Best places to visit in Iceland
Last updated: 28.11.23
When you visit Iceland there are so many breathtaking places to experience – Everything from chasing waterfalls to enjoying your time in a hot spring or kayaking in a glacier lagoon.
I have collected 23 places to inspire you to create your itinerary when you visit Iceland. I have divided the 23 places into 7 categories: Hot springs/spa, ice nature elements, waterfalls, craters, geysers, other nature spots and other.
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23 best places to visit in Iceland
Overview of each category
| Hot springs/spa: | Ice nature elements: | Waterfalls: |
| – Blue Lagoon – Hrunalaug hot spring | – Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Diamond beach – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon | – Kirkjufellsfoss – Öxarárfoss – Gullfoss – Seljalandsfoss – Skógafoss – Hengifoss – Dettifoss – Godafoss |
| Craters: | Geysers: | Other nature spots: | Other: |
| – Kerid Crater – Lake Krafla | – Geysir Hot Spring Area and Strokkur | – Kirkjufell – Thingvellir National Park – Dyrhólaey – Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Fjaðrárgljúfur – Vestrahorn | – Solheimasandur plane wreck |
Hot springs/spa:
Blue Lagoon:
Blue Lagoon is the perfect place for a relaxing spa day in the healing hot water.
The area is big and it doesn’t take too long to get a drink in the bar and a mask in the mask bar while you’re in the hot water.
This place is very popular and crowded. I guess there is a reason why it’s on National Geographic’s list of the 25 natural wonders of the world!
Location: You find Blue Lagoon in the southwest corner of Iceland. Close to the international airport Keflavík (20-30 minutes).
Find tickets here: Blue Lagoon Tickets.
Hrunalaug hot spring:
Hrunalaug hot spring is a small natural hot spring. The water is naturally heated by geothermal activity and rich in minerals. Enjoy the warm water surrounded by the beautiful Icelandic landscape.
Ice nature elements:
Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon:
A beautiful glacier lagoon with huge icebergs broken off Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajokull.
Diamond beach:
Diamond Beach is a black sand beach, where icebergs are washed up on the shore (and looking like “diamonds” on the black sand). Such a unique and beautiful beach.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon:
A breathtaking glacier lagoon with giant icebergs breaking off the glacier into the lagoon.
Waterfalls:
Kirkjufellsfoss:
A waterfall with the iconic Icelandic view of the famous sharp mountain formation called Kirkjufell in the background.
Öxarárfoss:
A waterfall in Thingvellir National Park. This national park is on UNESCO World Heritage List and part of the well known tourist area called the Golden Circle. This place is known for the rift between two continental plates, the European and the North American.
Gullfoss:
The name Gullfoss means “Golden Waterfall” and it’s one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. Known for the views and the terrace build structure. This waterfall is also part of the Golden Circle.
Seljalandsfoss:
This waterfall is known for the option to walk behind it. It makes it possible to shoot some nice pictures from all angles.
Skógafoss:
This is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls and such a beautiful one.
Bonus info: The parking lot at Skógafoss also works as a camping site. So if you are camping at Skógafoss you might end up having it all to yourself early in the morning.
Hengifoss:
This waterfall is one of the highest in Iceland. The rock formation behind the waterfall has beautiful red stripes.
To reach this waterfall it requires a hike with quite some elevation. But this unique color pattern in the rock formation and the waterfall itself is worth the hike.
Dettifoss:
The most powerful waterfall in Europe. Walking close by you can really feel and hear the power of the falling water.
Godafoss:
This waterfall is one of the most spectacular ones and also my favorite waterfall in Iceland – Such a beautiful and picturesque waterfall.
Craters:
Kerid Crater:
Kerid Crater is a volcanic crater lake. Also located in the Golden Circle.
Lake Krafla (crater):
This dramatic crater lake has an eye catching beautiful color and in the background you have stunning mountains. It is part of a huge geothermal area close to Myvatn.
Geysers:
Geysir Hot Spring Area and Strokkur:
Geysir is an active hot spring area. You find boiling mud pits and exploding geysers. The most popular geyser is the Strokkur geyser, which spouts water into the air every 5 minutes. It’s located in the Golden Circle.
Other nature spots:
Kirkjufell:
A mountain famous for its unique shape.
Thingvellir National Park:
This national park is on UNESCO World Heritage List and part of the well known tourist area called the Golden Circle. This place is known for the rift between two continental plates, the European and the North American.
Dyrhólaey:
Dyrhólaey is a peninsula. Here you can watch the beautiful and raw coastline of the Icelandic south coast. This place is home to a rock arch, a historic lighthouse and many birds.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach:
A famous black beach on the south coast of Iceland.
Fjaðrárgljúfur:
Fjaðrárgljúfur (what a name!) is a beautiful canyon.
We skipped it due to bad weather unfortunately.
Vestrahorn:
A beautiful mountain and unique beach where the sand patterns change all the time.
We skipped Vestrahorn due to very strong winds unfortunately.
Other:
Solheimasandur plane wreck:
DC3 Plane Wreck is a popular stop to visit in Iceland. It was a United States Navy DC Plane that crashed on this beach back in 1973.
The rusting shell of the wreck is laying on the black sand.
I hope these 23 beautiful and fascinating spots in Iceland inspired you to plan your own trip and create an itinerary.
If you’re planing a trip to Iceland I recommend you to check out these blog posts as well:
- Iceland travel costs: Here I show you how much money we spent on this trip.
- Apps for Iceland: In this blog post you will find 4 apps that are good to know when you visit Iceland.
- Unique things to do in Iceland: Read about our snowmobile and kayak tours.
