North Iceland
Dettifoss: The Beast of Europe
Europe's most powerful waterfall and the thunderous heart of the Diamond Circle route. Famous as the opening location for the movie 'Prometheus'.
Discover · 95 curated places
Discover Iceland: Fire, Ice & Legends
From Hollywood filming locations to troll folklore and active volcanoes — explore 95 hidden gems and build your Iceland road trip.
95 places found
Water & Power19 places
Goðafoss: Waterfall of the Gods
The 'Waterfall of the Gods', located right off the Ring Road. A historic gem of the Diamond Circle with stunning turquoise glacial water.
North Iceland
Gullfoss: The Golden Falls
The iconic centerpiece of the Golden Circle. A massive two-tiered waterfall fed by Langjökull glacier, famous for the rainbows formed in its spray.
South Iceland
Dynjandi: The Jewel of the Westfjords
The 'Jewel of the Westfjords'. A magnificent series of waterfalls resembling a bridal veil, fanning out over 100 meters wide at the bottom.
Westfjords
Seljalandsfoss: The Waterfall You Walk Behind
The famous waterfall on Iceland's South Coast that you can walk fully behind. Prepare to get soaked for a unique perspective.
South Iceland
East Iceland
Hengifoss: The Red-Striped Giant
The giant of East Iceland (128m), known for its striking red clay strata sandwiched between black basalt. The hike includes a bonus stop at Litlanesfoss.
Háifoss: The High Waterfall
One of Iceland's highest waterfalls (122m), plunging into a massive canyon alongside its neighbor, Granni. A stunning gem in the Thjórsárdalur Valley.
Highlands
Glymur: The Log Crossing Waterfall
Iceland's second-highest waterfall (198m). An adventurous hiking trail involving a cave and a famous log river crossing (summer only).
West Iceland
Kvernufoss: The Secret Neighbor
The ultimate 'Hidden Gem' on the South Coast, just steps away from Skógafoss. A 30m waterfall in a mossy, Jurassic-like gorge that you can walk behind.
South Iceland
Brúarfoss: The Bluest Waterfall
Known as 'Iceland's Bluest Waterfall'. A stunning hidden gem on the Golden Circle with electric-blue water swirling into a black volcanic rift.
South Iceland
Stuðlagil: The Basalt Cathedral
The 'Basalt Column Cathedral' of East Iceland. Famous for its giant hexagonal rock pillars and turquoise glacial water (season dependent).
East Iceland
South Iceland
Fjaðrárgljúfur: The Justin Bieber Canyon
The spectacular 'Feather River Canyon' near Kirkjubæjarklaustur. A serpentine, moss-covered gorge made world-famous by Justin Bieber.
Svartifoss: The Black Fall
The 'Black Fall' in Skaftafell. Framed by geometric black basalt columns that inspired the architecture of Reykjavík's Hallgrímskirkja church.
South Iceland
Hraunfossar: The Lava Waterfalls
A series of rivulets streaming over 900 meters from a lava field. A key stop on the Silver Circle, best seen in autumn colors.
West Iceland
Gljúfrabúi: Hidden Dweller
The 'Canyon Dweller'. A magical waterfall hidden inside a narrow cave, just a 5-minute walk from Seljalandsfoss.
South Iceland
Sigöldugljúfur (Valley of Tears)
Hidden deep within the Icelandic Highlands, this surreal, off-the-beaten-path canyon features countless pristine blue waterfalls weeping directly from the volcanic walls into a vibrant turquoise river.
Highlands
Silfra Fissure Snorkeling
The only place on Earth where you can snorkel or scuba dive directly between two tectonic plates, floating in glacial water that boasts over 100 meters of pure, crystalline visibility.
South Iceland
Rjúkandi: The Roadside Falls of Jökuldalur
A waterfall that gracefully descends a series of cliffs from the mountains of Jökuldalur almost down to the Ring Road, with a car park right off Route 1 and only a short walk to the falls.
East Iceland
Klifbrekkufossar: Tiered Falls of Mjóifjörður
A magnificent tier of waterfalls, 91 meters high, on the mountain road down into Mjóifjörður — one of the most remote fjords in East Iceland.
East Iceland
Fire & Magma17 places
North Iceland
Hverir: Mars on Earth
A high-temperature geothermal area near Lake Mývatn, also known as Námaskarð. Famous for its boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and Mars-like orange landscape.
Fagradalsfjall: The New Volcano
The site of the new volcanic era on the Reykjanes Peninsula, located near Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. Explore fresh lava fields and witness the Earth's newest crust.
Reykjanes
Kerlingarfjöll: The Witch Mountains
A surreal, rusty-orange rhyolite mountain range in the central Highlands. Home to the steaming Hveradalir geothermal valley.
Highlands
Landmannalaugar: The People's Pools
The famous 'Rainbow Mountains' of Iceland located in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. Hike through colorful rhyolite peaks and bathe in a natural geothermal river.
Highlands
Lake Mývatn: The Geothermal Wonderland
A volcanic lake on the Diamond Circle route, known for its unique 'rootless cone' pseudocraters, rich birdlife, and geothermal surroundings.
North Iceland
Reykjanes
Gunnuhver: The Ghost Hot Spring
A highly active geothermal area near Keflavík Airport and Reykjanesviti. Famous for its ghost legend and aggressive steam vents.
Krýsuvík (Seltún): The Painted Earth
Krýsuvík is a sprawling geothermal area on the Reykjanes Peninsula, just 35 minutes from Reykjavík. Its most famous section, the Seltún geothermal field, is a landscape of bubbling mud pools, hissing steam vents, and earth painted in vivid yellows, reds, and greens by sulphur and mineral deposits. The area sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge fissure zone where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart — the same geological forces that have triggered the recent Fagradalsfjall eruptions nearby. Unlike the Golden Circle's Geysir area, Krýsuvík is free to visit, rarely crowded, and feels genuinely otherworldly — like walking on a film set of an alien planet.
Reykjanes
Deildartunguhver: Europe's Most Powerful Hot Spring
Europe's most powerful hot spring and a key stop on the Silver Circle. Home to the luxurious Krauma Geothermal Baths.
West Iceland
Eldgjá: The Fire Canyon
The world's largest volcanic canyon, located in the Highlands. Home to the stunning Ófærufoss waterfall and part of the Katla Geopark.
Highlands
Askja: The Víti Crater
A massive volcanic caldera in the remote Highlands, home to the warm, milky-blue Víti crater lake. Famous as a NASA training ground for Apollo astronauts.
Highlands
Geysir & Strokkur: Where the Word "Geyser" Was Born
Strokkur is Iceland's most active geyser, erupting every 5 to 10 minutes with boiling water columns up to 30 metres high. Located in the Haukadalur geothermal valley on the Golden Circle route, it sits just 50 metres south of the famous Great Geysir — the dormant hot spring that gave the English language the word "geyser." While Geysir itself rarely erupts anymore, Strokkur delivers a reliable and spectacular show throughout the day, every day of the year. The surrounding geothermal field is free to visit, with bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and the mineral-streaked Blesi hot springs adding to the otherworldly atmosphere.
South Iceland
South Iceland
Kerið: The Red Eye
Kerið is a 3,000-year-old volcanic crater lake on the Golden Circle route, famous for its neon-blue water, blood-red scoria walls, and vivid green moss. Unlike most Icelandic craters formed by explosive eruptions, Kerið was created when a cone volcano emptied its magma chamber and collapsed inward. The result is one of the most photogenic geological formations in Iceland — a near-perfect elliptical caldera measuring 270 metres across and 55 metres deep. It's the only Golden Circle site with an entrance fee (600 ISK), which funds path maintenance on the privately owned land. The acoustics inside the crater are so remarkable that Björk once performed a concert on a floating raft on the lake.
Krafla Víti: The Mouth of Hell
A massive active volcanic caldera north of Lake Mývatn. Home to the iconic turquoise-filled Víti explosion crater and the steaming Leirhnjúkur lava field.
North Iceland
Saxhóll: The Iron Volcano
A perfectly formed crater on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Famous for its award-winning curving iron staircase that makes the summit accessible to almost everyone.
Snæfellsnes
Hveravellir: Steaming Oasis
A steaming geothermal oasis on the F35 Kjölur highland route, sandwiched between the massive Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers.
Highlands
Þórsmörk: The Valley of Thor
The 'Valley of Thor', a lush Highland nature reserve tucked between glaciers. Famous for its birch forests, braided rivers, and challenging access.
Highlands
Westman Islands
Eldfell Volcano (Pompeii of the North)
A red, conical volcano on Heimaey island that erupted without warning in 1973, burying hundreds of houses under lava and ash and forcing the midnight evacuation of the entire population.
Legends & Trolls15 places
South Iceland
Reynisfjara: The Black Sand Beach
The world-famous black sand beach with basalt columns and deadly sneaker waves, located near Vík in the UNESCO Katla Geopark.
Skógafoss: The Golden Treasure Falls
One of Iceland's largest waterfalls on the South Coast and the starting point of the famous Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail.
South Iceland
Hvítserkur: The Rhino Rock
The iconic 'Rhino Rock' or 'Dragon Rock' rising from the sea on the Vatnsnes Peninsula, an area famous for seal watching.
North Iceland
Arnarstapi: Guardian of Snæfellsnes
A spectacular coastal landscape on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, famous for the Gatklettur arch, the Stone Bridge, and the start of the scenic coastal walk to Hellnar.
Snæfellsnes
Ásbyrgi: The Shelter of the Gods
A massive horseshoe-shaped canyon created by Odin's eight-legged horse. A key stop on the Diamond Circle and part of Vatnajökull National Park.
North Iceland
North Iceland
Glaumbær: The Turf Farm Museum
The best-preserved turf farm in Iceland, located in the Skagafjörður region. A historic 'Hobbit-style' village connected to Viking explorers.
Hofskirkja: The Last Turf Church
The last turf church built in the old style (1884), located in the Öræfi region between Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón.
South Iceland
Þingvellir: The Birthplace of Democracy
The only place on Earth where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. A UNESCO World Heritage site and the historic heart of the Golden Circle.
South Iceland
Kolugljúfur: The Troll's Gorge
A spectacular canyon and waterfall (Kolufossar) in North Iceland, named after a giantess who used it as her kitchen.
North Iceland
Barnafoss: Children's Waterfall
A violent, churning waterfall with a tragic legend, located next to Hraunfossar on the Silver Circle route in Borgarfjörður.
West Iceland
Dimmuborgir: The Dark Cities
A chaotic maze of lava towers near Lake Mývatn. Known as the 'Gateway to Hell' and the filming location for the Wildling Camp in Game of Thrones.
North Iceland
North Iceland
Drangey: The Outlaw's Fortress
An imposing, sheer-sided island fortress in Skagafjörður. Famous as the hideout of outlaw Grettir the Strong and a prime destination for puffin watching tours.
Eldhraun: The Mossy Realm
The world's largest lava field from a single eruption, covered in a thick, alien-looking blanket of green moss. Located on the South Coast.
South Iceland
Búðakirkja: The Black Church
A minimalist black timber church located in the Búðahraun lava field on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. A world-famous location for photography and weddings.
Snæfellsnes
Rauðfeldsgjá: The Gorge of Red Cloak
A mysterious, narrow gorge hidden inside a deep mountain crack on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, just minutes from Arnarstapi.
Snæfellsnes
Ocean & Black Sand10 places
East Iceland
Vestrahorn: The Batman Mountain
The dramatic 'Batman Mountain' on the Stokksnes peninsula. A photographer's dream with black sand dunes, perfect reflections, and a Viking film set.
Djúpalónssandur: The Black Pearl Beach
The 'Black Pearl Beach' on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Famous for its Viking lifting stones, dramatic lava formations, and the rusted remains of a shipwreck.
Snæfellsnes
Rauðasandur: The Red Sand Beach
Iceland's famous 'Red Sand Beach' in the remote Westfjords. A 10km stretch of golden-red shell sand that looks tropical on sunny days.
Westfjords
Látrabjarg: Europe's Westernmost Point
Europe's massive westernmost cliffs (14km long) in the Westfjords. The world's best place to photograph fearless puffins up close.
Westfjords
Seyðisfjörður: The Rainbow Road
The artistic heart of East Iceland, famous for its Rainbow Street, Blue Church, and the filming location for 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'.
East Iceland
Westman Islands
Elephant Rock
The viral 'Elephant Rock' in the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar). A massive basalt formation that looks uncannily like an elephant drinking from the sea.
Sólheimasandur: Plane
The iconic US Navy DC-3 plane wreck resting on a desolate black sand desert on the South Coast. A sci-fi photographer's dream.
South Iceland
Dyrhólaey: The Arch
The southernmost tip of Iceland. A massive stone arch and lighthouse offering the best panoramic views of the endless black sand beaches.
South Iceland
Lóndrangar: Rock Castle
The dramatic 'Rock Castle' of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Two massive ancient volcanic plugs rising 75 meters from the ocean, said to be an elf church.
Snæfellsnes
Ytri-Tunga: Seal Beach
A rare golden sand beach on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The most reliable place in Iceland to spot Harbour Seals lounging on the rocks.
Snæfellsnes
Sagas & Heritage9 places
Reykjavík
Perlan
A futuristic glass dome built on six massive geothermal water tanks, hosting world-class nature exhibitions, a planetarium, and an indoor ice cave.
National Museum of Iceland
The definitive journey through Icelandic history from settlement to today.
Reykjavík
The Settlement Exhibition
An open excavation of a 10th-century longhouse found in the city center.
Reykjavík
Skógar Museum
A massive collection of cultural artifacts and turf houses next to Skógafoss.
South Iceland
Lava Centre
A high-tech interactive exhibition about Iceland's volcanic activity.
South Iceland
North Iceland
Herring Era Museum
Iceland's largest maritime museum, recreating the glory days of the herring boom.
Garðar BA 64
The oldest steel ship in Iceland, now rusting peacefully on a remote beach in the Westfjords, serving as a haunting monument to the country's maritime history.
Westfjords
Siglufjörður & The Herring Era
A stunning, deeply isolated fishing town at the very top of the Tröllaskagi peninsula, once the booming 'Herring Capital of the World' and now a cultural gem famous for its colorful harbor and award-winning museum.
North Iceland
Petra's Stone Collection
The life's work of Petra Sveinsdóttir: a private mineral collection displayed in her longtime home in Stöðvarfjörður, now one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Iceland.
East Iceland
Hollywood & Ice8 places
Snæfellsnes
Kirkjufell: The Most Photographed Mountain
Officially the most photographed mountain in Iceland, located on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Famous as the 'Arrowhead Mountain' from Game of Thrones.
Svínafellsjökull: The Ice Planet
The alien glacier from Interstellar and Batman Begins, located in Skaftafell (Vatnajökull National Park).
South Iceland
Grjótagjá: The Love Cave
The famous 'Game of Thrones' love cave located near Lake Mývatn. Note: Bathing is strictly forbidden due to unpredictable temperatures.
North Iceland
Jökulsárlón: The Glacier Lagoon
Iceland's most famous sight: a ghostly lagoon of floating icebergs located in Vatnajökull National Park, right next to the Diamond Beach.
South Iceland
Diamond Beach: Ice on Black Velvet
Glistening icebergs washed onto the jet-black volcanic sands of Breiðamerkursandur. Often called the 'Crystal Beach'.
South Iceland
Fjallsárlón: The Intimate Lagoon
The quieter alternative to Jökulsárlón, located just off the Ring Road. Get closer to the glacier wall without the crowds.
South Iceland
Húsavík: The Whale Capital of Europe
The Whale Watching Capital of Europe and the crown jewel of the Diamond Circle route.
North Iceland
Hjörleifshöfði: Planet Lah'mu
The Star Wars 'Rogue One' filming location and the famous 'Yoda Cave', rising from the Mýrdalssandur black desert.
South Iceland
Soak & Steam7 places
Reykjanes
Blue Lagoon: The Accidental Wonder
Iceland's world-famous geothermal spa, conveniently located near KEF Airport. Known for its milky-blue healing waters and luxury experience.
Sky Lagoon
An infinity-edge geothermal lagoon with dramatic ocean views.
Reykjavík
Secret Lagoon
The oldest swimming pool in Iceland, kept natural and simple.
South Iceland
Vök Baths
Floating infinity pools on Lake Urriðavatn.
East Iceland
Seljavallalaug: The Gorge Pool
A protected 25-metre pool from 1923 at the head of a mountain gorge on the south coast — free to use, and cleaned just once a summer.
South Iceland
Krossneslaug: Pool at the Shoreline
A concrete geothermal pool from 1954 right at the shoreline of remote Strandir, with nothing between you and the open sea.
Westfjords
Guðrúnarlaug: The Saga Bath
A rebuilt saga-era bath at Laugar in Dalir, named for Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir, the heroine of Laxdæla saga — and free to use.
West Iceland
Towns & Traditions5 places
4–7 February 2027
Reykjavík
Winter Lights Festival (Vetrarhátíð)
A city-wide celebration of light, art, and warmth in the heart of Reykjavík.
Ísafjörður
The unofficial capital of the Westfjords, dramatically situated on a narrow spit of land in the Skutulsfjörður fjord, surrounded by towering, avalanche-prone mountains.
Westfjords
Djúpivogur & The Eggs of Merry Bay
A charming, slow-paced fishing village in the Eastfjords, famous for its dramatic pyramid-shaped mountain backdrop and a striking outdoor art installation of 34 giant granite bird eggs.
East Iceland
Hólmavík & The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery
A quiet coastal village that serves as the gateway to the rugged Strandir coast, infamous in Icelandic history as the dark epicenter of 17th-century witchcraft and sorcery.
Westfjords
Akureyri Botanical Garden (Lystigarðurinn)
The northernmost botanical garden in the world, an impossible oasis of lush greenery and thousands of plant species surviving just 50 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle.
North Iceland
Icons & Landmarks4 places
Reykjavík
Hallgrímskirkja
The iconic rocket-shaped church dominating the skyline.
Harpa Concert Hall
Reykjavík's dazzling architectural masterpiece, a modern concert hall and conference center featuring a mesmerizing glass facade inspired by Iceland's basalt columns.
Reykjavík
Sun Voyager
A striking stainless-steel sculpture on the Reykjavík waterfront that resembles a sleek Viking longship, but actually represents a dream boat facing the sea.
Reykjavík
Hornbjargsviti: The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Wilderness
A lighthouse in Látravík bay in the roadless Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, reachable only by boat or on foot — and run today by Ferðafélag Íslands as a 40-bed wilderness hut.
Westfjords
