The Top 11 Things to Do in Iceland

Thinking about the broad variety of possible adventures in Iceland, it can be tricky to choose what to do on your visit to Iceland. Fortunately, Guide to Iceland, which has analyzed all of the outings, is here to assist you.

In this article you can read about the Top 11 actions in Iceland. Naturally, the top won’t be to everybody’s taste but it is going to provide you a general idea of the most popular areas and activities in Iceland. This shirt has also been based on the credibility of the experience, opinions, and remarks we’ve received from visitors from all around the world. We’re positive that you will find at least one action that is appropriate for you.

1- Joining a whale watching trip in Iceland

Away from the Icelandic coast, you can see over twenty species of cetaceans: from harbour porpoises to the biggest whales in the world, the blue whales.

The most common whales are the Minke and humpback whales. However, you could also see killer whales and fin whales. During your sea excursion, you also have the chance to observe seabirds such as skuas, Arctic terns, guillemots, and even colourful puffins in summer.

The principal ports of departure are Reykjavik, Akureyri and Husavik. Husavik is regarded as the European whale watching capital due to the numerous whales which may be seen there.

Whale-watching excursions can be made on both big and tiny boats based on the port along with your own dreams. The big boats are outfitted with whale monitoring technology, which means you are almost sure to see one on your journey. Smaller ships accommodate smaller classes and are more intimate. You can get up close and personal with the whales.

Whale watching is a yearlong activity in Iceland, although summer is the preferred season. The excursion lasts about 3 hours.

2 – Joining a horseback ride

Although he’s the size of a pony, the Icelandic horse is a horse…

The Icelandic horse is, undoubtedly, the most famous animal in Iceland. Easily identifiable by its small size and comfy physique, it’s a creature known for its reliability, its resistance to the natural components, and its five paces.

The Icelandic horse is a special breed that’s protected locally. Indeed, any creature that leaves the nation can never return. Additionally, it is a breed that’s not blended with any other breed of horse.

Horseback riding is potential for both novices and experienced riders and is directed by capable and certified riding instructors. Most trips last about 1.5 hours (although there are choices to expand the experience). People who feel comfortable can try out the fast trot.

3- Spend a day at Reykjavík

It’s definitely a favorite pastime of the local population, who don’t hesitate to enjoy a few beers at the end of the day. Beer has been (again) legalized in Iceland in 1989 and is THE common alcoholic beverage in Iceland.

Downtown Reykjavík is filled with bars, cafes, restaurants and events, the huge majority of which sponsor a nice mixture of Reykjavik’s Icelandic travelers and residents, making sure a night of interesting conversation.

Most institutions offer”Happy Hour” for at least three hours and frequently provide additional discounts and incentives to permit you to drink merrily.

The town center is small in Reykjavik so that you can just leave your car behind and walk to the pub and your resort.

4- Viewing Lake Mývatn in Northern Iceland

Lake Myvatn is a must-see in Northern Iceland. In the region, you can go to the pseudo-craters of Skútustaðagígar, the geothermally active Námaskarð Pass as well as Dimmuborgir, an area of odd volcanic rock formations of enchanting beauty.

5- Relaxing in the Blue Lagoon Spa

The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most famous spa, possibly due to its proximity to the airport, its silica sand, its own relaxing and warm waters, and its magical surrounding steam baths. In any event, the Blue Lagoon is a trip not to be missed. It’s the ideal way to unwind after a stay filled with actions.

If the entrance to the Blue Lagoon exceeds your budget, as an alternative, you can opt for a swim in the Secret Lagoon (situated on the Golden Circle Road) or take a dip in the Myvatn Nature Baths in Northern Iceland.

6- Watch the Dettifoss waterfall in Northern Iceland

Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

Dettifoss is located in the North-East of Iceland. It’s the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Often chosen as a location for filming, and more recently for the opening scene in Prometheus, you’ll be struck by the especially impressive spectacle of the deafeningly noisy waterfall.

Dettifoss can be reached through route 862 and is only a part of the Diamond Circle, the northern counterpart of the most famous Golden Circle route. Alongside Dettifoss you can visit Húsavík, Ásbyrgi Canyon and Lake Mývatn.

7- Visit the Western Fjords

The fishing village of Bolungarvik

The Western Fjords area is the most remote region of Iceland, off the beaten track. So it takes a while to get there. By leasing a car and exploring at your own pace, you may enjoy narrow fjords, beautiful beaches, picturesque fishing villages, and lots of hot springs.

The Western Fjords have Iceland’s northernmost glacier, Drangajökull, the scenic Arnarfjörður Bay, the towering Bolafjall Mountain as well as Flatey Island. All of this and more make up the diverse and incredibly beautiful landscapes of northwest Iceland.

For those looking to find the culture and history of the region, why not see the Arctic Fox Centre, the Museum of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Heritage Museum and the Sea Monster Museum?

8- Discover the beauty of this Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon

In a country composed of countless beautiful and impressive organic places, it might appear hard to choose one. However, if you need to choose, the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon wins each time.

Jokulsarlon is a tranquil lake full of sparkling, moaning and crackling icebergs one after the other. After being unhooked from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, the cubes of ice float in the lagoon and drift slowly towards the Atlantic Ocean.

At Jokulsarlon you can combine a ship, amphibian or zodiac trip to get as close as possible to the icebergs, or you can sit by the lake and watch the spectacle. You may often see seals playing between the icebergs.

The size of this Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is growing every year because of the growing impact of climate change on Iceland’s glaciers. Within a century it’s believed that the lagoon will be surmounted by a totally new fjord. Although this might appear improbable, Iceland’s glaciers are already melting at an astonishing speed.

Just a five-minute walk in the lagoon, you can discover the Diamond Beach: a shore where icebergs run aground on the sand, making one of the most surreal and visually attractive scenes in Iceland.

For those looking to find the culture and history of the region, why not see the Arctic Fox Centre, the Museum of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Heritage Museum and the Sea Monster Museum?

9- Bathing at a natural hot spring

Relaxing in the hot river of Reykjadalur

Iceland is a young nation, geologically speaking, meaning that much of this landscape remains geothermally active. You may see steaming mud ponds or geysers, such as Strokkur, on the Golden Circle Road. It is also possible to swim in some hot springs.

Visits to warm springs are fantastic getaways and also the best way to counter jetlag or hangover. It’s also a wonderful place to unwind, have a friendly conversation with other bathers and enjoy a wonderful view of the surrounding area or to see the Northern Lights.

10- Complement your trip to the Golden Circle with a snowmobile session on a glacier or snorkeling in Silfra.

All travelers who come to go to Iceland should definitely take the Golden Circle tour. It’s a rather tourist street, but that remains an inevitable one. The Golden Circle takes you into the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, the geothermal area of Geysir and the site of Iceland’s ancient parliament at Thingvellir National Park, where two tectonic plates could be viewed splitting apart.

Seeing the Golden Circle in Iceland is the equivalent of seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York. The Golden Circle is a must-see excursion.

You can combine a trip to the Golden Circle with several activities and adventure trips. If you wish to spice up your Golden Circle experience, the perfect means to do this is by snowmobile on the Langjökull Glacier or by snorkeling (or scuba diving when you’ve got a diving license) in one of the world’s best dive sites, the Silfra Fault. There you can swim between the continents of Europe and America.

11- Combine a glacier hike and explore an ice cave in Iceland

Add a bit of adventure to your Icelandic trip by hiking one of the island’s largest glaciers. You can discover lots of glacier tours led by experienced guides. You’ll have the special experience of walking on a glacier with ice axe and crampons but also see exceptional ice formations such as crevasses, natural ice sculptures, ice canyons made from white, black and blue ice.