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 beginโ€”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

Reykjavรญk 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

Keflavรญk

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 Hallgrรญmskirkja Church in Reykjavik Iceland. Large tall church that looks like basalt columns.

Hallgrรญmskirkja Church, Iceland

Reykjavรญk Capital Area

Hot Springs and Pools

Sky Lagoon

Laugardalslaug

Sundhรถll Reykjavรญkur

รrbรฆjarlaug

Grafarvogslaug

Vesturbรฆjarlaug

Breiรฐholtslaug

Salalaug

รsvallalaug

Museums

National Museum of Iceland

Perlan Museum

Reykjavik Art Museum

The Icelandic Punk Museum

The Icelandic Phallological Museum

Other Points of Interest

Hallgrรญmskirkja Church

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center

Reykjavik Old Harbor

Sun Voyager

Laugavegur Street

Elliรฐaรกrdalur Valley

รžรบfa

Restaurants and Cafes

Te & Kaffi

Bรฆjarins Beztu Pylsur

Brauรฐ & Co

KRร–ST

FUEGO Taqueria

Skรกl!

Flatey Pizza

Cafรฉ Loki

Reykjavik Pizzeria

Valdรญs

Sandholt

Mokka Kaffi

The Laundromat Cafe

Duck & Rose

Reykjavรญk Rรถst

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

Vรญk รญ Mรฝrdal

Selfoss

Hella

Hveragerรฐi

Hot Springs

Secret Lagoon

Seljavallalaug Pool

Reykjadalur Valley Hot Springs

Hrunalaug Hot Springs

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Volcanos

Eyjafjallajรถkull

Hekla

Katla

Eyjafjallajรถkull

Grรญmsvรถtn

ร–rรฆfajรถkull

Eldfell

Geothermal Areas

Geysir Geothermal Area

Waterfalls

Gullfoss

Seljalandsfoss

Skogafoss

Gljรบfrabรบi

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

Seyรฐisfjรถrรฐur

Djรบpivogur

Egilsstaรฐir

Bakkagerรฐi

Reyรฐarfjรถrรฐur

Fรกskrรบรฐsfjรถrรฐur

Hรถfn

Waterfalls

Hengifoss

Fardagafoss

Klifbrekku Waterfall

Gufufoss

Klifbrekkufossar

Folaldafoss

Skรบtafoss

Hot Springs and Pools

Vรถk Baths

Djรบpavogskรถrin

Hoffell Hot Tubs

Other Points of Interest

Lagarfljรณt Lake

Vatnajรถkull National Park

Stรณrurรฐ

Eastfjords

Hallormsstaรฐur Forest

Papey Island

Icelandic Wartime Museum

Seyรฐisfjarรฐarkirkja

Borgarfjarรฐarhรถfn

Njarรฐvรญkurskriรฐur

Glettingsnesviti Lighthouse

How are things...? Sculpture by Guรฐjรณn Ketilsson

Fosshotel Eastfjords (Pier overlooking the fjord)

Halsaskogur

Fauskasandur

Lรฆkjavik

Hvalnes Lighthouse

Naustin รญ Papafirรฐi

Vestrahorn

Stokksnes

Sudhurfjorur

Stuรฐlagil Canyon

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

Dettifoss, Iceland

North Iceland

Cities & Towns

Akureyri

Hรบsavรญk

Siglufjรถrรฐur

Dalvรญk

ร“lafsfjรถrรฐur

Mรฝvatn

Sauรฐรกrkrรณkur

Hot Springs and Pools

Mรฝvatn Nature Baths

Hofsรณs Swimming Pool

Grjรณtagjรก (not swimmable)

Hรบsavรญk Geothermal Sea Baths

GeoSea Sea Baths

Krauma

Reykjafjarรฐarlaug

Hjalteyri Hot Tub

Bjรณrbรถรฐin

Reykir - Grettislaug

Waterfalls

Dettifoss

Goรฐafoss

Aldeyjarfoss

Selfoss

Hrafnabjargafoss

Kolugljรบfur

Geitafoss

Fosslaug

Musems

Husavik Museum

Hรบsavรญk Wooden Church

Laufรกs Museum and Heritage Site

Akureyri Botanical Garden

Akureyrarkirkja

Akureyri Art Museum

Grafarkirkja

Glaumbรฆr Farm & Museum

Other Points of Interest

Grjรณtagjรก

Lake Mรฝvatn

รsbyrgi Canyon

The Arctic Henge

Hljรณรฐaklettar

Viti Crater

Krafla Volcano

Myvatn Geothermal Area

Stรณragjรก

Skรบtustaรฐagรญgar

Hรบsavรญk Harbor

Snow Dogs

Selvรญkurnef Lighthouse

Trollaskagi Lighthouse

Hegranesviti Lighthouse

Hvitserkur

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

Dynjandi, Iceland

Westfjords

Cities & Towns

Hรณlmavรญk

รsafjรถrรฐur

Patreksfjordur

Reykholar

Flateyri

Drangsnes

Waterfalls

Dynjandi

Fossfjรถrรฐur Waterfall

Valagil

Djรบpavรญkurfoss

Hรบsรกrfoss

Rjรบkandafoss

Bรฆjarรก Waterfall

Gljรบfurรกrfoss Waterfall

Museums

Icelandic Sea Monster Museum

The Arctic Fox Centre

Everyday Museum

Westfjord History Museum

Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft

ร“svรถr Maritime Museum

Breiรฐavรญkurkirkja

Other Points of Interest

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Garรฐar BA 64

Rauรฐisandur Beach

Breiรฐavรญk Beach

Lรกtrabjarg Cliffs

Rauรฐasandur Beach

Krossneslaug

รsafjarรฐardjรบp

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

Stykkishรณlmur

Akranes

Borgarnes

Budardalur

Grundarfjordur

Hellissandur

Olafsvik

Stykkisholmur

Arnarstapi

Hellnar

Bรบรฐir

Waterfalls

Hraunfossar

Grundarfoss

Bjarnarfoss

Rjรณmafoss

Beaches

Rif Beach

Skarรฐsvรญk Beach

Ytri Tunga Beach

Djรบpalรณnssandur Beach

Other Points of Interest

Old Akranes Lighthouse

Eldborg Crater

Gerรฐuberg Cliffs

Bjarnarhรถfn Shark Museum

Berserkjahraun

Kirkjufell Mountain

Kirkjufellsfossar

Kirkjufell รบtsรฝnisstaรฐur

Snรฆfellsjรถkull National Park

Murals of Hellissandur

ร–ndverรฐarnesviti

Svรถrtuloft Lighthouse

Saxhรณll Crater

Snรฆfellsjรถkull

Rauรฐfeldsgjรก Gorge

Vatnshellir Cave

Lรณndrangar

Sรถnghellir Cave

Gatklettur

Bรบรฐaklettur

Langjรถkull

Hรกafell Goat Farm

Esjan Mountain Range

Breiรฐafjรถrรฐur 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

รžรณrsmรถrk

Kerlingarfjรถll

Maelifell

Glaciers

ร–rรฆfajรถkull

Langjรถkull

Mรฝrdalsjรถkull

Tindfjallajรถkull

Volcanos

Askja

Eldgjรก

Hekla

Grรญmsvรถtn

Oases

Eyjabakkar

Herรฐubreiรฐarlindir

Nรฝidalur/Jรถkuldalur

รžjรณrsรกrver

Laugavallalaug/Laugavellir Hot Spring and Oasis

Waterfalls

Aldeyjarfoss

Haifoss

Craters and Canyons

Lakagรญgar Craters

Jรถkulsรกrgljรบfur Canyon

Kjรถlur Mountain Pass

Sigรถldugljรบfur Canyon

Rauรฐibotn Crater

Hafrahvammagljรบfur Canyon

Other Points of Interest

Ljรณtipollur 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 youโ€™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, Iโ€™m Karen!
 

Travel Blogger & Photographer + Founder of Karen From Earth

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 canโ€™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 havenโ€™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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