Highlights of Iceland

Seyðisfjörður is where our travellers get to experience rural Iceland first hand, enjoying spectacular landscapes and the lively atmosphere of a small town.   

The history of the town dates back to the year 1848, when Norwegian Fishermen first settled there. Over time it has become one of the largest fishing ports in Iceland. The Norwegian fishermen built colourful wooden houses, which are still dotted around town.

Seyðisfjörður town has a rich cultural life and is the scenic setting for the art festival LUNGA, where art and music come alive every July. On arrival in Iceland why not make the most of the fresh mountain air and stroll over to see the Blue Church with all its history, you can walk along the rainbow path on your way to it. 

When you leave Seyðisfjörður, you drive across the mountain heath of Fagradalsheiði. There you can stop at Gufufoss, Steam Waterfall in English, and enjoy the sight of the tumbling waters and the majestic view of Seyðisfjörður from above.   

It is a beautiful way to start your adventure in Iceland. Read more about Seyðisfjörður and what to do here.

Tip: Mývatn Nature Bath is often called ‘Mini Blue Lagoon’. If you are looking for an authentic bathing experience at a reasonable price, we recommend a visit to Mývatn Nature Bath where you will not have to queue.

At Námaskarð you can experience the power of nature first hand. The boiling mud pits and yellow sulphur formations are an unforgettable sight.

Don’t miss out on the waterfall Dettifoss, which is only half an hour away from Mývatn. With a height of 44 m and span of 110m, Dettifoss has the greatest volume of water of any waterfall in Europe.

Links
Mývatn Nature Bath
Bird Museum

If you have more time to spend in Húsavík, why not try the new GeoSea sea baths? It is a rejuvenating experience for the body and soul while enjoying nature in a unique manner.

The Goðafoss waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The Goðafoss waterfall is situated a 30 minutes drive east of Akureyri and well worth a stop.

Links
Visit Húsavík
GeoSea Baths

With around 17,000 inhabitants the city is, understandably, easy to navigate. It only has one shopping street, but compensates with myriad little side streets with quirky cafés and restaurants.

Links
Visit Akureyri

With its rich Norse history, the capital has grown into a fascinating hub of culture, events and historic buildings. Reykjavík is the largest, and arguably only, city in Iceland, around 36% of the population lives in the capital area. It is surrounded by picturesque towns where travellers can hike in high mountains and experience the countryside only 20 minutes from the metropolis. 

The city is known for its cultural scene that brings locals together to celebrate diversity and culture. August brings LGBTQ+ Pride, a true family celebration and the biggest in the world by percentage of national population participating, as well as Reykjavík Culture Night. One feature of the Culture Night is the Reykjavík Marathon, the only one held in Iceland. 

With its deeply rooted traditions, the Icelandic restaurant scene is something to sample. From fine dining to the famous local hot dog stand, ‘Bæjarins Bestu’, travellers will always find something to feast on. In fact, Reykjavík has no fewer than 5 food halls, 4 located within 15 minutes walking distance of each other! No need to go hungry. 

They city is also a treasure trove of historic and contemporary architecture. The most famous is perhaps Hallgrimskirkja Church, the tallest building in Iceland, visible all the way from Mount Esja. Another important building is the Parliament Hall, Althingi, at Austurvöllur, which is a lovely area for travellers and locals to enjoy the day surrounded by restaurants. One unmissable contemporary building is the Harpa Concert Hall. Built during and in spite of the economic crisis, the concert hall is testament to how important the arts are in overcoming adversity and the aspirations of the Icelandic people. 

In short, in Reykjavík you will find everything that makes a city, except skyscrapers, which most travellers would probably say is an added bonus.
  
Read all about Reykjavík here: VisitReykjavik.is

Reykjavík is Iceland’s capital and largest city. It covers 274 km2 and has around 200,000 inhabitants. There is much to see and do in Reykjavík. We would particularly highlight Hallgríms Church, Harpa Concert Hall and Laugardalslaug outdoor pool and spa.

In the 20th century the islanders experienced two major eruptions. The first was in 1963 when a 3½-year-long eruption created the island Surtsey. The other was when the volcano Eldfell on Heimaey erupted in 1973. It led to the rapid evacuation of most of the island’s inhabitants. Travel here to experience bird-life and nature unlike anywhere else in Iceland.

Links
Visit Vestmannaeyjar

Icebergs, blue, white, blue green and striped, float here in a continuous ice dance. The ancient icebergs are calved by the ever-receding Öræfajökull. 
 
The water rises and falls with the weather. At present it is one and a half kilometres from the sea. The area is about 18 square km. It was recently measures as one of the deepest lakes in Iceland – over 248 m. 

Jökulsárlón is part of Vatnajökull National Park. It forms an enigmatic backdrop in several films and television series, such as Batman Begins, two James Bond movies and Game of Thrones. 
 

Jökulsárlón faces the sea and its unique mixture of fresh and seawater is what creates its rare blue green hue. In summer you can sail on Jökulsárlón with a boat. Walking around the lake is also possible all year round. Seals inhabit the icebergs in winter and the water is teeming with fish and visited by myriad bird species. 

Journeying to Jökulsárlón to see the northern lights is a popular winter pursuit.

Jökla is the longest glacier river in Iceland. It flows approximately 150 km from Vatnajökull out to sea in East Iceland. 
 
Stuðlagil is one of the largest basalt column areas. When water levels are high, the river acquires a blue green hue, but when it flows across the dam it turns grey-brown. 

It takes about one hour to drive from Egilsstaðir to Stuðlagil. From Mývatn the trip takes about one and a half hours. Travellers must veer off the Ring Road along a gravel track. The stretch is passable for all ordinary cars, though you may need a sturdier vehicle on a winter’s day. 

There are two different routes to the canyon:  
 
Route one
Turn south off the main road, road number 1, across Jökuldalur over to road number 923. From there you are 19 km away from the Grund Farm, which is north of the canyon. Here there are parking lots, toilets and access to the canyon via stairs. 

It takes five minutes to walk down to the viewing platform. A variety of basalt column formations are visible from there. In order to continue down into the canyon, you have to walk from the parking area south of the canyon. 

Route two
Turn south off the Ring Road, road number 1, across Jökuldalur over to road number 923. 

Then drive towards Klaustursel Farm, here you can park either at the bridge across Jökla, from where the walk down to the viewing platform and back is about 10 km, or by Stuðlafoss, where the total stretch is 5 km. 

Walking down into the canyon to observe the majestic Stuðlafoss, which tumbles down knife-sharp basalt columns is well worth the walk. Please take extra care to mind the environment in the period from May 1st to June 10th, because at that time pink-footed geese are nesting in the area. You should always, and especially during this period, stick to the path!
  
In summer you can drive an ordinary vehicle along road 923 into the highlands to the east and to Kárahnjúka, Laugafell and down into Fljótsdal along another road, which is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles. 
 
More detailed information is available on the Stuðlagil website.

Hvannadalsknúkur and Bárðarbunga 
The Central Highland is completely barren and located more than 500 metres above sea level. Several of the summits are snow-clad glaciers. Among them towers Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalsknúkur, at 2.109 m above sea level. The mountain is just south of Vatnajökull. You can ride a helicopter to the top! 

Another summit is Bárðarbunga, a snow-clad volcano in the northwest corner of Vatnajökull.

The barren Central Highland covers most of Iceland’s main island. This volcanically active area is diverse with its volcanoes, stony ground, rock formations, sand expanse, glaciers, rivers, lakes and vegetated oases. 
 
The area is first and foremost a mix of national land, owned by the state, and high mountain fields, which are used for grazing. 
 
Mountain roads
In the past the roads connecting the various corners of the country all ran through Iceland’s Central Highland, to this day some of these mountain routes remain in use, such as Kjölur, Kaldidalur and Sprengisandur. Five of the highest mountain roads in Iceland are located in the Central Highland.

Vatnajökull National Park encompasses most of the southeast region of the highland. Vatnajökull itself is the largest highland glacier. It is followed by Hofsjökull, which is nearly the centre of the country, and the neighbouring glacier, Langjökull. 

You can drive between the glaciers. The roads are usually opened in June or July.  
  
Kjölur is a gravel road on the highland plateau with mountains and hot springs. In mid summer this gravel road connects South Iceland and North Iceland. The road is located between Hofsjökull and Langjökull and runs close to rhyolite mountains and hot springs. 

Another route, Sprengisandur, crosses the highland further east. Here you can drive along another gravel path between Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. Preferably by jeep, because you will need to ford rivers. 

Kaldidalur is also a magnificent highland path, which runs west of Langjökull. From there the route continues down to Thingvellir and Borgarfjörður. 

Please note, it is strictly prohibited and a criminal offense to drive off-road, all drivers must stick to the official marked roads or paths. It is also very crucial to ask ahead about everything, because both bogs and peat heaths in Iceland are sensitive natural areas. 

The northern tip of the peninsula is home to the fishing villages Stykkishólmur, Grundarfjörður, Ólafsvík, Ríf and Hellissandur. To the south there are two villages Arnarstapi and Hellnar. And to the west lie the remains of the villages Dritvík and Beruvík that were abandoned decades ago.
 
Snæfellsnes is 90 km long and right in the middle between Reykjanes and the West Fjords. Along the moountain ridge lie both active and dormant volcanoes – and Snæfellsjökull is also a volcano at the very tip of the peninsula. 
 
Read on about six selected locations near Snæfellsnes: 
 
Eldborg 
On the south side you first reach Eldborg, beautiful little volcano where hundreds of aphyric basalt columns rise from the landscape. Further out on the peninsula the sands of Ytri Tunga beach are home to large seal colonies. 
 
Rauðfeldsgjá 
Then you reach the stunning Rauðfellgjá gorge with its magnificent cliffs. You can walk into the gorge and, if you dare, jump into the currents!
 
After Rauðfeldsgjá you reach the Lóndrangar basalt pinnacles, which are the remains of a volcanic vent. Thousands of marine birds nest there. 

Snæfellsjökull National Park
Then head on to Snæfellsjökull National Park, the smallest of the three national parks in the country. There is plenty to see and experience here.
 
The best known area is Djúpalónssandur with its dark volcanic matter. It is most famous for the four boulders people have competed to lift over the centuries. Seafarers used the boulders to display strength and toughen up for life at sea. 

The National Park also features two eruptive rock caves, which are accessible in summer. Songhelli is named for its echo. The other cave, Vatnshellið, is easily accessible and colourful. Visitors are charged a small fee. There is no access without a travel guide. 
 
Snæfellsjökull 
The highlight is without a doubt Snæfellsjökull. The adventures in Jules Verne’s ‘A Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ start here. It is often reread in the lesser known book ‘Under the Glacier’ published by Nobel prize winner Halldór Laxness in 1968. 

Berserkjareyn 
To the north on the peninsula is Berserkjahreyn, a lava field near Bjarnarhöfn. The most remarkable part is the mountain, Kirkjufell. It is often said to be the most photographed mountain in Iceland. It is the arrow-shaped mountain in the hit HBO TV series Game of Thrones. 
 
Traditional villages
There are also several picturesque villages in Snæfellsnes. Most are located to the north. These are great places for fishing. The villages are: Arnarstapi, Hellnar, Búðir, Hellissandur, Ólafsvík, Grundarfjörður and Stykkishólmur
 
Stykkishólmur is popular for its volcanic museum. Visitors also catch the ferry, Baldur, here to visit Flatey Island with its deep roots in history. 
 
Other notable village museums are located in Ólafsvík. 
 
Last, but not least, we should mention the hákall museum in Bjarnarhöfn. Here you can sample the Icelandic delicatessen well fermented Greenland shark.