What to See in Iceland

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Iceland has three sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

• Surtsey Island (2008): This island, born from a volcanic eruption in the 1960s, is a UNESCO site. Still studied by scientists, public access is not permitted.

Thingvellir National Park ★★ (2004)
This UNESCO-listed site is one of Iceland’s most visited. It combines natural beauty (landscapes) and historical significance ("the world’s oldest parliament"). You can also dive into various natural springs in the surrounding area.

Vatnajökull National Park ★★★★ (2019)
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, this is the largest park in the country and home to one of Europe's largest and most remarkable glaciers. It covers a large part of southeastern Iceland. Hiking is possible here.

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Akureyri ★
Located on the edge of a fjord, this is the "big" city of Iceland's northern coast. A few churches and museums are worth visiting.

Eyrarbakki ★
A small village on Iceland’s southwest coast with several historic 18th- and 19th-century buildings.

Höfn ★
A small town (with several museums) on Iceland’s south coast that can serve as a base for exploring the nearby glaciers.

Húsavík ★
On Iceland’s northern coast, this small town is renowned for whale watching during the summer months.

Keflavik ★
Home to Reykjavik’s international airport, located about 50 km southwest of the capital. You can also go whale watching from Keflavik’s port.

Reykjavik ★★
Iceland’s capital is also the country’s largest urban area. It features eclectic architecture, several museums, and a lively nightlife.

Seyðisfjörður ★
This village on the east coast, surrounded by mountains, serves as the terminal for ferries to/from the Faroe Islands and Denmark.

Vik ★★
This village in southern Iceland is known for its black sand beaches, basalt formations, and its puffin population.

Natural Heritage

Askja ★★
In the heart of the country, this volcano is a popular tourist destination for those who venture into this part of Iceland.

Blue Lagoon ★★★
Close to the capital, this thermal spa with its artificial lake amid lava fields is one of the country’s most visited sites.

Geysir ★★
This is a geyser near Gulfoss, and a major Icelandic tourist attraction. It is the one that gave its name to all other geysers in the world.

Glymur ★★
At 198 m tall, Glymur is the second-highest waterfall in Iceland.

Godafoss ★★★
This is a spectacular—and one of the best-known—waterfalls in Iceland. It is located near Akureyri.

Gullfoss ★★★
This is a large and beautiful waterfall in southwestern Iceland. The falls are located near the Geysir site, and their name comes from the rainbow that can often be seen above them.

Hekla ★★
One of Iceland's most famous volcanoes. It offers stunning landscapes and you can hike to its summit.

Jökulsárlón ★★★★
A stunning lake located between the Vatnajökull glacier and Skaftafell Park, now part of Vatnajökull National Park. You can take a boat tour among its icebergs.

Kerlingarfjöll ★★
This is a beautiful mountainous area in the country's center, with numerous hot springs and opportunities for trekking and, incidentally, skiing.

Lakagigar ★★
Over a thirty-kilometre track, Lakagigar (or Laki) is a chain of over a hundred small volcanic craters in a desolate landscape. You can explore them on a trek.

Landmannalaugar ★★★★
In south-central Iceland, this is the country's wildest and most spectacular region. A paradise for nature lovers, adventurers, and hikers—whether on foot or horseback.

Latrabjarg Cliff ★★
This impressive and towering cliff (440 m high and nearly 14 km wide) in the far northwest of the country is known for hosting one of the world's highest concentrations of birds, particularly puffins.

Mjoifjordur ★
A narrow, rather pretty fjord in eastern Iceland, located in the small municipality of the same name.

Mýrdalsjökull ★★
A large glacier in southern Iceland, near the village of Vík.

Myvatn ★★
A large lake in the north, home to many birds in a volcanic environment.

Thingvellir National Park ★★
This UNESCO-listed site is one of Iceland’s most visited. It combines natural beauty (landscapes) and historical significance ("the world’s oldest parliament"). You can also dive into various natural springs in the surrounding area.

Vatnajökull National Park ★★★★
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, this is the largest park in the country and home to one of Europe's largest and most remarkable glaciers. It covers a large part of southeastern Iceland. Hiking is possible here.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula ★★★
A large peninsula north of Reykjavik with beautiful mountain, volcano, and glacier landscapes where a few villages are nestled. You can hike in Snaefellsjökull National Park, which is located here.

Selfoss and Dettifoss ★★★
Two impressive adjacent waterfalls in the northern part of the country. Dettifoss is Europe's most powerful waterfall and thus the more spectacular of the two.

Skogafoss ★★
One of the country's largest waterfalls. It is located on the Skoga River in the small village of Skogar in southern Iceland.

Thorsmork ★★★
Not easily accessible, located in the south of the island between two glaciers, this glacial valley and its surroundings are highly prized by hikers and lovers of breathtaking landscapes.

Vestmann Islands ★★
The Vestmann Islands are a beautiful volcanic archipelago southwest of Iceland, home to many seabirds (including puffins). The uninhabited island of Surtsey, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also located here.