The mirrored glass dome of Perlan shines from its position on Öskjuhlíð hill, just outside Reykjavík. Comprising a glass hemisphere sitting atop six massive hot water tanks, the building offers panoramic views of Reykjavík and the surrounding areas. Inside, it houses a restaurant, a viewing deck, a planetarium, and the Perlan Museum, which brings to life Iceland’s epic—and ephemeral—natural wonders.
Skaftafell, which sprawls across the southern tip of the Vatnajökull glacier, is one of the most popular corners of the larger Vatnajökull National Park. Dominated by the Skaftafellsjökull glacier, it offers some 2,000 square miles (5,000 square kilometers) of rugged mountainous terrain and glacial tongues. The park has no roads: Hiking, glacier hiking, and ice climbing are the main ways to get around this slice of Icelandic wilderness.
Among Iceland’s most famous peaks, the notoriously difficult-to-pronounce Eyjafjallajökull Volcano made headlines when it erupted in 2010, spewing an enormous cloud of volcanic ash that grounded air traffic across Europe. The tallest point of the ice-capped volcano reaches 5,417 feet (1,651 meters), providing views from the surrounding glaciers and lava fields of the scenic Thórsmörk Valley.
Dedicated to one of nature’s most awe-inspiring wonders, Aurora Reykjavik (Northern Lights Center) is a go-to resource for travelers interested in seeing the northern lights. Films and interactive exhibits showcase some of the most colorful displays of the aurora borealis to have graced the Icelandic skies, while staff members offer northern lights photography tips. The site's website lists tours that show you the natural phenomenon IRL from Reykjavik.
Sitting on Reykjavik’s waterfront, across the bay from Mt. Esja, the gleaming Sun Voyager sculpture makes for an excellent photo opportunity. Local sculptor Jón Gunnar Árnason created the 59-foot (18-meter) stainless steel artwork after winning a competition that commemorated Reykjavik’s 200th anniversary. The organic form resembles the skeletal frame of a Viking ship and sits on a circle of granite slabs atop a small natural promontory.
For more than half a century, Bessastadir has been the official residence of the Icelandic president. First settled in 1000, the site was once home to famed Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson, and the residence (built in 1761) housed a farm and a school before it was donated to the state. After Iceland gained independence from Denmark in 1944, Bessastadir became the president’s official residence.
Dominated by a glacier-topped stratovolcano, Snæfellsjökull National Park embodies Iceland’s moniker: the land of fire and ice. The park covers 70 square miles (183 square kilometers) and boasts basalt sea cliffs, black and gold sand beaches, and peculiar lava formations. While the park’s star attraction is undoubtedly Snæfellsjökull volcano—which inspired Jules Verne while writing Journey to the Center of the Earth—its otherworldly lava fields and remains of ancient fishing villages are not to be missed.
Development is hard to come by on the deserted Viðey Island, an idyllic green expanse a short ferry ride from Reykjavík. Besides a café and a couple of historic sights, Viðey has no buildings—just scenic nature trails that spotlight the island’s flourishing birdlife and views of Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the distance. Curiously, Viðey is also known for its art installations, including Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower.
If you’re hoping to spot all of Iceland’s 23 whale species in one go, a whale-watching cruise is unlikely to deliver. Instead, head down to Reykjavik’s Old Harbour to visit Europe’s largest whale museum. The fun and interactive Whales of Iceland exhibition has life-sized models of every single whale, from the human-sized harbour porpoise to a blue whale the length of a basketball court.
Located along Reykjavik’s scenic waterfront, the whitewashed building known as Hofdi House made headlines around the world in 1986. US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev met here for a summit that many consider the beginning of the end of the Cold War. The traditional wooden building is characteristic of turn-of-the-century Icelandic architecture, and remains a popular photo spot today.
Located on the banks of Reykjavik’s Lake Tjörnin, the National Gallery of Iceland is considered to be the country’s most important art museum. Home to a vast collection of 19th- and 20th-century Icelandic art, it also houses works by international artists such as Pablo Picasso, Edvard Munch, Karin Sander, and Richard Serra.
Looming on the horizon 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of Reykjavik, 2,999-foot (914-meter) Mt. Esja offers a striking backdrop to the city and is an attraction in its own right. Mt. Esja is a volcanic mountain range—not just a single mountain—made up of basalt and tuff. From the top, you can see the entire city of Reykjavik, the bay, and beyond.
The National Museum of Iceland chronicles the country’s cultural heritage, from its first Viking settlements to its independence from foreign rule in 1944. Standout objects include traditional Icelandic clothing and drinking horns, an 11th-century bronze statue of Thor, and a hand-carved church door depicting scenes from the medieval knight’s tale, Le Chevalier au Lion. Along with the Making of a Nation exhibition, the museum’s impressive photograph collection captures daily life in Iceland over the centuries.
Just off the Ring Road (Route 1), in the heart of Iceland’s southern countryside, lies one of the country’s most popular museums. Founded in 1949, Skogar Museum is a cultural heritage collection of around 18,000 artifacts exhibited across six historical buildings and three museums: a folk museum, an open-air museum, and a transport and technology museum. Together, they tell rich stories about Icelandic social history.
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.
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.
Located east of downtown Reykjavík, Laugardalur—meaning “hot spring valley”—is one of the city’s most popular recreation areas. Its centerpiece is Laugardalslaug, a pool complex with waterslides, hot tubs, a steam bath, and a children’s pool. Visitors also come to Laugardalur to explore its zoo and botanical gardens, enjoy the ice rink and biking trails, and catch concerts and sports games at multiple venues.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Fimmvörðuháls area is best known for the Fimmvörðuháls Trail, also known as the Fimm. It’s arguably Iceland’s best day hike; the 15-mile (24-kilometer) route passes 26 waterfalls, volcanoes, ice caps, glaciers, lava fields, and rivers. Most hikers complete the trek in a day, while others overnight in mountain huts to extend the spectacular journey.
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.
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.
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.
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.
