What to Do in Iceland

One of the best ways to spend your first day in Iceland is to take a walk around the capital city, with the fresh air and movement perfect for beating any jet lag. Begin by heading to the top of the country’s largest church which sits atop Skolavorduhaed Hill. It’s design was based on the columnar basalt of Svartifoss Falls and from here you’ll get the very best view over the colorful downtown rooftops, the sea, and mountains beyond.

Afterwards, walk down toward the city center, enjoying the myriad of colorful street art and perhaps stopping for a coffee enjoyed while people watching. If you’re looking for something unique and quirky, you might visit the so-called Penis Museum. The Icelandic Phallological Museum displays a collection of more than 200 phallic specimens representing nearly every mammal in the country, including everything from trolls and elves to hamsters and whales.

Driving the approximately 140-mile Golden Circle route brings the opportunity to take in many of Iceland’s top attractions, including waterfalls and geysers. At Thingvellir National Park you can even stroll a path in the rift valley between the Eurasian and North American plates, or if you’re up for a big adventure, dive in the remarkably clear waters.

The Haukadalur geothermal area hosts geysers, with Strokkur one of the most active, exploding some 100 feet into the air approximately every 10 minutes. You’ll see steam rising across the landscape along with fumaroles and mud pots too.

Another highlight is Gullfoss Falls, also known as Golden Falls. At the place where the Hvita River disappears into a ravine, it turns a corner and plunges more than 100 feet into a crevice below, producing frequent rainbows in the thick mist. You can get a closer look by following the path down into the canyon and even feel the spray on your skin.

Thanks to the country’s location near the Arctic Circle, this is one of the world’s best places to see the aurora borealis. The lights can be witnessed anytime from September through early April on a cold, clear night with aurora activity, but the long, dark nights make winter the best time of year to catch them. You’ll want to get as far from light pollution as you can, although that’s fairly easy here, and sometimes the lights even make an appearance down by the Reykjavik waterfront.

The best spot in the city is at its northwesternmost point near Grotta lighthouse. Seeing them from a remote hot springs pool is absolutely unforgettable, or you might join a tour like a 4X4 excursion to search for the very best spot for a sighting. They regularly run between September and April, whenever the lights are expected. If they don’t make an appearance, you’ll usually get another opportunity.

Waterfall lovers can discover more than 200 waterfalls in Iceland, and countless others that are yet to be named. Skogafoss is one of the most famous and one of the largest, spilling nearly 60 feet and more than 80 feet wide. With such a high volume of water, the cascades produce a roaring sound and frequently a rainbow-yielding mist. A path leads to the top of the falls, following the river upstream where you can gaze upon even more magnificent falls.

Nearby, Seljalandsfoss is another favorite. One of the most photographed in Iceland, one can even walk behind the veil of water that plummets nearly 200 feet into a pool below. Deep inside Vatnajökull National Park, Dettifoss is said to be the most powerful in all of Europe, with over 132,000 gallons of water flowing from Vatnajökull glacier and plunging 150 feet into a canyon below.

While the Blue Lagoon is worth visiting as mentioned, there are many other hot pools and springs that can be found throughout Iceland, including some in remote, secluded locations. That can make for an especially memorable soak away from the tourist crowds surrounded by extraordinary scenery.

The Lake Myvatn Nature Baths are one great choice although more tourists are beginning to discover them. If you’re looking for something more off-the-beaten-path, Hveravellier sits virtually in the middle of nowhere in the central highlands surrounded by an oasis with steaming fumaroles. Part of a warm river, with the water constantly following, it stays remarkably clean and clear. Hellulaug is in the West Fjords and serves as the perfect spot to soak after hiking, while Laugarvalladalur in the eastern highlands north of Vatnajokull Glacier can only be reached by 4X4. Here a geothermal stream flows into a small waterfall and then spills into the warm pool below.