20 Amazing and Unusual Things to Do in Iceland

Iceland is a location unlike any other, offering stunning glaciers, volcanic landscapes, and the enchanted Northern Lights. Our carefully planned trips will make sure you see the finest of this breathtaking nation, whether you’re basking in the Blue Lagoon, enjoying Reykjavík’s colorful culture, or chasing waterfalls around the Golden Circle.

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. This was the birthplace of Icelandic politics but today it has emerged as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure destination.

Check out Kjarvalstaðir in Reykjavik, an art museum devoted to the beloved Icelandic landscape painter, Johannes Kjarval, whose works may invite you to see the real landscape in a totally new perspective. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

Most of us have probably wondered at some point what it would be like to ride a dog sled. Well, if you’re still wondering, you should give it a try on your visit. Tours are available in the summertime and often for the rest of the year as well. They take place on top of the glacier, so the weather is mild. It’s not far from Reykjavik and perfect for young kids to enjoy Iceland in a unique and memorable way.

Road trips can be pretty life-changing depending on a number of factors, including the people you’re on the journey with, the music you’re listening to and the weird hitchhikers you pick up on the way. The roads in Iceland are some of the best in the world, and the ever-changing landscape make it perfect for drivers and passengers alike. There are designated spots to park up if you want to enjoy the views at your own pace just be sure to pick the right vehicle for the conditions. Alternatively we recommend a fully-guided tour if you really want to relax on your Icelandic escape. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

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.

The Geysir hot spring area has a dozen boiling pits; the most active, Strokkur, spouts to heights of 30m (100ft) – a remarkable sight. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

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.

This sculptural formation on the south coast of Iceland is shaped by the waves on the coast, creating a timeless effect. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

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.

This glacial lake in southeast Iceland contains luminous blue icebergs, calving from the largest glacier by volume in Europe, Vatnajökull. The sight of these huge masses of ice eddying so slowly in the lagoon as they make their way from being part of a glacier to melting in the sea is quite a sight. Keeping in mind why they are calving from the glaciers is equally potent for a life-changing experience. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

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.

This crater, formed during a prehistoric eruption, was itself formed during an 1875 eruption. Víti’s colour ranges from milky green to pearly blue and you can bathe here, but getting here is quite a journey as it is in the remote highlands in central Iceland. Plus you need to make a steep descent to reach its shores. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

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.

Considered the Icelandic National Mountain, and sometimes dubbed the Queen, this flat-topped mountain in the Central Highlands is the sole figure rising out of the desert. It’s an incredibly sight from a long distance if you’re driving past, or you can hike to enjoy the view from on top. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

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.

Within Snæfellsjökull National Park lies this 1,200m (4,000ft) glacier, which inspired Jules Verne in his 1864 novel, A Journey to the Center of the Earth. Like the science fiction classic that uses the location for its mythical entryway, the place itself holds a similarly mythical quality. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

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.

This site-specific sound sculpture was designed by German artist Lukas Kühne near the artistic haven Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland. Built out of concrete, the five domes of varying sizes are interconnected and correspond to the Icelandic musical tradition of five-tone harmony. The sculpture was built in 2012 and is always open to everyone. It can be reached by a short walk from the village and offers a magnificent view of the fjörd.

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.

In the remote valley of Sélardalur in the Westfjörds, this unusual collection of sculptures and paintings by outsider artist Samúel Jónsson can be found. The reclusive farmer turned artist passed away in 1969. Scattered around a museum and a chapel the artist built himself, the collection is now maintained by independent and government organisations and represents the artist’s rich imaginative life. Recommended by Camille Buckley.

Where ice and fire collide, Iceland is a place of extremes where adventure is waiting around every corner. There is everything you need, whether you’re searching for off-the-beaten-path adventures or traditional must-sees like the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon. Every traveler can find something from hiking on glaciers to discovering hidden hot springs.