Where to Go in Iceland

The capital city offers plenty and is a great place to start off your explorations. While it was once more like a small, sleepy town, over the past decade it’s changed significantly. There are no soaring skyscrapers in its core, but it’s become a bustling city with a laid-back vibe, complete with trendy cafes, colorful street art, museums, shops and restaurants.

Icelandic cuisine may not be well-known, yet you’ll find plenty of tasty options with Reykjavik hosting not only world-class eateries but the world’s most famous hot dog stand. The city also offers lively nightlife with funky bars and hopping clubs. Its most iconic landmark is Hallgrimskirkja Church which sits atop Skolavorduhaed Hill. It’s the largest in Iceland and can be seen from many vantage points as well as providing a panoramic view from the top. It’s a great way to get a perspective of the city’s layout. Afterwards, walk straight down the hill to delve into the country’s cultural, social, and artistic heart.

The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is a must-visit no matter what time of year you’re in Iceland. A large glacial lagoon, it was created by glacier melt and continues to grow quickly with the melting of the polar ice cap. Icebergs are continuously breaking off and drift through a short river into the sea. Waves turn some of them back onto the black sand beach where they can be seen scattered about like gems.

During the warmer months, generally May through September, zodiac boat tours can bring you closer to the ice where you’ll be able to listen to the thunder roar as bergs break off. From October through April, it’s worth visiting too as there are countless seals that can be seen hanging out on the ice. They stay protected here in the lagoon with killer whales waiting in the North Atlantic to catch an easy meal.

Iceland’s famous tourist route, the Golden Circle offers fantastical wonders around nearly every turn. That includes Gullfoss, or ‘Golden Falls,’ the country’s own version of Niagara Falls which sits along the upper part of River Hvita. It plunges down in two steps into a mile-long canyon below. There are a number of trails that will lead you to gorgeous views, one where you’ll be standing above and another that gets you up close and personal with the cascades.

Nearby, the Geysir Hot Spring Area features erupting geysers, bubbling mud pits, and other geothermal features. The most impressive geyser is Strokkur which skyrockets 100 feet into the air about every 10 minutes. The area was named for Geysir, which is less active today although it lent its name to all the others around the world. At the Silfra rift in Lake Þingvallavatn, you can even dive or snorkel in between two continents.

Another good option in Northern Iceland is the pretty fishing village of Husavík. Often referred to as the ‘Whale Watching Capital’ of the country, the icy waters off the coast here are s a veritable feeding ground for a wide range of marine life in the summer, especially large marine mammals.

It was also featured in 2020’s “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in which humpback whales suddenly breach out of the bay right behind the stars. In addition to humpbacks, it’s possible to see orca whales, blue whales, and minke whales on a boat tour. There is also a whale museum here which displays nearly a dozen whale skeletons, including one of a massive blue whale.

Vatnajökull National Park is home to countless natural wonders as the largest national park in Europe covering 14 percent of Iceland. There are thundering falls, glaciers, volcanoes, and craters with a network of trails for hiking that lead deep into the wilderness.

In the winter, when the frigid temperatures have hardened the ice, one can even explore an ice cave that looks like a true work of art. It’s located on a frozen lagoon of the Svínafellsjökull Glacier and is best explored on a guided tour. A 22-foot entrance serves as the access point providing a magical vision where brilliant blue frozen ceilings are studded with stalagmites and stalactites that hang over the icy paths. The densely packed glacial ice gets its blue glow due to the lack of air bubbles that typically spread colors of the spectrum when sunlight filters down from above.