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Explore the Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Iceland for Your Journey

Visit Iceland as it is one of the most beautiful places in the world! I felt in love with this magnificent place as soon as I got off the plane.

Iceland amazes us by its wild beauty, incredible landscapes and its diverse natural phenomenon.

Glaciers, iceberg lagoons, a geothermal area with hot springs, black lava sand beaches and many other attractions are waiting to be discovered by you.

We visited the whole country and we prepared for you a top with the 10 best places to visit in Iceland.

Visit Skogafoss Waterfall best places to visit in Iceland

Visit Skogafoss Waterfall Iceland – best places for visiting in Iceland

1. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

This glacier lagoon is one of the most epic sceneries from Iceland, located on the south part.

What makes this place so fascinating is that the scenery changes from one hour to another.

Ice formations from the lagoon float to the sea through a water corridor.

On the other side of the road, there is a black sand beach and if you visit Iceland from October to April, the beach is full of ice formations.

Iceland Jokulsarlon Iceland floating iceberg

Iceland Jokulsarlon Iceland floating iceberg

The view is just incredible! Those ice formations from the black sand beach are something which you don’t see every day! We were fascinated!

Where to sleep when visiting JokuLsarlon Glacier Lagoon?

The best place to spend the night near Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is .

Its clean and nice rooms offer an incredible view over the Icelandic landscape and there are just a few kilometres from this beautiful hotel to the Glacier Lagoon!

2. Myvatn Natural Pool

One of the most interesting things to do while you visit Iceland is bathing on a thermal pool.

Iceland has many geothermal areas and many natural pools. One of the most authentic and beautiful pools from the country is Myvatn Natural Pool.

It is located on the north part of the country and has one of the most scenic views from the area!

Iceland Myvath Geothermal Bath

Iceland Myvath Geothermal Bath – best place to visit in Iceland

 

What I liked at this pool was its authenticity.

Because it is very hard to reach, located far from Reykjavik, Myvatn Natural Pools are not that touristic as Blue Lagoon and has a more authentic vibe.

Seeing a sunset from the natural pool is a unique moment and should be on your bucket list!

Where to sleep when visiting Myvatn Natural Pool?

The best place to spend the night near Myvatn Natural Pool is Vogafjos Farm Resort Myvatn because it has some beautiful cottages where to sleep in, tasty breakfast and authentic atmosphere!

3. Namaskard geothermal area one of the best places to visit in Iceland

Namaskard geothermal area is located very close to Lake Myvatn and Myvatn Natural Pool, less than 30 minutes away.

The area stands up for its barrenness; there is no vegetation in the area because the soil is very acid and poisonous fumes are being expelled.

Iceland Namaskard Geothermal Area

Iceland Namaskard Geothermal Area

 

There is a very unpleasant smell in the area due to the toxic gases expelled from the ground. A strong smell of sulphur is in the area.

While exploring the area does not touch the water. It has around 100 degrees Celsius so is constantly boiling.

Be careful where you step and what you touch!

Where to sleep when visiting Namaskard geothermal area?

The best place to spend the night near Namaskard geothermal area is Vogafjos Farm Resort Myvatn because it is located in the nearby area and it has some beautiful cottages where to sleep in, tasty breakfast and authentic atmosphere!

4. Gullfoss Waterfall (Golden Falls)

This beautiful two-tiered waterfall has a cumulative height of 32 meters and a huge volume of water that transports sediments dating from ancient times.

Its waters came from the melting of the glaciers so really old sediments are transported by water each minute.

Iceland Gullfoss Waterfall autumn

visit Iceland Gullfoss Waterfall autumn

Located in the southwestern part of the island, Gullfoss is one of the most beautiful and impressive waterfalls from Iceland.

The waterfall is part of the most well-known Golden Circle tour and is the ideal place for a day trip from Reykjavik.

Where to sleep when visiting Gullfoss Waterfall?

The best place to spend the night near Gullfoss Waterfall is Litli Geysir Gulfoss Waterfall.

The hotel has clean rooms and offers tasty breakfast perfect to start in a good way a new day in paradise!

5. Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls two best places to visit in Iceland

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland with a total height of 65 metres. It is located on the south coast, pretty close to Golden Circle.

What makes from this waterfall one of the top attractions of the country is that you can walk behind the waterfall.

Take with you a raincoat when visiting this magnificent place and walk behind the water curtain for some wonderful photos.

The path is closed in the wintertime because it is very slippery and is dangerous for tourists!

Iceland Skogafoss Waterfall

Iceland Skogafoss Waterfall

Skogafoss is located very close to Seljalandsfoss in the south part of Iceland, being one of the best things to visit in Iceland.

Seljalandsfoss is famous because you can walk behind it while Skogafoss is unique because you can climb on top of it.

There are stairs which lead you right on top! The view from up there is very beautiful!

Skogafoss is 62 meters tall and 25 meters wide, being one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland.

Because of the drizzle, on sunny days, beautiful rainbows appear over the waterfall.

Sometimes, if you are lucky enough you can see a double rainbow over the waterfall! That is awesome!

Where to sleep when visiting Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls?

The best place to spend the night near Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls is Hotel Skogafoss. The hotel is located right near Skogafoss waterfall and offer unique views over the waterfall. The rooms are clean and the breakfast is good, making from this hotel a good choice when you visit Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

6. Godafoss waterfall one of the best places to visit in Iceland

Godafoss or the God waterfall is located on the north side of Iceland, right on the Ring Road.

The waterfall from the Skjálfandafljót has 30 meters weight and is 12 meters tall and impress by its enormous quantity of water which flows over.

Iceland Godafoss Waterfall winter

Iceland Godafoss Waterfall winter

 

Being so far from Reykjavik, the waterfall is not that accessible during wintertime.

Where to sleep when visiting Godafoss waterfall?

The best place to spend the night near Godafoss waterfall is Fljotsbakki Farm Hotel Godafoss Waterfall.

Located just 4 kilometers away from the waterfall, with clean rooms and a nice breakfast, Fljotsbakki Farm is the perfect destination for your overnight stay when visiting Godafoss.

7. Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site from the Icelandic mainland and is located on the southwest part of Iceland.

It is one of the three main important spots during the Golden Circle tour along the Gullfoss waterfall and the geothermal area of geysers, something you have to include in your personal travel itinerary.

Inside the national park, the North American tectonic plate meets the Eurasian one. It is the only place on Earth where you can see geology such as this one.

Iceland Thingvellir Rift valley

Iceland Thingvellir Rift valley

The park is also famous for its diving place called Silfra, an underwater glacier spring, one of the top 10 sites in the world for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Where to sleep when visiting Thingvellir National Park?

The best place to spend the night near Thingvellir National Park is because it offers clean and nice accommodation with a good breakfast just a few kilometers away from the national park.

8. Geyser area

Other best places to visit in Iceland are the geyser area from the Golden Circle and its magnificent Strokkur Geysir.

The geyser area, located in the southwest part of Iceland is one of the top attractions from the Golden Circle tour.

It is a great destination for a day trip from Reykjavik and a place with very interesting scenery.

Strokkur Iceland Geysir Golden Circle

Strokkur Iceland Geysir Golden Circle

 

Strokkur, the most famous hot spring from the area throws water at 20 – 40 meters up every 5-10 minutes.

So prepare your camera to get the best shot!

You should plan to spend here at least 40 minutes so you can get some shots of the Geysir shooting up in the sky.

Where to sleep when visiting the geyser area?

The best place to spend the night near the geyser area is Litli Geysir Gulfoss Waterfall because it is located very close to the Geysir area and offers nice and clean rooms and good breakfast.

9. Blue Lagoon

The most emblematic spa from the island, Blue Lagoon is one of the top things to do when in Iceland.

It is a very modern and beautiful thermal pool located very close to Reykjavik, so it is really easy to get to it. You can reach it by car and by bus from Reykjavik.

 

Because of its beauty and location, it is one of the busiest places in Iceland.

Especially during peak season, you need to book in advance your entry to the spa because there is a limited number of accesses granted and you cannot stay for how much you want. You can buy access for a few hours.

It is one of the few places on earth where you can enjoy the benefits of hot springs and geothermal activity!

Where to sleep when visiting Blue Lagoon?

The best place to spend the night when visit Blue Lagoon is .

Located right in the heart of the natural pool, this accommodation offers clean rooms with unforgettable scenery!

10. Coastline near Vik

With a picturesque landscape and beautiful wild beaches, the coastline near Vik is one of the top attractions of Iceland.

The pearls of the coastline are Reynisdrangar, a black san beach rated by most publications as one of the most attractive non-tropical beaches in the world.

Vik Coastline Iceland Black Sand Beach

Vik Coastline Iceland Black Sand Beach

 

The scenery is indeed epic and unique and was rated as one of the best instagramable places in Iceland!

Where to sleep when visiting Reynisdrangar?

The best place to spend the night when visit Reynisdrangar is Black Beach Suites Vik. These amazing rooms are located very close to the beach and offer a nice view over the sea.

World wide travel tips best places to visit in Iceland ADVICE

The best way to explore Iceland and its wonders is to rent a car and drive along the Ring Road.

Have a unique experience by exploring the area in your own rented car

Whether you prefer day trips from your hotel or a tour around the country, car rental is the best way for creating your own experience and live your dream vacation

It is one of the most epic and famous itineraries you could do when in Iceland!

We definitely enjoyed each moment spent in Iceland and we recommend you do visit this country!

We would also be more than happy to help you by preparing and sending you, your very own personal travel itinerary based on your budget and the places you wish to visit while in Iceland.

 

Logistical tips and tricks for your trip

Book your accommodation

We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.

You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.

Don't forget travel insurance

We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money, plus COVID coverage.

When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.

Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected events and cost like illness, COVID, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.

We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.

Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.

We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.

Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.

We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.

Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.

Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.

Gabby

Friday 3rd of April 2020

Thank you for the useful information! I can’t wait to visit Iceland one day.