Best Places to Visit in Iceland in 2025
Choosing the best places to visit in Iceland is no easy task. Iceland is abundant with otherworldly, natural beauty.
There are thousands of waterfalls, oceanside cliffs, unique rock formations and deep canyons and volcanoes. Some of the terrain looks so surreal, almost like its from another planet.
If you’re an outdoorsy person, you will especially love Iceland, since most of the Icelandic attractions involve the outdoors. You could spend all day outside in Iceland, taking in the gorgeous views and taking part outdoor activities, like hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and even snorkeling.
From two different road trips in Iceland at different times of the year, we’ve been lucky to explore the country extensively and want to share the best gems to see while you’re there.
Whether you’re sticking to south Iceland (which is the most common tourist itinerary) or venturing west or north – there are incredible places to see in Iceland.
So, let’s jump into the best places to visit in Iceland, and what you need to know about them.
Best Places to Visit in Iceland
You may find that there are more places to see in Iceland than what you could possibly fit into your trip – and that’s ok. It may not be possible to see all of these places unless you have at least a month in Iceland. But regardless of the places you choose, you will not be disappointed.
1. The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a loop just north of Reykjavik. The whole loop is 230 km (140 miles) and takes 3 hours to drive without stopping – but you will definitely want to make stops.
The stops you can make along the Golden Circle include some of the most famous, sought after places to visit in Iceland – the geysir, the Gulfoss waterfall, and the Kerið crater.
We split our Golden Circle trip into two half days, as we were staying nearby. Overall, you only need about one full day to explore the Golden Circle. This gives you enough time to enjoy your time at the stops and not feel rushed.
Here’s a bit more detail about the highlights on the Golden Circle that you’ll want to check out.
- Kerið crater, with its blue water and red sand. It’s quite large in person, and we walked down to the water’s edge
- The Geysir – it shoots out of the ground every 15 minutes or so, and its surrounded by other hot springs.
- Gulfoss Waterfall, which has a a few walking paths and allows you to get very close to the plunging water
We drove the Golden Circle as we’d rented a car, but there are also day tours from Reykjavik that take you to the highlights.
2. Black Sands Beach
The black sand beach isn’t just one beach as many think, but a series of beaches along the coast of south Iceland that span 180 km (112 miles). The sand is black because of volcanic rock that formed thousands of years ago.
The most popular place along the black sand beach to check out is Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, which is famous for having the large basalt columns right along the shore.
We were lucky to be able to get close enough to the basalt columns to sit on them, but sometimes when the tide comes in strongly, this isn’t possible.
Either way, its still worth taking a walk along Reynisfjara beach; admiring the basalt columns, the ‘three trolls’ rock formations which you can see near the shore. There are also areas where you can drive over top to get a bird’s eye view from above.
In addition, I recommend devoting at least a day to the town of Vik, as there are a lot of things to do there besides the black sand beach- more on that below.
3. Vik
Vik is a town less than 1 km away from Reynisfara Black Sands beach mentioned above.
Even though the town only has 300 people and is very small, there are a lot of things to check out in the area besides the black sand beaches – there’s a lava show, the Katla Ice Cave, excursions to the Sólheimajökull glacier, and some decent restaurants (Icelandic and international food.)
One thing underrated about Vik was walking along the black sand beach right in front of it (pictured above) called Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach. It’s a short walk to the Reynisfara Black Sand beach where the basalt columns are.
We were the only ones on Víkurfjara beach, and there are such beautiful views of the town of Vik and the green mountains behind it (pictured above.)
Read my post on things to do in and around Vik to find out more.
4. Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (often just called Glacier Lagoon) and Diamond Beach are probably the two most iconic places in Iceland – they’re located along the southeast coast, and are practically just across the street from each other.
Diamond Beach looks like a regular beach, but has numerous chunks of ice scattered along the shoreline, resembling ‘diamonds.’ We spent a few minutes here, admiring the view and taking photos of the ice chunks – and this was in August (the ice chunks never melt.)
Glacier Lagoon is larger than Diamond Beach, and requires a bit more time spent. We sat on the shore of the lagoon, eating Icelandic hotdogs (I had a veggie hot dog) from a food truck on-site.
You can do boat cruises, and kayak tours in Glacier Lagoon to make your time there even more exciting.
In total, you need 1-2 hours to spend at both, Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach, possibly more if you want to get into a boat.
It takes around 5 hours to drive to Glacier Lagoon from Reykjavik, but I wouldn’t recommend driving straight there, as there are lot of amazing places to see along the way.
Not driving? You can also book a day tour from Reykjavik to Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon, which will stop at many of the gems along the way.
Book your day trip to Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach from Reykhavik here
5. Skaftafell Nature Preserve
Skaftafell is a scenic area within Vatnajökull National Park, which is located just off the Ring Road 1, in between Vik and Glacier Lagoon.
Skaftafell National Park has a few of Iceland’s records – the tallest mountain (Hvannadalshnúkur), the largest glacier (Vatnajökull), and beautiful Svartifoss waterfall.
You need to walk for about 1 hour on an easy trail on a gravel ground to get to the Svartifoss waterfall pictured above, but of course, the views are worth it.
It’s possible to only spend a couple hours at Skaftafell National Park; visiting the waterfall and enjoying the views.
There are also some hikes and trails you can do in the park. If you want to add those in, then I would give yourself at least a day to spend at Skaftafell.
6. Thörsmork
Thörsmork, (sometimes written as Þórsmörk) is apart of what we call the Icelandic highlands, and is one of the most popular places to go hiking in Iceland.
Thörsmork has beautiful, dramatic terrain – tall cliffs, windy rivers and green moss-covered mountains in the spring and summer.
Thörsmork is home to the well known Laugavegur Trail, which the most popular hiking trail in Iceland which is hiked by over 100,000 people each year. The trail is a long, multi-day hike through rugged terrain.
There are also some shorter, more easygoing hikes in Thörsmork, such as the Mount Valahnúkur trail which is a 4.3 km (2.3 mile) route. Check out this helpful blog post on hikes in Thörsmork.
Good to Know: Since Thörsmork is in the highlands, you would need to drive on a F-road which requires a 4×4 vehicle and is really only possible during the warmer months, (and even then it is risky.) In the winter, the F roads are usually closed. I would highly recommend taking a bus or super jeep if you want to go to Thörsmork, as the drive is challenging to do on your own.
7. Studlagil Canyon
Stadlagil Canyon is a beautiful gem in the east of Iceland. The water of the river is turquoise, and its surroundings of the tall, linear basalt columns is so beautiful and unusual looking.
Some walking is required to get to the canyon; about 4 km (2.5 miles) and it took us about 45 minutes from the parking area. At certain times of the year, you can climb down to the water-level area to get a closer look at the river.
In the winter, you may have to settle for only seeing this gem from the top area of the cliffs, but rest assured – its still gorgeous, and worth your time.
There is free parking and toilet facilities (available at surcharge) on site.
8. Reykjavik
I always recommend devoting a day or two to Iceland’s capital when you’re in Iceland.
Reykjavik, being the largest city in a country of only 300,000 people, has great museums, cultural landmarks, the famous Hallgrímskirkja, and some scenic views as well.
Reykjavik with kids, or just a group of adults – you’ll find lots to do. When we were in Reykjavik, we did the following which I’d recommend:
- Visit museums: Perlan Wonder’s of Iceland, the Whale Museum, and the Settlement Museum
- Go shopping on Laugavegur street
- Do all or parts of the 5 km (3 mile) walk along the sea wall, enjoying views of the harbour and the Sun Voyager sculpture
- Visit the Hallgrímskirkja (the tallest church in Iceland at 244 ft) and climb to the top – you can get great views of the city
We spent a total of two days in Reykjavik, and felt it was enough time to sufficiently do all of the above without feeling rushed. However, one day is probably enough; especially if you’re only doing some of the above attractions.
9. Perlan – Wonders of Iceland
I mentioned a few museums to visit in Reykjavik, but Perlan deserves a special mention as a place you don’t want to miss while you’re in Iceland.
At Perlan, you have the opportunity to learn some of the interesting science behind the phenomenas that occur in Iceland, such as glaciers, Northern Lights and ice caves.
Perlan has a planetarium with an Aurora show – its narrated by the Aurora Borealis, as if the Aurora are talking right to you.
There’s also a man-made ice cave, so if you didn’t get to experience an ice cave while in Iceland, this allows you to see what its like to be inside one.
All of us, between the ages of 7 and 60 really enjoyed Perlan, it was one of the highlights of our time in Iceland. We spent about 3 hours there, and I would recommend setting aside at least that amount to explore this gem.
Grab your advance tickets for Perland here, including the planetarium and ice cave
10. Husavik
Husavik is a city in northeast Iceland, and known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland. Even though you can do whale watching tours in Reykjavik, Husavik is more famous for it.
In addition to whale watching, Husavik is a cool town of 2,700 people to check out – it has a walkable downtown, a nice harbour and the Geosea Geothermal Sea Baths nearby.
Husavik is also the starting point for the Diamond Circle, which is a 250 km loop which takes you around Lake Mývatn to see several waterfalls, and a canyon. Along the Diamond Circle, you can see:
- Dettifoss and Goðafoss waterfalls
- Ásbyrgi Canyon
Husavik is the perfect place to visit if you want to explore North Iceland. Its location in northeast means that you either need to drive or fly there from Reykjavik.
11. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is an underrated attraction in south Iceland, but is well worth pulling over from the main Ring Road.
Fjaðrárgljúfur is a large, deep canyon with unique shaped rocks, and a river flowing through it. You can walk along a boardwalk along a cliff at the top of the canyon, admiring the canyon from several different viewpoints.
Give yourself at least an hour at the canyon. The boardwalk is an out and back loop, so we turned around and went back the same way we came to get back to our car.
My 7 year old was getting sick of stops and wasn’t keen, but we were so glad that we found this place off-hand and stopped here. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is definitely something you don’t want to miss on the Ring Road 1.
12. Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park (also spelled Þingvellir) is the only UNSECO World Heritage Sight on mainland Iceland. Its the only place on Earth where you can stand between two continents – North America and Europe – at once.
Thingvellir was also used in an epic Game of Thrones scene – fans might recognize it as the area where Brienne of Tarth battled against the Hound and won.
Its part of the Golden Circle mentioned above, so it is sometimes used as a stop on a Golden Circle Tour.
We went for a short and easy hike in Thingvellir while we were driving around the Golden Circle. There is also a really cool opportunity to go snorkeling or diving in Silfra, which is the rift right between the two continents.
The water in Silfra comes from Langsköl Glacier nearby, and whether you get into it or not, you will see that it is extremely clear, and you can see over 300 feet away.
Thingvellir is just a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik, and one of the most sought after places to visit in Iceland. If you’re going to be visiting the Golden Circle, then I would check out Thingvellir as well!
13. Snaefellsness Peninsula
The Snaefellness Peninsula is breathtaking route to discover on Iceland’s west coast. It’s name means “snow-mountain”-peninsula, and many people say that it has all the best of what Iceland has to offer.
We agree. What makes Snafellness Peninsula one of the best places to visit in Iceland is because you can see a lot in a short amount of time. While many parts of the Ring Road can be boring, the entire Snafellness Peninsula feels like driving through a painting.
Some of the things you can expect to see on the Snafellness Peninsula are:
- The Gerðuberg Cliffs (more on that below)
- Lýsuhólslaug swimming pool, heated with geothermal energy and has incredible surrounding views
- A large ravine called the Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge
- Sönghellir Cave (“singing cave” in English)
- Snæfellsjökull National Park, where you can hike a glacier
- Kirkjufell Mountain (which was used in Game of Thrones)
The entire Snafellness Peninsula only takes 2 hours to drive, but that’s without stops. The stops will require many hours, so I would pick and choose the ones you’re most eager to see to make a 1 or 2 day journey on the Snafellness Peninsula.
You need a minimum of 1 day to see everything in the Snafellness Peninsula. We spent one day, but there was so much to see, that I felt that we could have easily done a second day.
So I would definitely include the Snafellness Peninsula in your itinerary if you have at least a full day to devote to it.
14. Skogafoss and Seljandsfoss Waterfalls
The reason they’re lumped together is because they’re quite close to each other.
Skogafoss has an area where you can climb to the top for a view of the water plunging over the cliff. And Seljandsfoss is one of the only waterfalls in Iceland where you can walk behind the waterfall.
They’re perfect for if you’re driving from Reykjavik to Vik. Most tours from Reykjavik that explore south Iceland stop at these two waterfalls. They’re some of the most famous, but also best waterfalls in Iceland.
Both waterfalls have large parking lots, and are just a stone’s throw from the parking lot. They’re both popular, so you’re likely to see other people, regardless of what season you’re in Iceland.
Check availability for seeing Seljandfoss and Skogafoss on a day trip from Reykjavik
15. Blue Lagoon
There are many hot springs in Iceland, but Blue Lagoon deserves a special mention. It’s a large man-made pool, but heated with geothermal energy. Even though the pool is artificial, its in such a natural setting that it feels like it’s feels like its naturally occurring.
The water is warm, its like sitting in a giant hot tub. There are swim-up face mask and smoothie bars. The face masks feel great on your skin and I’d recommend them.
Blue Lagoon is also a spa which makes award winning skincare products, which aren’t cheap. I own the award winning eye serum, and the face cream (luckily, I got them on sale.) Blue Lagoon skin products make great gifts or souvenirs from Iceland if you buy them directly from the Blue Lagoon.
The nice thing about Blue Lagoon is that its so close to the international airport, that I always recommend to do it right before or after your flight (ideally after.) Blue Lagoon makes a perfect first stop in Iceland, and allows you to refresh after your flight.
In addition to the spa and hot spring, there’s also gourmet cuisine and luxury accommodations on-site at Blue Lagoon.
16. Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel
Iceland has dozens of tunnels through lava caves, which were formed by hardened, fossilized lava.
Raufarhólshellir is the longest lava tunnel in Iceland, its open year-round and is conveniently located just outside Reykjavik.
Similar to ice caves and glaciers, you cannot enter a lava tunnel without a guide. Equipment is provided with guided tours, and they last about 1 hour long.
There is normally some time left over after the guided part of the tour for you to take photos and selfies inside the lava cave.
Check availability for the lava cave tour at Raufarhólshellir here
17. Raudasandur (Red Sand) Beach
Unlike the south coast of Iceland with its black sands beach, here you can see an example of a red sand beach.
The best thing about the Red Sand beach is the open, vast beauty. You can take a leisurely walk, enjoying the views of the blue sky along the orangey sand, listening to the waves, and see very few other people.
The sand on the beach isn’t always as red as the name implies – the temperature of the day can affect the colour.
The best time to visit the red sand beach is in the summer, with a low tide. This is the only time I’d recommend heading to red sand beach, because high tide would make it hard to walk along it.
Pro Tip: There is a quaint French-style café that serves Icelandic waffles overlooking the red sand beach, but its only open during the summer months. It’s called Franska kaffihúsið. No website, but you can follow them on Facebook!
18. The Diamond Circle
The Diamond Circe is another circle route in Iceland that takes you along one of the northern tips.
The Diamond Circle drive is a perfect place to visit in Iceland if you’re visiting either Husavik (the whale watching harbour town which is along the circle) or Ayukeri, which is the largest city in northern Iceland.
The Diamond circle loop is 250 km and can be done in about 4 hours, without stops – so you will need at least a full day to see the highlights.
There are a number of gems to check out on the Diamond Circle, such as:
- Dettifoss waterfall, which is the second most powerful in Europe
- Goðafoss waterfall (pictured above) which translates to waterfall of the Gods. It has less volume of water than Dettifoss, but it is slightly prettier in my opinion
- Husavik village (if you’re not already staying there – book a whale watching tour while you’re at it)
Read this guide for more ideas of things to see on the Diamond Circle, as there are too many to name. It’s a beautiful scenic drive that is well worth your time.
If you’ll be spending time in North Iceland, then the Diamond Circle is one of the best places to see.
29. Seyðisfjörður
Iceland has many small villages, and we drove through many of them on our journeys. However, none of them compare to Seyðisfjörður.
Seyðisfjörður is said to be Iceland’s cutest small village, and for a good reason. It has colour, creativity, great restaurants, and the famous rainbow street.
Very few tourists actually make it to Seyðisfjörður because of its location on the east coast (its very much out of the way, unless you plan to do the full Ring Road.)
However, don’t let this fool you – even with a small fraction of tourists coming to Seyðisfjörður; it is still a lot of people so this small town (once a hidden gem) can now get quite busy in the summer months with both Icelanders and international tourists.
However, if you do make it out to the east coast, by either driving or doing a tour – I would highly recommend a stop in this picturesque village.
Here are some reasons (aside from the rainbow road) I consider it to be one of the best places in Iceland:
- Admire the art and hadicrafts. Seyðisfjörður is a creative, artsy town. The rainbow pavement was painted by its own residents
- Take part in the Lunga festival, which happens every July
- Dine in some of the restaurants. Despite being such a small town, Seyðisfjörður has great places to eat year round. Click here to read about which restaurants are open at the time of your visit.
Best Places to Stay in Iceland
There are a ton of epic places to stay in Iceland, but these options below make a good home base for exploring many of the highlights of Iceland that were mentioned above
- Budget:The Swan House Apartments located right downtown in Reykjavik,
- Mid Range: Hotel Laxnes located in a small town off the Ring road, close to Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and accessible to south Iceland attractions
- Luxury: Iceland SJF Villa – A 3-bedroom villa just 3.5 km (2.4 miles) from downtown Reykjavik, so its good for exploring Iceland’s capital, the south coast, the Golden Circle and the west fjords. It has a garden and terrace with views of the sea
Places to Visit in Iceland FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions about the best places to visit in Iceland, and how long you need in order to see them
What is the most beautiful part of Iceland?
The most beautiful part of Iceland is likely the south coast, with the West Flords being a close second. Everywhere in Iceland is beautiful, of course. But south Iceland has a lot of the most dramatic and idyllic Icelandic scenery – black sand beaches, waterfalls, glaciers, the Icelandic highlands and volcanoes.
Which part of Iceland is best?
If you only have a short amount of time to spend in Iceland, then you should spejd your time in either south Iceland or the west fjords. South Iceland has more variety, but longer distance between attractions. The west fjords allow you to see more in a short time.
Is 7 days enough to visit Iceland?
Yes, 7 days is enough time in Iceland to see many of the highlights. It’s not enough time to drive around the full ring road, but its certainly enough to drive the entire south coast (ring road 1) which is where most of the spectacular things to see are located.
Final Thoughts on Best Places to Visit in Iceland
By now, you know the best places to visit in Iceland. Regardless of where you go in Iceland, you won’t be disappointed when it comes to the things to do outdoors, and the beautiful scenery.
The only thing that might disappoint you sometimes about Iceland is the weather. Wherever you go, (even during the summer) be sure to bring layers and warm clothes. Even the summer months can be surprisingly chilly by North American and mainland European standards.