Iceland: Top Things to Do + Tips for Visiting

ICELAND

Iceland is a beautiful country that is exceptionally clean, has wonderfully-friendly people and practically everyone speaks English.

You do not need a planned tour because the roads are good and well-marked.
Renting a car is easy and getting to the attractions is simple.
There are amply websites to allow you to book hotels, cabins, etc.
Iceland is expensive, especially so in the peak season of July and August.
It can also be very crowded because Iceland is not setup for a lot of tourists.

When to Visit Iceland

Iceland is in the middle of the Gulf Stream. That means that the temperature in the winter months is moderate. We went for 10 days in late March and the temperature was in the 20’s and 30’s. We had sunny, crisp days and we had some overcast days. And we had some partial days of snowfall. But this is ICELAND.

I have friends who went in the summer and it was not the same. It was crowded and there was no snow on the ground. It’s just a different experience. If you go in the winter, you’ll be able to maximize your chances of viewing the “Northern Lights.”

I happen to like the end of March because the waterfalls are not iced over, the tourist are scarce and the chance to see the auroras is still high. Therefore, I recommend to see Iceland in late March.

My Must-Do List for Iceland

The Atlantic Rift is a Must-See. This impressive rift runs through Iceland and is visible in Pingvellir National Park. (This park is about a 50 minute drive northwest of Reykjavik) There is a good visitor center here that explains the geological importance of this site. You can also place one foot in Europe and the other in North America here, which is pretty amazing. The Atlantic Rift is one of the few places in the world where you can see the results of “plate tectonics”.

2. Reykjanes Peninsula –is a wild active volcanic landscape, a few kilometers southwest of Reykjavik, that is not to be missed. There are a couple of major roads that traverse the area, as well as some secondary roads that we went down and decided they were a little too secondary. This is truly a beautiful area.

I would recommend getting a half day 4×4 trip from Reykjavik if you want to explore untamed lava fields.

And for the true adventurers, sign up for a one day trip to the recent (2021) spectacular volcanic eruption.

And while there, do not forget to check out “The Blue Lagoon” which is a popular geothermal spa destination featuring an outdoor lagoon with mineral-rich waters in a lava field.

3. Haukadalur Valley’s Geothermal Area is located approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Reykjavik. It is there that you find the “Great Geysir.” This is the original geyser that all the geysers in the world are named after.

4. Gulfoss – is an extremely beautiful waterfall less than 2 hours northeast of Reykjavik.

5. The Ring Road– Highway #1 circumvents the country. Driving on this roadway gives you the opportunity to see the “wild” Iceland and to meet the people. The entire circuit takes 3 days of driving plus time to see the sights on off roads. So, figure 5 to 6 days.

I drove the Ring Road’s southeast side by flying to Hofn Hornafirol and then I headed back to Reykjavik.

I had a friend who did a portion of the Ring Road by flying to the airport in Akureyri, renting a car and spending 2 days driving back to Reykjavik on the west part of the Ring Road. His pictures were beautiful and were very similar to the ones I took by flying to Hofn Hornafirol.

Scenery from the Ring Road

I chose to do this east side because I found a small B&B (cabins – see below) in Hofn which offered a day trip in a 4×4 onto the nearby Vatnajokull Glacier – 2 km back from the edge. A breathtaking experience. I also walked in a crevasse that towered over me by 20 stories (see above). The scenery around Hofn can best be described as beautiful.

The B&B hospitality here is warm and friendly and the cabins are clean and functional. And the best part here, is being able to spend time with the locals – this is why we travel.

6. Hofn to Vik on the Ring Road

Our Stay in Vik

7. REYKJAVICK, ICELAND – The Capital of Iceland is more about the feel than it is about the sites. While the Hallgrimskirkja Church and the City Hall 3D map of Iceland are important to see, taking a walk in the downtown and visiting the small shops and residential neighborhoods are more rewarding. Reykjavik is a small city of 130,000 people. Learn about how unique this city is and why the people are so proud to be Icelanders.

- 99% of their energy needs are from renewable energy
- Iceland has maintained its Nordic heritage far better than Norway over the centuries
- Learn about how children get their names – different than anywhere else in the world
- Leads the world in woman’s rights and participation in all levels of society