Hey adventurer!
Looking at what to do in Iceland? I got you!
Iceland has far too many activities to be listed. It’s a world of extreme differences. Melting lava bursts from ice in Iceland with breathtaking scenery of rivers flowing through deserts.
This country experiences perpetual nights in the dead of winter and summers with never-ending daylight. The elements of nature dance between the poles of fire and ice.
Lists of What To Do In Iceland
I’ve visited Iceland a few times, and these are the things I think are best on what to do in Iceland.
1. Explore Reykjavik
As much as it sounds obvious, Reykjavik is frequently chosen by travelers as their starting point for day trips, as there is an abundance of activities to enjoy throughout the country. You have to spend some time to take it all in since Reykjavik is truly unlike anywhere else in Iceland. It is crammed full of incredible local shops, pubs, and restaurants.
2. Visit Haafell Goats and Roses
Though they’re truly quite charming and lovely animals, goats have an adverse image because someone once believed they looked like a devil, and many individuals have gone with the thought for years.
Goat herds in Iceland were on the verge of extinction up until the dedication of Haafell Goats and Roses farm, among others, and now they are expanding beyond recognition.
3. Explore The Golden Circle
I’ve taken the Golden Circle tour a few times, and each time is a magnificent experience. It would be just cruel to visit Iceland without doing it. Three incredible natural phenomena can be seen in roughly three hours: the Gullfoss waterfall, the Thingvellir National Park, and the Geysir geothermal area.
To put the size of the Golden Circle into perspective, the largest natural lake in Iceland is located in the Rift Valley National Park and is larger than Manhattan.
4. Soak In At Húsafell Giljabáð
Húsafell Giljabáð is an unforgettable one among the many hot spring baths throughout Iceland. Situated within a dormant volcano, you will experience an overwhelming sense of smallness upon realizing the huge size of the natural world.
I suggest going at night because it’s a magnificent experience to soak in a 40-degree hot spring while gazing up at a sky filled with more stars than you’ve ever seen.
5. Dip In The Blue Lagoon
The most well-known thermal spa in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon, is a constantly included destination on lists of the world’s natural wonders. It is a breathtaking sight, with its pearly blue waters contrasted against a black lava rock. Dip at the steaming pools early in the morning or late at night for a leisurely bath while sipping cocktails from the swim-up bar. Mind you, the steaming pools can get very crowded.
6. Walk At The Volcanic Reynisfjara Beach
Against the landscape of rocky cliffs, the small village of Vík on Iceland’s south coast is a remote complex of exquisite structures, especially its elegant white church perched high above the town. However, Reynisfjara, a beach with enormous Goth-black sands, is the true treasure of the village. Sail up the captivating basalt columns protruding from one of the beach cliffs, watch waves crash across the coal pebbles, and gaze at Reynisdrangar, three twisted sea stacks that, according to Icelandic folklore, are petrified trolls.
7. Watch Whales At Húsavík
Húsavík, a lively harbor town, has become known as the unofficial center for whale watching in Iceland. Choose a tour at the harbor (there are many to choose from), grab a waterproof jacket, and start sailing across Skjálfandi Bay. The area is so dependent on the whaling industry that it was leading the efforts in 2006 to stop the reintroduction of whaling in Iceland.
You can see dolphins, porpoises, and minke whales. If you’re very lucky, you might even spot fin, blue, orca, and sperm whales alongside the humpbacks dancing along the swells.
8. See The Rainbows At Skógafoss
It’s easier to go waterfall hopping in Iceland, and yet the fierce and well-known Dettifoss and Gullfoss could be the most well-known, but Skógafoss is among the most beautiful. A stunning rainbow is likely to appear from the foam at this 26-meter-drop waterfall, which is tucked away along the south coast.
A short stroll east of Skógafoss is a remote waterfall known as Kvernufoss. It is worth your time to see.
9. Discover Seljavallalaug
Prepare to have your mind blown if you succeed in discovering Seljavallalaug, a cocooned swimming hole tucked away in a valley at the base of Eyjafjallajökull – a volcano that erupted in 2010.
Even if it’s not the hottest day of the year, guarantee that swimming in its dark waters beneath towering mountains scattered with waterfalls will be the most thrilling thing you’ve ever done.
10. Climb Sólheimajökull Glacier
Oh! Your Iceland trip won’t be done without climbing the glacier.
You can do it too, given that I could do it after two months of sitting on my ass with no training at all. Since glaciers may disappear in ten years, climbing one is an adventure of a lifetime.
Spending an hour on Sólheimajökull Glacier will truly open your eyes to the reality of global warming. Wouldn’t it be nice to sip whiskey made with the world’s oldest ice as well? It’s going to shake up your life.
11. Watch The Northern Lights
Did you know that watching the Northern Lights during your pregnancy can cause your unborn child to have abnormal eyes? Not at all? Not me either!
Though it’s tough to plan for the Northern Lights, I couldn’t finish this list without including them.
Around eight months of the year, from September to April, Iceland offers travelers the chance to witness mother nature’s most magnificent occurrence. Traveling outside of brightly lit metropolitan centers at night and toward more isolated locations will maximize your chances of seeing the extraterrestrial glows.
The best place to see the dancing Aurora is in the Grótta nature reserve, which is located outside of Reykjavik on the tip of the Seltjarnarnes peninsula.
