The best things to see in Iceland
The top 3 according to 1,829 votes from people: Golden Circle · Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon · Seljalandsfoss. (Updated May 25, 2023.)
Waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches and hot springs: Iceland's must-sees according to Guide to Iceland, EarthTrekkers and TripAdvisor.
Top 15
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1
Golden Circle
Classic route linking Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.
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2
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Icebergs from Breiðamerkurjökull floating to the sea, next to Diamond Beach.
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3
Seljalandsfoss
60 m waterfall you can walk behind, on the South Coast.
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4
Skógafoss
60 m-high, 25 m-wide waterfall with stairs to a viewing platform at the top.
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5
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Basalt columns and sea stacks near Vík; beware of dangerous sneaker waves.
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6
Blue Lagoon
Milky-blue geothermal spa in a lava field near Keflavík airport.
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7
Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavík's 74.5 m church inspired by basalt columns, with a tower lift.
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8
Lake Mývatn
North Iceland lake with pseudocraters, the Dimmuborgir lava formations and Mývatn Nature Baths.
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9
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
'Iceland in miniature', with Kirkjufell mountain and the Snæfellsjökull glacier.
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10
Northern Lights
Visible from roughly September to April on clear, dark nights away from city lights.
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11
Þingvellir National Park
Site of the Alþingi parliament founded in 930, in the rift between two tectonic plates.
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12
Whale watching from Húsavík
Iceland's whale-watching capital on Skjálfandi Bay.
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13
Sky Lagoon
Oceanside geothermal lagoon near Reykjavík opened in 2021, with a seven-step ritual.
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14
Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull
Guided crampon walks on a glacier tongue of Mýrdalsjökull.
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15
Dettifoss
Europe's most powerful waterfall by volume, in Vatnajökull National Park.
Candidates
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16
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Moss-covered serpentine canyon near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (11)
Sky Lagoon is still better than the Blue Lagoon, just saying.
Northern lights season has started! Saw them from Þingvellir last week.
Jökulsárlón with the icebergs and Diamond Beach next to it, the highlight of our trip.
Rent a car and do the Ring Road if you have 10 days.
Reynisfjara is beautiful but please respect the sneaker waves warnings, they're deadly.
Expensive country but every krona is worth it
Blue Lagoon is touristy and expensive. Try Sky Lagoon or the Mývatn Nature Baths instead.
A hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavík, the cheapest meal in Iceland 🌭
Snæfellsnes is like Iceland in miniature, so underrated.
We saw the northern lights in late September, totally worth staying up.
Seljalandsfoss, you can walk behind the waterfall! Bring a raincoat 💦