Ultimate Iceland Bucket List

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view from high up of a winding road lines with green moss and snow capped mountains in the distance and a large water source on the left
 

Iceland is a breathtaking destination with something to offer everyone. From awe-inspiring natural landscapes to rich culture and delectable cuisine, Iceland is brimming with incredible experiences. When I first dreamed of visiting Iceland, the sheer number of must-see sites and must-do activities was overwhelming. I wasn't sure where to beginβ€”what was truly worth seeing, and how could I possibly fit it all in? To simplify the planning, I created a comprehensive list of all the attractions and their locations just to see what was available to see, making the preparation process much more manageable. If you're planning a trip to Iceland, be sure to include these unforgettable spots on your itinerary.

Summary

Reykjanes Peninsula

ReykjavΓ­k Capital Area

South Iceland

East Iceland

North Iceland

Westfjords

West Iceland

Highlands

image of the blue lagoon hot spring in iceland

Reykjanes Peninsula

Cities & Towns

Grindavik

KeflavΓ­k

View Point

Reykjanesta and Eldey

Hafnarberg Sea Cliffs

Lake Kleifarvatn

Geothermal Areas

Krysuvik Geothermal Area

Gunnuhver Geothermal Area

Museums, Churches, & Sites

Stekkjarkot Heritage Site

The Giantess Cave

Selatangar Ruins

Viking World Museum

Strandarkirkja

The Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll

Lighthouses

Hopsnesviti Lighthouse

Reykjanesviti Lighthouse

Gardskagaviti Lighthouse

Stafnesviti Lighthouse

Hot Springs

The Blue Lagoon

Other Points of Interest

The Bridge Between Continents

Brimketill Lava Rock Pool

Raufarholshellir Lava Tunnel

Eruption Sites

Fagradalsfjall

Sundhnukagigar

Litli Hrutur

Restaurants and Cafes

Bryggjan Restaurant

image of HallgrΓ­mskirkja Church in Reykjavik Iceland. Large tall church that looks like basalt columns.

HallgrΓ­mskirkja Church, Iceland

ReykjavΓ­k Capital Area

Hot Springs and Pools

Sky Lagoon

Laugardalslaug

SundhΓΆll ReykjavΓ­kur

Árbæjarlaug

Grafarvogslaug

Vesturbæjarlaug

BreiΓ°holtslaug

Salalaug

Ásvallalaug

Museums

National Museum of Iceland

Perlan Museum

Reykjavik Art Museum

The Icelandic Punk Museum

The Icelandic Phallological Museum

Other Points of Interest

HallgrΓ­mskirkja Church

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center

Reykjavik Old Harbor

Sun Voyager

Laugavegur Street

ElliΓ°aΓ‘rdalur Valley

Þúfa

Restaurants and Cafes

Te & Kaffi

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

BrauΓ° & Co

KRΓ–ST

FUEGO Taqueria

SkΓ‘l!

Flatey Pizza

CafΓ© Loki

Reykjavik Pizzeria

ValdΓ­s

Sandholt

Mokka Kaffi

The Laundromat Cafe

Duck & Rose

ReykjavΓ­k RΓΆst

Seabaron

Fish and Chips Vagninn

image of Seljalandsfoss waterfall in iceland that you can walk behind. View is from behind the waterfall with the sun peaking through.

Seljalandsfoss, Iceland

South Iceland

Cities & Towns

VΓ­k Γ­ MΓ½rdal

Selfoss

Hella

HveragerΓ°i

Hot Springs

Secret Lagoon

Seljavallalaug Pool

Reykjadalur Valley Hot Springs

Hrunalaug Hot Springs

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Volcanos

EyjafjallajΓΆkull

Hekla

Katla

EyjafjallajΓΆkull

GrΓ­msvΓΆtn

Öræfajâkull

Eldfell

Geothermal Areas

Geysir Geothermal Area

Waterfalls

Gullfoss

Seljalandsfoss

Skogafoss

GljΓΊfrabΓΊi

Kvernufoss

Systrafoss

Svartifoss

Other Points of Interest

Thingvellir National Park

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Vatnajokull National Park

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Diamond Beach

Hekla Volcano

Dyrholaey

Fjadrargljufur Canyon

Kerid Crater

image of a road in iceland surrounded by snow covered mountains.

East Iceland

Cities & Towns

SeyΓ°isfjΓΆrΓ°ur

DjΓΊpivogur

EgilsstaΓ°ir

BakkagerΓ°i

ReyΓ°arfjΓΆrΓ°ur

FΓ‘skrΓΊΓ°sfjΓΆrΓ°ur

HΓΆfn

Waterfalls

Hengifoss

Fardagafoss

Klifbrekku Waterfall

Gufufoss

Klifbrekkufossar

Folaldafoss

SkΓΊtafoss

Hot Springs and Pools

VΓΆk Baths

DjΓΊpavogskΓΆrin

Hoffell Hot Tubs

Other Points of Interest

LagarfljΓ³t Lake

VatnajΓΆkull National Park

StΓ³rurΓ°

Eastfjords

HallormsstaΓ°ur Forest

Papey Island

Icelandic Wartime Museum

SeyΓ°isfjarΓ°arkirkja

BorgarfjarΓ°arhΓΆfn

NjarΓ°vΓ­kurskriΓ°ur

Glettingsnesviti Lighthouse

How are things...? Sculpture by GuΓ°jΓ³n Ketilsson

Fosshotel Eastfjords (Pier overlooking the fjord)

Halsaskogur

Fauskasandur

Lækjavik

Hvalnes Lighthouse

Naustin Γ­ PapafirΓ°i

Vestrahorn

Stokksnes

Sudhurfjorur

StuΓ°lagil Canyon

Image of Dettifoss in iceland. A large powerful waterfall surrounded by basalt columns.

Dettifoss, Iceland

North Iceland

Cities & Towns

Akureyri

HΓΊsavΓ­k

SiglufjΓΆrΓ°ur

DalvΓ­k

Γ“lafsfjΓΆrΓ°ur

MΓ½vatn

SauðÑrkrókur

Hot Springs and Pools

MΓ½vatn Nature Baths

HofsΓ³s Swimming Pool

GrjΓ³tagjΓ‘ (not swimmable)

HΓΊsavΓ­k Geothermal Sea Baths

GeoSea Sea Baths

Krauma

ReykjafjarΓ°arlaug

Hjalteyri Hot Tub

BjΓ³rbΓΆΓ°in

Reykir - Grettislaug

Waterfalls

Dettifoss

GoΓ°afoss

Aldeyjarfoss

Selfoss

Hrafnabjargafoss

KolugljΓΊfur

Geitafoss

Fosslaug

Musems

Husavik Museum

HΓΊsavΓ­k Wooden Church

LaufΓ‘s Museum and Heritage Site

Akureyri Botanical Garden

Akureyrarkirkja

Akureyri Art Museum

Grafarkirkja

Glaumbær Farm & Museum

Other Points of Interest

GrjΓ³tagjΓ‘

Lake MΓ½vatn

Ásbyrgi Canyon

The Arctic Henge

HljΓ³Γ°aklettar

Viti Crater

Krafla Volcano

Myvatn Geothermal Area

StΓ³ragjΓ‘

SkΓΊtustaΓ°agΓ­gar

HΓΊsavΓ­k Harbor

Snow Dogs

SelvΓ­kurnef Lighthouse

Trollaskagi Lighthouse

Hegranesviti Lighthouse

Hvitserkur

Dynjandi in iceland. Large tiered waterfall falling from a large cliff face.

Dynjandi, Iceland

Westfjords

Cities & Towns

HΓ³lmavΓ­k

Ísafjârður

Patreksfjordur

Reykholar

Flateyri

Drangsnes

Waterfalls

Dynjandi

FossfjΓΆrΓ°ur Waterfall

Valagil

DjΓΊpavΓ­kurfoss

HΓΊsΓ‘rfoss

RjΓΊkandafoss

BæjarÑ Waterfall

GljΓΊfurΓ‘rfoss Waterfall

Museums

Icelandic Sea Monster Museum

The Arctic Fox Centre

Everyday Museum

Westfjord History Museum

Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft

Γ“svΓΆr Maritime Museum

BreiΓ°avΓ­kurkirkja

Other Points of Interest

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

GarΓ°ar BA 64

RauΓ°isandur Beach

BreiΓ°avΓ­k Beach

LΓ‘trabjarg Cliffs

RauΓ°asandur Beach

Krossneslaug

Ísafjarðardjúp

Flatey Island

Drangsnes Hot Tubs

view of Kirkjufell mountain in iceland with a large waterfall in the foreground and a pink and blue sunset.

Kirkjufell, Iceland

West Iceland

Cities & Towns

StykkishΓ³lmur

Akranes

Borgarnes

Budardalur

Grundarfjordur

Hellissandur

Olafsvik

Stykkisholmur

Arnarstapi

Hellnar

BΓΊΓ°ir

Waterfalls

Hraunfossar

Grundarfoss

Bjarnarfoss

RjΓ³mafoss

Beaches

Rif Beach

SkarΓ°svΓ­k Beach

Ytri Tunga Beach

DjΓΊpalΓ³nssandur Beach

Other Points of Interest

Old Akranes Lighthouse

Eldborg Crater

GerΓ°uberg Cliffs

BjarnarhΓΆfn Shark Museum

Berserkjahraun

Kirkjufell Mountain

Kirkjufellsfossar

Kirkjufell ΓΊtsΓ½nisstaΓ°ur

Snæfellsjâkull National Park

Murals of Hellissandur

Γ–ndverΓ°arnesviti

SvΓΆrtuloft Lighthouse

SaxhΓ³ll Crater

Snæfellsjâkull

RauΓ°feldsgjΓ‘ Gorge

Vatnshellir Cave

LΓ³ndrangar

SΓΆnghellir Cave

Gatklettur

BΓΊΓ°aklettur

LangjΓΆkull

HΓ‘afell Goat Farm

Esjan Mountain Range

BreiΓ°afjΓΆrΓ°ur Bay

Eldborg Crater

view of someone standing on a cliff overlooking Landmannalaugar in iceland. A large valley with rivers running through and mountains.

Landmannalaugar, Iceland

Highlands

Mountain Ranges

Landmannalaugar

Þórsmârk

KerlingarfjΓΆll

Maelifell

Glaciers

Öræfajâkull

LangjΓΆkull

MΓ½rdalsjΓΆkull

TindfjallajΓΆkull

Volcanos

Askja

EldgjΓ‘

Hekla

GrΓ­msvΓΆtn

Oases

Eyjabakkar

HerΓ°ubreiΓ°arlindir

NΓ½idalur/JΓΆkuldalur

ÞjórsÑrver

Laugavallalaug/Laugavellir Hot Spring and Oasis

Waterfalls

Aldeyjarfoss

Haifoss

Craters and Canyons

LakagΓ­gar Craters

JΓΆkulsΓ‘rgljΓΊfur Canyon

KjΓΆlur Mountain Pass

SigΓΆldugljΓΊfur Canyon

RauΓ°ibotn Crater

HafrahvammagljΓΊfur Canyon

Other Points of Interest

LjΓ³tipollur Lake

Holuhraun Lava Field

Hveravellir Geothermal Field


Iceland is an captivating destination that promises an unforgettable experience, but make sure to plan accordingly with the amount of time you have in the country. It's easy to underestimate how much time it takes to travel from one stunning location to another, and you’ll also want to leave space in your itinerary for relaxation and absorbing the natural beauty around you. Keep this in mind, and your visit to Iceland will be nothing short of magical.

Happy travels!

Hi, I’m Karen!
 

Travel Blogger & Photographer + Founder of The Everyday Adventure

Here I share travel tips, packing guides, planning help, and photography from many different parts of the world. I help other working 9-5 adventurers get out into the world and see as much as they can with the little time they have available.

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Karen Rosenfeld

My two favorite things are traveling and photography. Of course, I found a way to combine them!

I am a photographer, filmmaker, traveler, writer, graphic and web designer, and so much more. As you can probably guess, I keep myself pretty busy. I can’t help but think of new ideas and dive headfirst into them.

I have been a photographer for 15+ years and specialize in documentary-style photography. Throughout those years my interests expanded to filmmaking, graphic design, and web design. Naturally, when I started traveling, my camera came along with me. I fell in love with seeing parts of the world I haven’t seen before and experiencing things different from my normal. So far, I have traveled to 15 countries and 20 US states, and I am always looking for new places to explore. Photography has always made that exploration even more fun and helped me end up in places that I would have least expected. There is something about a camera being in your hand that pushes you to explore that hidden spot, walk that extra mile, and improve your patience when waiting for something amazing.

https://www.karenrosenfeld.com
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