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Things to do in Iceland, ranked honestly.

The best things to do in Iceland are not a secret, but the order you do them in, and the season you pick, makes all the difference. This is our ranked list of things to do in Iceland: 23 that are worth your time, when each one works, and which ones you actually need a guide for.

Published 25 September 2026 · Icebreaker · Curated with The Reykjavík Grapevine

The top 10 things to do in Iceland

If you only have a week and want the Iceland bucket list without the filler, this is it. Everything below this list is still worth doing; these ten are the ones we would be annoyed you missed.

1. See the northern lights (September to early April). Free if you drive to a dark spot, a tour if you don't. Tonight's forecast.
2. Drive the South Coast to Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara black sand beach (all year). South Coast guide.
3. Stand at Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, icebergs drifting out to sea on black sand (all year).
4. Walk on a glacier with a guide, or go into a natural ice cave in winter. Ice caves and glacier hikes.
5. Soak in a geothermal lagoon. Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, or one of the quieter ones (all year). Lagoons compared.
6. Do the Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss (all year). Golden Circle guide.
7. Go to a public pool like a local. The cheapest good thing in the country (all year). Pools and hot baths.
8. Snorkel Silfra, between two tectonic plates in water you can see 100 metres through (all year).
9. Go whale watching, from Reykjavík or, better, Húsavík in the north (best April to October). Whale watching guide.
10. See puffins at a cliff colony (mid-April to mid-August only).

What to do in Iceland by season

The single biggest planning mistake is picking activities without checking the calendar. Puffins are gone by September, natural ice caves only exist in winter, the highlands are closed most of the year and there is no aurora in June. Here is what works when. For the month-by-month detail, see Iceland by month and our best time to visit guide.

Road openings and ice cave seasons depend on the weather each year. Check road conditions before any drive outside the capital.

Northern lights and the midnight sun

The northern lights

The top of almost everyone's Iceland bucket list, and the one you can't control. Aurora season runs roughly from September to early April. You need three things at once: darkness, solar activity and a clear sky. Cloud is what usually ruins it, not a low KP number. Check tonight's aurora forecast, and read how the forecast works so you know which number to trust.

With a rental car, drive yourself 20–45 minutes out of town to Grótta, Þingvellir or the Reykjanes peninsula. Without one, a bus or small-group northern lights tour takes you to wherever the sky is clear, and most offer a free second go if the lights don't show. The full playbook is in our northern lights in Iceland guide.

The midnight sun

The other half of the year. From late May to late July the sun barely sets in Reykjavík and it never gets properly dark anywhere in the country. It is not an activity so much as a free extra eight hours of daylight: hike at 23:00, drive the South Coast when the tour buses are asleep, sit in a hot pot at midnight. Bring an eye mask.

Lagoons and hot pools

The Blue Lagoon, and the lagoons that aren't the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is famous for a reason: milky-blue water in a black lava field, 20 minutes from Keflavík airport. It is also the most expensive and busiest, with dynamic pricing that starts from about 11,990 ISK for the Comfort ticket and goes well above that at peak times. Book ahead; walk-ins are often turned away. It sits next to the Svartsengi volcanic area, so check it is open before you go.

The alternatives are good. Sky Lagoon in Kópavogur has an infinity edge over the sea and a seven-step sauna ritual, from about 9,490 ISK for lagoon-only entry. Hvammsvík in Hvalfjörður is smaller, quieter and tidal. In the north, the Forest Lagoon above Akureyri and Mývatn Nature Baths are cheaper and far less crowded. We compare them all, with prices, in our Blue Lagoon and Iceland lagoons guide, and you can book lagoon entry with Icebreaker.

A public swimming pool

The most Icelandic thing you will do, for around 1,500–2,000 ISK. Every town has a geothermally heated pool with hot pots, and locals go to them daily to soak and gossip. Sundhöllin and Vesturbæjarlaug in Reykjavík are the classics. The rule is non-negotiable: shower naked, with soap, before you get in. Every pool in the country is on our pools and hot baths page.

Golden Circle and the South Coast

The Golden Circle

A roughly 230 km loop from Reykjavík taking in three sights: Þingvellir national park, where the parliament met from 930 and the tectonic plates pull apart; the Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes; and Gullfoss, a two-step waterfall into a canyon. It is busy and it is worth it. Add Kerið crater, a lunch stop at a greenhouse, or a soak somewhere on the way back. Drive it yourself in a day or take a Golden Circle tour. Timings, stops and what to skip are in our Golden Circle guide.

South Coast waterfalls

Route 1 east of Reykjavík is waterfall country. Seljalandsfoss (about 1 hour 45 minutes from the city) is the one you can walk behind; bring a waterproof. Gljúfrabúi is hidden in a gorge a short walk away. Skógafoss is the big curtain, with a staircase to the top and a walking trail beyond it. All free, all open year round, parking fees apply at some.

Reynisfjara black sand beach

Basalt columns, sea stacks and black sand just west of Vík, about 2.5 hours from Reykjavík. Genuinely one of the best sights in the country and, genuinely, dangerous.

A South Coast day trip from Reykjavík to Vík and back is doable but long. Staying a night near Vík or Skógar makes it much better. Our South Coast guide has the stops in order, or book a South Coast tour if you would rather not drive.

Glaciers, ice caves and Jökulsárlón

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach

Icebergs calve off Breiðamerkurjökull, float across the lagoon and wash out to sea, then get thrown back on the black sand across the road: that is Diamond Beach. It is about five hours' drive from Reykjavík, so either do it as part of a longer trip or accept a very long day tour. Boat trips on the lagoon run in the warmer months. Stay nearby and go at sunrise.

A guided glacier hike

Crampons, an ice axe and a certified guide on a glacier tongue. Sólheimajökull on the South Coast is the easiest to reach from Reykjavík; Skaftafell in Vatnajökull national park has longer, bigger routes. Runs all year and needs no experience, just reasonable fitness. Book a glacier hike.

Ice caves

The blue natural ice caves under Vatnajökull form fresh each winter and are usually visited from around November to March, always with a specialist guide. In summer the only option is the Katla ice cave near Vík, which is darker, ash-streaked and open all year. Tours run from about 22,000 ISK up. Which one, and when, is in our ice caves and glacier hikes guide.

Volcanoes, lava and Silfra

Reykjanes volcano sites

The Reykjanes peninsula has erupted repeatedly since 2021, first at Fagradalsfjall and then along the Sundhnúkur crater row near Grindavík. You can walk out to the recent lava fields when authorities allow, and the peninsula is worth a half day anyway: Gunnuhver hot springs, Reykjanesviti lighthouse, and the Bridge Between Continents. Whether anything is erupting when you visit is up to the planet. Check the Icelandic Met Office at vedur.is and follow closures; they are there because the ground can open without much warning.

The Lava Show

Real molten lava, heated to about 1,100 °C and poured into a room in front of you. It sounds like a tourist trap and isn't. Runs in Reykjavík and Vík, year round, from about 6,590 ISK for adults. A good rainy-day plan and the most reliable way to see lava move. Book the Lava Show.

Snorkelling Silfra

A fissure in Þingvellir filled with glacial meltwater that has been filtered through lava for decades. Visibility is often over 100 metres and the water sits at about 2–4 °C all year, so you wear a drysuit. Tours start from about 16,000 ISK meeting on site, more with pick-up from Reykjavík. You need to be at least 12, and there are height, weight and health requirements, so read them before booking. Book Silfra snorkelling.

Whales, puffins and horses

Whale watching

Trips leave from Reykjavík's Old Harbour all year, but Húsavík in the north is the whale-watching capital, with humpbacks most of the summer and the occasional blue whale. Summer is peak; winter trips from Reykjavík run less often and seas are rougher. Budget from about 13,000 ISK. Where to go and which boat to choose are in the whale watching guide, and trips are on Icebreaker.

Puffins

Atlantic puffins nest in Iceland from about mid-April to mid-August, and are mostly gone by September. From Reykjavík, summer boat trips go out to the small islands in the bay. For close-up views without a boat, Hafnarhólmi in Borgarfjörður eystri and Látrabjarg in the Westfjords are the best. Dyrhólaey on the South Coast is easy to add to a Vík day. Stay on the paths; the burrows collapse underfoot.

Icelandic horse riding

The Icelandic horse is small, sturdy and has a fifth gait, the tölt, smooth enough to carry a drink. Short rides for beginners run year round from stables just outside Reykjavík, from about 16,000 ISK for two hours. It is one of the few activities where the weather hardly matters. Book a horse ride.

Road trips beyond the south

The Ring Road

Route 1 circles the country in about 1,330 km. Seven days is the realistic minimum, ten is comfortable. Summer is the easy season; winter is possible but only for confident drivers with flexible plans, because storms close sections at short notice. Our 7-day Ring Road itinerary has the day-by-day, and road conditions has today's closures.

Snæfellsnes peninsula

About two hours north-west of Reykjavík, often called Iceland in miniature: Kirkjufell mountain, the Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano, black churches, lava fields and fishing villages. It works all year and is the best option if you have one extra day and have already done the south.

Mývatn and the north

Lake Mývatn is a volcanic landscape of pseudo-craters, lava formations at Dimmuborgir, the Hverir mud pots and the Mývatn Nature Baths. Nearby are Goðafoss and, further east, Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall. Combine with whale watching from Húsavík. Akureyri, the north's small capital, is the base.

The Westfjords

Fjord after fjord, very few people, and Dynjandi, a waterfall shaped like a wedding cake. The roads are long, winding and in places unpaved, so give it at least three days and go between June and September. Látrabjarg's puffins are the summer bonus.

The highlands and Landmannalaugar

Rhyolite mountains in orange, green and purple, with a natural hot river to bathe in at the campsite. Landmannalaugar is reached on F-roads that usually open in the second half of June and close around mid-September. You need a proper 4x4, and river crossings are part of the deal; read our F-road safety guide first. The easier way is a summer highland bus or a guided highland tour.

Reykjavík: food, pools and nightlife

Eat properly Icelandic

Lamb soup, fresh fish, skyr, rye bread baked in the hot ground, a hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu, and, if you insist, fermented shark. Skip puffin and whale on menus. Our what to eat in Reykjavík guide has the dishes and where to find them, and cheap eats keeps the bill down.

Reykjavík nightlife

Small city, big weekends. Friday and Saturday nights in the 101 start late and run into the early hours. Drinks are expensive, so do what locals do and start at a happy hour. For what's on tonight, from gigs to club nights, see events, and for where to go, the Grapevine's Best of Reykjavík. If you have a couple of days in town, the 48-hour itinerary and our things to do in Reykjavík guide plan them for you.

How much do the best things to do in Iceland cost?

A lot of the best sights are free: waterfalls, beaches, Þingvellir, Geysir, Jökulsárlón from the shore. You pay for parking at some, and you pay for anything with a guide. Approximate 2026 prices per adult, which change with season and operator:

Approximate 2026 prices from operators' own sites and our cost guide. Always check at booking.

For how these fit into a full trip budget, read how much Iceland costs, and use the budget planner. Comparing operators? Our best tours in Iceland guide says which tours are worth paying for and which you can do yourself.

FAQ

What is the number one thing to do in Iceland?

In winter, the northern lights. In summer, the South Coast from Seljalandsfoss to Jökulsárlón. If you can only do one thing all year, drive the South Coast: waterfalls, Reynisfjara, a glacier and icebergs in one road.

How many days do you need in Iceland?

Three to four days covers Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast as far as Vík. Five to six adds Jökulsárlón. Seven to ten days lets you drive the whole Ring Road without living in the car.

What is the best month to visit Iceland?

June to August for long days, puffins, the highlands and easy driving. September and October, or February and March, for northern lights with fewer crowds and roads that are usually still manageable. See our best time to visit guide for the full breakdown.

Can you see the northern lights and puffins on the same trip?

Only just, and not reliably. Puffins arrive from mid-April and aurora season ends in early April, so the overlap is a few days at best. In late August and early September you may catch the last puffins and the first dark nights; plan for one or the other.

Are ice caves in Iceland open in summer?

The natural blue ice caves under Vatnajökull are winter only, usually from around November to March. In summer, the Katla ice cave near Vík is the one natural ice cave you can visit, always with a guide.

Is Reynisfjara beach safe?

Only if you keep well back from the water. Sneaker waves have killed several visitors. Follow the warning signs at the car park, never turn your back on the sea and keep children close.

What can you do in Iceland for free?

Most of the famous sights: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach are free to visit, with parking fees at some. Aurora hunting with your own car is free, and a public pool costs a couple of thousand krónur.