10 Unique Things To Do In Iceland

There are many special things to do in Iceland, but some are just more Icelandic than others and can’t be done anywhere else in the world. Here are a few that we can highly recommend.

You can now book your bucket-list adventure with us – Culture Trip’s five-day, small-group Iceland tour is perfect for uncovering the best of what this magical country has to offer.

Snorkel and touch two continents

In Silfra, at Thingvellir National Park, you can dive between and touch the Eurasian and North American continental plates. While you are at it, you can drink the water too, it is so clean.

Diving in Silfra, you can see where two tectonic plates collide

Dog sledding

Enjoy the Northern Lights

If you find yourself in Iceland in winter, watch out for the Northern Lights. Some locations are better than others to see them, and it is advisable to get away from city lights. The Aurora Borealis has such a big effect on tourists, the local police have been known to stop drivers who looked like they were under the influence, only to find out that they were so smitten by the display, they forgot to watch out for the road.

Natural wonder: Skogafoss waterfall with the Aurora Borealis

Go fishing

Iceland has some of the best fly-fishing rivers in the world, attracting thousands of visitors yearly – for the salmon in particular. If you have a couple of free days, this is a unique opportunity to fish in some of the best places in the world. If you only have a couple of hours, take a boat from Reykjavik and check out some sea fishing. You can then eat your catch at a harbourside restaurant in the evening.

Fly-fishing is hugely popular in Iceland

Take a dip in a hot spring under the midnight sun

One of the best things about Icelandic summers is that the sun barely goes down – making this is the perfect opportunity to take a late dip in a warm hot spring.

You can bathe in hot springs on the trail in Reykjadalur

Horse-riding

Icelandic horses are small and sometimes mistaken for ponies. The breed is also unique, as it displays two gaits in addition to the typical walk, gallop and trot. The two extra moves are called tölt and skeið in Icelandic and they both allow these little horses to move much faster than they otherwise could. Skeið – often used in races – is very fast and smooth, allowing speeds of up to 50kmh (31mph). If that’s a bit much for you then try a more sedate riding tour of the countryside.

Enjoy nature on horseback at the Skogafoss waterfall

River rafting

There are various river-rafting options available in Iceland, some easier than others; whitewater rafting is definitely one of the more adrenaline-fuelled. You could, for example, try canyon rafting at the Gullfoss Waterfall and enjoy the landscape from a different angle.

Rafting on the River Hvita, through the Bruarhlod Canyon, is one for thrill seekers

Visit an ice cave

It cannot have gone past you that Iceland is full of glaciers, but did you know that some have caves inside them? If you want to walk through a natural cave, you have to visit in winter; during the summer you can visit ice tunnels in Iceland’s largest glacier – Langjökull.

Explorer inside an ice cave at Vatnajokull National Park

Go to the beach

If you are in Reykjavik and the weather is nice, it might be a good time to hit the man-made beach at Nautholsvik. Don’t despair, the sea here has geothermal water in the lagoon.

Check out outside festivals

There are many weekend summer festivals around the country that are fun to visit – both party festivals and family-friendly ones. Many of them are are themed, such as the Great Fish Day festival, the Lobster Festival and so on.

A shark for sale on Great Fish Day – one of Iceland’s many festivals

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.