Iceland attractions

Close to the attractions of Iceland’s Golden Circle but far from the crowds of the famous Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s Secret Lagoon offers natural hot springs and a remote location surrounded by icy wilderness and rugged lava fields.

There's a lot to see in Iceland, and the grand Golden Circle (Gullni Hringurinn) is your ticket to easily hitting multiple popular sights, especially if you only have one day to venture outside Reykjavik. Departing from the city, Golden Circle tours showcase a number of southwest Iceland's natural attractions—think geysers, waterfalls, lava fields, volcanic craters, and Icelandic horses. There are few other places in Europe where you can see so much topographical variety on one short trip.

Perched on the cusp of Europe’s largest glacier and separated from the Atlantic Ocean by just a narrow isthmus, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is the largest, deepest, and arguably most magnificent of Iceland’s many glacial lakes. Here, icebergs bob in glittering water framed by jagged peaks, rugged lava fields, and black-sand beaches.

Named after Reverend Hallgrimur Petursson, author of Iceland’s most popular hymn book,Passion Hymns (Passiusalmar), Hallgrim's Church (Hallgrímskirkja) is an unmistakable landmark in downtown Reykjavik. Visible throughout the city, the tower of the white concrete Lutheran church offers some of the best views of the Reykjavik skyline and surrounding area.

The Silfra fissure is a water-filled crack between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, where the two continents drift apart from each other. Water travels from the Langjökull glacier through porous lava rock during a journey that takes between 30 and 100 years before seeping into the fissure.

Geysir may be Iceland’s best-known geyser (and the one after which all others are named), but its neighbor, Strokkur, is equally impressive. Despite only rising to heights of up to 100 feet (30.5 meters), compared to Geysir’s 200 feet (61 meters), Strokkur erupts several times an hour, unlike Geysir, which remains largely dormant thanks to its clogged conduit.

Marvel at the sheer natural force on display at Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and one of Iceland’s most extraordinary attractions. Dropping some 132,000 gallons (500 cubic meters) of water per second 148 feet (45 meters) down the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, Dettifoss is a must-see for visitors to North Iceland.

The mirrored glass dome of Perlan shines from its position on Öskjuhlíð hill, just outside Reykjavik. Comprising a glass hemisphere sitting atop six massive hot water tanks, the building houses a restaurant, viewing deck, and the Perlan Museum, which focuses on Iceland’s natural wonders.

Langjökull is the second largest glacier in Iceland; it covers 361 square miles (934 square kilometers) and conceals at least two active volcanic systems. The glacier feeds Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot springs, and Thingvellir National Park, and offers opportunities for hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and exploring ice caves.

The small settlement of Dalvik, tucked between one of Iceland’s longest and most stunning fjords and the rolling hills of Svarfaðardalur, serves as the jumping-off point for ferries to Grimsey Island. It’s also a destination in its own right for outdoor adventures like hiking, whale watching, golfing, and bird watching.

Covering more than 270 square miles (700 square kilometers) and reaching a thickness of as much as 2,460 feet (750 meters) in places, this vast glacier is Iceland’s fourth largest. It sits atop the active Katla Volcano, which has erupted many times over the centuries, spewing meltwater, rock fragments, and ash into the air.

With its gurgling mud pools, hissing steam vents, and plumes of volcanic rock, it’s easy to see why the Hverir geothermal area was chosen as a filming location for HBO’sGame of Thrones. It’s a mesmerizing sight, with the pockmarked terrain bubbling with silver-gray mud and steaming fumaroles, and the stench of sulfur omnipresent.

Formed by a massive volcanic eruption more than two millennia ago—and surrounded by surreal lava formations, mud pots, volcanic craters, and steaming fumaroles—Lake Mývatn remains geothermally active. The lake’s name comes from the swarming midges that fuel the local bird population.

Skaftafell National Park, which sprawls across the southern tip of the Vatnajokull glacier, is one of the most popular corners of the larger Vatnajokull National Park. Dominated by the Skaftafellsjökull glacier, Skaftafell offers 1,930 square miles (5,000 square kilometers) of rugged mountainous terrain and glacial tongues.

Isolated and rarely visited, the Westfjords of Iceland are a unique and particularly beautiful part of the country. The Dynjandi group of waterfalls, located here, is one of the biggest draw to the area. Scenically spilling over 100 meters cumulatively, the shape of the many falls appears as one wide waterfall that is a sight to behold. In total there are seven falls cascading, and Dynjandi (which translates to ‘thunderous’) is one of them.Aside from its size and natural beauty, the remoteness of this waterfall is what makes it special. It is even joked that there are more waterfalls there than people in the Westfjords. It’ll take some effort to reach it, but you may have it all to yourself when you do. And it will be worth it: in a country filled with so many natural wonders, it’s amazing that Dynjandi or Fjalifoss stands out to many visitors as the most beautiful in the entire country.

Among Iceland’s most famous peaks, the notoriously difficult-to-pronounce Eyjafjallajökull volcano made headlines when it erupted in 2010, spewing an enormous cloud of volcanic ash that grounded air traffic all across Europe. The imposing, ice-capped volcano has three main peaks, the tallest of which reaches 5,417 feet (1,651 meters).

Dedicated to one of nature’s most show-stopping wonders, the Aurora Reykjavik (Northern Lights Center) features touch screens and other interactive displays on the Northern Lights. Browse exhibits and watch a short film showcasing some of the most colorful displays of the Aurora Borealis to have graced the Icelandic skies.

Learn about local history during a visit to Videy Island, across the water from Reykjavik. The first settlement on the island dates back to the 10th century, and Videy was once home to Augustine monks. Today, it's a popular breeding ground for birds and there are scenic tracks for walks, biking, and horseback riding.

Sitting on Reykjavik’s waterfront, facing the impressive figure of Mt. Esja across the bay, the gleaming sculpture of Sun Voyager (Solfar) makes for an excellent photo opportunity. The 60-foot-long stainless steel artwork resembles the skeletal frame of a boat and sits on a circle of granite slabs jutting into the sea.

West Iceland’s Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring is famed as the highest flowing hot spring in Europe. With a rapid flow rate of 40 gallons (180 liters) per second, the spring produces so much energy that much of its water is used for heating Icelandic homes. It’s a great place to understand how Icelanders harness the power of their natural environment.

Skarfabakki Cruise Terminal in Reykjavik serves as the gateway not only to the city itself but also to the rugged natural wonders of Iceland, from the Blue Lagoon and the Gullfoss waterfall to the Strokkur geyser. Use Skarfabakki Cruise Terminal as a jumping-off point to explore the Icelandic capital, or depart on shore excursions for the Westfjords and beyond.

Iceland’s most famous garden and the northernmost botanical garden in the world, Lystigardur Akureyrar—or Akureyri Botanical Garden—defies its close proximity to the Arctic Circle by growing trees, plants, and flowers from all around the world.

Peaking at more than 4,891 feet (124 meters), Hekla volcano towers over the southern coast of Iceland. With more than 20 eruptions since the year 874—the most recent of which took place in 2000—the volcano, which is also known as the Gateway to Hell, is one of the most active in the country.

Dominated by a 700,000-year-old glacier-topped stratovolcano, Snæfellsjökull National Park embodies Iceland’s moniker, the land of fire and ice. Covering an area of more than 65 square miles (170 square kilometers), the park has lava fields, basalt sea cliffs, black- and golden-sand beaches, caves, and peculiar lava formations.

Located along Reykjavik’s scenic waterfront, the whitewashed building known as Hofdi House (Höfði) is best known as the place where US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev held the 1986 summit that led to the end of the Cold War. Images of the house were broadcast throughout the world, making it world famous.

A strip of black sand littered with chunks of translucent ice, Diamond Beach is a must-see attraction on Iceland’s southern coast. It lies next to the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, filled with ice splitting off from sections of Europe’s largest icecap. The “diamonds” range from fist-sized turquoise spheres to white blocks large as humans.

Bessastadir is the official residence of the Icelandic president. First settled in 1000, the site was once home to famed Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson, and the residence (built in 1761) housed a farm and a school before being donated to the state in 1941. After Iceland gained independence from Denmark in 1944, Bessastadir became the president’s official residence.

As Iceland’s largest volcano, Katla is 4,960 feet (1,511 meters) high. Katla is one of the most active and powerful volcanoes in Iceland, having erupted 20 times since the year 1100; its last eruption added three miles (four kilometers) to Iceland’s coastline. In spite of its activity, Katla is mostly covered by ice.

Iceland’s National Museum is an ideal attraction for anyone interested in exploring the country’s fascinating history. Alongside temporary exhibits, the museum’s permanent exhibition, “Making of a Nation,” employs more than 2,000 artifacts to chronicle Icelandic history from the Viking settlement through the introduction of Christianity and up to today.

One of the largest exhibitions of its kind, Whales of Iceland features life-size models of whale species found in Iceland's coastal waters throughout history: from a harbor porpoise to a blue whale nearly as long as a basketball court. Seeing how these mammals look up close is a family-friendly way to learn more about the vast underwater world.