Best Things To Do In Iceland

Iceland is one of the most incredible destinations we have ever been to. We were blown away by all the best things to do in Iceland. It’s certainly a place that won’t leave you bored! The landscapes in Iceland change dramatically as you drive around the ring road and there is no doubt you will be constantly stopping to take yet another photo. Rainbows appear out of nowhere and then vanish minutes later, a burst of sunshine will peak out a cloud casting a glorious glow over the land and the photogenic Icelandic horses never fail to draw you in.

Best Things To Do In Iceland

For a relatively small country, there is a seemingly endless list of things to do in Iceland. We drove an insane amount of miles in the 3 weeks we were there, chasing the good weather, northern lights and exhilarating landscapes. We were pleased to discover many of the must-see spots are situated just off the main N1 ring road, but others are a little trickier to get to, which only adds to the adventure.

Watch The Geysers Erupt

The Golden Circle route takes you into the Thingvellir National Park. This is where you’ll find the geyser hot spring area. The Great Geysir is huge, but only erupts every few years. The impressive Stokker geyser erupts every 5-10 minutes. Watching the boiling water bubble away and then erupt with little warning is an incredible experience.

Each eruption is different so it’s worth staying in the area for a while to see more than one eruption. The average height of an eruption is 15-20 metres, which is impressive enough. Hang around for longer though and you may see one as high as 40 metres! Heading there for sunrise is also recommended as the sky lights up with incredible colour and the power of the water glows in the morning sunlight.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall is also in The Golden Circle and is just off the main road. You can see the spray of the waterfall before you see the power of the main falls. There is a short walk down to Gullfoss and then it’s grandeur is evident as soon as you see it. The water tumbles over a cliff edge and down into a thundering churn of water. As you walk down nearer to the edge you can’t help but feel in awe at the force of nature and the brutality of the water.

Bruarfoss Waterfall

This unique waterfall is well worth the 45 minute walk to get there. The bright blue water and swirling cascades are captivatingly beautiful. The walk is easy and takes you on a trail through bushland and along the fast-flowing river. Bruarfoss Waterfall is along The Golden Circle route and the car park is just off the main road.

Get Blown Away By The Northern Lights

We got very lucky on our first trip to Iceland and experienced a KP 6 solar storm on a totally clear night. The dancing lights completely take your breathe away and we can’t wait to be able to see them again. There are many variables that determine if you will see the North Lights. The solar activity needs to be strong and the sky needs to be clear of clouds.

We found the official Iceland weather website very helpful during our trip, especially for the Northern Lights. It shows the cloud cover forecast and the aurora forecast for each day.

If you see the conditions are going to be favourable, head to somewhere away from light pollution and prepare to be amazed! You have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights between late August and mid-April in Iceland.

Head To Diamond Beach & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Both of these destinations are just off the main N1 highway in the south of Iceland. The Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach look different every time you visit. The Glacier Lagoon is often full of huge chunks of glacier that have broken off surrounding glaciers. If you listen closely you may even be able to hear as the ice cracks and breaks away.

Diamond Beach is a black sand beach that often has chucks of ice sat on the shore. On a sunny day the ice glistens like a diamond in contrast to the dark sand. It’s a beautiful and unique place and we found ourselves visiting more than once, captivated by such a rare sight.

Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss Waterfall is one of the most famous in Iceland and with good reason. You can see it tumbling off the edge of a cliff from the main N1 highway. As you drive closer to the waterfall, the enormity of it becomes even more evident. It’s a short walk to get up close to the see the powerful falls in all their glory. If you have the energy there is also a set of stairs running up alongside the falls. At the top you can look down and see the birds flying in and out of the rock face and see the falls from another angle.

Right next to Skogafoss is Kvernufoss Waterfall – it is a short 20 minute hike to get there, and it’s well worth it. Due to it being tucked away, it gets far less visitors. Make sure you take a waterproof as it is highly likely you’ll get wet!

Walk Behind Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

There is something special about being able to walk behind a cascading waterfall. Even more so when it is one as powerful as Seljalandsfoss.

Combining this and Skogafoss Waterfall is easy as they are just a 10 minute drive from each other and you can also see Seljalandsfoss from the main road.

If you walk a few minutes further you will find Gljufrafoss Waterfall, which is hidden in a small canyon.

Visit An Ice Cave

We thought we may have been a little early to visit an ice cave in late September, but luck was on our side. This was our biggest cost for excursions in Iceland, but it was more than worth it. It’s not everyday you can visit a bright, blue ice cave. A cave so blue, it’s called Sapphire.

We arranged a tour with Local Guide and our guide Snorri was brilliant. Snorri told us more about what life in Iceland was like for a local, which we always love to hear. He explained about the glaciers too, which cover 11% of Iceland. The cave was breathtaking and the colour really blows your mind. Snorri was very patient with us while we took lots of photos and we are so grateful for this experience.

Hike Into Studlagil Canyon

Studlagil Canyon is in the east of Iceland and a long way from Reykjavik. If you’re on a full loop of the country around the N1, then this isn’t too far out the way. You can see the canyon from the top by driving to the viewpoint and looking down at it, but we wanted to go down into it. To do this you will need to park up at Klaustursel Farm and hike for about an hour each way. The hike takes you through a beautiful terrain and is relatively flat.

The canyon is beautiful with stunning blue water and huge basalt columns towering up either side.

Photograph Vestrahorn Mountains

Vestrahorn Mountains are a photographer’s paradise. After capturing an amazing sunset behind the mountains, we had dinner in our campervan. As night fell we then saw the Northern Lights for the first time, dancing above the mountains.

There is a campsite near the entrance to the mountains and this is one of the few places in Iceland that you need to pay to get into. The entry fee is 900ISK (~£5.20/$6.30 USD) each.

Godafoss Waterfall

One of the north of Iceland’s most impressive sights. Godafoss waterfall is powerful and shaped like a horseshoe. It’s a beautiful spot and a place we would love to go back and visit in winter with the snowy landscapes.

The car park sits right off the main road and it’s just a short walk around either side of the waterfall to get up close.

Visit The Otherworldly Hverir Geothermal Area

Hverir Geothermal Area is in the north of Iceland and leaves you feeling like you are on another planet. The sulphur smell takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s worth it to see such an insane landscape. There are multiple colours on the ground, bubbling pools of mud and steaming fumaroles emitting sulphuric gas all around you.

This is another must-see place in Iceland that is very easy to get so and the car park is just off the N1 main road.

Venture Into The Highlands

If you visit Iceland in the summer, you have the option of venturing into the highlands. You will need to rent a 4×4 to visit the highlands, or join a tour. There are many incredible places to visit in the highlands that we hope to visit one day. We got a little unlucky with the weather on our first trip in September. The first huge snow fall in the highlands happened not long after we picked up our camper. which meant many places were off limits or covered in snow – just another reason to return!

The dates the roads to the highlands re-open and close changes every year depending on the weather. Usually the highlands are accessible from mid/late June to early/mid September.

Haifoss Waterfall

If you don’t make it to the highlands, you can still visit Haifoss Waterfall on a detour from The Golden Circle. This huge waterfall crashes down into the canyon below. It is a truly epic sight! You can park really near to the falls, with just a short walk to get down to the viewpoint.

Bathe In The Blue Lagoon

No list of best things to do in Iceland would be complete without mentioning the Blue Lagoon. In saying that, we didn’t actually go there on our first visit to Iceland! We were so blown away by the rest of the country, we ran out of time to visit!

On our second visit to Iceland, in winter, we were finally able to visit the Blue Lagoon and we loved it! It is the perfect place to relax and unwind. In winter the rocks were covered in snow and the heat of the lagoon kept us toasty even when it was minus 8 outside!

The Blue Lagoon is very near to the airport, so is perfect for visiting when you first arrive in Iceland or adding on to the last day of your trip. It is pricy though and you need to book in advance as spaces can fill up quickly.

There is also the more recently opened Sky Lagoon, which is just outside of Reykjavik. We visited Sky Lagoon on Christmas morning and it was amazing. If you can squeeze in a trip to one lagoon at the start of your trip and one at the end, you won’t be disappointed.

How To Get Around Iceland

We highly recommend hiring a camper in Iceland. It gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and if you rent a 4×4 you can even venture into the highlands. We rented our 4×4 camper through Go Campers who we would highly recommend. They have a huge range of campers for 1 – 5 people and to suit any budget.

We hired the 4×4 Camper 4-pax, which was perfect for our trip. The bed was comfy and there was plenty of room to prepare our meals. We loved being able to stop and prepare our food whenever we got hungry, not to mention it saved us a huge amount on restaurant costs. There is a decent sized fridge and 2 gas hob rings, which was plenty for us when cooking.

We went to Iceland at the end of September when the temperatures had already started to drop, especially at night. We were thrilled with how well the heater worked in the camper. It kept us toasty whenever we were eating or sleeping.

If you’re looking for the ultimate road trip adventure in Iceland, then look no further than renting a camper from Go Campers.

When To Visit Iceland

The is always plenty to see in Iceland, no matter when you visit. The summer is the most popular time of the year in Iceland as the highlands are easily accessible and the temperatures are higher. Due the popularity at this time of year, the campers get booked out quickly and the prices are much higher. In summer you’ll also have endlessly long days – especially in June with the midnight sun. It isn’t possible to see the Northern Lights in summer.

In winter the days are cold and short, with unpredictable weather, but you have a higher chance of seeing the Northern Lights and the snowfall makes everywhere look magical.

The shoulder seasons can be a great time to visit, but if you want to see the Northern Lights or be sure to see the highlands then the shoulder seasons can be risky. Summer could arrive late, or winter arrive early. Whenever you choose to visit Iceland you can be sure there will be plenty of things to do.