What to do in Iceland?
📋 The essentials to remember: Iceland is best discovered on a road trip via Route 1 (1,332 km in a circle). My must-sees: Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss), south coast (Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Vík, Vatnajökull glacier, Jökulsárlón lagoon), East fjords, north (Mývatn, Akureyri, whales), Snæfellsnes peninsula. 10-14 days for the full tour. Budget: 100-150 €/day with a van.
I was scrolling through Facebook when I saw the birthday of an Icelandic friend I met during my working holiday visa in Australia, she is actually the only person from Iceland I know! I thought I would find out a bit about this country and then write an article with the help of this friend’s guidance! Here is an article that gives you the itinerary for more than a weekend in Iceland.
Iceland, this country located more than 1500 km from France to the North with a population of over 300,000 inhabitants, that is 3 inhabitants per square kilometer, two-thirds of whom live in Reykjavík, its capital!
One of the ideas we have about Iceland is the cold; the weather there is quite harsh but that is what makes its charm!
In winter, the country is covered with layers of snow but that is what makes its charm with only 6 hours of daylight daily, whereas in summer the days are long with 18 hours!
Here is the map of Iceland:
Things to do in Iceland / The best places in Iceland
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See the Northern Lights in Iceland.
It is a luminous phenomenon characterized by sort of extremely colorful veils in the night sky, green being predominant. You can especially observe them in the Myvatn region. When night falls, admire the fascinating lights that color the sky green. Across this white horizon, the ground releases vapors on the surface! You can sense it with the smell of sulfur.
Follow my article where I talk about Northern Lights in Iceland.
Here is the link to take a Northern Lights tour with an agency in Iceland.
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Climb a mountain at the foot of Reykjavík.
Close to the city and located a few kilometers to the North, you can spend the afternoon ascending Esja. This mountain range, which peaks at over 900 meters, is a very popular site in summer with hiking trails! As you climb, the temperature drops more and more and at the summit, there is a magnificent view of the city and surroundings, it’s worth it. The hike lasts one hour!
🌍 Did you know?
Iceland gets 99% of its electricity from renewable sources (85% geothermal + 14% hydroelectric). It is one of the few countries in the world that can heat itself almost for free thanks to geothermal energy: most outdoor swimming pools (among the country’s most beautiful attractions) are heated without energy costs.
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Diving into water at a tropical temperature of 40°C when it is -10°C outside
Despite often subzero outdoor temperatures, Iceland has ground rich in hot springs at 40°C. A true tourist asset for the country, the Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s best-known thermal spa, located 47 km south of Reykjavík. It offers all the advantages of a traditional spa over an area of 5000 m².
🗣️ My experience: Complete tour of Iceland in 10 days by campervan (€1,200 rental). Wild camping has been prohibited since 2015 but nights in designated areas cost €15-25 with showers + kitchen. Weather is very changeable (4 seasons in 1 day), bring warm clothes + raincoat even in July. My absolute favorite: the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon at sunrise, with translucent icebergs drifting silently.
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Swimming in a fissure at Silfra
Here is the link to go snorkeling at Silfra
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Go to the “Golden Circle” region.
The “Golden Circle,” located southeast of Reykjavík, includes three of the country’s most famous sites. One of the sites, Þingvellir National Park, is a rift valley or graben located at the divergence of the American and European tectonic plates. The other two sites, the geysers of the Haukadalur valley and the Gullfoss waterfalls, are must-see places where geysers and waterfalls are just a few kilometers apart!
🍀 Iceland
- Unique landscapes in the world
- Ultra-secure country
- Excellent road infrastructure
- Free natural hot springs
🔻 Limitations
- High cost (restaurants, hotels)
- Very changeable weather
- Secondary roads (F-roads) are gravel
- Crowds on the south coast in high season
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Iceland Cuisine Special:
There is a typical winter dish: hangikjöt made of smoked sheep or lamb with peas accompanied by potatoes in béchamel sauce! To accompany this, take some rúgbrauð, a very dark, dense, and sweet bread!
| Step | Specialty | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík + Blue Lagoon | Capital + thermal spa | 1-2 |
| Golden Circle | Geysir, Gullfoss, Þingvellir | 1 |
| South Coast (Seljalandsfoss → Jökulsárlón) | Waterfalls + glaciers | 3-4 |
| East Fjords | Fishing villages, landscapes | 1-2 |
| North (Mývatn + Akureyri) | Geothermal activity, whales | 2 |
| Snæfellsnes | “Miniature Iceland” | 1-2 |
| Westfjords (optional) | Wild, little touristy | 2-3 |
More information on these guides:
⚠️ Classic trap
Booking a small car to drive the Route 1 in June-September. The F-roads (interior tracks, Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk) are forbidden to 2-wheel drive vehicles and require a mandatory 4×4. If only Route 1 suits you, a sedan is enough. For the tracks: 4×4 essential, +50% price but access to the most iconic landscapes.
. More information on Scandinavia follow the link.
To extend to other northern destinations, the Scandinavian countries offer a comparison. The Northern Lights in Iceland specifically details the observation. And for the overall logistical aspect, preparing your trip helps structure the preparation.
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