Iceland is a land of extraordinary natural beauty, with landscapes that seem straight out of a fantasy novel. From towering waterfalls and expansive glaciers to volcanic craters and geothermal hot springs, Iceland’s raw and untouched wilderness is captivating.

A road trip is the ideal way to experience Iceland, as most of its breathtaking attractions are easily accessible from the famous Ring Road (the country’s national highway covering over 1,000 kilometres).

Most sites are free of charge, located just off the highway, and can be explored at your own pace, offering you the freedom to create your perfect Icelandic adventure.

In this guide, we'll explore 21 must-see attractions that define Iceland's beauty and adventure.

Geothermal Wonders
Waterfalls
Glaciers & Ice Formations
Natural Landscapes
Coastal Highlights
Villages & Towns
The Northern Lights
Geysers & Volcanic Features

Geothermal Wonders

Blue Lagoon

Kick off your Iceland adventure with a visit to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is filled with warm, mineral-rich water that comes from a nearby geothermal power plant, making it a unique bathing experience.

Besides relaxing in the milky blue waters, visitors can take advantage of the in-water bar, where you can enjoy drinks without leaving the lagoon, and the famous silica mud masks for skin rejuvenation. The lagoon also offers amenities like saunas, steam rooms, and a relaxation area.

For those looking for more luxury, the Blue Lagoon features the Retreat Spa, offering private lagoon access, a range of premium treatments, and a more secluded atmosphere. The lagoon is open year-round, making it a great option regardless of the season, whether under the midnight sun in summer or the northern lights in winter.

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM (varies by season)
Prices: Packages start at 8,990 ISK (approx. €60), including entrance and basic amenities like a mud mask and towel.

Sky Lagoon

Another great alternative for a geothermal experience is the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik, offering a modern, luxurious twist on Iceland’s bathing culture. Unlike the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon features a stunning oceanfront infinity pool where you can soak while gazing out at the North Atlantic.

The highlight here is "The Ritual," a seven-step rejuvenation process that includes a cold plunge, steam room, and body scrub, designed to refresh and relax you completely. It’s a perfect way to end your road trip and reflect on your Icelandic adventure.

Waterfalls

Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui

Iceland’s top attractions are not only beautiful but incredibly accessible, making it easy to enjoy nature at your own pace. Most sites, like Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui, are located near the main highway and are free to visit.

**Seljalandsfoss**, standing 60 meters high, is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls. Its unique feature is the path that allows visitors to walk behind the cascade, offering a rare perspective of the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.

The waterfall is part of the Seljalands River, which originates from the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. Easy to access from Iceland’s main highway (Ring Road), with nearby parking and well-maintained paths, the area is ideal for exploration. Visiting at sunrise or sunset adds to the beauty, but waterproof clothing is recommended as the spray can be intense.

Just a short 10-minute walk from Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui waterfall is a hidden gem tucked inside a narrow cliffside gorge. Unlike the more popular Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui offers a quieter, more intimate experience, where the waterfall cascades through a small opening in the rock.

Here, you can follow a path that leads through shallow water or hop across stones to reach the base of the falls. Its hidden, mystical atmosphere makes it a unique spot to explore, providing a perfect complement to the nearby Seljalandsfoss.

Skógafoss

A short walk from the parking area brings you right to the base of the waterfall, where you can feel the mist and hear the roaring water.

For the adventurous, a stairway next to the falls leads to a viewing platform at the top, offering sweeping panoramic views of both Skógafoss and the vast surrounding landscape.

Gullfoss

Located in the Golden Circle, Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is one of Iceland’s most breathtaking waterfalls. It features a dramatic double cascade, where the Hvítá River drops in two stages into a deep, rugged canyon. The sheer power of the water is awe-inspiring, as it thunders down the two tiers, plunging 32 meters in total.

On sunny days, you can often see a rainbow arching over the falls, adding to the picturesque beauty.

A viewing platform allows for a panoramic view of the falls and the surrounding highlands, making it one of Iceland’s most impressive natural sights.

Öxarárfoss (Thingvellir National Park)

A smaller yet charming waterfall located within Thingvellir National Park.
Öxarárfoss is framed by the dramatic cliffs of the Almannagjá rift, where you can witness the meeting point of tectonic plates.

Glaciers & Ice Formations

Jökulsárlón Glacier

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most popular attractions, and it’s accessible year-round.

Formed by the melting of Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, it’s a large lagoon filled with icebergs that break off and slowly drift across the water.
The lagoon offers stunning views of these floating icebergs, and visitors can see seals swimming among them.

It’s free to visit, and though the landscape changes with the seasons, it’s a beautiful sight no matter the time of year, making it a must-see for nature lovers.

The contrast of icy blues and whites with the serene waters is trully unforgettable.

Diamond Beach

The beach is free to visit and accessible year-round, offering an unforgettable experience for photographers and travellers alike, with each visit providing a different scene depending on the weather and season.

Ice Caves Tour

For an unforgettable adventure, take an ice cave tour. Explore the dazzling blue ice formations that form beneath glaciers in the winter months, giving you a glimpse into the heart of Iceland’s frozen wilderness.

Natural Landscapes

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir is not only a place of historical significance but also a geological marvel. Almannagjá is the most striking feature, a rift valley caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Thingvellir’s landscapes are an exceptional blend of lush green and stark volcanic rock.

Kerid Crater

A vibrant volcanic crater lake with striking red, green, and black slopes. The turquoise water of the lake contrasts beautifully with its surroundings, creating a colorful spectacle.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

This dramatic canyon, with its lush greenery and steep cliffs, is a hidden gem along Iceland’s south coast. Its winding river and panoramic views make it a perfect stop for those seeking Iceland’s raw natural beauty.

Coastal Highlights

Reynisfjara Beach

Reynisfjara Beach is famous for its striking black sand and dramatic geological formations, making it one of Iceland’s most surreal coastal landscapes.

The beach is bordered by towering **basalt columns**, which form hexagonal shapes that look almost otherworldly. These columns are remnants of ancient volcanic activity and create a perfect backdrop for photographs.

The beauty of the beach is also matched by the power of the Atlantic’s “sneaker waves”, which can be unpredictable and dangerous. These powerful waves can sweep ashore suddenly, catching visitors off guard, so it’s important to maintain a safe distance from the water’s edge.

Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey is a rocky headland on Iceland’s southern coast, rising above the black sand beaches and the Atlantic Ocean.

It's a fantastic place to visit, especially for bird lovers, as it's home to puffins during the summer nesting season. The cliffs offer sweeping views of the surrounding coastline, including Reynisfjara Beach and its iconic sea stacks, as well as the distant Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. The natural stone arch at Dyrhólaey is also a striking feature, adding to the area's unique geological beauty.

Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

The Solheimasandur plane wreck is the remains of a US Navy DC-3 that crash-landed in 1973 due to fuel miscalculations and harsh weather. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the abandoned wreck has remained, creating an eerie landmark on the black sand beach.

To visit the site, you can park in the Solheimasandur parking lot, located off the Ring Road and from there, either walk the 4 kilometres to the wreck or take a shuttle van that departs regularly, offering a convenient way to reach the wreckage.

Villages & Towns

Reykjavik

Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital and largest city, is home to around 130,000 people, which accounts for about 36% of the country’s total population. It’s a lively and compact city known for its blend of modern architecture and natural beauty and it is the perfect starting point for your road trip.

Key landmarks include Hallgrímskirkja Church, offering panoramic views, and Harpa Concert Hall with its striking design. Stroll through the Old Harbor and visit the Sun Voyager, a stunning boat-like sculpture symbolizing exploration and adventure. Reykjavik’s vibrant street art and diverse food scene add to its cultural appeal.

Vik

This charming village, located on the southern coast, serves as a gateway to some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes.

It’s best known for its proximity to Reynisfjara Beach and Dyrhólaey, making it an ideal stop on your road trip.

In addition to its stunning surroundings, Vik is also known for the **Reynisdrangar sea stacks**, which rise majestically from the ocean just off the shore. According to local legend, these rock formations were once trolls that turned to stone when caught by sunlight while trying to pull a ship to shore.

The Northern Lights

To boost your chances of witnessing the Northern Lights, downloading a Northern Lights app is a smart move. These apps provide Aurora forecasts, predicting visibility based on solar activity and cloud cover. The real-time updates help you determine the best time and location for spotting the lights, making it easier to plan your night. With this handy tool, you can maximize your opportunity to experience this breathtaking natural phenomenon.

For those wanting guidance, consider booking a Northern Lights tour with experienced guides who take you to optimal viewing locations. Here are some great options to explore and book:

By booking a guided tour, you can leave the planning to the experts and increase your chances of witnessing this natural phenomenon!

Geysers & Volcanic Features

Strokkur Geyser (Golden Circle)

Located in the Haukadalur Valley, Strokkur is one of Iceland’s most active geysers.

A geyser is a hot spring that periodically ejects boiling water and steam due to the build-up of underground pressure.
Strokkur erupts every 5–10 minutes, shooting water up to 30 meters into the air, creating a dramatic display.

This natural phenomenon is part of the Golden Circle route and offers visitors a thrilling and up-close experience with geothermal activity. The frequent eruptions make it a reliable and popular stop.

Kerid Crater (Golden Circle)

Another volcanic marvel, this crater is known for its vividly colored water and steep red slopes. It's an easy hike around the rim, offering fantastic views of the surrounding area.

This road trip covers Iceland’s most captivating natural attractions, from powerful waterfalls and black sand beaches to glittering glaciers and geothermal lagoons. Each stop reveals something new about this extraordinary island, making it a truly magical journey.

Top 21 Must-See Attractions in Iceland: A Road Trip Guide