Travel Guides

Iceland is an absolute paradise on earth, a treat for nature and adventure lovers. Whether its glaciers tours, ice cave tours, amazing volcanoes, or beautiful waterfalls, this heavenly destination is simply waiting to be explored. In this article we’ll be exploring what to see and visit in Iceland, i.e. must-visit destinations and attractions in Iceland. If you're looking for more, please see our Things to do in Iceland article for more information. Make sure you get the best of Iceland by adding these other-worldly experiences into your itinerary, for many are activities that simply cannot be found anywhere else on the planet.

Iceland has the perfect climate for waterfalls. The many glaciers Iceland and their glacier rivers, plus frequent snow and rain, all feed each of the beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, making them arguably some of the most picturesque in the world. Iceland is home to hundreds of waterfalls, so here’s our pick of the top 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland (listed in no particular order).

The best time and season to see Northern Lights in Iceland is from late September to the beginning of April. One of the most popular destinations in Iceland to witness the Northern Lights is undoubtedly its capital city, Reykjavik. This city is believed to be the first official colony on Iceland back from when it was first settled, just before the turn of the first millennium.Reykjavik hasn’t looked back, and has continued to grow and be a beacon of numerous breathtaking tourist sights and rich national culture. Reykjavik boasts a great opportunity to witness the northern lights.

As the largest national park in Western Europe, Vatnajökull is made up of smaller parks such as Skaftafell in the south and Jökulsárgljúfur in the north. As a result, the terrain varies vastly. It’s namesake, Vatnajökull glacier, is the largest glacier in Europe to be found outside of the Arctic circle. As well as the glaciers immense bulk, Vatnajökull’s landscape encompasses active volcanoes, powerful glacial rivers, mountains, canyons, waterfalls, wetlands and lush woodland. Since it’s creation in 2008, Vatnajökull National Park has grown to cover almost 14,000km2. That equates to 14% of Iceland as a whole. So if you want to see the best of what a trip to Iceland has to offer, you want to see Vatnajökull National Park!Highlights Vatnajökull glacier is the highlight of the Vatnajökull National Park. Covering 8% of Iceland, it’s hard to miss. Subglacial lakes and hidden active volcanoes add to the mystery. Hvannadalshnúkur is the highest point in Iceland. Hiking there is challenging, but the view from the peak is worth it. Skaftafell National Park, nestled within Vatnajökull, offers a lush landscape with a more temperate climate and stunning scenery. Dettifoss is Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon. An immensely powerful waterfall that hurtles into a vast gorge, seeing Dettifoss is an awe inspiring experience that truly makes you feel your size. Ásbyrgi is a gigantic, horseshoe shaped canyon steeped in Norse mythology. Lowlights Only lowlands are accessible year round. Including Jökulsárgljúfur, Skaftafell, Heinaberg, Hjallanes and Hoffell. Highlands are only accessible by 4x4 during the summer months and early autumn. Sudden changes in weather can become dangerous in remote areas. The park is still improving its road system. Though much progress has already been made.

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis as the scientific term goes, are one of the most captivating natural beauties one can witness in life. They were originally named after Aurora, the Greek goddess of dawn. And when witnessing them in person, one can definitely understand how they came to be associated with divine connotations.If you have never seen the northern lights in person or through image; picture a dark night sky with lengthy trails of neon green, blue, and violet blending together in a wonderful symphony. Ordinary rainbows are perhaps the closest natural phenomenon to this wonder, and a comparison to them really does not do the northern lights justice. They are definitely a sight that is necessary to witness at least once in everyone’s life.

Skaftafell National Park, one of Iceland's national parks, is truly a landscape forged from fire and ice over centuries with many volcanic eruptions, glaciers and rivers. Like much of Iceland’s beautifully unchanged scenery, the terrain of Skaftafell National Park continues to instill a sense of awe and wonderment in all who travel there. Now included in the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell National Park has been enlarged twice since it was officially founded in 1967.The protected area of Skaftafell accounts for 4807 km2 of the total terrain of Vatnajökull National Park (13,600 km²). A mountainous landscape that is home to volcanoes, waterfalls, rivers, glaciers and woods, Skaftafell’s creation took place over thousands of years. The result is a stunningly wild sweep of Nordic vistas carved by eruptions and erosion. Highlights Skaftafell benefits from a pleasant climate. Visit in summer and experience the natural phenomenon of the midnight sun. Sightseeing flights are available from the small Skaftafell runway. Get a true bird’s eye view of the vast terrain. Get a new perspective on life by coming face-to-face with the awesome magnitude of a glacier. Get up close and personal with the local wildlife including puffins and arctic foxes. Witness water cascading from a jet black basalt lava wall at Svartifoss waterfall. Lowlights Tourism has doubled in the last few years. During peak seasons, Skaftafell will be crowded with thousands of visitors. Skaftafell National Park receives little snow. However, rain, harsh wind and ice can make trails hazardous during winter. Winter is a popular time to visit Skaftafell as the landscape changes completely. However, fewer daylight hours also set a limit on the activity.

The Laugavegur Trail in Iceland could be compared, in popularity, to that of the Appalachian Trail on the east coast of The United States or the Pacific Coast Trail on the west coast, though not nearly as long. However, lengthy or not, Laugavegur is visited by thousands of hikers each year with all levels of experience. Some aim to complete the entire 49-mile trail while others want nothing more than to take in a few of the trails' breathtaking sights. At the end of the day, simply spending one minute on the trail would be a minute well spent. The rolling landscape is forever changing because of the geothermal activity below the surface of the trail. Hills move and crumble, landslides occur regularly, ice melts and creates small stream like paths into larger creeks and rivers and what was once a lush meadow is now a steaming hot spring. Whatever the reason for visiting Laugavegur, the experience is sure to be different from anything you have ever experienced.The best time to visit the trail is during the months of June through September because that is when the entire trails usually experiences its best weather. In the winter months, some of the trail may be closed off or dangerous to cross because of ice melts, snow, and sketchy weather.

Stretching more than 300 kilometres or 190 miles, the Golden Circle in Southern Iceland is the most popular tourist routes. The name Golden Circle, or “gullni hringurinn” in Icelandic, refers to the circular route that loops all the way from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, to the country’s southern uplands and back.The gold part of the name originates from one of the most notable stops along the route, the Gullfoss waterfall, which means Golden waterfall. In addition to Gullfoss, there are two main attractions along the route; the Thingvellir National Park and the geothermal area in Haukadalur, which is comprised of the two geysers Geysir and Strokkur. Other notable stops along the route include the Kerid volcanic crater, the town of Hveragerdi, and the Skalholt cathedral. While all areas in Iceland are famous for being beautiful, The Golden Circle region covers a large part of the tours in Iceland, travel-related activities, and some of the most scenic highlights in the whole country. Below we enlist eight important landmarks and attractions in the Golden Circle (not in any particular order).

Although it is just 190 km up the coast from Reykjavik, when you are standing on the shores of Snaefellsjokull National Park, you will feel like you are a world away. Standing on the edge of the Londrangar basalt cliffs overlooking the ocean the sight you will see has not changed much since centuries gone by. Of the national parks in Iceland, Snæfellsjokull is the only national park that accesses the shore line of Snæfellsjökull, located in the western part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. You can explore tidal pools and pebble beaches, a volcanic cave, or an ice tunnel burrowed into a glacier. There is a diversity of terrain that makes every hike an adventure into the exceptional — no wonder it is one of the most sought after destinations on an Iceland trip. If you are really lucky, you might even catch a sight of a killer whale breaching in the swell.

It’s no secret that Iceland has become an essential destination on every traveler’s bucket list. This northern wonderland boasts some of the most fantastic scenery of the northern hemisphere, including glaciers, volcanoes, and ice caves, forcing visitors to continue to come back for more. Whether you’re looking for a short getaway or a full backpacking adventure, Iceland has everything you are looking for. However, before packing up and heading north, here are a few different itineraries to plan the perfect length Iceland trip.If it’s your first time in Iceland, it is recommended that you spend at least 3-4 days visiting. This will definitely not be enough time to explore all that there is to offer, but it will help you plan a beginner’s trip around the island. There’s also an incredible Icelandic road trip for those who’d like to tackle Iceland’s iconic ring road. Technically, the full drive takes 24 hours; however, 7-8 days would allow you to visit all the major stops along the way. Generally, we advise to visit for not less than 7-8 days as you will then have sufficient time to explore much of the tours and attractions in Iceland. Below please see a few good Iceland itineraries with duration’s of 4 days, 6 days and 8 days, respectively.

Looking for a trek or hike in Iceland? Iceland has some of the most beautiful scenic treks available for any avid hiker. Many of the popular hikes include views of waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, and Northern Lights. With these amazing sights, one must experience them personally rather than through pictures on the internet.There are many advantages and disadvantages to different hikes and you must choose what is right for you and anyone that may be accompanying you on your trip.

Located about 23 miles off the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is that picture-perfect island you’d imagine when somebody mentions the words ‘tropical paradise.’ Beautiful spice markets, over 25 ethereal beaches, and the historic Stone Town are what make Zanzibar famous.Weather-wise, the best time to visit Zanzibar is definitely the two dry seasons—June to October and mid-December to February. These periods are when the archipelago receives little to no rainfall, the currents are ideal for watersports, and the days are perfect for sunbathing. The dry season from June to October is when Zanzibar sees the highest influx of tourists. If you want to tour Zanzibar in the least crowded conditions and are not bothered by short spells of rain, then late November to early December is a good time to go. Besides being a must-visit tourist destination on a quintessential Tanzania trip, Zanzibar is open to entertaining year-round with its cultural festivals, sightseeing tours, and more.

With so many options, you might be wondering where to stay in Iceland. If you have travelled before, you know that taking care of the little things before you arrive at your destination saves a lot of time and stress. There's nothing worse than getting off your flight in a foreign country and not knowing where to go from there. Here are the 10 best places to stay in Iceland for your next visit, listed in no particular order.

Reykjavik is a capital city unlike any other, even amongst its Scandinavian neighbours. Though a very small city, with a population of just over 200,000 people, the city is bursting with life and culture. With colourful homes, fascinating museums, and a vibrant art scene, Reykjavik has more to offer than its reputation as a gateway to Iceland’s natural wonders suggests.In no particular order, here are our top 12 things to do in Reykjavik to break bucket list. If you have time to explore destinations outside of Reykjavik, read our Top Things to do in Iceland article as well.

Close your eyes, and imagine a lagoon filled with hot, milky blue water. As you stand on the shore, surrounded by the volcanic rock of lava fields, and see the steam rising off the water into a frigid twilight sky you might believe for a moment that you were standing on the surface of an alien world. As cosmic as this landscape might appear, it is actually an apt description of one of the most unique locals of our own amazing planet — the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, the most popular of the best hot springs in Iceland.