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Iceland

17x Most Beautiful Places in Iceland

Imagine a faraway land surrounded by the big ocean, where you can see some of the most amazing sights in the world. This special place is called Iceland. It's like a magical storybook with incredible views that you won't believe are real. Iceland is also called 'the land of fire and ice', and you will definitely understand why after visiting this incredible country. Of all amazing sights, we have listed 17 of the most beautiful places in Iceland.

Overview

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1. Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi

63° 36′ N, 19° 59′ W​

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous sights in Iceland. It is a beautiful waterfall with a height of 65 meters. You can take your time walking on a path and even go behind the waterfall! If you walk a little further than Seljalandsfoss, you find another beautiful waterfall called Gljúfrabúi. It’s like a secret waterfall inside a cave or narrow valley. When you go inside, it looks like the water is falling from the sky. Just be prepared to get sprayed by the force of the water!

Sarah standing underneath the Seljalandsfoss waterfall that tumbles down a big rock above her head into a pool in front of her.
Seljalandsfoss
Sararh standing on a big rock inside a cave with a hole in the ceiling. She is looking up to the Gljúfrabúi waterfall that tumbles down into the cave through the hole in the ceiling.
Gljúfrabúi

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2. Hverir

65° 38′ N, 16° 48′ W​

Hverir is a geothermal area and, just like almost everything in Iceland, this place has a volcanic origin. In the whole area, you find fascinating sulfur vapors, fumaroles, and bubbling mud pots. When walking around at Hverir, you really get the feeling that you are walking on another planet, maybe Mars? It is arguably one of the most unique landscapes in Iceland and a must-visit during a road trip along the Ring Road.

You will notice that this place has a very bad smell, like rotten eggs. This is the typical smell of sulfur dioxide. Even though it smells awful, it makes the experience complete.

A grey mud pool in a brown Mars-like landscape in Hverir in Iceland.
Sarah standing in front of the picture looking at a natural pool in a brown Mars-like landscape. In the distance, you see some snow laying on the brown soil.

Hotels in Iceland

Discover the best places to stay and enjoy an amazing trip! 

3. Stokksnes

64° 14′ N, 14° 58′ W​

Stokksnes is a peninsula in southeast Iceland, where you find the dramatic Vestrahorn mountain. Together with Kirkjufell, it is probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Because of the contrast between the 454-meter-high mountain and the black sand beach, there’s a mysterious atmosphere on this peninsula. Also, the reflection of the mountain in the leftover water from the washed-up waves gives this place an extra dimension. If you’re lucky, you can even spot dozens of wild Icelandic horses around the beach.

Tip: You have to pay an entrance fee of 800 ISK to access Stokksnes. If you stay at Camping Hofn, the entrance fee is included in the camping price.

Sarah walking on a black sand beach wearing a red jacket. In the background you see a mountain of which the top is hidden inside the low clouds. On the beach, you have a little reflection of the landscape in the background in the remaining water of waves rolling of the beach.
Stokksnes
Sarah sitting in the bushes watching over the black sand beach of Stokksnes and the sea waves rolling in. In the background, you see the Vestrahorn mountain with its peak covered in white low hanging clouds.
Stokksnes
Besides the Vestrahorn, you also find the Viking Village Film Set. This replica Viking Village was set up in 2010 as a movie prop. However, the Icelandic film was never shot due to funding issues. In 2018 it did make its debut in the movie Vikingr from Universal. Although it’s not a real Viking village, it’s still fun to have a look and release your inner Viking. You pass it anyway when you visit Stokksnes. You are even allowed to enter the houses.
A traditional viking house build of wooden pools with a grassy roof in front of a huge mountain covered in clouds.
Viking village
A traditional viking house build of wooden pools with a grassy roof in a grass field in front of a huge mountain covered in clouds.
Viking village

4. Kvernufoss

63° 31′ N, 19° 38′ W​

One of the lesser known, but one of our favorite, waterfalls in Iceland is Kvernufoss. This waterfall is located just around the corner of the more famous Skogafoss. So no reason not to visit, right?

The whole scenery is so stunning like you’re walking around on the set of The Hobbit. And just like at Seljalandsfoss you can walk behind the waterfall, but prepare yourself again to be splashed by the spray of the waterfall. 

Sarah standing on top of a rock next to a river meandering through the background where a big waterfall is tumbling down the huge black rocks in a green grassy landscape.
Kvernufoss

5. Stuðlagil canyon

65° 09′ N, 15° 18′ W​

Stuðlagil Canyon is a beautiful canyon that hardly anyone knew about until recently. It is formed by numerous gigantic basalt rock columns on both sides of the river. For a long time, the canyon was hidden under the water. With the introduction of a hydroelectric plant in 2009 the water level decreased drastically, which made the canyon appear.

Sarah sitting on the rocks next to a river flowing through a big canyon with big basalt columns on both sides.
Stuðlagil canyon​
Sarah standing between the rocks in front of a waterfall tumbling down a huge wall of basalt columns.
Stuðlafoss

In summer, from June until the second week of August, this place is even more beautiful when the color of the river is turquoise green, showing a wonderful contrast with the gigantic grey basalt columns. In the third week of August, the hydroelectric reservoir is full and the overflow sends the dirty glacial water down the river, making the water brown and dirty. Although the color of the river changes over the seasons, the beautiful basalt columns formation remains very impressive to see.

6. Haifoss

64° 12′ N, 19° 41′ W​

Haifoss is, with its 128 meters, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland. Next to Haifoss, there’s another waterfall called Grannifoss. Both waterfalls are part of a phenomenal landscape and were one of the most impressive waterfalls we’ve seen on our route. You can drive to the top of the waterfall and enjoy the views from above, and if you like you can hike to the bottom of the waterfalls as well. 

Sarah sitting on the rocks in front of a huge canyon with two waterfalls tumbling down in the background into the black rocky canyon.
A huge waterfall tumbling down from a grassy plateau into the river down below in a black rocky environment.

Hotels in Iceland

Discover the best places to stay in Iceland and enjoy an amazing trip!

7. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

63° 46′ N, 18° 10′ W​

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a magical and maybe the most beautiful green canyon in Iceland. It is about 100m deep and 2km long. The canyon might be some 2 million years old and was formed by a forceful glacial river. Now the small Fjaðrá river runs like a snake between the steep walls of the canyon. Most of the ledges are fenced off and there’s a view platform by the waterfall because nature was too damaged because of the amount of visitors.

We heard that you can also walk inside the canyon (only in summertime) because the water levels of the river are usually not high. You might still need to wade the river a few times.

A huge canyon between giant rocky walls with a river meandering at the bottom.​
A big canyon with mossy cliffs and a river meandering on the bottom.

8. Diamond beach

64° 02′ N, 16° 10′ W​

Diamond Beach is one of those places where you find yourself in another world for a while. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places in Iceland. Numerous large and smaller ice blocks are scattered like diamonds over the sand on this black volcanic beach. The contrast between the shimmering white and blue ice and the sand’s deep black makes it a truly magical place. 

Sarah walking on a black sand beach wearing a bright red jacket. On the black sand beach, you see big blocks of ice and the waves rolling in in the background.
Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is the result of glacial ice breaking off the glacier. This ice drifts over the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon towards the sea. Here, the big chunks of ice crumble into thousands of smaller pieces and wash up on the beach. The amount of ice blocks you’ll find on the beach strongly depends on weather conditions and time of the year.

This unique beach is also home to many seals, so if you look carefully you might spot a few of them. If you don’t see them here, chances are you see them in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. If you’re really lucky you also might see orcas, as this is one of the best places to see them from the shore. 

9. Jökulsárlón glacier

64° 04′ N, 16° 12′ W​

On the other side of the road from Diamond Beach, you find the Jökulsárlón glacier and the lagoon. It is a huge glacial lake at the foot of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, a glacial tongue of Iceland’s biggest glacier Vatnajökull, located in Vatnajökull National Park.

This lake is nearly 250m depth, making it Iceland’s deepest lake. All over this lake, gigantic ice blocks of glacial ice float around and slowly drift towards the sea, creating an ever-changing scenery. Therefore, this lake will never look the same every time you visit. Don’t forget to look out for these cute seals swimming around in the cold water of the lagoon. 

Sarah standing next to and looking at a lake with huge blocks in the water.
Jökulsárlón Glacier lagoon

There are a lot of activities you can do around the lake. You can go on a boat tour to see the lagoon, its icebergs, and the seals from up close. Or you can join one of the kayak tours and even paddle yourself around the lake. It is even possible to explore the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier itself during a guided glacier tour and sometimes even visit ice caves during an ice cave tour. 

Book your glacier walk
Sarah standing on a glacier with a crystal clear glacial river in front of her.
Hiking on a glacier in Iceland

10. Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck

63° 28′ N, 19° 21′ W​

In 1973 a US Navy DC plane ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach at Sólheimasandur. The most popular theory goes that the pilot switched to the wrong fuel tank during a storm, resulting in a plane crash. Luckily, everyone in the plane survived the crash.

The apocalyptic scenery of the crashed plane in such an abandoned, moon-like landscape is definitely worth a visit. The contrast between the remains of the man-made plane and the black sand of the beach makes it a spectacular setting. Today, big parts of the aircraft’s wings and the tail are gone. Rumors state that a local farmer sold those parts for cash.

Sarah standing on top of the Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck​, the wreck of a plane only surrounded by black sand.

To get to the plane wreck you have to walk 3,5 kilometers from the provided parking and it will take you around 45 minutes of walking one way. Taking into account the time you spend at the wreck, you should count on at least 2 to 2,5 hours for a visit to this intriguing place. 

Sarah standing in front of the Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck​, a plane wreck surrounded by only black sand. Sarah is wearing a bright red jacket.

Flight deals

Find the best flight deals to fly to Iceland at the best prices!

11. Skogafoss

63° 28′ N, 19° 21′ W​

Skogafoss is one of the biggest and most famous waterfalls in Iceland. It is 25 meters wide and 60 meters high. Game of Thrones fans will recognize this place for sure. On the right side of Skogafoss, there’s a stairway going up to a viewing platform. From here, a hiking trail starts that leads through the Fimmvörðuháls mountain pass.

Sarah walking towards the huge Skogafoss, a big waterfall tumbling down a big black wall. Sarah is wearing a bright yellow jacket.
Skogafoss

12. Dyrhólaey Viewpoint

63° 23′ N, 19° 97′ W​

Dyrhólaey is the southernmost point of Iceland. It is divided into a lower part and a higher part. At the higher part, you find the Dyrhólaey lighthouse. When walking around on the cliffs here, you can enjoy a fantastic view over the beautiful Icelandic landscape with the Endless Black Beach, the Dyrhólaey archway, and the impressive rock formations of Reynisdrangar. When looking inland, you can see the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull.

Sarah sitting on the edge of a rock looking over a long stretch of black sand beach while the waves are rolling in on the beach.
Dyrhólaey viewpoint​

This place is also known for its variety of birds, including the famous puffins (only during summer). During the spring/summer months, Dyrhólaey has limited access by car because of the nesting season, but it differs every season. The higher part can be closed somewhere between May and June for car traffic, but you can still access it by foot during the daytime.

13. Reynisfjara Beach

63° 24′ N, 19° 03′ W​

Reynisfjara Beach is a very famous black beach and is considered to be the most beautiful black sand beach in Iceland. It is mostly known for the gigantic basalt columns: the ‘Columnes Reynisfjara’. From here you also have an incredible view of the rocky sea stacks of Reynisdrangar, the home of thousands of nesting seabirds.

Sarah sitting on a big wall of basalt columns. She is wearing a bright yellow jacket.
Columnes Reynisfjara

14. Myvatn Nature Baths

65° 37′ N, 16° 50′ W​

The Myvatn Nature baths are geothermally heated pools, filled with natural mineral water. They are also called Jarbodin. Here, you can soak in the magical soft blue water (which is also truly amazing for your skin) and enjoy the incredible views with a drink. Besides the pools, you can also relax in one of the hot spring steam baths. It’s the perfect place to empty your mind and recover from all the traveling around this amazing country. This place is similar to the famous Blue Lagoon but slightly less busy and expensive.

A stairs leading into a bright blue natural pool wear Sarah is standing in the middle.
Myvatn Nature Baths​

Flight deals

Find the best flight deals to fly to Iceland at the best prices!

15. Dettifoss

65° 48′ N, 16° 23′ W​

Dettifoss is said to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe. It is 44 meters high, 100 meters wide, and displaces an average of 200m3 of water per second. You can visit the waterfall from both the east and the west side. To reach the east side you have to drive a gravel road (864) for a long time and to be honest we found this to be a very unpleasant road. Apparently, the passability can vary, so inform yourself if you choose this road.

Sarah sitting next to a huge waterfall tumbling down into the valley below.
Dettifoss

Reaching the west side appears to be more pleasant as this is a paved road (862). We didn’t visit the west side but we believe that you get a better view because from here you can see the front side of the waterfall. The westside is therefore the most visited.

Hotels in Iceland

Discover the best places to stay and enjoy an amazing trip! 

16. Kirkjufell

64° 65′ N, 23° 18′ W​

On Snæfellsnes Peninsula, you find this stunning mountain called Kirkjufell. Its name means “Church Mountain” due to its remarkable shape, which looks like a church. Kirkjufell is known for its unique beauty and has become an iconic landmark in Iceland. It is said that it is the most photographed place in Iceland.

The mountain is surrounded by a beautiful landscape, including the nearby waterfall called Kirkjufellsfoss, creating this very photogenic setting. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, but it also reminded us of some of the stunning landscapes in the Faroe Islands.

Sarah sitting in front of a river with a small waterfall on the left side. In the distance you see a small pyramid shapes mountain.
Kirkjufell​

17. Þingvellir National park

64° 65′ N, 23° 18′ W​

Þingvellir or Thingvellir National Park is part of the famous Golden Circle in Iceland. In this national park, you can witness Iceland’s rough geological processes with your own eyes. Iceland is located on both the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian tectonic plate. In Þingvellir National Park, you can actually see the split between those two tectonic plates. Iceland is the only place in the world where the rift is above sea level and thus can be seen on land.

A little pont surrounded by bushes and rocks.

Besides geology, Þingvellir is also historically very important to Iceland, which is why it became a National Park. Since 2004, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can also go snorkeling or diving in the Silfra fissure in this national park. It is the only place in the world where you can dive between two continents. It is ranked as one of the top 10 best diving sites in the world because of the vivid colors and extremely clear water in this place.

Sarah walking on a stone trail in a canyon between two big rocky walls.

Iceland

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