All Posts, Europe, Iceland · 10 Places You Absolutely Cannot Miss in Iceland Planning your dream trip to Iceland? Hoping to see all the best sights and some hidden gems? Keep reading for 10 Places You Absolutely Cannot Miss in Iceland! From its rugged terrain, world-famous hot springs, waterfalls that you can walk behind, and landmarks with too many consonants (Fjaðrárgljúfur!), Iceland is a magical place. I’ll be the first to admit, I was skeptical before visiting Iceland. I imagined a dreary, rainy mess of a destination. Instead, I was greeted with lush, green landscapes, gushing waterfalls, and purple lupine flowers blooming against the backdrop of snowcapped mountains – and all that was just on the first day. For what this tiny island lacks in size it makes up for in bucket-list experiences, diverse landscape, and once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Keep reading for 10 Places You Absolutely Cannot Miss in Iceland. 1. The Blue Lagoon Going to Iceland and not soaking in the Blue Lagoon is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. This iconic hot-spring, with its baby blue spa amid a black lava field, is the perfect retreat to relax after sightseeing. Located just 30 minutes from the international airport, I recommend visiting this other-worldly spa on the last day of your Iceland trip before flying out. Location: VHJ2+46 Grindavik, Iceland 2. Snorkeling Silfra Fissure For the most unique snorkel experience, don’t miss floating through the clearest water in the world at Silfra fissure. Silfra – a fissure created by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates cutting through Iceland – is the only place in the world where you can snorkel between two continents, and you don’t even need to bring your passport! Location: 7V4M+HF Thingvellir, Iceland Read more about Snorkeling the Sifra Fissure here! 3. Diamond Beach Located 4 hours southwest of the capital city of Reykjavik, Diamond beach is one of the most popular attractions in Iceland. Here, icebergs from the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon have washed ashore and lie stranded on a stunning black sand beach. The contrast of the crystal clear icebergs against the black sand beach is what makes this stunning beach so iconic. Location: Diamond Beach 4. Seljalandsfoss Located on Iceland’s main highway, the Ring Road, this waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. Not only is it famous as the highest waterfall in Iceland, but also for its unique pathway that stretches around the waterfall. Yes, this means that you can actually walk behind the 200-foot gushing waterfall! Obviously, you’re going to get a bit wet, so be sure to bring a raincoat and waterproof shoes. But, it’s not every day that you get to take a peek behind a waterfall, so getting a bit wet is worth it for the experience. TIP: Don’t miss the little-known waterfall, Gljúfrabúi, which many tourists don’t realize is hidden in a canyon just a 5-minute walk away. Location: Seljalandsfoss 5. Northern Lights From late September to late March, Iceland can experience as little as 4 hours of daylight per day. But, this makes for the opportune time to watch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) light up the sky. It is recommended to join a Northern Lights tour rather than hunt them yourself, as the tour guides are experts at finding this bucket-list phenomenon. 6. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Two things are certain: 1) Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is quite a mouth full to say and 2) Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is unlike any landscape you’ve ever seen before. Spanning over 1 mile long and over 300 feet deep, this canyon is thought to be created by runoff from a nearby glacial lake at the end of the last ice age. Dating back 2 million years, this site recently became famous due to none other than Justin Beiber. His music video in 2015 titled “I’ll Show You” was shot here, making fans and tourists alike flock to this remote area. Location: Fjaðrárgljúfur 7. Vik This remote seaside town is the perfect stopover when visiting south Iceland. Popular tourist spots such as Reynisfjara (black sand beach) and Dyrhólaey Point give the perfect opportunity to explore this scenic and welcoming village. The most iconic landmark in Vik is its famous red-roof church, Víkurkirkja. This church is perched high on a hill overlooking Iceland’s southernmost village below, offering sweeping views of the quaint city. In the summertime, purple lupine flowers dot the fields surrounding this church, offering the perfect picture-postcard shot of the many colors of Iceland. Location: Vik 8. Kvernufoss As my favorite waterfall in all of Iceland, this hidden gem should not be missed! Often overlooked by travelers, Kvernufoss offers peaceful and secluded scenery that will feel like you’re frolicking in a Lord of the Rings movie. Like its bigger sister, Seljalandsfoss, you can also venture behind this waterfall. The fact that this waterfall is lesser-known among tourists makes for an unforgettable experience as you admire the view through its misty cascade. Location: GGH9+8J Skógar, Iceland 9. Reynisfjara Basalt Columns Iceland is full of uniquely diverse landscapes, and the Reynisfjara Basalt Columns are no exception. These hexagonal columns are perched on top of the black sand beach looking out at the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. National Geographic voted Reynisfjara as one of the Top 10 most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world, and it is very easy to see why! Shaped like huge organ pipes, these geometric rocks act as a big playground for eager tourists. Aside from being a popular spot for photography, you can also spot tons of wildlife, including one of Iceland’s more adorable animals: puffins. Location: CX35+64 Vik, Iceland 10: Icelandic Horses Perhaps my favorite thing about Iceland is these adorable Icelandic horses. Arriving around 900AD from Viking settlers, these lovable horses have been bred here for over 1,000 years, making them one of the purest bred horses in the world. I certainly was not expecting to see many animals on our Iceland road trip, but these pony-sized creatures with their Mick Jagger styled hair will have you wanting to stop on the side of the road every few miles to take a picture. So there you go, that’s 10 Places You Absolutely Cannot Miss in Iceland. Are you visiting soon? Have you been before? Let me know in the comments! Ready to visit Iceland now? Check out my other Iceland blog posts: How to Plan the Ultimate Iceland 4 Day Road TripSnorkel the Silfra Fissure – Iceland Bucket List10 Things To Know Before Visiting Iceland DID YOU LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER!
Jess says at Awesome post! I really, really, really want to go to Iceland! The blue lagoon seems like a great spot and I’m glad you mention it but I’m also so glad to see some other cool landmarks in Iceland highlighted here. So stoked for a trip there one day. Thank you! Reply
Sarah says at Thank you so much Jess! Iceland is definitely one of my favorite places in the world. Glad to hear it’s on your bucket list and I hope you get to experience it real soon! Reply
