Iceland for First Timers

Every place below is pinned on the interactive map with its exact location. You can browse it for free, and copy the whole map into your own Ikuzo account to adapt it to your trip.

Reykjavik & Around

Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik's landmark church, take the elevator up the tower for the best view over the colorful rooftops. Small fee for the tower, the church itself is free.

Harpa Concert Hall

Striking glass concert hall by the old harbor, free to wander inside and the honeycomb facade glows at sunset. Easy stop on a harbor walk.

Sun Voyager

Steel ship sculpture on the waterfront, a 10 minute walk from Harpa. Best photographed at sunrise or sunset with Mount Esja behind.

Sky Lagoon

Modern oceanside lagoon with an infinity edge only 15 minutes from downtown, quieter and closer than the Blue Lagoon. Book the 7 step ritual online in advance.

Blue Lagoon

The famous milky blue geothermal spa near the airport, perfect first or last day stop. Prebooking is mandatory and it sells out days ahead in summer.

Reykjadalur Hot Spring River

Hike about 3 km (1 hour) up the valley to bathe in a naturally warm river, bring a towel and swimsuit. Paid parking at the trailhead in Hveragerði.

Golden Circle

Þingvellir National Park

Walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in the Almannagjá gorge, also the site of the world's oldest parliament. Parking costs about 1000 ISK, pay at the machine or online.

Geysir & Strokkur

Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes so everyone gets the shot, stand upwind of the spray. Free entry and free parking.

Gullfoss

Iceland's most famous waterfall, a massive two tier cascade into a canyon. Two viewing levels, the lower path closes in winter when icy.

Kerið Crater

Volcanic crater with red slopes and an aquamarine lake, a 15 minute walk around the rim. Small entrance fee, around 600 ISK.

Friðheimar

Greenhouse restaurant where you eat tomato soup with fresh bread among the growing plants. Book a table well ahead, it serves lunch hours only.

South Coast

Seljalandsfoss

The waterfall you can walk behind, bring a rain jacket because you will get soaked. Paid parking, about 1000 ISK.

Gljúfrabúi

Hidden waterfall inside a mossy canyon, a 10 minute walk north of Seljalandsfoss. You wade a few steps through the stream to enter, waterproof shoes help.

Skógafoss

A 60 meter curtain of water you can walk right up to, with rainbows on sunny days. Climb the 527 steps for the top view, parking is free.

Sólheimajökull Glacier

The easiest glacier tongue to see up close, a 20 minute flat walk from the paid parking lot. Never step onto the ice without a guided tour and crampons.

Dyrhólaey

Clifftop promontory with a giant rock arch and puffins in summer. The road to the upper lighthouse is steep gravel, and parts close during nesting season in May and June.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Iconic basalt columns and sea stacks, but deadly sneaker waves surprise people here every year. Never turn your back on the ocean and stay far above the waterline.

Vík í Mýrdal

The little village under the cliffs, a good stop for fuel, food and the wool shop. The red roofed church above town is a 5 minute photo detour.

Fjaðrárgljúfur

A 2 km serpentine canyon with an easy rim trail, about 1 hour round trip. The last stretch of road is rough gravel but fine in a small car in summer.

Skaftafell (Svartifoss)

Waterfall framed by black basalt organ pipes, a 45 minute uphill hike from the Skaftafell visitor center. Parking fee applies at the national park lot.

Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck

Abandoned DC3 wreck on a black sand desert, a flat 45 minute walk each way from the roadside parking. A paid shuttle runs if you want to skip the walk.

Glacier Lagoon & East

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Icebergs calving off Europe's largest ice cap drift through this lagoon toward the sea, and seals often swim between them. Boat tours run in summer, book ahead.

Diamond Beach

Just across the road from Jökulsárlón, ice chunks wash up and glitter on the black sand. Conditions change daily and early morning light is best.

Vestrahorn (Stokksnes)

Photographers' favorite mountain rising behind black sand dunes, with a small entrance fee paid at the Viking Cafe. Sunrise and the reflections after rain are magic.

Seyðisfjörður

Artsy fjord village with the famous rainbow street leading to the blue church. The mountain pass to get there is spectacular but check road conditions outside summer.

Hengifoss

Red striped basalt cliffs frame this 128 meter waterfall, about a 2.5 hour round trip hike from the parking lot. You pass the basalt columns of Litlanesfoss halfway up.

North

Dettifoss

Europe's most powerful waterfall, a brute wall of grey glacial water. The west side on road 862 is paved and has the easier 15 minute walk from parking.

Ásbyrgi Canyon

Horseshoe shaped forested canyon said to be the hoofprint of Odin's horse, with easy flat walks to the pond at the far end. Quiet even in high season.

Hverir Geothermal Area

Boiling mud pots and steaming vents in a rust orange landscape by Lake Mývatn, strong sulfur smell included. Stay on the marked paths, the crust is thin.

Grjótagjá Cave

Small lava cave hiding a steaming blue pool, famous from Game of Thrones. Bathing is forbidden, it is a quick 10 minute stop near Mývatn.

Goðafoss

The waterfall of the gods, a wide horseshoe cascade right off the Ring Road. Paths on both banks, the east side gets you closest to the water.

Akureyrarkirkja

Akureyri's hilltop church by the same architect as Hallgrímskirkja. Climb the steps for a view over the capital of the north and its fjord.

Húsavík Whale Watching

Iceland's whale watching capital, humpbacks show up on most summer tours from the pretty harbor. Book a morning departure for calmer seas and dress warm.

Snæfellsnes

Kirkjufell & Kirkjufellsfoss

Iceland's most photographed mountain, shot from the small waterfall across the road. Paid parking at the falls, 30 minutes is enough for the classic photo.

Arnarstapi Cliffs

Coastal walk past basalt arches, the Gatklettur stone arch and noisy arctic terns in summer. The easy cliff path to Hellnar takes about 40 minutes one way.

Búðakirkja

Lonely black wooden church standing in a lava field, one of the peninsula's signature photos. Free to visit, be respectful as it is still an active church.

Djúpalónssandur

Black pebble beach with rusted trawler wreckage and four historic lifting stones once used to test fishermen. Same sneaker wave rules as Reynisfjara, keep away from the water.

Snæfellsjökull

The glacier capped volcano from Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth, visible from all over the peninsula on clear days. Summit trips only with a guided tour.

Stykkishólmur

Colorful harbor town and the best base on the peninsula, with the Súgandisey lighthouse hill for harbor views. The Westfjords ferry leaves from here.

Highlands

Landmannalaugar

Rainbow colored rhyolite mountains and a natural hot spring to soak in after hiking. Highland F roads open roughly mid June to September, go by 4x4 or the highland bus.