Iceland attractions

Looming on the horizon 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of Reykjavik, 2,999-foot (914-meter) Mount Esja offers a striking backdrop to the city and is an attraction in its own right. Mount Esja is a volcanic mountain range made up of basalt and tuff. From the top, you can see the entire city of Reykjavik, the bay, and beyond.

Hiking and hot spring hopping are among the most popular things to do in Iceland, and you can experience the best of both worlds at the Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River. The moderately challenging hike to the river passes through a geothermal valley, with views of steaming springs, mud pools, and waterfalls to enjoy along the way. The reward is a soothing bath surrounded by lush meadows or snow-capped mountains, depending on the season.

As Iceland’s largest volcano, Katla is 4,960 feet (1,511 meters) high. Katla is one of the most active and powerful volcanoes in Iceland, having erupted 20 times since the year 1100; its last eruption added three miles (four kilometers) to Iceland’s coastline. In spite of its activity, Katla is mostly covered by ice.

A strip of black sand littered with chunks of translucent ice, Diamond Beach is a must-see attraction on Iceland’s southern coast. It lies next to the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, filled with ice splitting off from sections of Europe’s largest icecap. The “diamonds” range from fist-sized turquoise spheres to white blocks large as humans.

Iceland has no shortage of lava-sculpted landscapes to explore, but there’s one volcano that offers an experience unlike any other. Thrihnukagigur volcano has been dormant for thousands of years, but, uniquely, its lava chamber hasn’t been sealed shut. Now open to the public, it’s the only place in the world where you can safely descend directly into a volcano’s magma chamber—a tunnel so deep you could fit the Statue of Liberty inside.

Iceland’s most famous garden and the northernmost botanical garden in the world, Lystigardur Akureyrar—or Akureyri Botanical Garden—defies its close proximity to the Arctic Circle by growing trees, plants, and flowers from all around the world.

In a country full of natural wonders, Ásbyrgi Canyon stands out. The massive horseshoe-shaped glacial canyon in the northeast of Iceland is almost one mile wide (1.6 kilometers), with cliffs soaring over 100 feet (30 meters) into the air and a floor forested with spruce and pine trees. The canyon is also steeped in Icelandic folklore.

The Leidarendi Lava Caves are a subterranean wonderland where tunnels of multi-hued polished lava walls drip with stalagmites and stalactites and are studded with all kinds of fascinating formations. Formed by two separate volcanic eruptions and surrounded by lava fields, the caves offer fascinating insight into the area’s geology and folklore.

East of downtown Reykjavik, Laugardalur is a favorite park among locals. Laugardalur means “hot spring valley,” and its hot pools were once the city’s main source of hot water. Up until the 1930s, women would come here to wash laundry. Today, you’ll find sports facilities, a music venue, playgrounds, and more.

With three branches dotted around the city—Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, and Ásmundarsafn—Reykjavik Art Museum is one of Iceland’s leading art institutions, with galleries devoted to contemporary paintings, sculptures, and visual arts. Located near the Old Harbour, the Hafnarhús branch of Reykjavik Art Museum features ever-changing exhibitions by local and international artists alongside a permanent collection of works by Icelandic pop art icon Erró.

Step back in time at the Árbaer Open Air Museum and get a feel for small-town life in 19th and 20th-century Iceland. With original buildings that once stood in Reykjavik’s city center, museum staff in period costume, and recreated stables, barns, and boathouses, this fully interactive open-air museum is designed to look and feel like the bygone era, giving visitors a better understanding of Reykjavik’s history.

Measuring a whopping 198 meters (650 feet), Glymur is Iceland’s second-tallest waterfall. Located near Hvalfjordur about an hour’s drive north of Reykjavik, it’s accessible via a moderate 3-4-hour hiking loop that includes multiple river and stream crossings—plus stunning canyon views overlooking the waterfall. While getting there takes a bit of effort, Glymur is most certainly worth it.

With its futuristic facade looming over the city, the hilltop Akureyri Church (Akureyrarkirkja) is one of Akureyri’s most striking landmarks. The Lutheran church is not only a place of worship, but an architectural marvel, designed by Iceland state architect Guðjón Samúelsson, whose bold designs include the Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík.

Just outside Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, the Forest Lagoon (Skogarboðin) is an idyllic spot for unwinding after adventures in the rugged Icelandic north. Visitors can kick back and relax in this geothermal spa resort while surrounded by natural beauty.

Framed by the craggy peninsulas of Snaefellsnes and Reykjanes in southwest Iceland, Faxaflói Bay is Iceland’s largest bay and the heart of its fishing industry. It’s also Reykjavik’s port to the world, where cruise ships glide into the capital, whale-watching boats set sail along the coast, and sightseeing cruises provide panoramic views of the city, the offshore islands, and Mount Esjan.

An active volcanic zone, the steaming landscape around the town of Hveragerdi sprawls across a dynamic lava field, and its geothermal energy heats a wealth of greenhouses that grow everything from bananas to flowers. Attractions related to this geothermal activity abound here: The Geothermal Park Hveragerdi boasts an erupting geyser, while the Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River provides a fresh take on hot spring baths.

Just off the coast of Reykjavik on Videy Island, the Imagine Peace Tower is a public art installation created by Yoko Ono in memory of her late husband John Lennon. The tower, which is powered by geothermal energy, has the phrase “imagine peace” inscribed in 24 different languages. At specific times of year, it sends powerful beams of light soaring into the night sky.

Formed over 3,500 years ago, the ancient lava cave of Lofthellir is home to some of Iceland’s most impressive natural ice formations. Stretching for 1,213 feet (370 meters) beneath the Laxardalshraun lava field, the lava tube has its own microclimate, with temperatures of 32°F (0°C), and visiting is an adventure in itself.

The Fimmvörðuháls area is most well-known for the Fimmvörðuháls Trail—aka the Fimm. It’s arguably Iceland’s best day hike, bringing hikers across 26 waterfalls, volcanoes, ice caps and glaciers, lava fields, and rivers, all in just roughly 15 miles (25 kilometers). Most hikers do the trek in a day; others overnight in one of two mountain huts to extend the spectacular journey.

FlyOver Iceland is a multi-sensory experience that creates the feeling of flight using special effects and a 65-foot (20-meter) spherical screen. The wraparound screen showcases Iceland’s dazzling landscape as you sail over fjords, glaciers, and more. With music, wind, and scents surrounding you, the state-of-the-art technology lets you see many of the country’s natural attractions from the comfort of your seat in this thrill ride.

Birding and fossil hunting are the two main draws of North Iceland’s Tjörnes peninsula, which squeezes between the Öxarfjörður and Skjálfandi fjords. Visitors can find layers of fossil shells and lignite on the coastal cliffs on the western side of Tjörnes and a large population of rock ptarmigan and colonies of nesting puffins along the eastern coast.

Journey back to the Viking age at Iceland’s Viking World museum, where the star exhibit is the impressive Icelander Viking ship. A painstakingly recreated replica of a 9th-century vessel, the Icelander made headlines when it sailed the Atlantic in 2000 to commemorate Leif Erikson’s journey to the New World. You can climb aboard the Viking ship that's now housed in a glass-fronted museum overlooking Faxaflói Bay to experience it from the inside.

Reykjavik’s Saga Museum brings to life the history of Iceland as it was told in the medieval sagas. Moodily lifelike silicone figures depict famous scenes from the epics, such as Leif Erikson’s voyage to Vinland, complete with screams. Spend an hour or so at the museum for a compelling view of Iceland’s social history, with a dash of geology amidst the gore.

Named for the Norse god of strength and thunder, this remote protected natural area in South Iceland is among the island's most impressive hiking spots. It sits between the Tindfjallajökull stratovolcano and Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull ice caps, which protect it from some of the area's harsher weather patterns.

Boasting the world’s biggest collection of penises, the Icelandic Phallological Museum is certainly a unique institution, yet it is also—perhaps surprisingly—educational. The independent, family-owned institution was born out of a modest personal collection and has since grown to become the world’s only museum dedicated to phallology.

Skarfabakki Cruise Terminal in Reykjavik serves as the gateway not only to the city itself but also to the rugged natural wonders of Iceland, from the Blue Lagoon and the Gullfoss waterfall to the Strokkur geyser. Use Skarfabakki Cruise Terminal as a jumping-off point to explore the Icelandic capital or depart on shore excursions for the Westfjords and beyond.

Set on a black-sand beach at the tip of the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula, Grótta Lighthouse is a lovely spot for escaping the hustle and bustle of Reykjavik, as well as for birdwatching and, if you’re lucky, spotting the northern lights. Due to its abundant bird life, Grótta, the tidal island on which the lighthouse sits, has been a nature reserve since 1974.

Jutting out into the ocean just south of Reykjavik, the Reykjanes Peninsula is known for its otherworldly volcanic and geothermal landscapes. A UNESCO Global Geopark, the peninsula is home to craters, caves, dramatic fissures, bird-filled sea cliffs, lava fields, and black-sand beaches, as well as the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

Year after year, puffins return to Akurey Island (Puffin Island) to nest in the same burrows, lay their single eggs, and raise their pufflings before heading back out to sea. Each year, nature-loving travelers follow the charming seabirds out onto the waters of the Kollafjordur Bay to catch a glimpse of the spectacle of around 20,000 pairs of puffins crowded onto the small, uninhabited island.

Iceland’s largest and only year-round flea market, Kolaportid Flea Market is a national treasure. Right in the center of Reykjavik, the market is hardly glamorous on the outside, but inside it’s chock-full of delights. From Icelandic wool to books, trinkets, foods, and more, Kolaportid Flea Market is a microcosm of Icelandic culture and worth a stop for visitors and locals alike.