The Coolest Things to Add to Your Iceland Bucket List

We’ve never been to a place with more adventurous things to do than Iceland. On one trip there, we snowmobiled on a glacier, walked behind a waterfall, and snorkeled in between two continents.

I’m not even an adrenaline junkie.

This guide gets into everything we were able to tick off on our Iceland bucket list, plus a few extra envy-inducing experiences that will make the folks back home super jealous.

Snorkel between two continents.

Iceland’s Silfra is the crack between North America and Eurasia that some enterprising individuals decided would be fun to snorkel through. Snorkeling the Silfra means you are swimming between two continents, and that is an awesome thing to say you did. 

In fact, Silfra snorkeling is one of those crazy things to do in Iceland that you truly won’t get anywhere else.

There are a few organizers who lead Silfra snorkeling tours, some even offering scuba options if you’re a certified diver. We went with DIVE.IS.

I mean, if you’re doing something crazy, you should do the research and find the one that doesn’t cause drowning or hypothermia.

I’m kidding. I didn’t find any of those.

Check out some additional highly-rated tour operators that will help you snorkel the Silfra in Iceland:

How to Get There

The Silfra is located in Thingvellir National Park at the intersection of one of three tectonic plates in Iceland. The park should be part of your Iceland sightseeing plans anyway as one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions.

You’ll need to park in the P5 parking lot, NOT the Silfra parking lot, which is open only for employees of tour operators. The P5 lot is a short five-minute walk to your destination, and you’ll need to pay a fee. You should do so online once you know your car plates.

Tips for Visiting

• Wear two pairs of wool socks for your dive. Our luggage was delayed, but we made sure to find replacement socks before the tour.
• One set of long underwear is enough. Your extremities will feel the temps the most, but the rest of you will be in a lesser state of shock courtesy of your dry suit.
• Be honest about your kilos. This isn’t the time to pull what we all do at the DMV. The dry suit you squeeze into is meant to be like a second skin. 
• Don’t contort yourself in the water. It’ll be even colder if water seeps into your dry suit, as it did for me.

The Best Part

You will never swim in water so clear. Take a sip while you’re at it! It’s never a bad idea to hydrate, especially in one of the best places in Iceland.

In second place would be the hot chocolate and biscuits at the end of the tour, right when you’re regaining feeling in your limbs. There’s nothing like it. 

Snowmobile on a glacier.

I’m not generally a winter sports enthusiast, preferring to find myself in front of warm fires with a good book on most group ski trips. The idea of snowmobiling on a glacier was hard to pass up, though, and felt uniquely Iceland.

We chose to do so on Langjokull, Iceland’s second largest glacier behind Vatnajökull in Vatnajökull National Park, with Extreme Iceland.

Several tour operators boast similar experiences to these Iceland tourist places. Interested in some comparison shopping? Check out more highly-rated tours below:

How to Get There

Most tours offer two options for how to get to your starting point. It’s also an easy addition to your Golden Circle or Ring Road tours.

Guides will either pick you up from Reykjavik, in which case you’re opting for a full-day tour, or you meet at the Gullfoss Cafe.

Leave some additional time before or after the tour to check out the Gullfoss waterfall. This is one of Iceland’s iconic falls commonly found on Iceland tours.

Note: If you’re in a pinch, the food in the cafe is fine, albeit overpriced, but that’s to be expected while in Iceland.

Tips for Visiting

• Get there early if you drive yourself. They ask that you meet the group about 15 minutes early. Default bookings are for two people sharing a snowmobile.
• You may not need the heavy winter gear. Most of our group opted to leave our jackets behind as we were given heavy-duty snowsuits.
• Listen to the instructions. Suited up, you get a brief tutorial on how to work the machines and rules on what not to do that will inevitably be broken.
• Stick with the group. There will be the people who break out of the group and flip their snowmobiles over because they went off course and hit a rock they didn’t see.

The Best Part

You spend about an hour snowmobiling on the glacier, and mid-way through you get a break to take in what it is that you just did. It’s incredible.

In second place would be the part where your kidneys are back to where they need to be at the end of your tour. 

Chase the Northern Lights.

I joke and call it the aurora boring-alis, but seeing the Northern Lights, or the aurora borealis, is as close to a magical experience as you’ll get.

It’s like the sky is dancing, and I’m not usually one for overuse of figurative language.

We didn’t have the best viewing during our time there, so I’m sure I’ll find myself in some glamping igloo situation down the line for a do-over. The limited colors we did see were enough to give me the bug for more.

If you’re in South Iceland or the city, there are tours right out of Reykjavik you can do that offer a better chance at seeing the lights. If you’re going for that efficiency, check out some of the options below:

How to Get There

It’s impossible to predict where and when you’ll see the lights until you’re out there, and even then it isn’t an exact science. We had a rental car, so we decided to chase them on our own.

Fun fact: The best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland change nightly.

Tips for Visiting

• Get out of the city. Just like it’s easier to see the stars in the sky away from big city light pollution, the same tactic works for the Northern Lights.
• Trust the experts. The Icelandic Meteorological Office offers a daily aurora forecast that gives visitors an idea of what to expect each night.
• Learn the lingo. In the right-hand corner of that site above, you’ll see a ranking of 0-9 on the forecast. We never got beyond a 4, but we still saw some activity.
• Don’t let NOT seeing the Northern Lights ruin your trip. If you’ve been reading along, there’s so much to do in Iceland.

The Best Part

Seeing the Northern Lights, if only briefly, is incredible. There’s something about natural phenomena that makes you feel so small. It becomes the highlight of any trip if you’re lucky enough to witness it.

Watch an eruption at the Geysir geothermal area.

The Geysir geothermal area is Iceland’s version of Yellowstone’s Old Faithful. Honestly, considering the surrounding scenery and relative lack of tourists, it might even be better.

The Great Geysir is the most famous hot spring here, but it’s been mostly dormant for the last few years. Luckily, you only have to wait up to about 10 minutes to see nearby Strokkur erupt. That’s what we waited for during our visit.

How to Get There

The hot spring area is a popular stop along the main Golden Circle route. If you’re driving yourself, it’s just over 60 miles from Reykjavik, so it’s an easy day trip. There’s no entrance fee to the geothermal area.

Tips for Visiting

• Stand back. News reporting around thermal attractions suggests this needs to be mentioned. You don’t want to be too close when these things erupt.
• Come early or late. Crowds are thickest after 10am and then start to thin out again after 4pm. The site is open year-round, but I’d recommend avoiding the dark.
• Walk the valley. Once you’ve seen Strokkur do its thing, dedicate some time to exploring the Haukadalur Valley and its bubbling pools.
• Grab a snack. The Geysir Center near the geothermal area is one of Iceland’s largest souvenir shops. Oh, I said snack. They have some casual eats there, too.

The Best Part

I like a bit of consistency where I can find it, especially in a place like Iceland where the weather can be so fickle. You won’t leave this one disappointed thanks to Strokkur’s frequent blows.

Relax in Iceland’s thermal lagoons.

This one doesn’t seem all that adventurous, perhaps, unless you consider the hot spots in the lagoons that are at near-scalding temps.

Iceland is well-known for its geothermal areas, many of which are surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll encounter on any trip, let alone in Iceland. 

It’s what makes the country’s steamy lagoons some of the top things to see in Iceland. Start with the Blue Lagoon.

Note: Some call it overrated, but it’s like Iceland’s gateway lagoon. That’s why it’s an Iceland must-see.

How to Get There

There are several lagoons you can visit, the most famous of which is the Blue Lagoon. If you’re doing a self-drive tour, your options open up significantly.

You can even make it to North Iceland and the Myvatn Nature Baths after a visit to spectacular Lake Myvatn.

Tips for Visiting

• Rent a suit. We had to rent swimsuits at the Blue Lagoon because of our luggage delay, but it isn’t a bad idea to get them anyway because of the silica in the water.
• Find your favorite lagoon. The second thermal stop we made was at the Secret Lagoon in Fludir. It was less crowded than the Blue Lagoon, but both were fun. 
• Take advantage of the add-ons. Blue Lagoon admission comes with a complimentary cocktail and mud mask.
• Get over your issues with nudity. You get a private shower stall at the Blue Lagoon. At the Secret Lagoon, you’re expected to wash all of your bits in an open shower.

The Best Part

I highly recommend the Blue Lagoon right after your flight to Iceland. If you’re coming in from the United States, you’ll probably land in the morning, hours before anything is open anyway, even those Reykjavik museums.

Lazing around in that hot spa and having yourself a mud mask never sounded so good, and you will be relaxed as heck. All you’ll want after most likely is a giant bowl of soup to finish you off. That’s normal.

Visit a black sand beach.

You’re not here to sunbathe. Icelandic black sand beaches are for the adventurer. Reynisfjara’s Black Sand Beach is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Iceland.

You’ll see black basalt columns on one side and roaring waves on the other, all up against the backdrop of the black sand. While Reynisfjara isn’t the only black sand beach in Iceland, it is the most iconic.

If you’re looking for a guided experience, Iceland’s beaches do make it on many popular country tours. Check out some of the options below:

How to Get There

Reynisfjara is about 110 miles from Reykjavik. If you’re not on a tour, it’s accessible from the Ring Road. It’s an easy walk from the parking lot to the beach.

Tips for Visiting

• Don’t even think about jumping in the water. It’s not just cold in there year-round. It’s dangerous. Tourists have been swept away at this beach.
• Work the buddy system. Never turn your back on the waves. Sneaker waves are a real thing, and you don’t want to make the local news for the perfect photo.
• Bring the binoculars. The basalt stacks here are home to a variety of seabird species that love making themselves at home in the crevices.
• Bundle up no matter when you’re visiting. This isn’t even comparable to coastal Oregon. Iceland is a whole new thing when it comes to weather.

The Best Part

What you’re stepping on is actually black volcanic rock ground down over time. You’re not getting that in Florida.

See a famous plane crash site.

If you’re into plane wrecks, Solheimasandur Beach is home to one of Iceland’s most famous crash sites, the Sólheimasandur plane wreck.

I’ve read that this one has become more popular over the years thanks to some Justin Bieber videos, but we had the site to ourselves on our visit after it was released. We were there in November, though.

Things may look different in Iceland’s summer months.

How to Get There

The wreck is located off Route 1 between Skógafoss and Vík. Follow signs for Sólheimajökull. Once you’re there, you’ll need to pay a parking fee. (This is new since our visit.)

Tips for Visiting

• You can’t drive up to the wreckage. At some point in the past, tourists were welcome to drive closer, but today’s visitors have to walk over two miles each way.
• Be ready for boredom. It’s not just a long walk to the wreckage. It’s monotonous. You won’t see the wreckage until you pass over a dune close to the end of the trek.
• Prepare for wind. We got lucky with most of the weather during our trip to Iceland, but you’ll be exposed to the elements out here.
• Take only photos. The wreckage looks even more wrecked today than it did during our trip. You don’t need to spray your name all over something. A photo will do.

The Best Part

This is the eeriest Iceland attraction we visited during our travels. The scenery certainly does this one some favors.

Watch the ice float at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.

The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is something you likely won’t see anywhere else in your travels. If you’re able to make it out that way on your Iceland road trip, do. Spend some time taking it all in.

This is the best of Iceland.

The ice you’ll see here is fed by Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest ice cap. The surrounding area is also part of the second-largest national park in Europe. You’ll need to travel to Russia for Yugyd Va National Park, the biggest.

How to Get There

If you’re driving yourself, you can follow Route 1 from Reykjavik all the way to the lagoon. It’s about 236 miles from start to finish, but you’ll likely want to make several stops along the way.

Tips for Visiting

• Keep your eyes on the water. This is a popular spot for seals, especially in the winter. They like hanging out here in the cold months to catch fish.
• The lagoon is open year-round. That said, if you’re here in the winter during a raging snowstorm, it may not be the best time to take the family for a drive.
• Visit in the summer for an extra special experience. Summer travelers can book a trip to kayak on the lagoon. Just book ahead. These do sell out.
• Take a boat ride. Summer travelers can also book boat tours on the lagoon. I’d come back here just to make this experience happen.

The Best Part

If there’s a spot in Iceland that will make you feel far from home, it’s this lagoon. The landscape is otherworldly but very much Iceland at the same time.

See the ice sparkle at Diamond Beach.

This beach is known for shining bright like a diamond thanks to the glittering hunks of ice that dot the shore and sand from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. This is the largest glacier of Vatnajökull, the ice cap I describe in the stop above.

How to Get There

If you’re not on a tour out this way, you’ll have to drive along Route 1 to Diamond Beach. It’s about 230 miles from Reykjavik to the beach. Park at the free lot once you’re there.

Tips for Visiting

• Pair your visit with Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Diamond Beach is just across the road from the lagoon. It’s easy to see both in an hour or so.
• Stay dry. Don’t get too close to the water. It may look all peaceful, but the tide can change quickly and get you soaked or worse.
• Watch your step. Some of the ice may be hiding beneath the sand. Watch where you’re going so you don’t trip and hurt yourself.
• Don’t climb on anything. Yes, ice is slippery. That’s not some newsflash. These icebergs also have sharp, jagged edges that wouldn’t feel too pleasant in a mishap.

The Best Part

Things can get extra sparkly if you time things right. I loved our photos, but clear skies at sunset rather than the overcast sky we got would have made things even more magical.

Walk on a glacier.

We came upon this bucket list experience somewhat accidentally while visiting the trail to the Skaftafellsjokull glacier.

The easy hike is highly recommended. We were able to make it safely to the foot of the glacier, where we saw tour groups heading up the glacier with the appropriate gear.

If you’re interested in the same, tours are organized at the visitor center where the trail begins. You can also book one of the tours below:

How to Get There

Skaftafell can be reached by following Iceland’s Ring Road. You can get there in about four hours from Reykjavik, but that can depend on the weather.

Tips for Visiting

• Leave time for Vatnajökull National Park. Several trails in the park don’t require as much prep as the glacier treks. Pick and choose what you have time for.
• Don’t miss the falls. Svartifoss in Vatnajökull is one of my favorite waterfalls. You can access viewpoints of Morsárfoss, the tallest waterfall in Iceland, from here, too.
• Don’t be a dummy. We watched people climb onto the glacier without the proper gear. One guy was wearing tennis shoes and predictably sliding around.
• Bring wet weather gear. Even if you’re not booked on a glacier trek, there’s a good chance you will get wet navigating any trails in the park.

The Best Part

The glacier lagoon at Skaftafellsjokull is just as sparkly as Iceland’s famous Diamond Beach. Look beyond the Instagram highlights, people.

Hike into a volcanic crater.

If visiting Iceland’s active volcanoes is a bit much, Kerið is an impressive Iceland attraction with lower stakes.

Fun fact: The crater was formed by a collapsed magma chamber over 3,000 years ago.

It has filled up with water since, creating a vivid landscape that has earned it the nickname of “The Eye of the World.”

How to Get There

The crater is a popular stop along the Golden Circle route. If you’re already visiting Selfoss, it’s just an extra 15 minutes north along a spur road. There is a parking lot upon arrival after you pay a nominal fee to see the site.

Tips for Visiting

• Walk the rim. This is where you’ll get some great panoramic views of the crater below. It’s less than a mile all the way around but dedicate at least half an hour.
• Walk down to the lake. Follow the stairs from the top down to the lake below to get a closer look at the red slopes that line the crater’s walls.
• Stay on dedicated trails. Things can get slick and slippery in inclement weather. Stick to marked paths walking the rim and the stairs down to the lake.
• Consider a winter trip. While this one is best visited when you can safely walk down to the lake, the lake freezes over in the winter months.

The Best Part

The reflections on the pool of the crater and the surrounding landscape make you feel very small. I’m all about visiting places that offer an extra dose of perspective.

READ MORE: What’s your motivation for travel? Check out a few of my favorite reasons people hit the road.

Walk behind a waterfall.

Iceland has many spectacular waterfalls, and I’m sure you already have a few on your list. There’s one that will really put a smile on your face if you put in a little extra effort, though. That’s Seljalandsfoss.

A trail of a little over a mile takes you behind the falls for a view you just don’t see every day.

If you really want the full experience of these falls, walk the trail behind them for a trip of a little over a mile roundtrip. Expect lots of people to be very slow in doing the same while you get soaked by the water.

How to Get There

The waterfall is a two-hour drive from Reykjavik along Route 1. There’s an accessible parking lot for you at the end. You won’t miss this one. The waterfall is visible from the road.

Tips for Visiting

• Wear waterproof gear. You will get wet. Cover your electronics if they’re not waterproof. Wear a good rain jacket. Shoes or boots with good traction are great.
• Be safe. We saw a lot of slipping and sliding on a mild fall day. If things look icy or generally sketchy, it’s fine to just see this beauty from the front.
• Be flexible. The path behind the falls closes down from time to time for your safety. If that happens, don’t force the issue.
• Don’t stop there. Glijufrabui, another waterfall offering a behind-the-falls view, is walking distance from the exit of Seljalandsfoss. You’ll need additional gear.

The Best Part

The view from behind the falls was almost as good as the squeals from tourists getting soaked by the water as they navigated the slick rocks. Yes, you’ll get wet. It’s all part of the experience.

See more Iceland waterfalls.

I had to highlight the one where you can actually see the world from the outside in, but Iceland is spoiled with waterfalls. I have a lengthy guide to Iceland waterfalls if you want to find a few along your Iceland itinerary.

Our travel was focused on the South Coast, so those are the ones I feature in my guide. If you’re open to travel all over Iceland, here are the most popular options:

• Dettifoss: There are so many waterfalls in Iceland that it can be hard to keep track of the biggest and tallest, but this one is definitely near the top of that list.
• Gullfoss: This is Iceland’s most visited waterfall. If you’re doing any excursions on Langjokull Glacier, you’ll likely meet your tour here.
• Öxarárfoss: This beauty in Thingvellir National Park is one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls. At less than an hour from Reykjavik, it’s super accessible, too.
• Skógafoss: This one is impressive enough that it’s hosted celebrities. It’s been featured in a Justin Bieber music video and the movie Thor: The Dark World.
• Svartifoss: This one might have been my favorite. It’s surrounded by black basalt columns that make things that much more atmospheric.

If you’d rather someone else do the work, here are some ideas for tours that include Iceland waterfall stops:

Explore Reykjavik.

Reykjavik is probably what I was least excited about on our trip to Iceland. That’s unfortunate. I loved the city, and am looking forward to when we can return and dig in a little bit more.

You’re likely flying into Reykjavik anyway. You may as well spend some time here as you prioritize Iceland places to visit.

I have a full guide to sightseeing in Reykjavik that you can read at your leisure. If you’re pressed for time, don’t miss the views from the top of Hallgrímskirkja and the bread bowl soups at Svarta Kaffið.

Tour an ice cave.

This was on our initial itinerary. Unfortunately, we missed out on an opportunity to tour the dazzling ice caves in Iceland as part of our snowmobiling tour due to the mild weather we were experiencing.

It’s usually one of the best things to do in Iceland in winter, which generally starts in November. Our November trip was just that mild.

The most well-known ice cave is the Crystal Cave in the Vatnajokull Glacier, the world’s biggest ice cap that isn’t located at the north or south poles. You have many other options for Iceland ice caves, though.

If this is already sounding like it’s up your alley, check out some of these highly-rated options for guided tours:

More Things to Add to an Iceland Bucket List

We spent less than a week in Iceland. While it was jam-packed with adventure, we still left quite a bit on the tables. Here are a few more ideas for Iceland excursions if you’re lucky enough to have more time:

• Take a geothermal bath at the Beer Spa. Relax in a bath filled with beer, hops, yeast, and water for what the proprietors say is skin health and overall wellness.
• Go horseback riding on an Icelandic horse. We saw a few of these fuzzy beauties on the side of the road during our Iceland road trip.
• Explore the Reykjanes Peninsula. See geothermal activity at Gunnuhver, the cliffs of Reykjanesviti, and two continents at the Bridge Between Continents.
• Chase the folklore of the Westfjords. Ditch the tourists in this remote corner of Iceland. I’d start with the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft myself.
• Ride an elevator inside a dormant volcano. I’m serious. You can take an open elevator down into the magma chamber of Thrihnukagigur.
• Geek out on a Game of Thrones tour. Go on a hunt for White Walkers on filming locations throughout Iceland that stood in for north of the Wall.
• See the real Húsavík. This one is high on my life. See the town depicted in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
• Hike the Fimmvörðuháls Trail. This trail is over 15 miles of diverse landscapes that include over 25 waterfalls, a volcano, and two glaciers.
• Feel extra on a helicopter tour. Fly over active volcanoes and other geothermal landscapes on a very bucket-listy adventure in the sky.
• Meet the puffins of Borgarfjörður Eystri. This enchanting fishing village is known for the colonies of puffins dotting the cliffs.
• Marvel at the colors of Landmannalaugar. Experience a surreal landscape of rhyolite mountains and geothermal springs in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve.
• Go on a whale-watching tour. Visit from April to late September to early October for peak whale watching. There are over 20 species here.

Tips Before Booking Your Iceland Excursions

We were drawn to Iceland by the promise of adventure among Iceland sights. Many of Iceland’s famous tourist attractions are all about getting a little bit uncomfortable, whether that’s swimming in frigid waters or facing your fears.

To make the best of what to see in Iceland, I do have a few more tips to assist in your planning:

• Keep up to date on the country’s alert response systems. Natural disasters can be avoided if you pay attention to what’s going on across the country.
• Don’t drive unless you know how to handle the elements. We did a self-drive Golden Circle tour and beyond, but we have lots of experience in the snow.
• There’s no shame in booking guided tours. If it looks like bad weather is coming your way, save the driving for the experts and find yourself a guided tour, instead.
• Be flexible with any tour bookings. Check your email the night before. Iceland has some crazy weather, so it’s important to have a backup plan or two.
• Practice your photo skills. Test new methods for low light, especially if you’re here for the Northern Lights. Read up on camera settings that work best for the night. 
• Experiences can change by season. Winter means less daylight, but it also means a better chance to see ice caves and the Northern Lights. Decide on your priorities.
• Pack accordingly. I put together a detailed guide to what to wear in Iceland and what to pack based on our own experience, including where we failed.

READ MORE: For an even more extensive travel guide, check out my Iceland trip planner.

Iceland is the ultimate bucket list destination.

The coolest thing in Iceland depends on your priorities for Iceland travel. The Northern Lights, Iceland’s waterfalls, and glaciers like Langjokull are at the top of many visitors’ lists of tourist attractions in Iceland.

Pick and choose what gets you going and book those excursions. Once that’s done, be flexible. The weather out here is wild and unpredictable, which can do a number on your Iceland itinerary.

Iceland rewards those who visit with a flexible mindset, even if you’re super Type A like me!

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