Iceland

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

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Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

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
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Snæfellsjökull National Park encompasses much of the western tip of Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and wraps around the rugged slopes of the glacier…
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…
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…
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…
Þingvellir National Park
The Golden Circle
The world’s oldest parliament, Althingi (pronounced ál-thingk-ee; also called Alþing) was uniquely situated at this monumental site where two tectonic…
Alþingi Site
The Golden Circle
Near the dramatic Almannagjá fault and fronted by a boardwalk is the Lögberg (Law Rock), where the Alþingi (Parliament) convened annually. This was where…
Tectonic Plates
The Golden Circle
The Þingvellir plain is situated on a tectonic-plate boundary where North America and Europe are tearing away from each other at a rate of 1mm to 18mm per…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

The best things to do in Iceland in 2023

Curated by Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir

Eiríksstaðir Reconstruction
West Iceland
The farm Eiríksstaðir was home to Eiríkur Rauðe (Erik the Red), father of Leifur Eiríksson, the first European to visit America. Although only a faint…
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…
Arctic Henge
North Iceland
The striking stone arches of Arctic Henge are the darling of many a brochure, and in real life they live up to the exalted mood. The massive stone circle…
Langjökull
Borgarbyggð
The Langjökull ice cap is the second largest glacier in Iceland, and the closest major glacier to Reykjavík. It's accessed from the 4WD Kaldidalur or…
Fimmvörðuháls
The South
The 20-bed hut at Fimmvörðuskáli, sitting at an altitude of 1000m on the pass between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, lies 600m west of the main trail…
Eldheimar
Heimaey
More than 400 buildings lie buried under lava from the 1973 eruption, and on the edge of the flow ‘Pompeii of the North’ is a museum revolving around one…
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…
Hekla Volcano
The South
One of Iceland's most active volcanoes, Hekla stands at 1491m, and has erupted 20 times since 874, most recently in the year 2000. In a 4x4, it's possible…
Aurora Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Learn about the classical tales explaining the Northern Lights, and the scientific explanation, then watch a 35-minute surround-sound panoramic high…
Dimmuborgir
Mývatn Region
The giant jagged lava field at Dimmuborgir (literally ‘Dark Castles’) is one of the most fascinating flows in the country. A series of nontaxing, colour…
Perlan
Reykjavík
Perlan's mirrored dome, designed by Ingimundur Sveinsson, covers huge geothermal-water tanks some 2km from the city centre. Inside, the Wonders of Iceland…
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…
Hótel Rangá
The South
Just south of the Ring Road, 8km east of Hella, Hótel Rangá, with its stuffed polar bear in the lobby, looks like a log cabin but caters to Iceland’s high…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Hiking, biking, Reykjavík-ing and more. Here's everything you need to do in Iceland for 2023.

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Things to Know

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

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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.

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Visa Requirements

Depending on where you’re visiting from, you may need to apply for a visa to visit Iceland. Here’s our guide to the country's entry and visa requirements.

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Money and Costs

The claim that "Iceland is too expensive to visit on a budget" is one of those classic travel myths. Here's how to do Iceland on the cheap.

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Best Road Trips

Get up close to Iceland's incredible landscape and stunning small towns on one of our favorite Icelandic road trips.

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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.

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