15 things you absolutely must do in Iceland

As you already know, Iceland is an incredible country. The nature is wild (so is the weather :D), the people are cool, and pretty much everything is there to blow you away, more or less all the time.

And on top of all that, Iceland has some activities you really can’t skip. Paid ones, free ones, and a few reminders of what you need to see. Don’t forget that in Iceland, nature is free! But for things like walking on a glacier, you’ll need to go through an agency and a certified guide to avoid accidents.

You’ll also be in the right place to see the northern lights, volcanoes, geothermal areas, spectacular waterfalls and puffins. All that if the conditions and the season allow, but I’ll tell you everything below.

And don’t forget the capital! Reykjavik A really great city with a few quirky things to do 🙂

Right, off we go!

Seeing the northern lights in Iceland

Because yes, Iceland is a great country for seeing the northern lights! Well, if the weather leaves you alone 🙂

The northern lights are visible in Iceland from early September to mid-April. Technically, they’re there all year round, but you need darkness.

And if you’re in Iceland at that time of year, then you can’t miss out on an aurora hunt. Because it’s truly extraordinary!

To see the lights, you need clear skies. And that’s far from a given in Iceland. So you’ll have to check the weather, find cloud-free spots by car, and head off on an adventure!

In the following article I tell you more about how to see the northern lights in Iceland, but be patient, because you never know when they’ll show up 🙂

• if you’d rather go with a guide, then check out the best northern lights guides in Reykjavik!

Find your northern lights tour in Iceland!

4 northern lights tours in Reykjavik

A visit to Reykjavik

On my first trip to Iceland, I skipped it. Big mistake, because the Icelandic capital is really great! For a start, the architecture is lovely, with lots of corrugated iron houses in the city centre, but there’s also loads of street art, and honestly it’s beautiful.

Of course you’ll think of Hallgrímskirkja church, which is a surprise, the seafront, which is super nice, and the slightly bohemian centre. But Reykjavik is also the starting point for several boat trips to see whales or puffins.

• in the following article, I suggest you discover what to do in Reykjavik

But year after year Reykjavik keeps coming up with new surprises. Now you can discover the city through its food specialities for example.

Whale watching, the one activity you really can’t skip

Iceland is an excellent country for seeing whales. And the good thing is that you can see them all year round! Some periods are better than others (April to September), but you really can see them all the  time.

You can see them pretty much everywhere, but there are 4 main places that run trips. Husavik is the best-known spot, along with Akureyri, and also Reykjavik, which is super handy. There are also options in the Snaefellsnes, from Grundafjordur, but not all year round.

Another big plus is that it’s not expensive at all! (well, relatively speaking). Prices start at 80€, which is half the price of Norway, for example.

That said, you’ll have to deal with the weather: tours sometimes get cancelled because of the wind. But that’s Iceland for you (forced laugh)!

Find your whale-watching trip in Iceland!

Walking on a glacier

Another amazing experience! Walking on a glacier is something I first tried on the Perito Moreno, in Argentina. And I’ve done it again since, including here in Iceland.

And it’s really something great. For learning how to walk, how to use your crampons, how not to fall flat on your face, but also and above all for walking on something so huge and so impressive. Plus, the views are even better than when you’re standing next to it!

Going onto a glacier is dangerous without a guide and the right gear. Because the glacier moves, the glacier is alive, and the weather in Iceland is a tad funky. So you really must go through an agency and not venture out on your own (unless you have solid experience), to avoid crevasses and other traps.

You can walk on several glaciers, all on the south coast of Iceland.

• Solheimajokull, near Vik, a real classic because it’s also close to Reykjavik
• Svínafellsjökull, in Skaftafell park, it is absolutely stunning, very (very!) big, very steep
• Falljökull, also in Skaftafell, another beautiful glacier close to the previous one

So if you’re coming from Reykjavik, it’s Solheimajokull. From Vik, Solheimajokull too, mostly, but it depends, because Skaftafell park is a 2-hour drive east.

You usually start with a 3-hour tour, including 1h to 1h30 of walking on the glacier, but some trips can last up to 3 hours!

And the good thing is that none of this is expensive, with prices starting at 80€

Seeing puffins all around the country

The cutest birds are in Iceland! Puffins take over the whole island for several months a year, from late April to late August. And the good thing is that you can see them pretty much everywhere in Iceland. Here are the main spots:

• on the north coast near Akureyri and above all Husavik especially at Tjörnes
• in the Westfjords, and above all at Latrabjarg
• on the south coast, at Dyrholaey
• at Cape Ingolfshofdi after a tractor ride
• in Reykjavik, on a boat trip to the islands of Lundi and Akurey
• the Westman Islands, the biggest colony in the world
• in the east, at Borgarfjörður

So they really are pretty much everywhere, even in the capital, which means that if you’re in Iceland at that time of year, you’ve got no excuse not to see them 🙂

• In the following article, I tell you where and when to see puffins in Iceland

See how to spot puffins in Reykjavik!

Visiting an ice cave!

Because I’ve never been there at the right time or (don’t judge me) I didn’t know it existed, I’ve never visited an ice cave. But it’ll happen!

Obviously, to visit a (natural) glacier cave you need… ice, so ice caps, and for that you have to head to the south of Iceland, and more precisely to Vatnajokull:

• the Crystal Cave, the best-known cave, and it’s stunning! formed by a river, it appears in the same place every year (check it out here)
• the Black Ruby, right next door, small and made of black ice, not always doable

But you’ll find others further west on the island, in Myrdalsjokull:

• the ice cave at Katla, a natural one, between Vik and Reykjavik (check it out here)

Finally, an ice cave that’s partly natural and partly man-made, dug into a glacier, which you can visit all year round:

• the ice cave at Langjökull, which you reach by snowmobile (check it out here)

These caves are open from mid-October to the end of March.

The caves are all different: they’re alive, they change colour, and they move all the time because of the glaciers’ activity.

Because of this constant activity, it’s dangerous to go into ice caves without a guide. But you should also know that there isn’t really a list of ice caves, because they change every year, and some don’t reappear during the winter. It’s a surprise every year 🙂

Discovering the black sand beaches

One of Iceland’s big “specialities” is its black sand beaches, which you’ll find in several places around the island. These beaches come from volcanic activity. When the lava hits the sea, it breaks up into debris. And poof, you get black sand beaches! (OK, that’s the very short version)

Some of these beaches are considered among the most beautiful, like the beach at Reynisfjara, near Vik, with its trolls and its basalt columns.

But still on this side of the island, there’s also the beach in the village of Vik, as well as the one just on the other side of Dyrholaey. Not far away, the DC3 lies abandoned on a huuuuge beach.
While Diamond Beach has its icebergs on a lovely beach, which makes the whole thing very photogenic!

In the Snaefellsnes, there are some too, mostly at the far western tip.

In the east, don’t miss Vestrahorn and the area around it, with gorgeous black sand beaches!

Soaking in a natural hot spring

Oh, that feels good. On my last two trips to Iceland, I finished with a visit to the Blue Lagoon. Because I was travelling by van, because I just wanted to do nothing in a beautiful setting and enjoy it, and because it wasn’t far from the airport, I went, and I don’t regret it!

But there are other thermal spas competing with the Blue Lagoon, and apparently they’re very good!

In the south, around Reykjavik, you’ll also find (I should say I haven’t visited them yet):

• the Sky Lagoon, set in lava rock and facing the ocean, honestly it looks stunning! They offer spa treatments and pampering, cheaper than at the Blue Lagoon. The setting is really top-notch
• the Secret Lagoon (not so secret any more, to be fair), the oldest natural pool in Iceland. Natural hot baths that are more mainstream than the previous two, but that explains the price, only twenty-odd euros. Excellent reputation and service!

While in the north, the go-to spot is in Myvatn (what a region!), the Myvatn Nature Baths. The Blue Lagoon’s equivalent in the north of the country, surrounded by craters. A magical setting!

• You can find all the hot springs on this map!

If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask me by clicking here 🙂How can I help you ?

Discovering Iceland with the Golden Circle

OK, I know, it’s not really an activity as such, but the Golden Circle really is essential in Iceland, especially on your first visit. And in my opinion it should be the very first thing you do. Why? Because it’s Iceland in a nutshell, a great first taste of what’s waiting for you later on the island. In a single day you’ll see a national park, a super impressive waterfall, geysers, another waterfall of a gorgeous blue and a volcanic crater.

To be more precise, the Golden Circle includes:

• Thingvellir park, a key site in Icelandic history
• Gulfoss waterfall, a beautiful shape and a monumental flow
• the geysers of… Geysir, best seen early in the morning when they blow harder

That’s the “basic Golden Circle” version. On top of that you should add (because it’s right next door and seriously great):

• the superb Bruarfoss waterfall, a gorgeous blue and a lovely one-hour walk
• Kerid volcano, really beautiful, which you can climb

All of this can be done in one day from Reykjavik. I explain everything in this article on the most beautiful places on the Golden Circle

And if you don’t have a car, you can do it from Reykjavik with an agency, for just 60€!

Eating the most unusual things Iceland has to offer

Right, careful here, this is tricky.

Because traditional Icelandic food is… special. Of course these days you’ll find very good fine-dining restaurants that make it less rustic, but if you want to dig into traditional food, you’ll have to go for dishes that are a bit… different. Let’s have a look:

• Eating Hakarl, fermented shark. And when I say fermented, I mean it reeks, my liege! It’s Greenland shark meat. The meat is buried for 2 months, then left to dry in the open air for several months. At that point it becomes edible (so to speak). I was served the cubes of meat in a VERY cold container, to mask the smell and tone down the taste. Because it’s super strong in the mouth, like the most overripe cheese you’ll ever eat, and you just can’t get rid of the taste 😀
• Eating whale, because Iceland is one of the last countries still whaling. There are quotas, which are going down every year, and it’s normally supposed to stop in 2024. I tried whale steak, and even if it hurts a bit, it’s good. And the best is dried whale.
• Eating puffin, a tradition dating back to the first settlers: Iceland hunts 2% of them every year. There really are loads of them, so it’s no threat at all to the population, but I have to admit I just couldn’t. I already can’t eat guinea pig in Peru without thinking of the late Kiki, and puffin is far too cute for me.

Otherwise, they eat absolutely EVERYTHING in the sheep (I’ll let you imagine), and the lamb is super good. And of course, tons of different fish (cod, herring, skate).

For the full experience, you can treat yourself to the best food tour in Reykjavik!

Snowmobiling in Iceland

It’s something I’ve done a couple of times in Norway and Finland, and it’s really fun! Snowmobiles are a normal way of getting around in the Nordic countries.

Here you’ll find several agencies offering this activity on the glaciers. But not on all of them, because some are too steep and have too many crevasses. So you’ll have to go quite far onto the ice caps for it to be flat and smooth enough.

And for that, there are several options! Bear in mind that agencies usually combine snowmobiling with another visit. Anyway, let’s have a look:

• On Langjokull, the ice cap closest to Reykjavik. From Gullfoss, set off in a monster 4×4 to reach the glacier and go on your snowmobile trip.
  The price is 220€ per person. Check it out here!
• But what if I told you that on top of this snowmobile trip, you can also visit the Golden Circle for a few euros more? A full day out in nature 🙂 Check out this offer here!

• In the same way, from Vik you can go snowmobiling on the famous Myrdalsjokull. 3 short hours, including a good hour on your trusty steed, with stunning views of Iceland’s south coast. Check it out here!
• And you can also combine this snowmobile trip with a tour of Iceland’s south coast. So you can make the most of it to see the Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, all from Reykjavik. Check it out here!

Heads up – to drive, you must hold a driving licence.

Good news – you can go snowmobiling all year round 🙂

4 great hotels in Reykjavik

Discovering Reykjavik’s surprising museums

In Reykjavik, it’s not just quirky churches, weird food and street art. There are also several museums that are totally in keeping with the Icelanders:

• the Perlan, more of a giant exhibition on Icelandic nature than a museum (Wonders of Iceland), very interactive, with an ice cave, a whole series on volcanic activity, and loads of explanations about the impact of global warming on the iconic glaciers. On top of that, there’s the Arora show, a huge cinema screen above your head (IMAX dome-style) where you can see the northern lights.
  • Info and bookings here!

• The Penis Museum, probably the strangest museum in the country. “Like you’ve never seen them before”, says the website. Indeed 😀 It’s a fairly tongue-in-cheek museum that  collects and displays the phalluses of loads of species, like whales, Icelandic animals, and the national handball team (well, casts of them, obviously). And you can imagine everything you’ll find in the gift shop.
  • Info here!

Discovering Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls

OK, I know, it’s easy to put this on a list of things to do. There are waterfalls absolutely everywhere and you’re pretty much guaranteed not to miss them. But honestly, imagine that the tiniest little waterfall here is bigger than what you’d find in France (or almost). There’s so much water that there really are waterfalls in every corner!

Just by following the Ring Road, you’ll come across some of the most impressive ones. And others that only need a small detour or a short hike. Here are a few examples:

• Skogafoss / Seljalandsfoss on the south coast (find out more in this article on the Icelandic south coast!)
• Gullfoss / Bruarfoss on the Golden Circle
• Gjain / Haifoss / a bit further inland
• Godafoss / Selfoss / Dettifoss on the Icelandic north coast
• Dynjandi, in the Westfjords

But there are loads of others!

Personally, I loved the walk to Bruarfoss and its turquoise waters, getting to the foot of Haifoss, which is super impressive, the crazy flow of Dettifoss, and the gorgeous Dynjandi (though it’s not the quickest to get to).

The big classics are Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, because they’re in the most touristy spots, but they’re great too!

Going dog sledding

I’d rather pictured doing this in Norway, Sweden or Finland, but you can also go dog sledding in Iceland! I should say I haven’t done it in this country, not yet anyway (because I haven’t been there in winter yet).

Why is it a good idea to do this in Iceland? For the scenery! Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, it must be extraordinary. Dog sledding is already a great thing to do, so in a setting like this, it must be really amazing.

There are several options:

• In Myvatn, a 2-hour activity including a good hour on the sled, check it out here!
• Near Reykjavik, a couple of French mushers have opened their kennel! Check them out here 🙂
  • and here, the same ones but with transport from Reykjavik!

Swimming between two continents in the Silfra fissure

What explains (in part) Iceland’s seismic and volcanic activity is that it sits right between two continents, straddling the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

As well as a whole bunch of volcanoes, you’ll also find the famous Silfra fissure. As the name suggests, it’s a fissure, with the American plate on one side and the European plate on the other. Located in Thingvellir park (not a bad setting, it has to be said, right in the middle of the Golden Circle), this spot with its crystal-clear water is considered one of the most beautiful (very) cold-water diving sites in the world. No big deal! The video below speaks for itself.

The good thing is that this activity, one of the most popular in Iceland, can be done all year round because the water stays at 2°. Only the air temperature will change a bit depending on the season. But don’t worry, you’ll have a suit!

INFO AND BOOKINGS HERE!

Discovering Iceland’s geothermal sites!

Because the island really “lives” through its volcanic activity, you’ll find several super interesting geothermal sites in Iceland. As I explained just above, Iceland straddles two tectonic plates. And along this ridge, you’ll find these famous geothermal areas. Places where the ground steams all over, where boiling water shoots up out of the ground, where you’ll see unique colours and smell rotten eggs (but you get used to it!).

These sites are free, they’re gorgeous, and here are the main ones to see, in my opinion:

• Geysir, of course, the best known, which gave its name to geysers, on the Golden Circle
• Hverir, really great, in the beautiful region of Myvatn
• Hveravellir, on the F35 road so not accessible all year round, a pretty geothermal area in the middle of the vast Icelandic nowhere, with a natural pool for bathing (often packed)
• Gunnuhver, the easiest area to reach from Reykjavik, really great, with an end-of-the-world feel because it’s in the hostile (but superb) Reykjanes peninsula.
• Seltúnshverir, also in the Reykjanes, smaller but a nice area!

Going horse riding

To finish, let’s go back to animals with the iconic Icelandic horses. Small, stocky, with big manes, super sociable, these horses are adorable. If you stop by the side of the road, it’s not unusual to see them come over out of curiosity.

So some breeders offer horse rides, especially in Vik and Reykjavik. I should say you don’t need to be an experienced rider, there’s no galloping.

• Vik – a ride along the black sand beaches in an extraordinary setting. Check it out here
• Reykjavik – 2 hours of riding through the lava fields. Check it out here

Conclusion

And there you go, I think you know everything, or almost! Since it’s hard to list everything, there must be a few little things missing 🙂 for example, I haven’t mentioned flying over the island by plane because that’s big-budget territory,  but there really are loads of others, sporty ones, thrill-seeking ones. But one thing’s for sure: you’re going to be blown away, whether it’s by the various tourist sites, the waterfalls, the northern lights that you mustn’t miss (if the weather leaves you in peace!) and so many other things!

The good news is that these activities are generally in very easy-to-reach places along Iceland’s main road. You’ll find lots of them on the country’s South Coast, and especially in the area around Vik, but if you want to get away from it a bit to escape the tourists, you’ll be blown away absolutely everywhere. Just one thing though: if you’re planning to take the Icelandic F-roads, make sure you get a 4×4!

I’ve written quite a lot about Iceland. The following articles should interest you, or at least I hope so!

Key info about Iceland

• What do you need to travel to Iceland – all the information you need to know to make your trip to this beautiful country a success.
• Which agency to hire a car from in Iceland – tips for choosing your vehicle and your insurance
• Which itinerary along the Ring Road – all the places not to miss along Iceland’s main road
• The most beautiful sights in Iceland – discover the most beautiful places in Iceland
• The main things to do in Iceland – my recommendations for a unique holiday (ice caves, puffins, glacier walks…)
• The best interactive map for travelling in Iceland – with waterfalls, hikes, accommodation and the best spots all on one map
• How to get from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik – every possible way to get there, with all the prices
• A free PDF travel guide to Iceland – download it to plan your trip to this beautiful country the easy way
• When is the best time to go to Iceland – discover the pros and cons of each month

Articles about Reykjavik

• Discover the best of Reykjavik – discover all the top spots in the Icelandic capital
• How to find the right northern lights guide in Reykjavik – how to choose your guide carefully and avoid the traps
• Where to stay in Reykjavik – hotel, apartment or hostel: how to choose well in Reykjavik?

Other regions of Iceland

• The best sights around Vik i Myrdal – discover the superb surroundings of this small town, with loads of things to see nearby
• What to see on the Icelandic south coast – beaches, glaciers and plenty of other superb places!
• Cheap hotels on Iceland’s south coast – hotels, hostels and campsites: here are all the options
• What to see in Myvatn and the north – the most beautiful sights in this region
• How to see the Golden Circle in a day – here are all the iconic spots you need to see
• What’s the best month to see puffins in Iceland – everything you need to know to see puffins: where to go and when
• How to get to Landmannalaugar by bus or car – all the ways to reach this stunning region
• Travelling around Iceland without a car: buses and tour companies – can you really enjoy Iceland if you don’t drive? Absolutely, and I’ll show you how!