Iceland

Most Recent Visit

August 2016

How to Get Here

Unless you’ve chartered a large boat and traveled across the ocean, you’ll be flying into Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport. This airport is easy to navigate and provides a warm welcome to visitors. Once there, transportation will be dependent on your trip length. If you’re planning on exploring around the island, you’ll want to rent a car or camper van. If you’re planning a shorter trip and don’t mind taking tours, you could theoretically get by without renting a car.

Trip Length

We spent 10 days traveling the ‘Ring Road’ which takes you around most of the island. While this gave us a good amount of time in-country, we would have added a few more days in order to explore the West Fjords and the Highlands. If you don’t have that many days or would rather have a ‘home base’, we would suggest staying in or near the capital of Reykjavik and exploring the south and east coasts. Another popular option in recent years is to plan an Icelandair stopover. When flying transatlantic with Icelandair, you can add a stopover anywhere from 2-7 days at no additional airfare cost.

Where to Stay

Lodging is not cheap in Iceland. There are many luxury accommodations that have popped up as tourism continues to rise. Finding budget-friendly hotels is possible but requires booking in advance. Similar to the European continent, you’ll find that hotel rooms tend to be on the small side which can be challenging if you have a family or group. We had positive experiences with all of our lodging on our trip (even when Scott and I shared a twin bed for one night). A few of the Airbnb’s are no longer available but here are the ones still available as of 2025.

Fosshotel Nupar – More traditional hotel with a location good for those exploring the southeast part of the country.

Stormur Cottages – No frills small cottage located on a family farm in Vallanes.

Hotel Bifrost – More traditional hotel with onsite restaurant & bar.

Occasional Peach Cottages – No frills small cottage with room for 5 (including a bunk and pull-out couch) in Helgafellssveit.

Hotel Anna – More traditional hotel with onsite restaurant.

What to Do

Reykjavik

The capital city will likely be on your itinerary regardless of what the rest of your trip looks like. Keflavik International Airport is approximately a 45-minute drive to downtown Reykjavik. We would recommend at least 1-2 days to explore the city. We didn’t spend a ton of time in the city itself but will explore more on our next visit.

One of the things we enjoyed was a boat tour to see puffins with Special Tours ($55/pp 2025). This tour lasts an hour. Half of the time is going to/from the dock, the other half is spent watching the most adorable little creatures. They are small and fast so be sure to use the binoculars provided on the boat or a camera with a good zoom lens. After our tour, we made a stop in the Whales of Iceland exhibit. There is a lot of interesting information as well as 23 life size whale models.

Another popular activity in Iceland is visiting geothermal spas. There are some that cater to tourists and some that are more low-key and visited by locals. We went to the Blue Lagoon which is near Reykjavik. You can book day visits as well as hotel and dining options (prices starting at $97/pp 2025). A newer option that we have not yet visited is Sky Lagoon (prices starting at $92/pp 2025).

The Golden Circle

First things first. The Golden Circle will be crowded with tourists. Don’t let that deter you from visiting. It’s popular for a reason. There are four primary ‘attractions’ on the circle. Starting from Reykjavik, head to Thingvellir National Park. Stop in the visitor center and learn about this natural wonder. For a “can’t do anywhere else in the world” experience, we recommend snorkeling or diving in Silfra, in an opening between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates that are pulling apart. The tour lasts between 2.5 – 3-hours and prices start at $119/pp in 2025. It takes a bit of patience to prepare for the activity, stuffing yourself into drysuits, but it’s well worth it. Once you get into the water, you simply lay forward and relax. The current will take you in the right direction. Of course, you can navigate yourself around to look at things but it’s very minimal effort. The water is so incredibly clear and to know that you’re in a space that just a few hundred years ago was completely ‘closed’ is pretty cool.

Next, head to the Geysir Hot Spring area. This isn’t Yellowstone but you’ll find similarities, including the sulfur smell. There is a walking trail that takes you to a few geothermal sites and if you hang around for a bit, you’ll see the main geyser erupt.

Hop back in the car (or bus if you’re on a guided tour) and make your way to Gullfoss. This is a little side trip off the circle but will be your first waterfall experience. We had a beautiful blue-sky day with rainbows over and into the falls. There is a walking path next to the falls (see the little human dots below). We recommend taking it as it allows you to get up close and see the falls from a few perspectives. Something to be aware of is that you’ll not really find rails/ropes around any of the falls/canyons. It’s assumed that most people have common sense and won’t get too close to the edge.

Last up is Kerið Crater. This is a quick stop with a small entrance fee of around $5 in 2025. There is now a short trail with stairs that lead down to the water. Interesting fact: the lake in the crater is not formed by rain but instead is a result of the crater being the same level as the water table. On a sunny day, the blue water contrasts against the red rocks and green moss for a great picture. To complete the ‘Golden Circle’, head back to Reykjavik. On our trip, we continued southeast to begin our Ring Road adventure.

Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls

Two waterfalls, one parking lot! Seljalandsfoss to us is one of the most recognizable waterfalls in Iceland (it pops up on our laptop & tv screensavers regularly). This is a popular spot for group tours as it is close to the Golden Circle. You can see the falls from the parking lot and will walk along the stream to its base. The notable thing about this particular waterfall is you can walk behind it if you’re willing to get wet. You don’t walk directly ‘into’ the falls, but the mist will find you.

Follow the trail all the way around and continue on to Gljufrabui. You will definitely get wet if you want a close up of this waterfall. You walk through the little cavern entrance, and it opens up to a little space where water cascades over the moss-covered rocks.

Skógafoss

Just a short drive from Seljalandsfoss you’ll find another large waterfall. The weather changes quickly in Iceland. As proof of that, the photos at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss were taken less than 1 hour apart. We had beautiful blue skies and rainbows for this one. One of these photos still has a spot on the wall of main living area almost 10 years later and brings back wonderful memories.

Looking at the map now, it appears that there are quite a few other waterfalls in this location, but we did not visit, nor have information about whether they are accessible to the general public. A lot of the ‘tourist’ attractions in Iceland are on private land.

Vik

The village of Vik should be on your itinerary for a few reasons. One, it has a petrol station. As we mentioned before, you always want to ensure you fill up anytime you see a station as they are few and far between. Two, it’s home to a few famous sites, Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach, Reynisfjara Beach, and Dyrhólaey Nature Preserve. You’ll likely have a chance to get pretty close to those adorable puffins and may see some marine wildlife out in the sea. One thing to note is that the tides at Reynisfjara Beach can be quite unpredictable. The basalt columns are a popular photo spot with people climbing up on them for the perfect social media pic. Many people have been caught in the strong current and some tourists have even died here. As with all things, enjoy but be aware of your surroundings.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Believed to have been formed at the end of the last Ice Age, this cavern has dramatic walls, sparkling blue water and emerald, green moss. We noticed in recent pictures they have added some viewing platforms. This is probably for the best as you could tell there was erosion around the edges when we were there. We were able to hike into the canyon a short distance as well as up around the top.

Vatnajökull National Park

Our second Iceland national park was Vatnajökull. As the largest national park in the country, it has many activities for all ages and abilities. We chose to do the Blue Ice Glacier experience. It was an ~3 hr. tour with transport & hike (~$125/pp in 2025). We had a local guide and were given all the equipment we needed. We had great weather and would recommend if you’ve never done a glacier hike before (or even if you have, each one is unique).

Svartifoss Trail

The S2 trail from the visitor center to Svartifoss is an easy walk. You’ll pass a few other falls along the way (Hundafoss & Magnúsarfoss) and there will be a viewing platform for Svartifoss.

Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach

Jökulsárlón Lake/Lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach are a must see. Ice Lagoon has group and private zodiac tours available for ~$110/pp in 2205. They provide flotation suits and lifejackets, and the tour lasts a little over an hour. You’ll zip around huge floating icebergs and see the glacier. Afterwards, head down the road and check out the Diamond Beach. Icebergs from the lagoon break into smaller pieces and make their way through a small channel to the sea and then wash up on the shore. The black sand is a sharp contrast to the clear and blue ice, making them look like diamonds, hence the name.

Fljótsdalur, Litlanesfoss & Hengifoss

The Fljótsdalur valley is home to two waterfalls. Litlanesfoss is first on the trail and has cool basalt columns. Take a few pictures and continue up to Hengifoss, one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland. Amanda had a memorable experience here. As we crossed the narrow river, she slipped on a rock and got a wee bit wet.

Detifoss & Selfoss

Within walking distance of each other, Detifoss and Selfoss are a great stop. The path between is easy to navigate. Detifoss is known for its power and is known as one of the most powerful waterfalls in all Europe. It’s hard to convey this power in pictures. Selfoss is not quite as powerful but is pretty in its own way. It’s wide river feeding the mouth of the falls creates multiple cascades that beside the trail.

Krafla Lava Fields, Viti Crater & Grjótagjá

Krafla Lava Fields surround Viti Crater and are home to geothermal activity and a power plant. Grjótagjá is a little underwhelming but if you’re a fan of Game of Thrones you may want to do a quick stop to get a photo of this filming location. We also visited the Myvatn Nature Baths while we were in the area ($33 in 2016, now ~$50/pp in 2025). It was a nice relaxing break after all the driving and walking we did to that point.

Húsavík, Goðafoss, & Akureyri

We headed to Husavik where we would spend the night. The next morning, we grabbed breakfast and headed out on a 3-hour whale watching tour with North Sailing (~$100/pp in 2025). We saw many sea birds as well as humpback whales. After our tour we headed to another famous waterfall. Godafoss is a gorgeous, curved waterfall that feeds a glacier blue river below. There are multiple viewpoints and it’s fairly east to walk to. We then headed to the village of Akureyri where Scott & I had a relaxing evening while Ryan & Anjuli checked out the local food & drink scene. The next day we headed out to our white-water rafting adventure (unfortunately no pictures of this). The tour company we went with is no longer in business but there are alternatives. It’s a fun way to spend a few hours. We were treated with a stop mid-trip where they provided hot chocolate from water pouring out of the side of the bank (geothermal heated and safe to drink because, well…Iceland).

Hraunfossar & Barnafoss

Are you tired of waterfalls yet? We were not, so we visited these 2 in western Iceland. Hraunfossar and Barnafoss are in walking distance of each other but are very different. Hraunfossar is a gentle waterfall spread out over multiple cascades. Barnafoss is a narrow flow through a canyon.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Snæfellsjökull National Park

We stayed in Borgarnes and enjoyed a local festival in the village. There was music and they even gave out free beer haha. We started the next day by visiting The Settlement Center. While we wouldn’t call it a ‘must-do’, it was interesting to learn about some of the early sagas. Sagas are an important part of Iceland’s culture. They are long prose narratives about legendary figures in Iceland’s history.

Next, we headed to Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Snæfellsjökull National Park. A few stops included: Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, Dritvik Djúpalónssandur and Gatklettur (pictured below) but the drive around the peninsula has many views and it won’t be busy so feel free to pull off the road and enjoy.

Kirkjufell Mountain & Falls

Another familiar spot due to its appearance in film & tv is Kirkjufell. This unique mountain sits on the coast and is beautiful year-round. Cross the road and you’ll find a small waterfall providing the perfect photo opportunity.

We spent our last night at a cute cabin on a farm with the sheep bidding us goodbye. Iceland truly is a magical place, and we hope this inspires you to plan a visit soon.