10 Amazing Things to do in Iceland

If you’re stuck on what to do in Iceland this year and want some advice, this guide is perfect for you. We planned out our entire itinerary and loved every part of the trip. It truly is an amazing country with some of the best views and hot springs we have ever seen. So sit back and enjoy our guide on the best things we did on our Iceland journey.

1) Blue Lagoon in Iceland

One of the first things we did when getting off the flight was go to the Blue Lagoon. This worked out very well because it is only about an hour car ride from the airport and the main city of Reykjavik. So after a 6 hour flight, it was amazing to go and relax in the spa. While it is an absolute must to visit the Blue Lagoon, it is very touristy and we would not suggest going there more than once.

We have other spas and hot springs later in this guide that are more worth the cost and filled with locals. All that being said, the pictures we got there were stunning and the experience was well worth the price.

It was about $130 for a regular ticket and that came with a free drink. We got the wine and it was pretty good considering how expensive alcohol is in Iceland. Here is the website to book at: Blue Lagoon

2) Silfra Snorkeling

This was a once in a lifetime experience. We got the chance to swim between two tectonic plates. The water was ice cold but was manageable in the dry suits that we were given. The swim lasted about 30 to 45 minutes. You will definitely feel the cold by the time you get out, but don't let that discourage you—the experience is well worth it.

The crystal clear water looking down into the caves was an amazing experience. The cost was also very reasonable. It ranges from about $150 to $200 per person and was well worth the experience. We booked on Trip and they were great at helping us get everything set up and making sure everyone was safe.

Here is the website we booked from: Silfra Snorkeling They also took photos of us and we came out of there with some really cool pictures.

3) Exploring Reykjavik

One thing that is a must to do is explore the city of Reykjavik. When we landed, we had an airbnb right in the city center and the views were stunning. We had a great view of the church in the center of the city and it was glowing different colors for Christmas. Coming up close to the glowing church was a very surreal feeling and we would recommend spending some time just walking around the city.

There are a few bars in the city center that are great for some drinks. We also went to the rainbow road and had some Icelandic hotdogs. They taste just like regular hot dogs but are far more expensive. So it is fun but the food and drinks are going to be pricey.

4) Laugarás Lagoon

Up next on the best things to do in Iceland is by far our favorite lagoon. This one was less touristy than the Blue Lagoon and had mostly locals there.

This is truly one of the best places to visit in Iceland. The price was better as well. Each ticket was about $60 and I will be going every single time I am there.

It was not as good looking as the Blue Lagoon but the hot springs and the cold plunges were far warmer and colder than the ones in the Blue Lagoon. So if you are looking for a great lagoon that is more authentic and the one the locals go to, this was one of the best ones.

For the price, it is truly unbeatable. There was also a great restaurant inside that we ate at after a few hours at the lagoon. The restaurant was pretty pricey at about $130 per person but food was always expensive in Iceland so that is something to look out for.

But this was by far one of our favorite places to visit and we can’t wait to be back. Here is the website we booked our pass from: Laugarás Lagoon .

5) Golden Circle Tour

One of the other amazing things to do was the golden circle tour in Iceland. We got to see stunning waterfalls and hot springs on the drive around the golden circle. It also starts close to the main city of Reykjavik so you do not need to drive very far to get to the golden circle area.

It did take about 4 hours so you will need to plan at least a day to see this as it took about 45 minutes of driving each way. However, it was very worth the journey. One of the best things about Iceland is the nature and you get to see all of the amazing views on one circle trip.

We did it on our own with a rental car which we would recommend over going on a tour because we then got to stop for how long we wanted in different areas and get the true feeling of exploring on our own. So we would recommend saving the money and doing it on your own. It was so much fun and the pictures we got were stunning.

6) Exploring Vik

After we were done in Reykjavik, we decided to take a trip down to the city of Vik. This was to get to see the black sands beaches and the glaciers in the south of Iceland. But the first stop was to explore the city of Vik. It is much smaller than Reykjavik and much quieter too. This was a nice change of pace compared to Reykjavik.

There were a few good spots to eat. We went to a burger place called Smiðjan Brugghús and the burgers were amazing but cost $40 each with fries. This is Iceland prices and the food was always very expensive. The views from the city were amazing. There were cliffs on the side of the city and it was close to the ocean so the smells and sights were well worth the visit.

7) Ice Cave Tour

This was truly one of the things I was most looking forward to doing in Iceland. We did need to book a tour, but it was well worth it. We would not recommend trying to go on your own because of how dangerous and far it is from any roads. The cost was about $150 per person and they took us to a glacier that was about 2 hours outside of the Vik city.

We then hiked about 2 kilometers on the ice with crampons on and reached the ice cave. There we got to explore inside, touch the ice, and take lots of pictures. The view on the hike there on the glacier and the way back was some of the best I have ever seen in my life. We got to see the sun setting on the glacier on the way back and it felt like we were on a different planet. This was one of the best places to visit in Iceland. Here is the website we booked the tour from: Ice Cave Tour.

It does get cold on the glacier so we recommend packing extra clothes. This was our first time on a glacier and it was stunning to see the size of the glacier and walking on it felt like we were walking on glass. The pictures and the experience was well worth the drive down to the south coast of Iceland and the tour cost. I would not go to Iceland without doing an ice cave tour.

8) Black sands beach

One of the last but amazing things we got to do at the south of Iceland was seeing the sunrise on the black sands beach. We highly recommend going early because the sunrise on the beach with the black sand was one of the most fantastic sunrises we have ever seen.

We got some amazing photos and this should be an absolute must to do if you are visiting. It truly does look like a different planet with how beautiful the beach looks at sunrise.

9) Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

On the way back from Vik, we had to make a stop at this amazing waterfall along the way. It is called Seljalandsfoss. It is a massive waterfall and it was incredible to walk around it and you can even go behind the water.

We recommend bringing waterproof clothes or a spare set of clothes because if you come near it, you will get soaked. We walked around the path behind it and the water splashes right onto you and you will end up soaked no matter how you try to stop it.

10) Thingvellir National Park

Last but not least on the list of best things to do in Iceland is going to the Thingvellir National Park. This park had breathtaking views of a path that went through rocks and waterfalls.

We really enjoyed this place because it was nothing like we had ever seen before. It felt like a different world with all of the rock formations and waterfalls where you could touch the ice cold water. We highly recommend visiting as it is only about an hour from Reykjavik.

FAQ

What should I not miss in Iceland?

The top things I would say to not miss would be the Blue Lagoon, Silfra Snorkeling, Laugarás Lagoon and ice cave tour. Iceland is known for its nature and hot springs and they are the best we have ever seen. Stunning views and relaxing hot springs are things you will not want to miss out on.

Is 3 days enough time in Iceland?

I would say no. We got to do a lot in a week but it was still crammed when we included traveling down to Vik. Remember the country is very large and driving can take hours at a time. To get to all of the parks and hiking spots, I would plan for at least a week if not more. It will be worth it in the long run.

Is it ok to wear jeans in Iceland?

Yes and no. We brought jeans and also some waterproof ski pants. If you plan to go in the summer or spring, then jeans will be good. But if you go in the winter like we did, it will be too cold for just jeans and warmer layers will be needed.

What is worth buying in Iceland?

We bought a lot of gift shop items in Iceland. I think wool clothes would be worth buying since those are made in Iceland and a good memory of the trip. But other than that, we mostly enjoyed the hikes and tours rather than the gift shop items.

Do they accept US dollars in Iceland?

No, they do not accept US dollars in Iceland. We used an ATM to transfer the money but they do accept credit card everywhere we have been and that was very useful.