Iceland · best-of list
The 15 Best Outdoor Spots in Iceland
All 15 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Iceland, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, spread across 4 destinations.
Our curated picks
15 outdoor spots in Iceland, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Mývatn 5 picks
Dimmuborgir
Mývatn · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Lava field of towers and arches with marked trails.
Tip: The Church circle walk takes about an hour.
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Gesturpa~commonswiki assumed (based on copy · CC BY-SA 3.0
Goðafoss
Mývatn · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Horseshoe-shaped falls on the Skjálfandafljót river.
Tip: View from both banks.
Photo: Riccardo Widera · Google
Hverir
Mývatn · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Steaming vents and bubbling mud pots on an orange geothermal field.
Tip: Stay on marked paths.
Photo: Ann J · Google
Krafla and Víti crater
Mývatn · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Volcanic area with the turquoise Víti crater lake and Leirhnjúkur lava fields.
Tip: Combine with Hverir; road may close in winter.
Photo: Marco Pieri · Google
Skútustaðagígar
Mývatn · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Pseudocraters along the southern lake shore with an easy path.
Tip: 30-minute loop walk.
Photo: Emiliano S. · Google
Vík 5 picks
Dyrhólaey
Vík · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Headland with a sea arch, lighthouse and puffins in summer.
Tip: Parts close in May–June nesting season.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Gljúfrabúi
Vík · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Hidden waterfall in a narrow canyon just north of Seljalandsfoss.
Tip: Wade through the stream to see it.
Photo: Lauren Stephene · Google
Reynisfjara
Vík · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Black-sand beach with basalt columns and Reynisdrangar sea stacks.
Tip: Sneaker waves kill; stay well back from the water.
Photo: Strwiki2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Seljalandsfoss
Vík · On our Iceland Ring Road route
60-meter waterfall with a path that loops behind the falls.
Tip: Wear a rain jacket; paths get slippery.
Photo: Randolfo Santos · · Google
Skógafoss
Vík · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Wide 60-meter waterfall with stairs to a viewing platform.
Tip: Climb the stairs; hike Fimmvörðuháls trail beyond.
Photo: Michal Mrázek · Google
Jökulsárlón 4 picks
Diamond Beach
Jökulsárlón · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Black sand covered with ice chunks washed out from the lagoon.
Tip: Sunrise light makes the ice glow.
Photo: Saska Grusovnik · Google
Fjallsárlón
Jökulsárlón · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Smaller lagoon right under the glacier tongue with fewer crowds.
Tip: Boat tours here get close to the ice.
Photo: Unukorno · CC BY 4.0
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Lagoon full of icebergs calved from Breiðamerkurjökull.
Tip: Watch seals near the bridge at the lagoon outlet.
Photo: Dominic Chung · Google
Svartifoss
Jökulsárlón · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Waterfall framed by black basalt columns, 1.5 km from Skaftafell visitor center.
Tip: Allow 1.5 hours round trip.
Photo: Jose Angel Fuente Moreno · Google
Reykjavík 1 pick
Þingvellir National Park
Reykjavík · On our Iceland Ring Road route
Rift valley between continents and site of Iceland's first parliament in 930.
Tip: Walk Almannagjá; book Silfra snorkeling ahead.
Photo: Christian M · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Iceland?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 15 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Iceland has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Mývatn and Vík lead with 5 each; the other picks are spread across 2 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
13 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Dimmuborgir, Dyrhólaey, Diamond Beach, Goðafoss, Gljúfrabúi, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Iceland
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Mývatn 5 on this list
- Vík 5 on this list
- Jökulsárlón 4 on this list
- Reykjavík 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.