Things to See & Do in Iceland

Iceland overview

Most first trips focus on Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the south coast. With more time, the glacier lagoon, the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the full Ring Road open up.

Reykjavík

Iceland’s small capital is easy to explore on foot, with colourful houses, cafés, galleries and the hilltop church of Hallgrímskirkja. It makes a good base for day trips, and a natural first and last stop.

The Golden Circle and Silfra

The Golden Circle loop takes in three classic stops within a day of Reykjavík: Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart; the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes; and the Gullfoss waterfall.

At Silfra, a water-filled fissure in Þingvellir, guided tours snorkel or dive in exceptionally clear glacial water. Snorkellers wear a drysuit and need to be comfortable swimming; divers need a drysuit certification and recent drysuit experience. Age, size and health requirements vary by operator.

The south coast

Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss sit just off the Ring Road, and further east the black-sand beach at Reynisfjara has basalt columns and sea stacks offshore. Reynisfjara is known for sneaker waves that have swept people away, so stay well back from the water.

The village of Vík is a good place to stop for the night before continuing east.

Waves rolling onto a black-sand beach, with a headland and sea stacks in the misty distance — A black-sand beach on the south coast

The small village of Vík with its hillside church, seen from above, with cliffs and the sea beyond — Vík from above

The glacier lagoon and beyond

Further east, icebergs drift across Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and chunks of ice wash up on the black sand of the beach nearby. It is a long drive from Reykjavík, so it fits best with a night or two in the southeast.

Chunks of ice on a dark shore under green northern lights — Ice on the shore under the northern lights

Puffins, horses and the northern lights

Puffins nest on Iceland’s sea cliffs from late spring to late summer. Icelandic horses are everywhere in the countryside, and riding tours are easy to arrange.

The northern lights need dark, clear skies, so they are a September to April possibility, never a guarantee. Getting away from the lights of Reykjavík helps.

Four puffins standing together on dark, mossy rocks — Puffins on the rocks

Back to the Iceland overview

Let’s plan your Iceland trip

Tell me when you’d like to go, how long you have, and whether you’d rather drive yourself, travel by camper van or join small-group tours. I’ll plan the route and book the stays, car and flights.

The initial 30-minute consultation is complimentary. The professional research fee is $50 per traveller aged 2 or older, paid before research begins.

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