Things to Do in Iceland: A Guide to Natural Wonders & Local Gems

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If you find this guide, I’m guessing you’ve already fallen in love with the idea of travelling to Iceland. And honestly, who could blame you? The landscapes are jaw-dropping, the waterfalls are thunderous, and the northern lights are nothing short of mystical. Before you get too carried away (and trust me, I know how easy that is), I’m here to help you plan all of the things to do in Iceland, that will make your trip to Iceland truly unforgettable.

Introduction: Things to do in Iceland

Iceland is honestly more than just another destination to check off your list. It is a complete and utter sensorial journey. From the volcanic energy (which are active), to the sweeping glaciers, and incredibly geothermal baths, that I could literally spend hours in, to the midnight summer sun, there is honestly so many things to do in Iceland. In this guide, I will be sharing all of my favorite things to do in Iceland, based on my adventures, provide you with insider tips, and let you know about a few hidden gems as well. Now, let’s dive into my favorite things in the land of fire and ice!

1. Reykjavik Iceland

Reykjavík was my first introduction to Iceland, and let me tell you, it buzzes with unexpected charm with so many things to see and do. On my first morning, I sipped coffee at Reykjavík Roasters with locals and watched the city slowly stir to life. The rooftops in the city were extremely colorful and everywhere you look you see street performers, particularly on Laugavegur Street, and the smell of the pastries throughout the city will keep you hungry all day long.

The towering Hallgrímskirkja Church is impossible to miss I took the elevator to the top for a sweeping panoramic view that helped me get my bearings. Around sunset, I walked down to the Sun Voyager sculpture, where the golden light danced on Faxaflói Bay.

One night, I stumbled into a cozy bar where a local folk band played acoustic Icelandic tunes, which wasn’t on my itinerary, but it became one of the most memorable moments. Don’t miss Hlemmur Mathöll either imagine a stylish food hall with Icelandic lamb flatbreads, Asian fusion bowls, and wood-fired pizza all under one roof.

Insider Tip: Visit the Perlan Museum to get in-depth knowledge of Iceland’s natural extremes. I loved the simulated ice cave, it was eerily realistic, and the 360° observation deck gave me a breathtaking view of the city backed by snowy peaks.

2. Golden Circle Iceland: Explore by Car

We decided to drive the legendary Golden Circle on this trip, which allowed us to see some many of Iceland’s geological treasures. Þingvellir National Park was surreal; standing between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates gave me goosebumps—not just because of the chill in the air. One of the most memorable experiences was walking along the rift valley, which is where Iceland’s parliament was founded in 930 AD. As I did this walk all I could think about was what parliament gatherings may have looked like during this time period.

One of the highlights was visiting the Strokkur geyser. And honestly the anticipation was just as fun as watching the geyser erupt. Crowds hushed every 5–10 minutes, cameras poised, and then, boom, a sky-high plume of steam shot up, followed by laughter and gasps. Another highlight on this journey was the Gullfoss Waterfall, which was even more incredible and massive than I could ever imagine. I stood in awe as rainbows arched across the mist, something I’ll never forget.

3. Blue Lagoon: The Awakening

If you are planning a trip to Iceland, then you absolutely cannot make the trip without of course visiting the iconic and Instagramable, Blue Lagoon. This was always at the top of my must-see list and from the moment I arrived, and stepped foot into that warm, milky-blue water, I could literally feel my long travel day just melt off. Of course, I also had to give myself a facial with the silica mud. I have to admit I didlook a little crazy, but it was worth it after I felt how soft my skin felt afterward. It was basically a nature facial in a thermal hot spring.

You could see all of the steam rising above the lagoon into the very chilly Icelandic air (since I was there in November). And with the black lava in the background, it made you feel like you were literally in another world, and the pictures came out beautifully. I left the Blue Lagoon with super soft skin, feeling as relaxed as I could possibly be after a 12-hour travel day, and slept like a rock that night.

Pro Tip: Book ahead, bring a hair tie (that geothermal water is intense on your hair!), and visit on your arrival day or departure day. I would also recommend booking your tickets that include hotel transfers as it’s not easy to get to.

4. Northern Lights Iceland

One of the top things to do in Iceland, and what I was most excited about, was seeing the Northern Lights. I planned my entire trip around this phenomenon, even choosing February for its long nights and higher chances of aurora activity. I downloaded the aurora forecast app, checked cloud coverage obsessively, and drove to multiple dark-sky locations, including past Þingvellir National Park and into remote countryside spots where there wasn’t a streetlight in sight.

But Mother Nature had other plans.

Despite seven nights of hopeful stargazing and freezing fingers gripping my tripod, I didn’t get to see the Northern Lights once. Every night, the clouds rolled in just after sunset, veiling the skies in a blanket of gray. It was frustrating, but also a reminder that Iceland’s raw, wild beauty doesn’t perform on command.

I’ll be honest: I was disappointed. But the chase itself became part of the adventure. The quiet moments under the Icelandic sky, the hush of snow falling around me, the camaraderie with other travelers I met on the hunt and those memories are just as powerful.

Pro Tip: Plan for multiple nights of aurora hunting and keep your expectations in check. Weather in Iceland changes quickly. Consider joining a Northern Lights tour, as guides track weather patterns in real time and know the best last-minute viewing spots. And remember: Iceland offers magic in many forms, even if the skies stay dark.

5. Glacier Hike & Ice Caves

Glacier hiking was a “bucket list” dream that completely delivered. I strapped on crampons and stepped onto Vatnajökull, one of the largest glaciers in Europe. The crunch beneath my feet, the alien-like terrain of bright blue crevasses, and the sheer silence, it was surreal.

Later, I entered an ice cave beneath Kötlujökull glacier, where walls of sapphire ice surrounded me like glass. Since I was visiting in early November, you could literally feel how still and chilly the air was, and the way the light filled the tunnel made it illuminate in such a beautiful way. Our guide explained how the cave forms and melts each year, it made me realize how fragile this experience truly is.

6. Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach

I arrived at Jökulsárlón around sunrise, and it felt like stepping into a dream. The enormous icebergs had this pretty blueish/white color to them as they literally just floated around in the water. You could even catch a glimpse of a cute seal popping their heads up from time to time, which made the experience even better.

Just across the road at Diamond Beach, you can see chunks of glacial ice scattered like jewels across the black volcanic sand. I spent what felt like several hours just observing, being in the moment, capturing some incredible shots on my phone, and just enjoying the waves crash over the ice. It was truly a unique and incredible experience right out of the ice age.

7. South Coast & Black Sand Beach

If you are pondering renting a car and driving through Iceland’s South Coast, I am here to say DO IT! You a literally in the middle of a nature documentary with the most incredible landscapes and seeing Mother Nature at her best. From massive waterfalls to the most amazing-colored glaciers, to volcanos, it was never ending the incredible scenery you can experience on this drive.

Skógafoss

At Skógafoss, I stood in awe as the waterthundered down from 60 meters high, the sound so powerful it drowned out everything else. Even though I left the falls with a wet jacket and a foggy phone lends, I couldn’t believe that I got top experience this incredible waterfall. The other thing I do recommend while you are here, and if you are able, is to take the hike up almost 500 stairs behind the waterfall to get incredible views of the waterfall plunging below. And although you will most likely get wet and it’s super breezy and chilly, it was 100% worth every single step in the middle of winter.

Kvernufoss

Not too far from the waterfall, I stumbled upon, what I feel like was the Iceland hidden gem of Kvernufoss. The trailhead was tucked behind the Skógar Museum and barely marked, but the short hike led to something unforgettable. As I walked with my group behind the waterfall, which I feel like you can walk behind all of the here, I could feel the waterfall’s mist on my face, and everywhere I looked, I could see jaw-dropping cliffs covered in moss. It was quiet, peaceful, and completely surreal, like a secret carved out by nature just for me.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

As we continued along the coast, we finally made it to the famous, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. This was a beach that I had at the top of my itinerary, because other than on the big island of Hawaii, I had never seen black sand, that literally went on forever. Now, since I visited in November, it was for sure not beach weather, but I was still able to put my Ugg boats in the sand, which was almost like putting my toes in the sand.

8. Trek the Laugavegur Trail & Þórsmörk

The Laugavegur Trail is known as Iceland’s most ultimate hiking adventure. Honestly, this hike was probably one of the most unforgettable experiences on this entire trip. We did this hike over 3 days, staying in very remote huts that were barely just one step above camping. I think the only thing that made sleeping in huts manageable was the incredible landscape variations with every turn. One minute we are crossing lava fields, the next we are passing thermal vents, and the next we are walking through frigid waters leaving us both numb and full of adrenaline.

As we crossed Þórsmörk you could see the large glaciers from above and then a lush green valley below. Moss was everywhere, and I literally mean everywhere, over the rocks, the ground, everywhere. The best part of the day for me, was after a long day of hiking, just siting and relaxing by the water and doing absolutely nothing. At night, we had hoped to see the Northern Lights, but Mother Nature was not on my side for this trip in the least. Regardless, the quiet peaceful moments, were still worth it and it will forever be etched into my memory as an incredible experience.

Insider Tip: Looking for day hikes? There are plenty to choose from out of Landmannalaugar that you can do.

9. Wildlife Watching: Puffins & Whales

I feel like the wildlife in Iceland is as abundant as the number of waterfalls that I have seen in this country. I have done several whale watching excursions on past trips, but they don’t even begin to come close with the number of whales that I saw in Iceland. There are quite literally numerous of massive humpback whales swimming everywhere, leaping out of the water, and basically putting on a show for everyone to see.

10. Iceland’s Hidden Gems

Some of Iceland’s most magical places aren’t in any guidebook, they find you when you least expect it. I’ll never forget the moment I stumbled across Múlagljúfur Canyon, tucked away along the South Coast. I took one short hike and got to see this incredible gorge completely blanketed with lush green landscapes, and more incredible waterfalls that just dumped themselves off the sides of a cliff. I just stood there for several minutes in awe of hearing nothing but the water and just enjoyed being in the moment and enjoying the incredible views.

This was actually unexpected, but I was very surprised that the Westfjords was honestly one of the highlights of this trip. I think I loved that there were little to no tourists and I felt like I was in uncharted territory, which I loved I rented a tiny red cabin near Patreksfjörður, cooked pasta with just-bought groceries, and spent the evening wrapped in a blanket watching the northern lights dance across the sky. No sound, no light pollution—just me and the aurora, and I nearly cried from the beauty of it.

If you are in the area and get the opportunity, make sure you visit the Grafarkirkja Church. This cute church has a small turf-roof chapel that sits very quietly next to the water. I visited on a gray, moody afternoon and was the only person there. The wind rustled the grass as I sat on a nearby rock, staring out at the ocean. No cars, no voices, just a deep, quiet sense of peace. This was one of the many soul-searching moments that I experienced while I was in Iceland.

Conclusion: Things to do in Iceland

Iceland offers so many unforgettable things to do in Iceland, from vibrant Reykjavík and geothermal spa relaxation to glacier hikes, aurora hunting, remote canyons, puffin colonies, and whale watching. Wherever I traveled across this island, each moment felt vivid, vast, and deeply connected to nature. If you’re dreaming of volcanic landscapes, icy caves, and midnight sun nights or just want stories to tell, then Iceland deserves a spot on your travel list. So, pack your bags and let me help you plan the best trip to Iceland!