Best Places to Visit in Iceland

Gullfoss (which means “Golden Falls”) is a multi-step waterfall plunging first 11 m then 21 m into a canyon, along a 90° bend of the Hvitá River. It’s one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. On sunny days you might see rainbows in the spray.

Vík í Mýrdal is a remote seafront village in south Iceland, with only a few hundred people. It sits between high cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean. The red-roof church on the hill is a popular photo spot and the cliffs of Reynisfjall mountain are home to seabirds such as puffins. Vík is also a good base when traveling the South Coast, as it has food, gas, and hotels.

Diamond Beach has black sand with chunks of ice that have drifted from Jökulsárlón and washed ashore. The contrast of clear ice and dark volcanic sand is beautiful. It can get a little crowded, but walk a bit further along the beach for quiet spots.

Reynisfjara is the most famous black volcanic sand beach in Iceland. It has tall basalt columns, unique rock formations, a cave in the cliffs, and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising from the sea. The waves are very strong and dangerous, so it is important to stay well back from the water.

Rangárþing ytra is a municipality located in southern Iceland. This region is mostly farmland, with rivers and beautiful views. The town of Hella has shops and hotels, and from here you can head to Hekla volcano or the rhyolite mountains and hot springs in Landmannalaugar.

Rangárþing eystra is a municipality located in southern Iceland. This area has some of the most famous sights in Iceland, like Skógafoss waterfall, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, and the valley of Þórsmörk. It’s full of farmland, mountains, rivers, and black sand lands. You can stop at Hvolsvöllur or Skógar, good bases to explore the area, with shops and places to sleep.

Seljalandsfoss is a narrow waterfall about 60 meters (200-foot) high. What makes it special is that you can walk behind the falling water and see it from every angle. You will get wet from the water, but the view is worth it. It is one of the easiest waterfalls to visit on the South Coast. An absolutely breathtaking waterfall and a must see in the area.

Haukadalur is a geothermal valley full of bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, hot springs and the famous geysers: Strokkur (erupting every 5-10 minutes) and the historic Great Geysir which erupts now only rarely. The landscape is alive with color from mineral rich ground.

The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most famous spots. With warm milky-blue water at around 37–39°C and dark rocks, this spot is perfect for relaxing. It’s more of a luxury spa than a wild hot spring, so expect crowds during high season and higher prices. Still it’s worth visiting at least once, especially if you go early in the day. They also give you a face mask (the silica mud mask leaves your skin feeling incredible).

Svartifoss means “Black Falls” and is a 20-meter waterfall known for the dark hexagonal basalt columns behind it. To reach it, you need to walk about 1.5 km from the visitor center on an easy trail. The mix of white water and black rock makes it one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland.

Dyrhólaey is a 120-meter high peninsula with steep cliffs, a huge natural arch, and a lighthouse that sits at the top. From there you can see black sand beaches, Reynisdrangar sea stacks, and sometimes puffins nesting in summer. It’s volcanic, raw and beautiful.