Things to see and do on your trip to Iceland?

Islandia is one of the most impressive destinations for its incredible volcanic formations, glaciers, caves and black sand beaches that are sure to leave you speechless. It is undoubtedly one of the places with the best views in Europe. The country is known as “the island of ice and fire” for its volcanic relief covered with snow during the cold months and on which still remain ancient glaciers and frozen lagoons, some of the main points of interest in Iceland.

In this post we will tell you everything to do on your trip to Iceland, the must-sees, the best places to see aurora borealis and the most impressive hiking trails. Although the country is well prepared for tourists, most of the natural landscapes are untouched and wild, so we recommend you to prepare your camera and good walking shoes. Ready? Then read on as we tell you everything you need to know about traveling to Iceland.

What are the must-see places in Iceland?

1. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland

If there is a city to see in Iceland, it is Reykjavik. Generally people do not spend more than a day there as it is not very big. But it’s still worth a walk through the central streets of Austurstraeti, Laekjargata and Skolavordustigu, and the port, one of the liveliest places in the city and where you will find Kolaportid market selling wool products and typical groceries during the weekend.

Other must-sees in Reykjavik are the Sólfar sculpture and the spectacular church of Hallgrímskirkja, 74 meters high and built in the shape of an organ. The church is open every day from 9:00h to 21:00h from May to September, and until 17:00h the rest of the year. In the city there are also other curious buildings such as the Harpa concert hall, the Höfði house or the Austurvóllur Square. If you want to know more visit this post: What to see and do on a trip to Reykjavík Iceland.

2. Skógafoss, Iceland’s most famous waterfall

The Skógafoss waterfall, the highest on the island, is located near the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, in a secluded spot buried in nature. During the day you can hike around this beautiful waterfall and even climb to the highest area, 400 steps from the ground. It is a tiring walk but you can do it in a short time and the final reward is a breathtaking view. Skógafoss waterfall is one of the most common visits in Iceland, so it is very well prepared for tourists and you will even find hotels nearby.

We also highly recommend this area as the place to see northern lights due to the low light pollution and its northern orientation. The only bad thing about this place is its popularity. Since it is such a well known place, whenever there is a high probability of aurora sightings, it might be crowded. And photographers may be disturbing with the flashes of their cameras.

3. The Blue Lagoon

A little less than an hour from Iceland’s capital, lies one of the most beautiful natural sites in the entire country: the Blue Lagoon. Nestled between the mountains that adorn its horizon, the vivid blue color of its hot springs contrasts with the black of the surrounding dry lava. Recognized worldwide as one of the best spas on the planet, the Blue Lagoon is an essential stop on your trip to Iceland.

Admission to the resort costs €56 (may vary by season) and we recommend to book online in advance, as its growing popularity makes it a busy place. But don’t worry about the crowds, the resort takes great care to make it a pleasant place, so the capacity is very limited. The thermal baths are open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm in summer and until 8:00 pm in winter. With the standard ticket you can stay there as long as you want.

4. Geyser and Strokkur geothermal area

One of the most impressive sights on your trip to Iceland are the two geysers in the Haukadalur Valley. The most famous is Geyser, the first to be discovered in the world, which was capable of spewing jets of steam 90 meters high. Unfortunately, it is not active today. However, you can still see something similar less than a kilometer away, at Strokkur Geyser, which shoots steam 20 meters high every 5 to 10 minutes.

The geothermal area of Geyser and Strokkur is only 1.5 hours from Reykjavik and the entrance is completely free. It is a quite touristic place that is perfectly conditioned for visits and takes into account all safety measures so that no one gets burned by the steam. We recommend you go early in the morning before it gets crowded.

5. Jökulsárlon glacier

The Jökulsárlon Glacier is a natural gem that you can’t miss in Iceland. It is more than 1,000 years old and reaches all the way to the coast, where freshwater mixes with seawater. This is precisely the reason why the glacier ice has those characteristic bluish tones that make it unique in the world.

In the middle of the largest glacier in Europe lies the deepest lake in the country, Lake Jokulsarlon, almost 250 meters deep. Despite the extreme temperatures in the lake you can see animals such as seals and seabirds. The glacier is almost 6 hours drive from the capital, and you can go by private vehicle or with organized tours. The general recommendation is to spend a couple of days there for excursions.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Where are the best places to see northern lights in Iceland

1. Kirkjufell, the Church Mountain

Kirkjufell is known as Church Mountain because of its conical shape that resembles a temple. It is a popular area for photographing northern lights, so there are usually many photographers and the lighting in the parking lot may even impact our experience. We recommend to go in low season, even if the chances of seeing auroras are lower.

The mountain is located on a small peninsula called Snaefellsnes in northern Iceland. It is one of the most visited areas in the country because of the array of natural formations that make for a unique landscape. You will surely enjoy strolling around during the day, jumping streams and discovering small waterfalls along the way until you reach the coast.

2. Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods

Like Skógafoss, Goðafoss is also a spectacular north-facing waterfall and perfect for aurora viewing. It’s not as well known as Skógafoss, but that works in our favor as there will be fewer people. The waterfall, which is 12 meters high and has a width of 30 meters, has been the inspiration for many stories of the island’s mythology, so it is known as the waterfall of the gods. The best way to get there is by private vehicle. Although, there is also a bus route but it is not as recommended.

3. Stokksnes, the best beach to see the northern lights in Iceland

You cannot miss the northern lights in Iceland at Stokksnes beach, famous for its black sand dunes that in combination with the views of the Vestrahorn mountain in the background offers a postcard image. The scenery alone is worth the trip. In addition, the sea plays a key role in the beauty of the image.

Access to the beach is private, so you’ll have to pay 6€ to enter. On the positive side, there’s a cafe to grab a drink and warm up if you go during the day, which we also recommend so you can appreciate the scenery in the daylight.

4. Hvítserkur, the best place to see the Northern Lights in Iceland

In the middle of the sea, on the north coast of the country, stands this 15-meter high basalt stone structure also popularly known as “Rhino” for its characteristic shape that reminds us of a rhinoceros. The beach, in addition to being an ideal place to see the northern lights, is famous for the sighting of seals, which often rest on the shore.

When the tide is low we can get close to the rock, however, if our goal is to take pictures of the auroras, it is best to move away a little and take them from above. Hvítserkur is one of the most touristic places in the country, however, it can only be reached by car.

The gastronomy of Iceland

Do you like discovering new dishes? If so, you’re sure to enjoy Icelandic cuisine because it’s really different from what we’re used to on the mainland. As you can imagine, the island’s gastronomy is famous for having a wide variety of fresh products due to the adverse weather conditions. However, it is very interesting to see what they do to preserve the raw material and make the most of the ingredients. These are some of the most typical dishes:

• Skyr: is a type of traditional Icelandic yogurt, low in fat and high in protein.
• Rúgbraud: it is the most common bread, dark, sweet and rather dense. It was originally made underground, taking advantage of the heat of the volcanic soil, but today most of it is made industrially.
• Lamb: lamb is a staple ingredient that is usually eaten as roast or in soup with potatoes and cabbage (Kjotsupa).
• Hardfiskur: these are strips of dried codfish usually eaten as a snack. Some also spread them with butter.
• Kleina: these are fried pastries usually eaten hot as breakfast with chocolate or coffee.

Travel tips to Iceland

• Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country.
• The best way to get around the island is by car.
• Read the car rental insurance contract carefully as you will see that it does not cover the vast majority of damages to the vehicle.
• The official currency of Iceland is the Icelandic krona.
• We recommend that you exchange money before you set out on your trip, as this will work out cheaper.
• As European citizens we also do not need a visa to enter the country, the ID card or passport is enough.
• Be covered in case of medical emergencies: travel insured
• The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is between March and September.
• There are numerous apps that will help you predict the days with the best chance of seeing auroras.
• You should know that the images recorded by the cameras are not the same as the ones we will see, since the human eye does not register certain shades of color.

Organize your trip to Iceland

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Iceland.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions on a trip to Iceland