Hallmundarhraun
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Vast lava field with rugged scenery and great Northern Lights photography opportunities
Rútshellir
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Fascinating old cave which was expanded and used for storing hay and as a smithy
Ice Caves ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Although every ice cave is different, and they constantly change, they’re always fabulous.
Fjallsárlón
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Lesser-known (but still very nice) glacier lagoon next to the famous Jökulsárlón
Svartifoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Beautiful and unique waterfall framed by black columnar basalt cliffs
Skaftafellsjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Easily accessed glacier in Skaftafell, requiring a short,easy hike to reach the base
Merkurker
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Travel upriver through a narrow, enclosed fissure and explore fun caves and rock formations in this lesser known gem.
Gígjökull
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Outlet glacier of Eyjafjallajökull whose surrounding landscape was radically transformed in the 2010 eruption.
Hrunalaug
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Adorable little hot spring that’s suffering from overuse and irresponsible tourists
Friðheimar
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Fabulous lunch option: dine in a greenhouse surrounded by tomato vines
Faxi
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Nice, rarely visited waterfall that can be viewed from multiple angles and includes a neat fish ladder.
Blue Lagoon
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Scenic geothermally heated pool that’s become an iconic but pricy tourist attraction
Reykjanes Nature Preserve
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large, infrequently visited nature preserve offering numerous opportunities for hikes and sightseeing
Reykjanes Lighthouse
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Picturesque lighthouse in a beautiful area
Valahnúkamöl
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Rugged coastal area with cliffs and scenic rock pillars
Deildartunguhver
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Reykholt
Prolific hot spring with the highest flow in Europe
Snorralaug
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Reykholt
Visit one of Iceland’s oldest hot springs, the pool used by Snorri Sturluson in the Middle Ages
Reynisfjara
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Black beach with an amazing geometric basalt cliff and an imposing pair of off shore islands with sheer cliffs
Sólheimasandur Plane Crash
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Wreckage of a US Navy plane that crashed here in 1973
Seljavallalaug
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Outdoor pool originally constructed in 1923 filled with geothermally heated water
Mossy Lava Rocks
Location: Iceland, Southern, east of Thórsmörk
Fields of lava rocks overtaken by moss creating a delightful, green, fuzzy, mounded carpet
Skógafoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Heavily visited large and impressive waterfall with easy access
Kvernufoss ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Beautiful unmarked and less-visited waterfall – you can even walk behind it for bonus photo opportunities!
Fjaðrárgljúfur ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Stunning sheer-walled non-technical canyon lined with moss and clear water, perfect for hiking up-canyon in the watercourse
Gljúfrabúi
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Less visited waterfall tucked away in the back of a short, narrow canyon
Seljalandsfoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, south of Thórsmörk
Heavily trafficked tall waterfall that you can walk behind; one of the most photographed sites in Iceland
Hjálparfoss
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Popular double waterfall with very easy access
Thórsmörk
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Nice nature reserve composed of a valley and mountain range set amidst glaciers and volcanoes
Dyrhólaey
Location: Iceland, Southern, Skógar/Vík area
Peninsula with a large natural arch, historic lighthouse, and beautiful coastal views
Stöng
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Excavated remains of a 12th century longhouse
Gjáin ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thjórsárdalur
Delightful hidden valley with nice rock formations and waterfalls
Black Sand Diamond Beach ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Pristine black sand beach littered with ice chunks, creating a stunning and unusual visual effect
Vatnajökull
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell
Nice glacier offering hiking and ice climbing options
Jökulsárlón ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Vatnajökull area
Iconic Iceland location: beautiful glacial lagoon dotted with an ever-changing array of icebergs breaking off from nearby glaciers
Fimmvörðuháls ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern Iceland, Thórsmörk
Fantastic hike through stunning glacier and volcanic sculpted hills and mountains
Stakkholtsgjá ♦
Location: Iceland, Southern, Thórsmörk
Nice non-technical canyon that gets an intrepid top pick rating because of the great side canyon leading to an impressive hidden waterfall in a sculpted, high-walled chamber
Grænavatn
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Lake formed by a volcanic crater with remarkable blue-green water
Thingvellir
Location: Iceland, Southwest Iceland, Golden Circle
Interesting National Park with a storied history and set between tectonic plates creating a picturesque landscape above ground and the famous Silfra Fissure, which can be explored via either snorkeling or diving
Glymur ♦
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Northern Capital Region
Beautiful hike to an impressively tall waterfall tucked in an imposing sheer-walled canyon
Reykjavík
Location: Iceland, Southwest
Capital city with nice historic streets, a photogenic church, and various shops and restaurants
Eldhestar
Location: Iceland, Southwest, near Hveragerdi
Horseback riding on adorable Icelandic horses through beautiful scenery
Gunnuhver
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large boiling mud pool that expanded violently in 2008 claiming many of the viewing platforms and walkways
Krýsuvíkurberg
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Impressive vertical sea cliffs that are home to thousands of birds (including puffins) in the summer
Seltun
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Geothermal area with a boardwalk for viewing various mud pots and fumaroles
Geysir
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Home of the largely inactive geyser “Geysir” and the highly predictable and very active geyser “Strokkur”
Kleifarvatn
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Reykjanes Peninsula
Large lake with lava rock formations and shallow caves along its edge
Gullfoss
Location: Iceland, Southwest, Golden Circle
Large multi-tiered thundering waterfall
Lóndrangar
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Large lava pinnacles at the edge of dramatic basalt cliffs; you can find puffins here during the warmer months
Landbrotalaug
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Unmarked hot spring off a random dirt road through a lava field
Búðir
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Site of a nice hotel and a photogenic church
Hellnar
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Ancient fishing village on a rugged coastline with a notable cave and nice church
Kirkjufell
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Dramatic peak near a set of beautiful waterfalls; one of the most photographed sites in Iceland
Stykkishólmur
Location: Iceland, West, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Picturesque fishing and trading post originally established in 1550 CE
Barnafoss
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Series of rapids through a narrow-walled canyon with a natural bridge
Hraunfossar ♦
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Lovely and unique set of waterfalls that appear to be magically pouring from the hillside
Stefánshellir ♦
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Hallmundarhraun lava field
Unmarked non-technical lava tube cave with multiple entrances and side passages including a great ice chamber
Surtshellir
Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Hallmundarhraun lava field
Unmarked lava tube cave which was once home to a band of outlaws
Víðgelmir
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district, Hallmundarhraun lava field
Iceland’s largest cave; the front portion has been converted for easy viewing and access by tour groups, but you can reserve an extended tour to the wild portions of the cave
Húsafell Geothermal Pools
Location: Iceland, West, Borgarfjörður district
Great collection of geothermal swimming pools