explore Iceland's caves
From ancient lava tubes to ever-changing ice caves and mysterious artificial caves, Iceland has a range of underground adventures for everyone. Some 200 artificial caves have been carved into sandstone rock between Selfoss and V铆k in South Iceland. Irish monks (called Papar in Icelandic) were thought to have created them before or around the time the first settlers arrived in the country, though the theory lacks sufficient archaeological evidence. of 12 of these caves are available at the farm, 脝giss铆冒a by Hella.
Natural ice caves form in 痴补迟苍补箩枚办耻濒濒, Europe's largest glacier, due to geothermal heat or spring thaw. This fleeting, crystalized world of wonder can only be explored with experienced guides. Alternatively, you can visit the artificial ice tunnel in 尝补苍驳箩枚办耻濒濒听or the ice cave at Perlan in 搁别测办箩补惫铆办. There are myriad large and small lava caves, tubes and tunnels around Iceland, too, all of which reveal surprising colors and formations like stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over hundreds of years. Guided tours are offered in near H煤safell, Iceland's largest lava cave, on Sn忙fellsnes and near Lake M媒vatn.
5. Check local information before hiking near active volcanoes
In Iceland, there are approximately 130 volcanoes, and eruptions occur every three years on average. The most recent activity is near Grindav铆k on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It started with a series of earthquakes in November 2023听followed by eruptions over the following months. Nearby Geldingadalir, on the doorstep of Keflav铆k International Airport, has had small-scale eruptions that attracted onlookers with its magnificent (yet intermittent) lava flow since March 19, 2021. Currently and no one should be hiking in the vicinity, but there are other volcanic spots you can explore on foot. Check for updates with or app.
In 1973, the inhabitants of Vestmannaeyjar, an archipelago off the southwest coast, escaped an eruption that started unexpectedly in their town, burying houses in lava and ash. One of these houses is the centerpiece of the museum Eldheimar.听
Hekla, Iceland's most active volcano, was believed to be the entrance to hell, but it has been quiet since 2000. At 1500m (4920ft), it provides an interesting and challenging hike with a panoramic view from the top.听At dormant 脼r铆hn煤kag铆gur, you can . From the top, you're lowered down 213m (699ft) into an enormous and unbelievably colorful magma chamber.
Walk through Iceland's inspiring landscapes with our guide to the top hiking routes听
6. See the northern lights and other celestial phenomena
If luck is on your side, green, purple and red ribbons flow across the dark sky on a clear winter night. The northern lights are beautiful, powerful, hypnotizing; you can sense how small you are under the hue of a celestial phenomenon that dominates the heavens above. It's best to follow forecasts, base yourself far from light pollution and be patient 鈥 or to up the odds. Learn more about the elusive aurora borealis at Perlan or the Northern Lights Center in 搁别测办箩补惫铆办.听
There are other things to observe in the winter sky above Iceland, too. The Hotel Rang谩 observatory in South Iceland has a roll-off roof and two high-quality telescopes, bringing you closer to the stars in the sky.听
Planning tip:听If you'd prefer to visit Iceland in the summer, the midnight sun provides for spectacular views, especially in north Iceland. For the summer solstice (June 21) find a good location for observing the sun bouncing off the ocean surface. One idea is the Arctic Henge in Raufarh枚fn, which was designed as a giant sundial to capture the midnight sun in perfectly aligned gateways.
7. Hike or bike through stunning natural wonders
After the snow melts and the mud dries in summer, Iceland reveals its incredible hiking routes听past stunning natural sites. Two of the most famous trails are Laugavegur from Landmannalaugar to 脼贸rsm枚rk, past multicolored mountains (2鈥4 days), and across from Sk贸gafoss to 脼贸rsm枚rk, along a series of waterfalls (1鈥2 days).
In the East, the St贸rur冒 trail 鈥 which takes about 5 hours 鈥 attracts hikers in growing numbers for its turquoise ponds trapped by huge boulders. In the Westfjords, hiking in the uninhabited Hornstrandir Nature Reserve (one to multiple days) provides a closer encounter with nature than most other places.听If you'd rather explore Iceland on a bike, popular trails include the geothermal valley Reykjadalur by Hverager冒i and the emerald green landscape around Kirkjub忙jaklaustur, where is based.
8. Take a budget-friendly swim with the locals
The most authentic and budget-friendly way to enjoy Iceland's geothermal energy is at the public swimming pools. Practically every town and village has at least one. The water is warm and welcoming, lounging in the hot tubs is bliss, and some of the views are worth the trip alone.听
This is where the locals go to exercise, socialize and play with their kids. Find your favorites, but among pools worth visiting are 听for its wave pool, for its thrilling waterslides, for being next to a salmon river, and for the amazing view of Drangey Island.
9. Don't miss Iceland's snow sports听
There are so many ways to enjoy the snowy season in Iceland. Find ski resorts near 搁别测办箩补惫铆办, , , Akureyri and , with ski lifts and slopes of varying levels, as well as tracks for cross-country skiing.
The backcountry skiing season lasts through May, with a range of tours on offer, including skiing from the mountaintop to the shore. Kaldbakur mountain by Greniv铆k is popular among backcountry skiers. It's possible to hitch a ride with a snowmobile up the mountain. The view from the top of Eyjafj枚r冒ur fjord and Hr铆sey island is breathtaking. If you're not keen on skiing, you can take a thrilling sleigh ride down the mountain in a custom-made toboggan.听
At Lake M媒vatn, you can book a ride with sleigh dogs. For a motorized, action-packed adventure, Skidoo tours are particularly popular on the glaciers in the west and south.
Local tip: If you're looking for a slower-paced type of winter activity, snowshoeing might be your thing, walking up mountains in the north or exploring the black-and-white wonderworld of Dimmuborgir lava field.
10. Get out on the water to see whales and seals
When you're out on the open ocean and feel the salty air and wind in your hair, you sense a special kind of freedom, and if you're paying attention, you might see seabirds catch fish or even a blowing whale. H煤sav铆k is the best place to go whale watching in Iceland, with many tours on offer and a high sighting ratio 鈥 even blue whales are occasionally seen here.听Tours also go from Hauganes and 搁别测办箩补惫铆办. Seal-watching tours depart from Hvammstangi. Watching these curious creatures sunbathe in their natural habitat is delightful. Operators in Dalv铆k and Akureyri also take hopeful whale spotters out on daily excursions.
Alternatively you can sign up for a sea kayaking tour for a slower and more intimate exploration of coastal regions. Find operators in Stykkish贸lmur and 脰gur in 脥safjar冒ardj煤p, among other places. Paddleboarding is also becoming a popular activity in Akureyri.听From 脫lafsfj枚r冒ur jetski tours allow people to experience the vertical cliffs of 脫lafsfjar冒arm煤li from below.
Detour: For experiences below the surface, takes experienced divers on tours to a unique geothermal chimney on the ocean floor of Eyjafj枚r冒ur. At Gr铆msey island, people can dive and snorkel with puffins right on the arctic circle.
11. Sample some Icelandic craft beers
The local beer always says something special about the place you're visiting, and you can add a new frothy dimension to your Iceland trip by touring the country's surprisingly many microbreweries. The craft beer scene is relatively new in Iceland; the first microbrewery, , was founded in the tiny village of 脕rsk贸gssandur in North Iceland in 2006. Its product, Kaldi, proved a hit, and in the years that followed, a growing variety of craft beers appeared on the local market.听
Among the most noteworthy breweries in the greater 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 area are , and . There are also breweries in the rural south, in Vestmannaeyjar off the South Coast, in Siglufj枚r冒ur in the far north and听脥蝉补蹿箩枚谤冒耻谤 in the Westfjords.
12. Try Iceland's fine dining
The Icelandic restaurant scene has come a long way in the past decades. earned the country's first Michelin star in 2017 and has since been joined by in 搁别测办箩补惫铆办. The听latter draws inspiration from Middle Eastern cuisine.听Other top recommendations include听听and , which听both emphasize New Nordic dishes with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Outside of 搁别测办箩补惫铆办, in Egilssta冒ir deserves a special mention for its loyalty to East Icelandic food producers 鈥 highlighting local fish, meat, vegetables, grain and dairy 鈥 and game, including reindeer. Meanwhile, in 厂别测冒颈蝉蹿箩枚谤冒耻谤 (open in summer only) combines the best of Japanese cuisine with the freshest Icelandic seafood.
13. Ride Iceland's unique horses
The Icelandic horse is one of a kind. The breed possesses two rare gaits in addition to the "regular" ones, the smooth 迟枚濒迟 and fast-flying pace. For centuries Icelanders have relied on the small, sturdy and colorful breed for farm work and carrying them between places in a roadless country. Today, the horses remain Icelanders' most loyal companions as more people practice horsemanship in Iceland than in other European countries. Riding on a good 迟枚濒迟ing horse in the wild Icelandic nature is an experience like no other. Through the horse's movements, you connect with nature in a new way, and you feel incredibly free as you gallop along narrow dirt paths or across shallow lakes. offer anything from one-hour tours for beginners to multi-day tours for experienced riders in different regions of the country in varied landscapes.
Detour:听One of the most popular horseback-riding treks is across the highland on the ancient route, Kj枚lur.
14. Explore 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 on an outdoor art trail
Combine a walking tour of 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 with a "treasure hunt" where you find as many outdoor artworks as possible. The "Viking ship" sculpture 厂贸濒蹿补谤 by J贸n Gunnar 脕rnason is a given. Fewer tourists pay attention to Vatnsberinn (The Water Carrier) by 脕smundur Sveinsson in the heart of downtown or 脷迟濒补驳颈苍苍 (The Outlaw) by Einar J贸nsson on the corner of Su冒urgata and Hringbraut 鈥 works by two of Iceland's most famous sculptors.听
脼煤蹿补 (The Tussock) is a more recent addition to the capital's outdoor art scene but quickly became a landmark. The 8m-high grassy mound in the Grandi harbor area was created by 脫l枚f Nordal in 2013, inviting visitors to walk to the top for a view of the city.听Outside 搁别测办箩补惫铆办, Eggin 铆 Gle冒iv铆k by Sigur冒ur Gu冒mundsson represents the eggs of 34 species of birds that nest around Dj煤pivogur. In 厂别测冒颈蝉蹿箩枚谤冒耻谤, 罢惫铆蝉枚苍驳耻谤 is a fascinating musical sculpture by German artist Lukas K眉hne.
Local tip: Download the multi-language 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 Art Walk app to learn more about the arty side of Iceland's capital.听
