Welcome to the land of fire and ice. The landscapes here are absolutely stunning and it feels like a dream to be driving through the jaw dropping landscapes. From incredible waterfalls to the comforting hot springs and the majestic glaciers, this place has it all. Here are the best things to experience in Iceland.
1. Ice Caves and Glacier Hike
This is my top pick. If there is one thing to do it needs to be this. This is best enjoyed during the winter. The ice cave I chose to explore can also be seen in the summertime. It is known as the Katla Ice Cave which is situated on top of a volcano. No need to worry, the volcano has not erupted since 1918. Once in the town of Vik you board a super jeep to make your journey to the base. Since I was here in the winter there was deep snow and at one point we got stuck. You are then given crampons to help keep you stable on the ice. The hike is not too strenuous. The ice caves you see are beautiful and took hundreds of years to form. Seeing the air bubbles trapped in the ice tripped me out to know that it contains pockets of air from that long ago. After you reach a certain point, you have the opportunity for some free time. Some choose to climb and slide down part of the glacier and some choose to just explore the surrounding area.
The tour company I went with is Arctic Adventures.
From Vik or Reykjavik: Katla Ice Cave and Super Jeep Tour | GetYourGuide
2. Snorkeling Between Two Tectonic Plates
This activity is all year round and it is located at Thingvellir National Park. You arrive and put on your dry suit. Then you are led to the opening. There you will be tested to see if you can flip on your back, and it gives you an opportunity to turn around if you’re scared. If you are good to go you will be in the most beautiful clear water. I stared down the whole time. Your guide will also provide many go pro photos of you. This is the only place in the world that you can snorkel between two tectonic plates! These tectonic plates are the Eurasia and the North American plates.
3. Golden Circle
The 3 major sites on the Golden Circle are Thingvellir National Park, Haukadalur Geothermal Area, and Gulfoss Waterfall. The term geysir comes from this geothermal area as it contains the first geysir that was documented. The Gulfoss Waterfall made my jaw drop with its immense beauty and grandeur.
4. Blue Lagoon
Honestly, I thought this place would be a little overrated, but it exceeded my expectations. I arrived and received my wrist band. Your wrist band is scanned when you purchase an item which you pay for at the end when you are leaving. I chose the comfort package which included one mask and one drink. You enter the locker room and choose one to place your items in. Then you are supposed to take a shower naked. They do have curtains and then you can enter the lagoon. I learned that the lagoon is famous for the silica properties in it. Silica is great for your skin by keeping moisture locked in and it strengthens the skin barrier. It is said to give you a more youthful complexion. The water also contains algae which stimulates collagen and is said to help skin conditions like psoriasis. These properties may be great for your skin, but I do not recommend getting your hair wet because it will completely dry out. If you just have to put your hair in the water, then make sure to put loads of conditioner in it beforehand.
5. Northern Lights or Midnight Sun
Depending on when you come you can see either of these events. I think everyone has the northern lights on their bucket list and Iceland is one of the best places in the world to watch this spectacular marvel. You can track them when you are here to see when the best chances of viewing them is. If you book a tour and do not get to see them that night, then most will let you reschedule for free until you get to spot them. Sadly, I did not see them while on my trip here, but my picture below is my view of them in Alaska.
On the other hand, you should have no problem spotting the midnight sun.
6. Southern Iceland: Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is one of the most visually stunning places I have witnessed. It is filled with black sand while huge chunks of ice have washed on the shore to resemble diamonds when the sun hits them. If you look out towards the water, you will see seals playing and darting in and out of the water.
Glacier Lagoon looks like it is straight out of a majestic painting. You will see glaciers bobbing in the water and immense mountains behind it.
On the way to these beautiful locations stop to see two waterfalls known as Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Also, stop in Vik and see it’s black sand beach with its basalt rock formations and the little church upon the hill across from it.
7. Try Traditional Icelandic Foods
I enjoyed the restaurant across from Hallgrimskirkja named Cafe Loki. You can try the infamous fermented shark there (has a super strong ammonia smell to it), rye bread icecream, skyr, dried fish, and mashed fish.
8. Explore Lava Tubes
You take a stroll through the path that had once been flowing lava during the Raufarhólshellir eruption. There are two tours to choose from. One is accessible for almost everyone and it takes about an hour to accomplish and the second is for thrillseekers and takes around 3- 4 hours to complete. In the adventure tour you make your way to the bottom of the cave. This lava tube is easily reached from Reykjavík.
The Lava Tunnel – One of the Longest Lava Tube in Iceland | Raufarhólshellir
More activities:
- Horseback riding
- Snaefellsnes Peninsula
- See the puffins (late April to early September)
- Photograph lupine fields (June-July)
- Lava Show
- Go to a quirky museum in Reykjavik
This is my extensive list of best things to do in Iceland. It is one of the most magical destinations to explore and once you go, you will crave going back.