10 Best Attractions In Iceland

Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice, where volcanoes and glaciers live side by side. If you wish to visit this magical place, we gathered what we think to be the top ten attractions of the small mysterious island.

1. Jokulsarlon, Vatnajokull National Park

Jokulsarlon, meaning “glacial river lagoon” is a large glacial lake located on the border of Vatnajökull National Park, in southeast Iceland. The river lagoon developed into a lake as the Vatnajokull glacier receded from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lagoon starts on one side from the huge glacier and on the other side is the ocean. The famous route 1 of Iceland goes over the outlet of the lagoon to the ocean by a bridge. The lagoon is filled with icebergs of different sizes that break apart from the glacier. The lake area is about 18 km² (6.9 sq mi) and it’s the deepest lake in Iceland at over 248 meters (814 ft) of depth. Jokulsarlon is truly an amazing sight!

2. The Blue Lagoon

Located near Reykjavik, The Blue Lagoon is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with naturally steaming water

3. Gullfoss

This waterfall is one of Iceland‘s main attractions. It is located on the Hvítá River and consisted of two falls at 90-degree angles to each other. It has a total height of 32 meters and considered one of the most unique waterfalls in the world. The Gullfoss waterfall is part of the Golden Circle, along with Geysir

4. Geysir

This famous geyser in southwestern Iceland was the first geyser known to modern Europeans and the English word geyser derives from Geysir. Geysir is one of the most famous attractions in Iceland and part of the Golden Circle along with Gullfoss. It is always surrounded by tourists with cameras waiting patiently for the next eruption that can throw boiling waters up to 70 meters in the air

5. Dettifoss

Located in Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland, this waterfall is Europe’s most powerful waterfall sending glacial meltwaters over its 45 meters (148 ft) plunge at a flow of around 500 cubic meters per second. It is considered one of the most amazing waterfalls in the world

6. Lake Mývatn

Located in northern Iceland, Myvatn is a very shallow lake in an active volcanic area. The lake was created by a large lava eruption over 2,000 years ago. The lake is famous for its wildlife, and the surrounding area is famous for the volcanic phenomena such as hot mud pool and the Viti Geothermal Lake – one of the most beautiful crater lakes in the world

7. Latrabjarg Sea Cliffs

Látrabjarg marks the western-most part of Europe. The huge cliffs are home to millions of birds, including puffins, northern gannets, guillemots and razorbills. It is vital for their survival as it hosts up to 40% of the world population for some species. It is Europe’s largest bird cliff, 14 km long and up to 440 meters high. The Latrabjarg cliffs are one of the most incredible sea cliffs in the world

8. Reykjavik

The capital and largest city of Iceland. The city is a mixture of old and new. Colorful rooftops, beautiful streets, relaxed atmosphere, as well as nice restaurants and bars and shopping areas, and the world famous Hallgrímskirkja church – all good reasons to spend a couple of days in friendly Reykjavik

9. Akureyri

Second largest city in Iceland after Reykjavik, Akureyri is the Capital of the bright North. A nice and relaxed city and a good place to sleep while traveling in the surrounding areas. Akureyri is also the departure point of several whale-watching companies (other companies depart from other smaller cities in northern Iceland)

10. Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park

Located in southwestern Iceland, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge passes right through Thingvellir and separates the Eurasian Plate and North American Plate – which basically means that one part of Thingvellir is located in America while the other in Europe. It is also the place of the oldest parliament of the world