Iceland Travel Guide

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Top Things to See

Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is home to Thingvellir, the site of the old Icelandic parliament; Gullfoss, the country's most famous waterfall, which tumbles some 30m (98ft) down into a narrow canyon; and Geysir, the original spouting hot spring.

South coast
Stroll along one of the black sand beaches on the south coast near Vik, then check out the excellent folk museum in the tiny village of Skogar.

Westfjords
This spectacular setting of rugged coastline, known as the Westfjords, is home to some of the most isolated villages in the country. Latrabjarg, the westernmost point of Europe, is the largest known bird cliff on earth at 400-m (1,312-ft) high.

Lake Myvatn (‘Lake Midge')
Brave the midges and discover an eerie landscape of bubbling mud flats, volcanic craters, fumeroles, lava fields and grassy shoals teeming with waterfowl at Lake Myvatn (‘Lake Midge'), one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Jokulsarlon
Jokulsarlon, a glacial lagoon, is a favorite with photographers and film crews (the film Die Another Day was shot here). Giant floating icebergs make for a surreal landscape.

Westmann Islands
Birdwatchers and nature lovers flock to the Westmann Islands every spring to view the return of the puffin to nest from its long winter at sea. In August, millions of baby puffins leave their nests for the very first time to test their wings.

Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar is the pearl of the central highlands. This eerily colorful landscape of green, yellow, red and orange rhyolite hills is dotted with many hot pools and streams, making this a definite must for walkers and artists alike.

Akureyri and Grimsey
Akureyri, 60km (37 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, enjoys a superb setting at the head of Eyjafjordur, the longest fjord in the country. A bit further north and well worth exploring is the island of Grimsey, the only bit of Iceland, strictly speaking, in arctic territory.

Top Things to Do

Blue Lagoon
The milky turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon are perfect for a good, long soak. Located in a lunar-like landscape of lava fields, the lagoon is renowned for its health benefits and mineral-rich, geothermal seawater, which have made it one of the most visited locations in Iceland.

Whale watching
The waters around Iceland are some of the best in the world to spot a variety of cetaceans. Minke, blue, sei, fin, humpback and sperm whales are frequently sighted just off the coast.

Reykjavík's restaurants
Sample some of the superb food Iceland has to offer in one of Reykjavík's many excellent restaurants. Home-grown organic lamb and lobster are perennial favorites, and offerings from the sea are second to none.

Hiking
Iceland's hiking is incredible. From Skaftafell National Park to the Westfjords, from the highlands to the Snæfellnes Peninsula, breathtaking vistas lurk round every bend.

Horse riding
The Icelandic horse (don't call them ponies) is a strong but gentle animal that has adapted perfectly to the terrain, and riding over lava fields and deserted beaches is a popular activity.

New Year's Eve
The Gamlarskvold (New Year's Eve celebrations) are a sight to behold. With hundreds of bonfires, thousands of fireworks go off simultaneously in Reykjavík on the stroke of midnight every year, setting ablaze the crystal clear sky.

Skidoo riding
Go for a skidoo (snowmobile) ride on a glacier. An unbeatable adrenaline rush is guaranteed when speeding through the immaculate white wilderness - a highlight of any trip to Iceland.

Northern Lights
One of nature's most awesome spectacles, the Northern Lights are visible from September to March. The ever-shifting, glowing patterns of light that twist and turn restlessly in the sky are created by electrically-charged particles that make the thin air shine, not unlike a fluorescent light.

Fly fishing
Salmon are abundant in the pristine streams of Iceland. Licenses for some of the most popular rivers are extremely expensive, but it is possible to fish trout and arctic char for a fraction of the price.