Top 10 Experiences in Iceland
My Iceland Favorites
If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, you may be interested in seeing some of the top Iceland sights.
I had been wanting to go to Iceland for a while. The photos, the stories, everything about the country seemed unbelievable. When I first started thinking about going I was living in Bangkok, Thailand. And I was having so much fun exploring that part of the world in my spare time that I decided to wait until I returned to the United States.
It was worth the wait. A visit to Iceland really CAN be as amazing as you’ve been led to believe it could be.
Because I wanted to make the most of my Icelandic travel, I spent months planning. And despite all of the planning and preparation, things still didn’t go completely smoothly. But, it was probably one of my favorite trips of all time.
Since Top 10 lists are popular, I decided to try to do one for Iceland. So, how did I narrow down a list of my favorite experiences on one of my favorite trips to just ten? Let’s just say the list was fluid for a while and the final selection is admittedly completely subjective, but here it is (not necessarily in order):
Hveradalir and Kerlingarfjöll
Iceland is known for its geothermal areas. You can find them all over the country. My favorite was Hveradalir (sometimes referred to as Kerlingarfjöll, the prominent mountain that stands guard there). It’s located about three-hours from Reykjavik in the Icelandic Highlands. You might just have the steaming streams and rhyolite hills to yourself.
Exploring Landmannaleið (or F225)
Landmannaleið (or F225) is one of the F roads running through the Icelandic Highlands. These non-paved roads are normally closed except in the summer. Landmannaleið runs in a mostly east-west direction connecting Route 26 to F208 (just north of the entrance to Landmannalaugar). A high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is recommended. Allow time for lots of voluntary detours to places you’re likely to put on your own list of top Iceland sights.
Múlagljúfur
Múlagljúfur is (or probably more accurately was) one of those hidden gems of Iceland. Located just off the ring road near Fjallsárlón on the southern coast, most people drive right by it on their way to Jökulsárlón and the Diamond Beach. From the rustic parking area, it’s a 45-minute hike to amazing canyon vistas featuring two waterfalls.
Dettifoss
Iceland has more than its fair share of waterfalls. Gullfoss, Skógafoss, and Seljalandsfoss are some of the best known. Dettifoss, though, always makes top Icelandic waterfall lists, since it is claimed to be the most powerful (or by some the second most powerful) waterfall in Europe. It made my Top 10 list, because if you view the falls from the east side, you can walk right up to the edge of all that roaring liquid power.
Icelandic Food
When I travel I love to eat local. Before heading to Iceland I read up on Icelandic cuisine and all of the must-try foods. I’ll be perfectly honest: I didn’t try Hákarl, the fermented shark. However, I did indulge in lots of lamb, fish, and Skyr.
I’ve eaten lamb it lots of places, but I will confess that there was something about Icelandic lamb that made it more delicious. While I preferred the roasted lamb, the traditional Kjötsúpa (lamb soup) is also tasty.
In terms of fish there were lots of options, but Arctic char and cod seemed to be the most common. While visiting Húsavík, I had dinner in a restaurant that was serving baked ling as the fish of the day. My congratulations to the chef, because it was the best fish I’ve ever eaten.
Unless you have an aversion to yogurt, you’ll probably love Skyr. It was basically my breakfast of choice for most of my time in Iceland.
There are two other meals that make me want to go back to Iceland. On the way to Stokksnes, I stopped in Höfn for dinner, specifically to have langoustine. This southeastern fishing village holds the (possibly unofficial) title of langoustine capital of Iceland. Definitely worth a stop, if you’re in the area.
The other meal was in Egilsstaðir. The restaurant I ate at for dinner offered reindeer on the menu. I decided to try it despite some skepticism on my part (as well as thoughts of eating Rudolf). To my surprise, it was tender, juicy, and flavorful, but not gamy.
Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar is kind of a must, if you’re visiting Iceland in the summer. Colorful rhyolite hills, geothermal areas, lava fields, hot springs, and endless hiking trails will keep your senses on overload for hours (or even days, if you have the time). And getting there is part of the experience. Whether you come via F208 or F225, allow time to enjoy the scenery you’ll pass on your way to Landmannalaugar. Of course, you can always hike there too. Landmannalaugar is definitely one of the top Iceland sights.
Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss
As I mentioned previously, there’s no shortage of waterfalls in Iceland. Hengifoss captured a place in the top 10 because of the red, sandwiched layers that form its backdrop. It’s located in the east of Iceland not too far from Egilsstaðir. Since it’s an impossible daytrip from Reykjavik or even Vik, it doesn’t get as much tourist attention. At 128m, it’s the fourth highest waterfall in Iceland.
About halfway along the hike to Hengifoss, you pass Litlanesfoss. It’s notable for the basalt columnar rock formations that surround it.
Exploring F208 and F210
The Icelandic Highlands are a fascinating place to explore while they’re accessible during the summer months. I spent one day hitting waterfalls and other sights that you won’t see, if you stay on the ring road.
Starting at Landmannalaugar I traveled south on F208, connecting to F233, then to F210, and finally to F261. There are plenty of streams to cross, so a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is a must. But, oh, the things you’ll see.
Berserkjahraun
If the name of a place in Iceland ends in “-hraun,” it’s probably a lava field. Lava fields in Iceland are fascinating places to explore, because of the way the moss grows over all of the jagged lava shapes. When I say “explore,” I mean from the roads and established trails, of course, since walking on the moss-covered lava can damage the moss, setting Mother Nature back hundreds of years.
Berserkjahraun is located on the northern side of Snæfellsnes Peninsula. While most tourists heading to Snæfellsnes Peninsula are likely there to see Kirkjufell, Búðakirkja, or Arnarstapi, the towering craters and expansive lava field of Berserkjahraun had me in awe. It had to be on my list of top Iceland sights.
Klifbrekkufossar and Prestagil
Klifbrekkufossar is located in the East Fjords of Iceland. Seyðisfjörður is likely better known, but if you take the road to Mjóifjörður, you’ll be rewarded with verdant vistas of mountains, canyons, and waterfalls.
One of those waterfalls is Klifbrekkufossar, whose cascade is broken up to form multiple smaller falls. Its neighbor, Prestagil, is a narrow canyon with its own waterfall.
Looking for more top Iceland sights to consider as you make your plans? Then check out the links below.
I also found the Guide to Iceland website to be a useful resource. https://guidetoiceland.is/