Iceland highlights – the best attractions you need to visit

Visiting Iceland feels like stepping into another world. One minute you are driving past black lava fields and the next you’re soaking in geothermal lagoons. And witnessing erupting geysers, huge glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, and the magnificent Northern Lights. This destination delivers spectacular scenery at every turn. So, what are the best attractions in Iceland? What are the best things to do in Iceland?

These are some of the best attractions in Iceland that definitely deserve a place on your travel itinerary.

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is the penultimate Icelandic tourist attraction. It’s a 300 km (186 miles) trip that leaves from Reykjavik. The trip includes three iconic, jaw-dropping natural wonders: Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, and Geysir Geothermal Springs.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall, or the Golden Falls as it is called, is inside a plunging canyon created by historical tectonic plate movements and glacial flooding. It’s about 117 kms (73 miles) from Reykjavik. The falls are about 32 metres high and have two cascade levels, and water flows at about 109 cubic metres per second.

Hearing the waterfall’s thunderous, almost deafening roar creates a hypnotic moment of mindfulness. One of the spectacular waterfalls you must see in Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park continues the tectonic theme. In an active volcanic area, the National Park is a geological wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is 45 kms (28 miles) from Reykjavik.

The area is on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. You can see evidence of the two centimetre a year seismic movement with the many ravines in the area. There is a fantastic walk you can do through the National Park, and I highly recommend it. The scenery and the view are just outstanding.

Another fun fact. The Game of Thrones series also filmed scenes at Thingvellir.

Geysir Geothermal Spring

At the Geysir Geothermal Spring, you must watch and not touch. The dangerously hot bubbling mud pools of Strokkur have temperatures of about 80 to 100 degrees Celsius (175-215 Fahrenheit).

The rules strictly prohibit bathing. Visitors must stay behind the safety rope area.

The spring is highly active and erupts without warning, like clockwork every 5-10 minutes. The eruptions go 20-30 metres into the air so you won’t have to wait long for another one to happen.

The springs are 107 kms (66 miles) from Reykjavik and complete the Golden Circle.

Kerid Crater

Kerid Crater is along the Golden Circle route and is a volcanic crater 55 metres deep. It’s made of red volcanic rock and has a turquoise teal water basin.

There is a short downhill walk you can do that takes you to the base of the crater. The view is stunning.

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Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the world’s ultimate spa retreat. How would you like to soak in milky blue geothermal water and feel rejuvenated? If your answer is yes, then the Blue Lagoon is your next destination!

It’s one of Iceland’s most famous attractions, and with good reason. No wellness retreat can beat it. The Blue Lagoon in Iceland also holds a spot among the world’s top 25 wonders.

Its secret ingredient is the unique geothermal seawater. You won’t find it anywhere else in the world. The resource is rich in silica, algae, and minerals. These combined elements are responsible for the skin-nourishing power of the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon is 50 kms (31 miles) from Reykjavik.

If you want to find out more about the Blue Lagoon experience – read my blog post:

👉Blue Lagoon Iceland – the ultimate wellness retreat

Reykjavik

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is a classy, vibrant Scandinavian city. You can easily walk around this city, and Reykjavik centres everything around its middle.

In Reykjavik, the primary street for shopping and dining is Laugavegur, with Rainbow Street – Skolavordustigur also nearby.

One thing to be aware of is that Reykjavik’s city centre prohibits large buses to improve pedestrian safety and reduce traffic congestion. Upon arrival, you’ll be dropped at the closest bus stop to your hotel. It is usually only a short walk from the bus stop to central Reykjavik.

If you want to find out how to save money while in Reykjavik read this blog post

👉Reykjavik on a budget – best places to buy cheap food

The Northern Lights

The Northern Lights needs no introduction. Seeing them at least once is on most travellers bucket lists. The most active months of the year where you have the best chance of seeing them are from September to April.

To get the best vantage point, you need to get out into the open land outside Reykjavik where there is less light.

At around midnight, if the sky is clear and not cloudy, the Northern Lights will appear. Sometimes they start as a bright red glow on the horizon. This is the start of the Northern Lights phenomenon. The naked eye is not as quick as a camera, so aim it and take a photo. The result – an explosion of the famous colourful light display.

Tours to book

There are many day tours you can do that will take you from Reykjavik to the Golden Circle, Kerid Crater and the Blue Lagoon. I went on the below day tour with Viator and I highly recommend it.

👉Golden Circle Volcano Crater and Blue Lagoon Small Group Tour

You could also hire a car from Reykjavik and visit all the attractions on your own.

Iceland is a rare destination that exceeds expectations guaranteed. Every breath taking landscape and every natural wonder just doesn’t feel real. Iceland makes you glad you visited. It’s unforgettable, it’s majestic, and once you visit, you’ll be planning your next trip back there.

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