Top 7 Things to Do in Iceland

Iceland’s national parks are an impressive display of natural grandeur and an essential part of the national heritage.

The delicate ecosystems set the foundation for the magnificent wilderness found in the parks, perfect for adventures and discovery that will set your imagination alight.

Diverse topography, black-sand beaches, fjords, lava fields, and craggy mountains inspire visions of protected lands, wildlife, and Icelandic culture.

Best Places to Visit for National Parks: Thingvellir National Park • Vatnajökull National Park • Snæfellsjökull National Park • Skaftafell National Park • Jökulsárgljúfur National Park

Hiking in Iceland is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the island’s natural beauty. Trails wind through colorful landscapes and reveal hidden waterfalls or meandering streams.

Instead of passively watching the scenery from a car, hiking immerses you in the essence of Iceland, allowing you to touch the smooth moss or feel the ice-cold water from a glacier.

Whether crunching the black pebbles of a basalt-crusted beach or witnessing the snowmelt on a distant mountain, hiking in Iceland makes you part of the landscape.

Best Places to Visit for Hiking: Mount Esja • Snæfellsnes Peninsula • Landmannalaugar • Fimmvörðuháls Trek • Hvannadalshnúkur

Iceland has an incredible cultural history, distinct folklore, and a deep connection to nature, with hot springs, volcanoes, museums, contemporary art galleries, and cultural villages forming the foundations thereof. Heritage feels nuanced yet fascinating as it immerses you in gorgeous scenery and timeless stories.

Best Places to Visit for Cultural Heritage: Thingvellir National Park • Surtsey Island • Reykjavík • Akureyri • Siglufjörður • Hveragerði

Iceland is a natural wonder, with the glaciers across the island like jewels in the crown of the pristine scenery.

With 269 named glaciers that overtake mountains and streams, the island’s icy surfaces are intrinsic to a landscape that reveals its cultural fabric.

Iceland’s glaciers can plunge you into hiking their surfaces or venturing into a glacial cave to explore the glow beneath the ice.

Best Places to Visit for Glaciers: Vatnajokull • Sólheimajökull • Langjökull • Eyjafjallajökull • Svínafellsjökull

Iceland is a perfect destination for mountain biking, with endless treasures easily discovered from the saddle of your bike.

An excellent network of country roads connects glistening fjords and lakes glinting with icebergs to majestic hot springs and coastal plains shimmering with black sand.

Biking in Iceland allows you to become part of the landscape in a safe way that respects the surrounding wilderness, from the highlands to picturesque villages.

Best Places to Visit for Mountain Biking: Reykjavík • Oskjuhlid • Borgarfjörður eystri • Landmannalaugar

The jaw-dropping scenery acts as a backdrop to the impressive number of bird species found across Iceland. From puffins circling steep cliffs to red-necked phalaropes circling a small pond, the landscape teems with birdlife, making it possible to see the likes of razorbills and arctic terns, even white-tailed eagles and snowy owls.

Iceland is a wonderland of wildlife, with chances to spot avifauna from Reykjavík to the Westfjords, Lake Mývatn to the highlands.

Best Places to Visit for Birdlife: Snæfellsnes Peninsula • Lake Mývatn • Thingvellir National Park • Western Fjords • Vatnajökull National Park • Flatey Island

Iceland's cuisine is shaped by tradition, lifestyle, and the surrounding landscape for a unique culinary experience.

Gastronomy across the island highlights the customs of hunting, gathering, and farming, while also revealing an evolution of techniques and aesthetics in artisanal creations that have breathed life into New Nordic Cuisine.

Dishes can range in familiarity with ingredients like lamb and cod, or bring to light atypical dishes using puffin or shark, with every recipe giving you a sense of Icelandic tradition and contemporary tastes.

Best Places to Visit for Food: Reykjavík • Akureyri • Ísafjörður • Stykkishólmur • Höfn

Iceland offers a unique blend of culture and nature to reveal fascinating heritage. You can bask in soothing geothermal pools on a romantic getaway or hike along textured lava fields as a family, with every activity introducing more of the island’s dramatic allure.

Our Iceland travel guide has helpful information and our Iceland tours and vacations can inspire your next trip.