Reykjavik and beyond

Explore the city’s landmarks and beyond

• • • Hallgrímskirkja Church
    • Harpa Concert Hall
    • The Sun Voyager sculpture
    • Visit Hafnarfjörður for geothermal pools, lava, natural phenomena and local experiences
    • Visit Blue Lagoon, about 50 minutes from Reykjavík

Golden Circle

The Golden Circle can be leisurely done in one day.

• • • Thingvellir National Park (25 miles from Reykjavik)
    • Geysir geothermal area
    • Gullfoss waterfall
    • Detours to Kerið crater, a volcanic lake (easy hike around it)
    • Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin) would be on the way if you feel like more lagoons!
    • The above circuit will take 5 to 6 hours or less at a leisurely pace
    • Enjoy the vibrant restaurant scene and nightlife at Reykjavik

Landmannalauger Highlands

• • • Landmannalauger highlands, about 1.5 hours east from Reykjavik if you take an easy route (much longer with all the stops).
    • The lava fields, the mountains, hot springs and a geothermal pool. Great hiking trails here from easy to very hard.
    • This drive is not for everyone if you are doing a self-drive – some routes can be hazardous. Read a lot about it. And checkout this useful link. On the way on the easiest route of the three (F 26 and F 208) you can stop by the Sigöldugljùfur falls.

Drive along the South Coast: Hella to Vatnajokull National Park to End of East Fjords

• • • This area could take 2 days if one wanted to do hikes, ice caving tour etc.
    • Visit the Seljalandsfoss waterfall (the waterfall lays underneath the well-known Eyfjallajokull, the volcano that erupted in 2010).
    • Visit Skogafoss waterfall (iconic one featured in Game of Thrones)
    • Glacier hike about 2 hrs – Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier coming down the fourth biggest glacier of Iceland, called Mýrdalsjökull.
    • Continue to Vík (small fishing village of Vik i Myrdal)

At and around Vik i Myrdal

• • • At Vik, visit the amazing black sand Reynisfjara Beach known for its dramatic natural landscapes: hexagonal basalt columns, the Halsanefshellir Sea Cave, and large rock formations that rise out of the sea.
    • Continue to Skaftafell National Park various hiking trails, including the one leading to Svartifoss waterfall that has basalt columns.
    • Skaftafell is a wilderness area in Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park with huge glaciers. One could opt to do The Vatnajökull glacier ice caving tour that takes about 4 hours.
    • Or you could go to nearby Skaftárhreppur, a part of Katla UNESCO Global Geopark.

Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach

These are at a distance of about 2.5 hours from Vik.

• • • Explore Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and take a boat tour among the icebergs.
    • Visit Diamond Beach, where icebergs wash up on the black sand shore.

East Fjords and Up

• • • Drive through the scenic East Fjords, stopping at fishing villages and enjoying the stunning coastal views.
    • Drive northwest to Lake Mývatn. Visit Lake Mývatn, a unique area with geothermal activity and diverse birdlife. Nature Baths here have a naturally heated man-made lagoon, with mineral-rich waters known for their health-giving properties.

Northern Region

• • • Explore craters at Skútustaðir and Dimmuborgir lava formations
    • A short distance away, near Námafjall Mountain, is Hverir, a hot-springs area with amazing boiling mud pots and fumaroles and using the heat, the icelandic rye bread is baked.
    • This is also a good place for wild birds and viewing northern lights.
    • If you are feeling more adventurous and want to see more falls and do hikes, in this area you would visit Dettifoss, and the nearby Selfoss waterfall and go to Ásbyrgi Canyon for hiking trails.
    • Or go to Siglufjörður, an old fishing town in the northern highlands.
    • Drive to Akureyri, you will be close to the magnificent Godafoss waterfall. Akureyri, is an interesting town one will pass through. A glimpse of Christianity, stories, trolls, murals.
    • Head to Húsavík, the whale-watching capital of Iceland. Can take a boat tour.

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the West

• • • Drive to town of Stykkishólmur. Eplore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, known for its diverse landscapes. The Snaefelsness peninsula is home to the iconic Snæfellsjökull volcano in Snaefellsjokull National Park, the Kirkjufell mountain and viewpoint, the Vatnashellir cave, black sand beaches like Dritvik, hot spring geysers and waterfalls.
    • Hike Arnarstapi to Hellnar, walking along the cliffs and seashore. You will see the much-photographed Bárður Snæfellsás, mythical protector of this peninsula, at Arnarstapi.
    • Drive back to Reykjavik via Borgarnes. You could visit Borgarfjörður, a fjord nearby, and see the Hraunfossar waterfalls near this town and if you are not overwhelmed by all the sights by now!

Perhaps one of the first places you will start with is, Reykjavik and its lovely city center. The sight of the soaring cathedral, Hallgrímskirkja,  rising majestically in the center, and its modern architecture, will not fail to impress. A walk along the Arctic coastline that hugs the city, watching the beautiful sculpture of the Sun Voyager against the water, the setting Sun and mountains at a distance, all seem like the right “sight appetizers” before a meal in the city! A photograph of the night view of the city from the top of the church, as the lights shone on colorful rooftops, was as fairytale like as it could get!

Very close and Southwest of Reykjavik, is the town of Hafnarfjörður if you are wanting geothermal pools, lava , natural phenomena and local experiences.  Not too far a drive from the international airport.  From here, the Blue lagoon is a short and easy trip.

Almost all tourists do the Golden circle route even if they do not visit other parts of Iceland. The Golden Circle is a common route between 3 beautiful natural attractions in Iceland; Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. The Game of thrones fans will know of its location shot at Thingvellir national park. Seljalandsfoss, along with Skogafoss, is often included in the Golden Circle route.

As you traverse the Golden Circle, you could take detours to other attractions such as Kerið crater and Secret Lagoon (the-not-so-secret). There are several hot springs around the Secret Lagoon, such as Vaðmálahver, Básahver, Litli Geysir.

(A) Reykjavik (B) The Golden Circle and other detours (C) Geysir (D) Gulfoss (E) Back to Reykjavik (F) Selfoss (G) Sigöldugljùfur Falls (H) Landmannalauger Highlands  (I) Hella or Back to Selfoss 

Landmannalauger highlands, about 1.5 hours east from Reykjavik if you take an easy route (much longer with all the stops). The lava fields, the mountains that change color with light, hot springs and a geothermal pool. Great hiking trails here from easy to very hard.

This drive is not for everyone if you are doing a self-drive – some routes can be hazardous. Read a lot about it. And checkout this very good link for driving information.

On the way on the easiest route of the 3 (F 26 and F 208) you can stop by the Sigöldugljùfur falls.

​You will perhaps cover the active Hekla volcano as you do these parts (in the general direction but not that close) but be sure to carry out food if you are a vegetarian and aren’t sure what you will find out here. Sleep in the vicinity of Selfoss or Hella. From here, if you are driving east to do the rest of Iceland, follow the first map.

As you drive through Hella and onto Vik, passing the beautiful Seljalandsfoss Waterfall enroute.  You will also pass the old houses of Drangshlíð. Lots of elves stories from here. Vik is known for its black sand beach, Reynisfjara beach with strong waves and basalt rocks. From here you will drive on #1 towards Diamond beach. You might stop at Skaftárhreppur, a part of Katla UNESCO Global Geopark. The very delicate moss is a sight to behold. Onto Hornafjörður from where you can access the large Vatnajokull national park with the largest ice glacier, caves, lakes and lagoons of unimaginable beauty. You can walk right upto the Vatnajökull glacier, the largest in Europe. Breiðárlón is a glacier lake at the south end of it. Not far is the glacial lagoon, Jökulsárlón.
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You might also get to see the Icelandic Puffin bird, the magnificent Icelandic thoroughbred horses. You will drive towards Hofn next, and onto the East fjords at Berufjörður, The East Fjords is a 120 km long stretch of coastline from Berufjörður, in the south, to the small fishing village of Borgarfjörður Eystri, in the north.

On to Mývatn in the east, one of the most interesting regions. Stop by the Dimmuborgir Lava fields and structures in Skútustaðahreppur on the way. Lava had come out of fissures and created these vast and eerie landscape of conical structures. Ten minutes from here, is Hverfjall in the Lake Kyvatn area, one of the best preserved circular volcanic craters and believed to the largest in the world! The Hverfjall hike takes you up to the rim of the crater and offers magnificent views all around. Mývatn has a big volcanic lake. Nature Baths here have a naturally heated man-made lagoon, with mineral-rich waters known for their health-giving properties.

A short distance away, near Námafjall Mountain, is Hverir, a hot-springs area with amazing  boiling mud pots and fumaroles and using the heat, the icelandic rye bread is baked. Also, a good place for wild birds and viewing northern lights.  Next, as you drive from here onto  Akureyri, you will be close to the magnificent Godafoss waterfall.  Akureyri, is an interesting town one will pass through. A glimpse of Christianity, stories, trolls, murals.

Siglufjörður, an old fishing town in the northern highlands, is now on the tourist map. It is a detour from Rt 1 and you have to drive to the northern tip. Worth a mention is the Hofsós infinity swimming pool built into the hillside above the sea, the views over to Drangey are breathtaking.

This region was covered by my friends Malathy and Chandru, and they say they saw few tourists here compared to other places, given its remoteness.

​The Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the West

The Snaefelsness peninsula is home to Snaefellsjokull National Park, the Kirkjufell mountain and viewpoint, the Vatnashellir cave, black sand beaches like Dritvik, hot spring geysers, waterfalls, many small villages and towns. Also present here is the stones structure, Bárður Snæfellsás, Mythical Protector of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

As you drive back to Reykjavik you can stop at Borgarnes and visit the Settlement Center where you can see Icalandic history come alive. It is devoted to recreating Iceland’s best-known heroes of the Icelandic Sagas, Egil Skalla-Grimsson (with a beautiful monument and a sad story). ​Another popular tourist attraction near here is Borgarfjordur, a fjord. You can visit the Hraunfossar waterfalls here that is covered in old lava, with rivers and streams running in between, creating some of the most stunning waterfalls in Iceland.

The Remote Western Fjords

The Westfjords, a place to view endless fjords, are more out of the way and least touristy, perhaps best reached by flight, if you want that on your itinerary, says Uma. It has some amazing scenery as well. You will see ICelandic puffin birds in many other places but perhaps catchseveral of them here too. Some primary attractions here are Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, Latrabjarg Cliffs,, Dynjandi Waterfall, Raudasandur Beach and Flatey Island. Read descriptions here.