Only a stone’s throw from the UK & Ireland and on many transatlantic flight paths, Iceland is nature’s playground right on our doorstep. Discover prehistoric volcanoes and step outside of your comfort zone with wildly adventurous activities that range from ice climbing to pony riding. If a relaxing break is more your thing then there are plenty of hot thermal pools to eliminate the winter chill.
Iceland has something to offer everyone and we’ve compiled a list of some of its top attractions that you can’t help but fall in love with.
The Blue Lagoon
A Geothermal outdoor spa and one of the 25 Wonders of the World, The Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976 when people began noticing dramatic improvements to their skin after bathing in the bright-blue waters and applying the silica-soaked mud. Since then the site has expanded and the geothermal seawater has been used to develop different skin treatments that harness the power of nature. The water is heated underground before emerging at a toasty 38 degrees.
Northern Lights
The Northern Lights over Iceland. Photo by Moyan Brenn
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are nature’s magical light show and Iceland is perfectly positioned to take in the full spectacle. The optimal conditions for viewing the Northern Lights are clear dark skies and cold nights – the chillier the temperature the brighter the show. Both of these qualities are found in Iceland from September to mid-April, making it the ideal spot to watch the Northern Lights.
The Golden Circle
The Waterfall Gullfos, part of the Golden Circle. Photo by Veronique
The Golden Circle is perhaps one of the most epic road trips in the entire world. A 300-km loop that takes you from Reykjavik to the centre of the island and back, the golden circle encompasses most of Iceland’s major tourist attractions, including: the spectacular Waterfall Gullfoss; the Strokkur geyser which erupts every 10 minutes shooting jets of water into the air; and Kerið, a Volcano crater.
Silfra diving
Incredible visibility in the waters of Silfra. Photo by Gunnar Birgisson Powers
Silfra is one of the world’s top diving spots and straddles the fissure between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates– literally located between two continents. The fissure boasts high quality visibility, which allows for the rift to be explored in acute detail. There are even places where you can touch two tectonic plates at once and have one hand on the Eurasian Plate and the other on the American – mindboggling.
Landmannalaugar Mountains
The majestic Landmannalaugar Mountains. Photo by Eric Montfort
Famous for kaleidoscopic rock compositions and a bevy of young and active volcanoes, the Landmannalaugar Mountains are not to be missed. Part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve the roads are open to tourists from around June to late September. Colourful rock formations, lime-green moss and natural lakes such as Ljotipollur make these mountains a feast for the eyes.
Volcanoes
Live volcanoes on Iceland. Photo by Peter Hartree
Known as the Land of Ice and Fire, Iceland has more than 130 active and inactive volcanoes, which offer prime trekking and climbing opportunities for tourists. The volcanoes’ slow cooling ash fields create stunning rock formations, caves and crevasses that are straight out of the pages of National Geographic. Interestingly, most of the volcanoes in Iceland have female names and some are located below geothermal lakes, causing large explosions when they erupt.
Glacier and ice cave trekking
Glacier in Iceland. Photo by Nick
A popular activity while in Iceland is to discover some of the many wandering glaciers, which create caves and gorges that can be explored and climbed. Eye-catching bright blue colours and glittering ice crystals help to make the experience magical. The glaciers can be hiked or climbed using ice axes and crampons, so it’s a great way to ignite your sense of adventure and feel like a daring explorer.
Icelandic Horses
Icelandic horses. Photo by Moyan Brenn
Iceland has a reputation for rearing beautiful horses with very unique characteristics. Rounding up horses and herding them back down the mountains in autumn is described as one of the best weekends of the year. While there’s only 300,000 people in Iceland, more than 80,000 horses roam this scenic island. In Iceland, trading horses with other countries is forbidden to preserve the horse’s unique traits and once a horse leaves the island they can never go back.
Reykjavik
The tower at Hallgrímskirkja. Photo by Bernt Rostad
A cultural centre and hub for music, nightlife, and great cuisine, Reykjavik is not just the gateway to Iceland’s nature parks but a city worth exploring in its own right. Reykjavik-Keflavík is also the easiest airport to reach from UK & Irish airports with many transatlantic flights making stops there. To get incredible views over the colourful rooftops of the city, climb to the top of Hallgrímskirkja, a national religious monument with a tower 73 metres high.
Dyrhólaey
The lava arch at Dyrhólaey. Photo by Dan
Dyrhólaey is a small coastal peninsula in the south of Iceland, known for its fabulous wealth of birdlife, most notably puffins which are a rare site anywhere else. In front of the peninsula there is a huge black arch of lava reaching out into the sea which the peninsula takes its name from. Widely considered to be one of the most iconic sites of Iceland, it is well worth the short detour from the main road and when the sea is calm the arch is wide enough for large boats to sail through it.
Convinced you’d like to visit Iceland? Check out all our Iceland hotel deals here.