We made a list of our top 10 favorite things to do in Iceland!
1) Visit the Highlands
Go to the next car rental and rent a 4X4 car and explore what the true Iceland is all about. In one day you can see glaciers, volcanoes, endless lava fields and extraordinary views. You can even drive on top of a glacier or an active Volcano (of course you need an experienced Icelander or a guide with you)
The Highland roads and all the magnificent highland beauty is something you don’t want to miss. You might cross some rivers, see some famous film and TV show locations. No words to describe!
2) Take a bath in a natural hot spring.
You don’t have to go far out of Reykjavík to be able to bath in a warm river or a hot spring. Bring some packed lunch and enjoy a meal on the boarders of the warm river.
A day you will never forget!
3) Go Camping
Iceland has so many good camping sites and wherever you are, you will always be able to find a good campsite close by.
The organized sites are usually open from June to September. There you can expect to find electricity, water and restrooms.
If you are seeking for a more adventures way of camping, many farmers are willing to host campers on their land, and it is so worth it! If you pass a charming Icelandic farm and a beautiful stream and you feel like putting your tent there, go for it !
4) Midnight sun/ Northern Lights.
Go outside and enjoy the midnight. If you are visiting in the summer time the midnight sun is something you dont want to miss, find a good spot where you can sit down and watch the sun go down into the sea and few minutes later it rises back from the sea.
It might keep you awake at night but it is so worth it to have more than 20 hours of daylight.
If you are visiting in the darkest months of the winter you might get lucky and see the amazing Northern lights will dance above your head! It is best to drive out of the lights of the city and if the sky is clear hopefully you see the green and purple colours on the sky.
5) Public swimming pools
Take a bath in the geothermal water, relax in the hot tubs or swim in the pools. Almost every neighborhood has its own pool – 17 Swimming pools in the great Reykjavík area.
It is a very popular thing for Icelanders to do in their free time.
Cheapest spa treatment you can get! Costs around 500-600 ISK per person – kids get discount.
6) Bæjarins Beztu
It is without a doubt the most popular „restaurant“ in Reykjavík as it doesn’t matter when you show up, is always a line outside the stand. Bæjarins Beztu is a chain of hot dog stands in 4 locations Reykjavík. The one we recommend is located in Hafnarstræti, next to the big parking lot by the flea market. The stand has been open with nonstop operation since 1937, and there has been a line after a hot dog ever since – and it is worth the wait!
Hot Dog and soda is only 580 ISK.
7) Nightlife in Reykjavík.
Everyone have heard about the Reykjavík Nightlife. The bars are open late and after closing the streets are crowded with people. All the bars are located in the same area; on or around the main street Laugavegur.
Usually there is no dressing code and no entrance fee !
9) Golden Circle
It is the most popular tourist route in Iceland and yes it is crowded with tourists in the summer time. But if you only have a few days in Iceland it is a must do as onthis day trip you see Þingvellir the national park and the rift valley where the tectonic plates move apart. You see the Geysir hot spring that all Geysirs in the world are named after- even though Geysir is not erupting anymore its brother Strokkur erupts every few minutes and spouts boiling water up to 35 meters. We have great views over Langjökull glacier and see the big glacier River Hvítá and its powerful waterfall Gullfoss.
So in one day you get to see a short version of what Iceland is all about.
10) Reðursafnið – It has to be on the list, the only penis museum in the world!
1) Visit the Highlands
Go to the next car rental and rent a 4X4 car and explore what the true Iceland is all about. In one day you can see glaciers, volcanoes, endless lava fields and extraordinary views. You can even drive on top of a glacier or an active Volcano (of course you need an experienced Icelander or a guide with you)
The Highland roads and all the magnificent highland beauty is something you don’t want to miss. You might cross some rivers, see some famous film and TV show locations. No words to describe!
2) Take a bath in a natural hot spring.
You don’t have to go far out of Reykjavík to be able to bath in a warm river or a hot spring. Bring some packed lunch and enjoy a meal on the boarders of the warm river.
A day you will never forget!
3) Go Camping
Iceland has so many good camping sites and wherever you are, you will always be able to find a good campsite close by.
The organized sites are usually open from June to September. There you can expect to find electricity, water and restrooms.
If you are seeking for a more adventures way of camping, many farmers are willing to host campers on their land, and it is so worth it! If you pass a charming Icelandic farm and a beautiful stream and you feel like putting your tent there, go for it !
4) Midnight sun/ Northern Lights.
Go outside and enjoy the midnight. If you are visiting in the summer time the midnight sun is something you dont want to miss, find a good spot where you can sit down and watch the sun go down into the sea and few minutes later it rises back from the sea.
It might keep you awake at night but it is so worth it to have more than 20 hours of daylight.
If you are visiting in the darkest months of the winter you might get lucky and see the amazing Northern lights will dance above your head! It is best to drive out of the lights of the city and if the sky is clear hopefully you see the green and purple colours on the sky.
5) Public swimming pools
Take a bath in the geothermal water, relax in the hot tubs or swim in the pools. Almost every neighborhood has its own pool – 17 Swimming pools in the great Reykjavík area.
It is a very popular thing for Icelanders to do in their free time.
Cheapest spa treatment you can get! Costs around 500-600 ISK per person – kids get discount.
6) Bæjarins Beztu
It is without a doubt the most popular „restaurant“ in Reykjavík as it doesn’t matter when you show up, is always a line outside the stand. Bæjarins Beztu is a chain of hot dog stands in 4 locations Reykjavík. The one we recommend is located in Hafnarstræti, next to the big parking lot by the flea market. The stand has been open with nonstop operation since 1937, and there has been a line after a hot dog ever since – and it is worth the wait!
Hot Dog and soda is only 580 ISK.
7) Nightlife in Reykjavík.
Everyone have heard about the Reykjavík Nightlife. The bars are open late and after closing the streets are crowded with people. All the bars are located in the same area; on or around the main street Laugavegur.
Usually there is no dressing code and no entrance fee !
9) Golden Circle
It is the most popular tourist route in Iceland and yes it is crowded with tourists in the summer time. But if you only have a few days in Iceland it is a must do as onthis day trip you see Þingvellir the national park and the rift valley where the tectonic plates move apart. You see the Geysir hot spring that all Geysirs in the world are named after- even though Geysir is not erupting anymore its brother Strokkur erupts every few minutes and spouts boiling water up to 35 meters. We have great views over Langjökull glacier and see the big glacier River Hvítá and its powerful waterfall Gullfoss.
So in one day you get to see a short version of what Iceland is all about.
10) Reðursafnið – It has to be on the list, the only penis museum in the world!