Iceland

Volcanoes, steaming lava fields, bubbling mud pools, waterfalls and geothermal springs all await in primordial North Iceland.

In this region just a few kilometres from the Arctic Circle you may feel at the end or the beginning of the earth.

North Iceland’s natural marvels are spread around a vast and unpopulated area, where the largest town by far is Akureyri, home to just 18,000 people.

To make things easier you can follow itineraries like the Diamond Circle, leading from the lonely port at Húsavík to awesome glacial canyons, the most powerful waterfall in Europe and Lake Mývatn, which has a world of alien volcanic landforms on its shores.

The coast, on the Greenland Sea is the best place to see whales in Iceland and Húsavík has a world-class museum about the cetaceans of the North Atlantic.

Let’s explore the best things to do in North Iceland:

1. Herring Era Museum

Herring Era Museum

In Siglufjörður there’s a salting station that was once the centre of Iceland’s lucrative herring fishery.

In the first half of the 20th century Siglufjörður was sometimes described as the “Atlantic Klondike”, with thousands of speculators showing up for a slice of the vast wealth generated by the Atlantic herring.

The salting station was abandoned 1969 after herring simply disappeared from this corner of the Atlantic, and an ensemble of buildings was converted into a museum in 1994. The Róaldsbrakki, a Norwegian salting station, dates to 1907 and has artefacts like salting barrels and black and white photos conveying the atmosphere in Siglufjörður at the time.

Grána is a herring factory from the 1930s, with heavy machinery gathered from herring sites around Iceland, while the Boathouse recalls the bustling waterfront in Siglufjörður and has ten vessels docked on its piers.

2. Lake Mývatn

Lake Mývatn

Close to the Krafla Volcano, Lake Mývatn is prized for its salmon and trout stocks, while the surrounding wetlands are protected as a natural park.

The lake was created by an eruption 2,300 years ago and is embedded in a peculiar volcanic landscape of rootless vents and lava pillars.

The birdlife on the shores is astonishingly rich, and a new Bird Museum has been opened to document the many waterfowl species (common scoter, red-breasted merganser, gadwall) that frequent the lake in summer.

Enclosing the lake is a world of bizarre volcanic sights, from craters to geothermal pools and bubbling sulphur springs.

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5. Hveraströnd Sulphur Springs

Hveraströnd Sulphur Springs

East of Lake Mývatn and in the shadow of Námafjall is a geothermal field on the mid-Atlantic Ridge, where temperatures not far below the surface soar to more than 200°C. Above, the landscape looks like something from another planet, with boiling mud pools, steam fumaroles and earth tinted yellow by the sulphur.

There’s no vegetation to speak of at Hveraströnd, and you have to bring a camera to capture the desolation and the plumes of steams rising from the hissing fumaroles and pools.

In the late-Medieval period Hveraströnd was a key source of the sulphur that went into early gunpowder.

6. Grjótagjá

Grjótagjá

Avid Game of Thrones watchers may want to make the pilgrimage to this beautiful lava cave with a hot spring, around 1.5 kilometres east of Lake Mývatn.

In the episode Kissed by Fire in season 3, this is where Jon Snow and Ygritte have an “encounter” causing Jon Snow to break his Night’s Watch oath.

The pool in the cave had been used for bathing since the 1930s, but became dangerously hot after the Krafla eruptions in the 70s and 80s.

Since the 90s temperatures have slipped below 45°C and bathing has been allowed once more.

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9. Ásbyrgi

Ásbyrgi

Like many of the spots on this list, Ásbyrgi is on the Diamond Circle and has to be seen when you come by the Jökulsárgljúfur.

This horseshoe-shaped canyon is not far west of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river and was shaped by catastrophic glacial flooding at the end of the last Ice Age, about 8,000-10,000 years ago and then again approximately 3,000 years ago.

The canyon walls are up to 100 metres high and shelter a forest of birch, willow, larch, spruce and pine on the fringes of the Botnstjörn lake, a remnant of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum, which has long since changed course.

The Eyjan (Island) rock sits in the middle of this formation and has a photo-worthy panorama of this breathtaking scene.

The traditional explanation for Ásbyrgi is that it was formed by the hoof of Sleipnir Odin’s eight-legged horse.

10. Goðafoss

Goðafoss

Thirty metres across and twelve metres high, Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods) is sensational all year round and regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful waterfalls.

If there’s a time when the falls are absolutely unmissable it’s around late-spring when the water is encrusted with icicles.

The name, Goðafoss comes from a story in Ari Þorgilsson’s Íslendingabók, written in the early 12th century.

A century before, in 999, the lawspeaker Thorgeir Ljosvetningagodi threw his pagan idols into the falls after deciding that Iceland should officially adopt Christianity at the Althing (parliament). The falls are on the 178-kilometre Skjálfandafljót river, beginning at the Vatnajökull ice cap in the Highlands.

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15 Best Things to Do in North Iceland .

You’ve surely read about Iceland’s glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs, well in the South Iceland region you can live them.

The most convenient way in is to drive the Golden Circle, which has the site of Europe’s oldest parliament, the thunderous Gullfoss waterfall and the geyser that gave all other geysers their name, all on one itinerary.

Or to dig a little deeper, you can haul yourself across a glacier with an ice axe, step onto a beach with pitch black sands, bathe in a geothermal river and visit waterfall after waterfall, and be lost for words each time.

The region is imbued with a sense of spectacle and magic, so it’s no wonder that each canyon, waterfall and volcano has a romantic back-story steeped in mythology and folklore from the Settlement period.

Let’s explore the best things to do in South Iceland:

1. Þingvellir

Source: Simon Dannhauer

Þingvellir National Park

A National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Þingvellir has real historical and cultural meaning to match its geological importance.

This was the location for the Althing, the oldest parliament in Europe, held since 930 and taking place here until 1798. Chieftains in the eastern part of the Iceland would have to travel for as long as 17 days to reach this place.

Þingvellir also lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the dividing line between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, and driving from Reykjavik you’ll make that transition by descending a sheer cliff from the North America to Eurasia.

Where that rocky boundary has collapsed you’ll find the Almannagjá gorge, for hikes between plates that are separating at two centimetres a year.

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3. Geysir

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The Great Geysir, The Golden Circle

The final member of the triumvirate of staggering natural sights on the Golden Circle is the original geyser, Geysir.

This high-powered spring has been hurling boiling water up to 70 metres into the air for more than 10,000 years.

At the moment Geysir is going through one of its quiet phases, but in the 17th century it was so powerful that the whole area would shake when it erupted.

But just because Geysir is mostly inactive at the moment, doesn’t mean you’ll miss out as Strokkur forces water to a height of 15 metres and is one of about 30 geysers and colourful hot pools nearby.

There’s a gift shop and cafe at the park, and admission in 2018 was ISK 600.

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5. Skógafoss

Source: Edgar9

Skógafoss

As enchanting as any of the sights on this list, Skógafoss is a 60-metre-high waterfall on the Skóga River, flanked by verdant cliffs.

If you can choose a time to come to Skógafoss, make it a sunny day when the falls’ spray causes a bright rainbow.

Something interesting about these cliffs is that they used to be on the coast, and have shifted inland five kilometre with the tectonic plate.

There’s a legend that the first Viking settler in area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, left a treasure chest in the cave behind the waterfall.

When locals found the chest they could only grasp the ring, which came off and was used as the handle on the church door.

You can use Skógafoss as the first stop on a hike along the Skóga, encountering a string of sublime falls like Brúarfoss and Miðfoss, just a few hundred metres apart.

6. Skogasafn

Skogasafn

Open June to August, Skogasafn is an outdoor museum revealing life and work in Iceland in the 20th century.

There are 13 buildings on the site, many with the typical Icelandic turf roofs, and each filled with antique furniture, tools for fishing and farming, traditional costume, cooking implements and handicrafts.

There are also artefacts going back to the Viking age like the original ring from the church door.

You’ll see the historical importance of furs in Iceland, and can sit at a desk in an early-20th-century classroom, which has its own vintage organ.

There’s also an exhibition about the progress of technology and transportation in the 19th and 20th century, including a postal van from the 1910s and an amphibious rescue vehicle.

7. Kerið

Kerið

On the Golden Circle and one of the Tjarnarholar row of craters, Kerið is a lake in volcanic basin that has milky teal-coloured water in vivid contrast to the dark red and black of the crater’s slopes.

For a long time this depression was believed to be a crater caused by a 3,000-year-old explosion, but recent studies have revealed it to be a collapsed magma chamber caused by an eruption 6,000 years ago.

Kerið has a depth of 55 metres, and this includes its pool of water, which sits level with the subterranean water table and is not caused by rainfall.

8. Urriðafoss

Source: Jill /Blue Moonbeam Studio

Urriðafoss

The Þjórsá, Iceland’s longest river at 230 kilometres, also has the second largest volume.

At Urriðafoss, on the edge of the Þjórsárhraun lava field, the river roars over a six metre drop.

What’s dumbfounding about these falls is that salmon somehow manage to travel upriver.

It’s been claimed that these fish have unusually long tailbones to be able to propel themselves up Urriðafoss.

That Þjórsárhraun lava field close by is the result of the largest flow of lava on the planet since the Ice Age.

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13. Sólheimajökull

Sólheimajökull

Not far north of Vík í Mýrdal and attached to the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, Sólheimajökull is a glacial tongue perforated with crevasses, sinkholes and ridges, in an environment that is in a constant state of flux.

The only way to tackle the glacier is with an ice axe and crampons on a guided trek, with an expert who will be able to keep you safe and tell you more about its make-up and history.

In places you’ll see stratified cross-sections of ice, hundreds of years old and in mesmerising blue tones.

At the top you’ll be able to see as far as Eyjafjallajökull, which made international headlines when it erupted in 2010.

14. Reykjadalur Valley

Source: Alexey Stiop

Reykjadalur Valley

Half an hour out of Reykjavík is another lush valley full of bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles.

As it happens, Reykjadalur means “Steam Valley”, and from the car park you have to set off on a three-kilometre walking trail to get there.

True to form in Iceland the valley is wonderfully diverse, with a set of cascades, neon shocks of sulphur, wildflowers and enigmatic plumes of steam wafting around.

The trail is a popular route for treks on the beautiful Icelandic horses.

Eventually you’ll arrive at a stretch of river traced by wooden boardwalks where you can bathe safely.

The is fed by hot springs at the top of the valley, so the water temperature rises the higher you go.

15. Fimmvörðuháls Hiking Trail

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Fimmvörðuháls Hiking Trail

The “Five Cairns Pass” in English, this trail runs from Skógar near the coast to Thórsmörk, passing through the Fimmvörðuháls pass between the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers.

The route is 22 kilometres long and makes a vertical ascent of just over 1,000 metres on the way.

The trail had to be closed after the volcano beneath Eyjafjallajökull erupted, but was soon reopened, only with very different scenery to what had come before.

If you fancy a week-long volcanic adventure you can combine the Fimmvörðuháls Hiking Trail with Laugavegur, which we spoke about earlier.

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Situated along the coast of Iceland, Reykjavik is the capital and the largest city in the country. One of the smallest cities in Europe, Reykjavik is also the northernmost capital in the world and is the country’s governmental, financial, and cultural hub. According to the “Book of Settlement,” the oldest written proof of Icelandic history, the city was the first ever permanent settlement in the nation and has been in existence since 874 AD.

Named after the city’s hot springs, Reykjavik literally translates to “cove of smokes” or “the smoky bay.” One of the safest cities on the planet, the city is home to the world’s oldest parliament, Althingi. While art lovers can appreciate the many street-arts scattered around the city, Kolaportið, found next to the harbor, is the biggest flea market in Iceland and is an absolute paradise for shoppers – you can find almost anything here from shark meat to vintage records and everything else in between.

And don’t be alarmed if you see a baby sleeping in a stroller unwatched outside a supermarket or a store – Icelanders believe that letting their toddlers sleep in the fresh air (even when it’s below freezing outside) is good for their health.

Let us now explore some of the most prominent areas in the city so you can decide where to stay in Reykjavik during your stay.

Miðborg – Downtown/City Center – 101

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Miðborg

The beating heart of the city, the Downtown neighborhood is home to several notable attractions in the city and a majority of its popular bars and restaurants. Whether you love exploring the brightly colored streets of the city or plan to get a taste of the true Icelandic nightlife, this is most likely where you will be spending most of your time. An easily walkable neighborhood, the downtown is home to one of the most historic landmarks of the city – the Church of Hallgrímur. Visible from almost any part of this city, this gigantic Lutheran parish church is the largest of its kind in the country and has been in existence since 1945. Another notable attraction in the area is the National Museum of Iceland. Established in 1863, the museum is dedicated to an intriguing collection of Icelandic and antiquarian objects.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Volcano House, Listasafn Reykjavíkur Reykjavík Art Museum, and Reykjavík Museum of Photography.

Hotel Recommendations:

• The Swan House – RÆTUR Apartment Hotel – Within a minutes’ walking distance from the famous shopping street, the property features spacious, self-catering suites with free Wi-Fi, kitchenette, and private bathroom. The trendy units also come with a flat-screen TV, extra-large double beds, and tea/coffee maker for extra comfort. Great for all kinds of travelers.
• Skuggi Hotel Reykjavík by Keahotels – A few hundred meters from the historic Hallgrímskirkja Church, Skuggi Hotel Reykjavík offers a 24-hour front desk, free underground parking, and an on-site bar. The comfy guestrooms at the property come equipped with TV, free Wi-Fi, and private bathroom. Suitable for solo travelers, couples, and small families.
• Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre – A couple of minutes from the prominent Laugavegur Shopping Street, Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Center offers well-appointed guestrooms with Icelandic décor, flat-screen TV, and a tea/coffee maker. Guests can enjoy a work out at the on-site fitness center and refresh themselves with a delightful cocktail at the bar. A superb complimentary breakfast buffet is served daily. Perfect for all kinds of luxury travelers.

104 – Laugardalur

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Laugardalur Botanical Garden

A largely residential neighborhood not too far from the city’s bustling downtown area, Laugardalur is a great place to stay if you are traveling with family, especially young children. Speckled with a charming vibe, the area’s many cozy cafés are a perfect spot to enjoy a nice lunch and admire the surroundings. Visit the famous Reykjavik zoo and entertainment park where you can enjoy a splash with your kids at the largest swimming pool in Iceland followed by a delightful meal in the middle of the well-manicured gardens of the park and finish the day by taking a gentle stroll amidst the botanical gardens. For something more fun-filled and exciting, spend a night camping at the Reykjavík Campsite. While here, you can’t miss a rejuvenating dip in the thermal pools at the Blue Lagoon.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Húsdýragarðurinn (zoo), Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool, Laugardalur valley botanical garden, and Ice skating.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Sport Hostel Reykjavík – Located adjacent to the rejuvenating Blue Lagoon Spa, Sport Hostel Reykjavik offers comfortable accommodation in twin and family rooms. A common kitchen is available for guest use. Guests can relax at the sun terrace while they enjoy their breakfast and later catch up on their favorite movies and shows at the TV lounge. Suitable for all kinds of travelers.
• Skipasund Apartment – A short drive from Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool, Skipasund Apartment provides expansive, fully-equipped apartment units within the picturesque Laugardalur Valley. Guests can enjoy free parking and complimentary Wi-Fi on the property. Great for couples, families, and groups.
• GreenKey Apartments L27 – Featuring well-furnished one-bedroom apartments with free Wi-Fi, a fully-equipped kitchen, extra-large double beds, and a living room, GreenKey Apartments L27 is only a short drive from Reykjavík Domestic Airport. Rooms come here with a cozy patio where guests can enjoy their morning coffee. Suitable for couples, families, and groups.

Hlíðar – 105

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Fosshótel Rauðará

Close to the action of the downtown/city center neighborhood yet far enough for a peaceful night of sleep, the 105 area doesn’t have any restaurants and bars as such but is within proximity to the countless diners and nightlife avenues of the 101 neighborhood. Having said that, Hlíðar is home to one of the most prominent (and peculiar) museums in the city, the Icelandic Phallological Museum. Not meant for children, this 1997 museum houses the largest display of penises and penile parts in the world, including 55 specimens taken from whales, 118 from land mammals, and much more. There is also a human specimen that was acquired as early as July 2011.

Good for: All kinds of travelers
Other Highlights: City Park Klambratún, and Reykjavík Art Museum.

Hotel Recommendations:

• 105 – A Townhouse Hotel – A pleasant stroll from the Hlemmur Square, 105 – A Townhouse Hotel features wonderfully-decorated studios and apartment units which come equipped with comfy beds, satellite TV, kitchen, and private bathroom. The property’s 24-hour front desk can help in arranging car rentals and offering sightseeing suggestions within the area. Suitable for solo travelers, couples, and small families.
• Fosshótel Rauðará – Featuring a 24-hour reception, a delightful bar and cocktail lounge, and free parking, Fosshótel Rauðará offers stylishly designed guestrooms within a 5 minutes’ walking distance from Klambratun Park. A fabulous complimentary breakfast is served daily. Great for all kinds of travelers.
• Reykjavík Hostel Village – A family-owned, cozy property located within a short walking distance from many of the city’s famous attractions, including the main shopping street and the Sundhöllin public swimming pool, Reykjavík Hostel Village offers a variety of brightly-decorated rooms and apartment units with complimentary Wi-Fi and a wonderful view of the city or the surrounding garden. Great for all kinds of travelers.

108 – Háaleiti og Bústaðir

Source: booking.com

Hotel Island

If you are more interested in a city’s landscape that it’s culture, the 108 neighborhood in Reykjavik is the perfect place for you to stay. Surrounded by amazing greenery and the pristine blue waters of the enclosing sea, Háaleiti og Bústaðir district comprises four neighborhoods, namely Háaleiti, Kringla, Fossvogur, and Gerði. Fossvogur Valley, the most prominent outdoor attraction in the area, is a popular recreational area which is frequented by locals and tourists alike. Visitors especially like exploring the many trails that are scattered around the vicinity. Once you have had your dose of the Icelandic nature, make your way to one of the finest shopping malls in the city, Kringlan Shopping Mall.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: City Park Klambratún, and Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Reykjavik Lights Hotel by Keahotels – Located within a kilometer from Laugardalur Family Park, this well-designed hotel offers luxurious accommodation in elegantly-appointed guestrooms which are individually decorated with brilliant artworks and inspired by the ancient Icelandic calendar. A delightful breakfast buffet is served daily. Great for all kinds of travelers.
• Arctic Comfort Hotel – A short walking distance from the largest swimming pool in Iceland, the Arctic Comfort Hotel offers expansive guestrooms with a flat-screen TV, kitchenette, and a private bathroom. Guests can start their day with a hearty breakfast and relax with a cocktail during the day at the hotel’s bar and lounge. Alternatively, the helpful staff at the reception can suggest local restaurants and assist in making reservations. Great for all kinds of travelers.
• Hotel Island – Boasting a full-service spa and wellness center, a beauty salon, a well-equipped fitness center, and an on-site bar and restaurant, Hotel Island treats its guests to a lavish room with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Many of the city’s famous attractions can be found within a short walking or driving distance. Perfect for all kinds of travelers.

170 – Seltjarnarnes

Source: Henry Oude Egberink

Seltjarnarnes

Technically not a part of Reykjavik proper, Seltjarnarnes, also known as the 170 neighborhoods, is a small town on the tip of a spellbinding peninsula which is best known for its location by the North Atlantic Ocean. Offering beautiful coastal walking trails and a brilliant display of outdoor artworks by local artists, the neighborhood is considered as one of the best spots for experiencing the phenomenal wonders of the Northern Lights (winters) and the Midnight Sun (summers). A haven for birdwatchers, Seltjarnarnes reportedly comprises over 110 varieties of birds. In fact, the activity is so popular in the area that there is a now a shelter in place for photographers to wait while they anticipate the best bird photo opportunities.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Grótta Island Lighthouse, Golfklúbbur – Seltjarnarnes, and Nesstofa Museum.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Blue House B&B – A 5 minutes’ walking distance from the beach, Blue House B&B features well-appointed guestrooms and self-catering apartment units within the tranquil atmosphere of the neighborhood. Furthermore, all rooms at the property come equipped with an Apple TV and Netflix. Guests can enjoy a view of the sea or the surrounding gardens. Great for all kinds of travelers, including big groups of up to 6 members.
• Apartment by the Sea near Reykjavik Center – As the name suggests, this charming property is located by the beach and it offers meticulously-decorated, self-catering apartment units with a kitchen and satellite TV. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Outdoor lovers can enjoy hiking and cycling around the neighborhood. Suitable for couple and families.
• Nes Residence – Offering unparalleled views of the enclosing sea, Nes Residence features fully-furnished apartment units which come fitted with latest amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV with streaming service, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a private bathroom. National Museum of Iceland is a 10 minutes’ drive from the property. Great for solo travelers, couples, and small families.

Where to Stay in Reykjavik – Neighborhoods & Area Guide .