15 Reasons Why Iceland Is Worth Your Time

Is Iceland worth visiting? Over 2 million tourists visit Iceland each year, and you’ve undoubtedly seen hundreds of photos and reels – but is it as jaw-dropping as they say?

You’re in the right place to get an answer to that question, and I’m going to be honest with you – yes, I believe Iceland is worth visiting.

I’ve been to over 30 countries, and Iceland is very unique. It may not be for everyone though, and I’m going to share with you what makes Iceland so special, so you can determine if that’s something that interests you.

At first, I wasn’t sure about visiting Iceland because it had turned into a bit of a fad – it seemed everyone was going to Iceland, and I’d heard that local cafes had been turned into tacky souvenir stores.

It turned out that, while most of that may be true – I can totally see why everyone and their dog wants to see Iceland at some point.

• You cannot find the same combination of natural wonders to experience anywhere else.
• Iceland closer resembles the moon than any other place on earth
• It feels like another planet sometimes.

So, let’s jump in – 15 reasons why Iceland will blow you away.

Is Iceland Overrated?

I do not believe Iceland is overrated, but how you feel will depend on what you value in a trip.

I like nature-based activities, like waterfalls, hikes, outdoor adventure and natural scenery with very few people, calmness and quiet.

Also, I don’t mind the cold and rain at all! So, I love Iceland.

Yes, some of the popular places can get very busy, but overall I feel like its such a peaceful and beautiful place to visit.

But this isn’t everyone’s style. If you prefer to have cities with lots of exciting things to do, and if great weather (lots of sunshine) is a priority, then you may not love Iceland as much as I do.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Iceland?

You need at least 5 days in Iceland to make the trip worth it. Any less than that, I would say don’t go – and hold off for a time where you can give it at least 5-7 days.

One thing to consider is WHERE in Iceland you want to go. If you plan on staying on the south part (as most tourists do) then 5-7 days is easily enough time.

If however, you want to do the ENTIRE ring road (pictured above) then you’ll need at least 10 days, as its 1,332 km (828 miles). It totals up to 17 hours of driving in total, but there are so many stops to make that you need over a week for it to be worth it.

Most people don’t do the whole ring road, but a few of the more adventurous tourists do – there are some beautiful waterfalls and small towns in northern Iceland.

Another option is to do the south, and the west, which is beautiful and captivating as well.

To break it down:

• South Iceland – most visited, but very worth it. The village of Vik, the waterfalls, Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon are some of the best places to visit in Iceland
• West Iceland – less visited, but HIGHLY underrated. Snaefullness Peninsula is very worth your time
• East Iceland – less visited than West Iceland because its so far, but there are a few gems there that most people rarely see
• North Iceland – probably the least visited, but if you want to see both the west and east then its worth throwing the north in too, and making it a 10-day trip

Signs that Iceland is Worth it FOR YOU

You will love Iceland if:

✅ You don’t need a lot to stay entertained. Simply the beauty of a place is enough
✅ You enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, or exploring wilderness
✅ You enjoy nature-based destinations, where the natural landscape is the main attraction, such as national parks
✅ You aren’t too bothered by the rain, or cold
✅ Disappointments won’t ruin a trip for you, such as not being able to see the northern lights when you planned/hoped to

You may not love Iceland if:

❌ The only reason you’re going is to see something that can’t be guaranteed (northern lights, or whales) and if you don’t see them, then it would put a huge damper on your trip
❌ You have less than 5 days to spend there.
❌ You HATE the cold, you’re a sunshine person who usually goes to warm, tropical destinations

15 Reasons Why Iceland is Worth Visiting

Here are the reasons why Iceland should be the next place you visit!

1. There are tens of thousands of waterfalls

Iceland has so many waterfalls, that they don’t even have an exact count. They do know that the number exceeds 10,000.

There are the standard waterfalls that most people visit, which are Seljandsfoss and Skogafoss, and I’d definitely recommend them if its your first visit to Iceland.

But, there are so many other, lesser-known and underrated ones. Read my post on the best waterfalls in Iceland.

2. Glacier Hikes

One thing that makes Iceland so unique is that over 2/3 of the country is covered in glaciers. This means dramatic landscapes and some very unique hikes.

You do need a guide in order to hike a glacier, its not something you can just do on your own.

Glaciers in Iceland change every year (sadly, they are deteriorating because of global warming) so you need to visit with a professional guide who knows the glacier.

Pro Tip: Glaciers can be hiked year round; we visited in the summer. The glacier in photos above is Sólheimajökull Glacier outside Vik in south Iceland, from our August trip

3. Large, dramatic canyons

Iceland has many large canyons, worthy of being used in fantasy TV shows and movies.

The canyons are nice to just admire and marvel at. Some of them have boardwalks along the edges, and some allow you to get right down to the bottom and admire the view from below.

The above examples are Studlagil Canyon, and Fjadrargljufur Canyon – both are very easy to visit, especially Fjadrargljufur.

But there are handful more of other really spectacular canyons in Iceland that you can see.

4. Charming small towns

60% of Iceland’s population lives in the capital city, and that means that its small towns are small.

There are towns in Iceland with only 900 people, and sometimes only a fraction of that.

Some of the small towns may not have a lot to do for that reason; they are very small. But there are some gems too that are worth seeing while you’re in Iceland/

Sometimes seeing the Icelandic small-town life gives you a real feel for what daily life and culture is in Iceland. Read my post on the cutest small towns to visit in Iceland.

5. Breathtaking hikes

You probably don’t need me to tell you that Iceland is a top hiking destination. Part of what I love too is that it doesn’t get too hot, so you don’t have to worry about hiking in the sweltering heat.

The scenery and terrain is incredible and it would be unlike any other hikes.

The most popular hike in Iceland is the Laugavegur Trail, but its a multi-day hike.

If you’re looking for shorter hikes, then some of the best ones are in Thingvellir National Park, which is on what’s known as the Golden Circle.

6. Hot Springs

Iceland has many hot springs, both natural and man-made. The man-made ones are still ‘natural’ in some way, because they’re heated with geothermal energy.

the most famous is Blue Lagoon which is near the Reykjavik airport. But if you really are into hot springs and the idea of them, then I encourage you to look at other ones to visit too, as that isn’t the only one.

Travel + Leisure hits the nail on the head with the best hot springs in Iceland.

Pro Tip: If you’re into skin care, Blue Lagoon is also a high-end spa that makes the most amazing skincare products. I order them to be shipped from Iceland to Canada. Never found anything that compares. If you’re into skincare and you head to the Blue Lagoon, its worth it to buy these products in person. Or check them out here.

7. Ice caves

There are not too many places in the world that have ice caves, also known as crystal caves.

Visiting ice caves is similar in some ways to hiking a glacier, but is different in that it involves all ‘inside.’ The ice caves in Iceland are known for the blue crystal looking interiors.

Ice caves can only be visited in the cold months, between October and April. Here are your options for ice cave tours:

• Katla Ice Caves, which are just outside Vik in South Iceland
• Into the Glacier tour in West Iceland, which takes you into the Langjökull Glacier (2nd largest ice cave in the country.)
• Crystal Ice Caves (closed at the time of writing, visit their website for updates)

8. Geysir

Iceland is full of active geysirs – 50 of them to be exact, a large fraction of which are active. Geysirs are an explosion out of the ground of geothermal energy.

We visited the most popular geysir in Iceland while driving on the Golden Circle – it erupts every 15 minutes!

Almost all tours of the Golden Circle stop at the Geysir, as its one of the main draws to it.

9. Seeing exotic wildlife in their own habitat

Iceland has wildlife that aren’t always easy to see elsewhere, especially if you live somewhere inland.

There isn’t any forest, as most of it was chopped down centuries ago. However, there is the marine life and puffins.

For puffins, you can take boat tours from Reykjavik to see them migrating in their natural habitat. Summer months only.

Whales are seen from anywhere along the coast, most commonly in summer (winter is possible, just harder.)

Husavik in northern Iceland is seen as the whale capital of Iceland, but there are boat tours to see whales from Reykjavik too.

10. The possibility of seeing the Northern Lights

One thing that draws so many people to Iceland is the desire to see the Aurora Borealis – Northern Lights, almost so much that it has become stereotypical of Iceland.

If you’re dead set on seeing the northern lights, then you should spend at least a week in Iceland, as they come in cycles.

It’s easier to see them in the winter (November to March.) We saw them in February – possible in summer too, just less likely.

During your trip, keep an eye on this Aurora checker to find out if the northern lights will be visible on any given night.

11. The capital, Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a really nice little city. I recommend at least spending a day here.

Yes, its touristy and yes the old town has a bit of a tourist amusement park feel. But its really nice and its worth just spending time walking around.

There’s some cool architecture, amazing museums, bars, and lots of tours that leave from the city to take you many places you want to see just outside of it.

If you’re visiting Iceland with kids, then I’d especially recommend Reykjavik because there’s a lot of more interactive things to do there. Reykjavik was my 7-year-old’s favourite part of the trip.

Visit the Hallgramiska church and get a view from the top. Walk along the seawall, and check out the Sun Voyager sculpture.

Walk through the main shopping area, and pick up some cute Icelandic souvenirs. (They may not all be the best Icelandic souvenirs, but some of the more classic ones.)

Read my post on things to do in Reykjavik here (it’s an article on things to do with kids, but most activities would be suitable for anyone excited about

12. Lava tunnels

Lava cames were formed in Iceland in the prehistoric age, and there are currently about 30 of them.

Raufarhólshellir is the most popular lave cave to visit, and its right outside Reykjavik. you can book a tour there with a guide. (1 hour long, and about $65 per person.)

13. Scenic drives

Iceland’s stunning scenery means that wherever you drive on the ring road, there are so many places to pull over, stop, take pictures and admire.

The south ring road is more vast (you may have to drive through more open, plain terrain before you reach anything) but it is still beautiful.

If you want to get more bang for your buck in terms of driving, I recommend west Iceland. Two hours from Reykjavik, you’ll find the Snaefullness Peninsula, and it has a LOT of gems that way too many people are missing out on.

14. It’s fascinating history

Iceland is a very interesting country. It was the last place on Earth to be settled by humans, but its folklores talk of Viking legends and stories that have been passed down generations.

If you’re interested in the folklore of Iceland, I recommend checking out the Iceland sagas.

Iceland used to be used as a site for astronaut training because of it’s resemblance to the moon.

15. Practical reasons

The last of my reasons to visit Iceland may seem like a boring one, but its a really necessary one when it comes to travel.

Iceland’s worth visiting for a few reasons:

• It’s not that far. Whether you live in Europe or North America, it’s quicker to get to Iceland than to one or the other. There are many direct flights too
• You can see a lot in a short time. Iceland’s a small country, and if you don’t have a lot of time to see a new place, it’s a great place to check lots off your list in a short amount of time
• Iceland is safe. Iceland has an insanely low crime rate, (if existant at all.) Unlike other countries, the crime rate hasn’t spiked since the pandemic. Read more here.

Want more inspiration? Read my post Best Places to Visit in Iceland to see specific ideas of things to do

Is Iceland Worth Visiting? FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about visiting Iceland

Is it a good idea to go to Iceland?

It’s a good idea to go to Iceland, but you need to consider your budget, how much time you have, and what time of year you would go. Iceland is amazing, but can be very pricy, and depending on you, you may not like it at certain times of the year (for example, long hours of darkness in the winter.)

Is Iceland very expensive?

Yeah, Iceland is pretty expensive. However, its not overly different from how prices have gone up in many other prime tourist destinations around the world.

What is the downside of Iceland?

The downside of Iceland is probably the price. It can be very expensive to travel there. One week in Iceland can set you back about. However, this isn’t too different from

Conclusion on Iceland Being Worth Visiting

I hope that this article has given you an idea of why so many people travel to Iceland, and why they rave about it when they come back.

Iceland full of a natural beauty that looks so different from any other country on earth. There are waterfalls, canyons, glaciers, ice caves, wildlife like whales and puffins, and an interesting history of Viking settlement.