Iceland is a country that is well known for its blue lagoon. Most tourists who have visited Iceland can only remember their best experience enjoying the blue lagoon, as well. However, the truth is that this is a country with many other attractions worth experiencing. Although it is a small country, it has several natural features that people do not know about.
With Iceland being close to the Arctic and North Atlantic, many beaches and marine life attractions are to enjoy. Additionally, the country has several beautiful mountains, waterfalls, forests, parks, valleys, volcanic features, and terrains, giving countless activities to make a vacation unforgettable. The culture, the people, and the weather provide a welcome environment for visitors. Here are the top 10 things for tourists to do in Iceland.
10 Drive To Kirkjufell Mountain
After enjoying the urban life, and blue lagoon, a self-drive to Kirkjufell mountain provides the perfect adventure experience. The mountain is a popular photography feature and even appeared on The Game of Thrones; it offers visitors amazing scenes.
The best part of this is that there are many terrains to cross as one drives to the mountains, rivers, and valleys. There are scenic views of different parts of the country up the mountain, and some waters fall. It is a hike highly recommended to tourists.
9 Self-Drive To The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of the most popular destinations in Iceland. The place is up the mountains with great valleys, water springs, and great landscape views. What makes the Golden circle popular is the landscape and other natural features there.
The best way to do this is by self-driving. One can hire a car, primarily 4x4, and enjoy an adventure through the mountains, rivers, and rocks for a memorable experience. Camping is also a good option when visiting the Golden circle. With the route covering over 300kms, there is enough time to experience the beauty of Iceland.
8 Spend Time With Puffins
An experience with puffins will be unforgettable for kids and any adult. With more than 60% of puffins in the world moving to Iceland around August and April for their nesting season, it is a must-do activity. The best way to do this is on a boat tour around Vestmannaeyar, where more than 1.1 million puffins are there.
Additionally, a boat tour to see the puffins can give a traveler a chance to see more of Iceland's marine wildlife.
7 Visit Iceland’s Fishing Villages
Interaction with the local people in any new country counts as a memorable experience for a traveler. For Iceland, the best place to visit is the East Coast, to find charming traditional fishing villages. It is here, in villages such as Djupivogur, where the authentic lifestyle of Iceland is still maintained.
Tourists can enjoy great seafood and the culture of the people. There are also several natural wonders to experience in these villages.
6 Natural Hot Springs Of Reykjadalur
With Reykjadalur being one of the most famous natural hot springs in the country, it is highly recommended. For a traveler to reach these springs, they will have to hike to the area. The valley has rivers with natural hot springs to enjoy and help one relax.
As tourists hike to the area, they encounter several rivers and valleys that make the whole experience extraordinary. Camping around this area is easy since there are cabins along the way.
5 Climb The Largest Glacier In Europe
Hiking up the largest glacier in Europe is an attraction for any traveler in Iceland. Vatnajokull is already a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it accounts for 8% of the country's total area. The site has more than 30 glaciers to hike into and enjoy.
Once visitors reach the glaciers, they enjoy crawling into the caves and snowmobiling. Although it is not an easy activity, it is enough to stick to one's mind forever.
4 Gullfoss Waterfall Rafting
For tourists looking for an incredible thrill, Gullfoss Waterfall is the place to go. It is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. The waterfall drops 32 meters deep into a canyon with spectacular views. A traveler will enjoy amazing views of mists, rainbow colors on sunny days, and waterfall sounds.
Additionally, one can go the extra mile and do water rafting. Tourists with an urge for a serious adrenaline rush can do water rafting in the river, often receiving high currents.
3 Explore The Inside Of Þríhnúkagígur Volcano
Iceland is home to more than 130 volcanoes, with some active and others inactive. Getting an experience of volcanoes is a good choice. Þríhnúkagígur volcano particularly is popular since visitors can go inside and it has been dormant for more than 4000 years.
Inside the volcano, people can see its magma chamber and leave with memories. Visitors are lowered 120 meters deep into the volcano’s bottom.
2 Largest Man-Made Ice Cave
Langjokull Glacier is the largest man-made ice cave in the world. The adventure in this cave is like no other. The ride to the cave entrance is on a missile launcher truck. The tunnel stretches 500mm inside the ice cap giving adventurers unforgettable experiences. It is also a fantastic area for photography.
1 Snorkeling In The Silfra Fissure
Snorkeling is a great activity; however, snorkeling in the top diving site in the world is special. Silfra Fissure is among the top things to do globally, as rated by TripAdvisor in 2019. This will be an awesome experience for any traveler in Iceland.
Swimming in the Silfra is swimming between the two tectonic plates of the earth. The gorge in this site has clear waters, and the visibility can go down to 90m. It is a mind-blowing experience to enjoy seaweed forests and moonlight lava rocks.