These are the best places to travel this summer

Iceland

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
A group hiking in a line on Svínafellsjökull Glacier in the Skaftafell National Park Iceland. This glacier has been used as a filming location for many feature films.

© Alex Walker/Getty Images

LONELY PLANET’S RECOMMENDED eSIM

Stay connected in Iceland

with

Saily is an affordable eSIM service that helps you stay connected and secure, anywhere in the world.

Get your eSIM

Overview

Hitting headlines, topping bucket lists, wooing nature lovers and dazzling increasing numbers of visitors – the talents of this breathtaking northern destination are seemingly endless.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Hótel Skaftafell overlooking a prime section of the mountainous Vatnajökull National Park.

    Vatnajökull National Park

    Iceland

    Vast, varied and spectacular, Vatnajökull National Park was founded in 2008, when authorities created a megapark by joining the 8300-sq-km Vatnajökull ice…

  • Snæfellsjökull national park lies in the westernmost part of Snæfellsnes peninsula ; 
Snæfellsjökull National Park 
Shutterstock ID 1701342907; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Snæfellsjökull National Park

    Snæfellsnes Peninsula

    Snæfellsjökull National Park encompasses much of the western tip of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and wraps around the rugged slopes of the glacier…

  • A woman hikes in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve.

    Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

    The Westfjords

    Craggy mountains, precarious sea cliffs and plunging waterfalls make up Hornstrandir, one of Europe’s last true wilderness areas, covering some of the…

  • National Museum interior.

    National Museum

    Reykjavík

    Artefacts from settlement to the modern age fill the creative display spaces of Iceland's superb National Museum. Exhibits give an excellent overview of…

  • Dynjandi

    Dynjandi

    The Westfjords

    Tumbling in a broad sweep over a 100m-rocky scarp at the head of Dynjandivogur bay, Dynjandi is the most dramatic waterfall in the Westfjords. The bumpy…

  • Settlement Exhibition

    Settlement Exhibition

    Reykjavík

    This fascinating archaeological ruin-museum is based around a 10th-century Viking longhouse unearthed here from 2001 to 2002 and other Settlement-Era…

  • drangey island during midnight sun, northern iceland; drangey is the place of the classic Grettis saga

    Drangey

    North Iceland

    The tiny rocky islet of Drangey (drown-gay), in the middle of Skagafjörður, is a dramatic flat-topped mass of volcanic tuff with 180m-high sheer…

  • Geysir

    Geysir

    The Golden Circle

    One of Iceland’s most famous tourist attractions, Geysir (gay-zeer; literally ‘gusher’) is the original hot-water spout after which all other geysers are…

Advertisement

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Few destinations capture the imagination like Iceland. From wilderness adventures to city pub crawls, here’s how to get the most out any trip there.

Read article

Best Places to Visit

Experience the best of Iceland's incredible landscapes with our pick of the island's top places to visit.

Read article

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Iceland depends on what you want to do while you're there. We've got the lowdown on the seasonal highs and lows to help you decide.

Read article

Things to Know

Plan the perfect visit to Iceland in 2025 with these top tips on packing, the environment and local etiquette.

Read article

Transportation

It may be small but Iceland can be mightily difficult to get around. The scale and savagery of the landscape make traveling tricky – here's how to do it.

Read article

Visa Requirements

It depends on your citizenship. Read on to find out if you need a visa to visit Iceland, and more information if you do (and even if you don’t).

Read article

Money and Costs

Make your krónur go further in Iceland with these budget tips.

Read article

Traveling with Kids

Don't let Iceland's wild terrain fool you – there are lots of amazing attractions here for kids of all ages. Here's how to plan a family trip to Iceland.

Read article

Best Road Trips

Experience Iceland's incredible landscape and stunning small towns on one of our favorite Icelandic road trips.

Read article

Get Connected

Understand your options for cell coverage when visiting Iceland with this guide to local wi-fi networks, roaming charges, eSIMs and data.

Read article

Plan with a local

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Iceland

Advertisement