Best Places to Visit in Iceland

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur is a small municipality in south-central Iceland with farms, rivers, and mountains. It is peaceful and has very few people. One highlight is Þjóðveldisbær, a turf-house farm built to show how Icelanders lived in medieval times. The area also works as a base if you want to go to the highlands.

Fagurhólsmýri is a farm in southern Iceland with fields, glaciers and mountains all around. It’s quiet, remote and peaceful. You can use the hotels here as a base to explore ice caves, glacier lagoons or black-sand beaches.

Bláskógabyggð is a municipality located in Iceland's Southern Region, a mix of wild nature and Icelandic history. It includes towns like Laugarás and Laugarvatn, and some of Iceland’s most famous sights: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir’s geysers, Gullfoss waterfall.

Reykjanesbær is a municipality made up of the towns Keflavík and Njarðvík plus the small village of Hafnir, and it’s often the first place visitors see, since Keflavík Airport is here. The area has seaside paths,the Icelandic Museum of Rock ’n’ Roll, museums, and access to the Reykjanes Geopark with lava fields and cliffs. It’s a great place to stay with restaurants and hotels close to the airport.

Vogar is a small town and municipality in southwestern Iceland with around 1,200 people. Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, it has quiet streets, a swimming pool with hot tubs, a golf course, and walking paths by the sea. The area is also good for birdwatching around the pond Vogatjörn. It is the perfect stop close to both the airport and Reykjavík.

Kirkjubæjarklaustur (or “Klaustur”) is a small village in the south of Iceland on the hringvegur between Vík í Mýrdal and Höfn. You’ll find waterfalls like Systrafoss, the lake Systravatn, and natural spots such as Kirkjugólf (“Church Floor”). You can find accommodation, restaurants and gas, making it the perfect base to explore Lakagígar, Eldgjá and Fjaðrárgljúfur.

Thingvellir is where Iceland’s first parliament met over 1,000 years ago. With cliffs and cracks between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, its trails lead through lava fields, rivers, and waterfalls like Öxarárfoss. It’s both a historic and natural highlight of the Golden Circle.

Gljúfrabúi is a 40-meter nearly hidden waterfall located behind a cliff and partly hidden inside a mossy canyon that cascades into a pool near the famous Seljalandsfoss. From Seljalandsfoss you walk a few minutes to the gorge entrance, then wade through shallow water to get close. It’s quieter and less crowded than its famous neighbor.