10 Spectacular Places You Must See In Iceland

If you don't like hot temperatures, you will love Iceland. The country is place where you can enjoy all year a pleasant weather, from mild winters to cooler summers. It's a stunningly beautiful country that will amaze you with its desolate landscapes. 

The population of the Republic of Iceland is only about 330,000, which makes it the least populated country in Europe. Iceland is rich in natural wonders which attracts plenty of tourists from all around the world. A fun way to explore this amazing country independently is by car. Or if you wanna save some money on accommodation in Iceland, look into campervan rental in Iceland.

Here is a list with some of the best places you must see... Enjoy!

01 | Blue Lagoon

The glorious Blue Lagoon, also called Geothermal Spa is - without doubt - one of the most beautiful places to visit in Iceland. The lagoon is located in Southwest Iceland, near a city called Grindavik.

The hot waters (38-40°C) are a mix of sea water and fresh water, it's rich with mineral salts and algae. It's such a pleasure to soak in the warm waters and enjoy the views. When you come out, your skin will be softer than ever.

You can visit this place all year, as the lagoon is always perfectly heated. 

02 | Northern Lights

The Northern Lights (also called Aurora Borealis ) are such a spectacular natural wonder, and one of the main reasons why people travel to Iceland. You can witness the colorful lighting in the sky only in polar regions in the northern or southern hemispheres.

Seeing the Northern Lights is such a remarkable and unique experience, unfortunately it's rather unpredictable. This natural phenomenon most likely happens from November to early March. Plan enough time for your trip to Iceland and you'll probably be lucky enough to see this wonderful spectacle.

03 | The Waterfalls of Iceland

The country is home to some of the most impressive waterfalls I have ever seen! Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall of Europe, and the largest in Iceland with an average water flow of 193m³per second. 

Probably the most popular waterfall is Seljalandsfoss, located along Iceland's south coast. It's a breathtaking place, you can actually walk behind the waterfalls and explore the caves, it's really amazing!

More spectacular waterfalls in Iceland are Skógafoss, Gullfoss and Goðafoss.

04 | Skaftafell (Vatnajökull National Park)

Skaftafell is an area with some of the most attractive landscapes on earth, located in southeast Iceland. The National Park has an incredible landscape, formed over thousands of years by a continuous and constant duel of water and fire.

Skaftafell is surrounded by rivers, mountains and glaciers. If you like hiking, you will love this! Visitors can explore the region on various hiking tracks across the area. 

05 | Volcano Hekla

The stratovolcano Hekla is often referred as the Gateway to Hell. The volcano has a height of nearly 1500m and is located in the south of Iceland. It's a popular site for hikers, however keep in mind that volcanoes do erupt, usually every 10 years. The last eruption was in 2000, now geologists are giving warnings that Hekla could erupt at any time soon. If you visit this site, please keep yourself safe, better watch the volcano from a distance. 

06 | Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

The northern part of the Westfjords is called Hornstrandir due to its structure. This area was isolated due to less communication sources and less technological development. But now there is a growing number of visitors, resulting an increasing development. 

Hornstrandir is 534m above the sea level and surrounded by cliffside peaks and jagged mountains. I was amazed by its untouched beautiful landscapes and the diversity of wildlife. It provides the habitat for large seabird colonies, seals, whales and foxes. 

07 | Reynisfjara Beach

Reynisfjara is a black-sand beach, located at the most southern point of Iceland. The travel magazine Lonely Planet featured the place as one of Europes best beaches 2015. During low tide you can explore the caves along the cliffs.

Watch out for birds, you might spot some puffins and many other species of seabirds. From this area, at some distance is Dyrholaey, which is a large pillar of dark lava forming a peninsula, offering a stunning view of Mýrdalsjökull glacier.

08 | Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar, located in the Highlands of Iceland, is a natural wonder that will leave you speechless. It looks like a completely different planet. You will find multicolored mountains, crystal clear blue lakes, lava fields and endless green valleys.

You can spend your day hiking the mountains, witness stunning panoramic views, and finish your day in soothing hot springs. Summer is the best time to go.

09 | Kirkjufell Mountain

You remember the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? When Ben Stiller grabs a bike and rides as fast as he can? That scene in particular was filmed in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, an area that is dominated by a stunningly beautiful mountain called Kirkjufell. The mountain rises up to 463m and is located on the north coast of Iceland.

The most attractive thing is the view of this mountain during day time. Kirkjufell is just stunning to look at, situated like a king in a plain landscape. It's no surprise that this place is one of Iceland's most photographed spots - it's heaven for Instagrammers! 

10 | Langjökull Ice Cave

Don't leave the country without visiting Iceland's ice caves. There are plenty of ice caves in Iceland, if you're not sure where to go, I recommend to check out Langjökull, located in the Midwest Highlands of Iceland. It's an extraordinary experience to walk through the largest man-made ice cave in the world. The tunnel is 300m long, and the more you get into the glacier, the more you'll be in awe. It's like walking into a different world.

So... when are you going to Iceland?

I hope this article will help you planning your trip to Iceland. There is a lot more to see beyond the things I featured here. If you have a lot of time, check out Tripadvisor's list of top attractions in Iceland, and you'll get a ton of more ideas. 

Looking for budget accommodation in Iceland? Check out Airbnb and rent a room or apartment from a local! Here are $30 travel credits for your first Airbnb booking!

And if you're not convinced yet, I have one more thing for you. My friend Norbert from GloboTreks took his drone to Iceland and created this amazing video, showcasing the diversity of Iceland's landscapes. Many places I mentioned within this blog post are featured in his video.

If this video doesn't make you pack your bags and book a trip to Iceland, I don't know what else will... 

Happy travels!

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Images from Pixabay