7 Must-Do Things To Do In Iceland – A Guide

18 April 2018 5 min read
Things To Do In Iceland - A Guide

I don’t know about you but when someone mentions Iceland, the first thing that springs to my mind is volcanoes and the Northern Lights. Whilst these things are obviously a huge attraction, there are many more things to see and do during a trip to Iceland. In this post, I will give you a list of things to do in Iceland. There is one thing for sure, you certainly won’t get bored!

 

A Little Bit About Iceland

Iceland is an island located between North America and Europe. It’s a European country and it lies just below the Arctic Circle. The famous Reykjavik is the country’s capital city and it is the northernmost capital in the world. Iceland as a whole has a population of 300,000, 118,000 of which live in Reykjavik city itself.

As you would expect, it’s not the warmest of countries. January’s average temperature is 0 C (32 F) and in July the temperature usually sits around 12 C (54 F). Between May and August, you won’t see much darkness and in mid-winter, you can only expect about four to five hours a day of daylight.

 

Things To Do In Iceland

Now that you have the background, it’s time to take a look at some of the things you can do to pass the time and make your trip to Iceland a memorable one. There certainly isn’t a shortage of things to do, but as with any trip, it is always worth having an idea of what you would like to do before you go. That way, you can make sure you tick everything off your bucket list!

 

Horse Riding

Iceland has a rare species of horse that the Icelandics are very proud of: the Icelandic horse. It is is a beautiful and robust animal the perfect opportunity to get to know them better would be to check out some Iceland horse riding tours. With a variety of different types of tours available, from one day up to eight days, the options are endless and you are bound to find one that’s perfect for you during your visit. And what better way than to see the country from horseback?

 

Horse tours Things To Do In Iceland

 

Driving Around The Ring Road

If you would prefer a more luxurious way to see the island and fancy the comfort of a vehicle, you can hire a car and drive the ring road around the island, taking in and stopping at the scenic stop-offs on the way. Iceland is bigger than many people realise and the 800-mile route can be done in seven days but is a surefire way of seeing every corner of the island.

 

Visit The Blue Lagoon

Of course, it goes without saying that no trip to Iceland is complete unless you have dipped a toe in the Blue Lagoon. The waters of the unique geothermal bath are warm and wonderful. You can choose to go at any time of day as the options to cover yourself in nutrient-rich face masks whilst you sip on a drink of your choice are available throughout. The heat of the mineral-rich pool is incredible and is an experience not to be missed.

 

The Blue Lagoon Things To Do In Iceland

 

Visit The Volcano On The Beach

Snœfellsjökull is an ancient but active volcano that reaches 1,446 meters into the sky. It has been named as one of the world’s 7 greatest energy centres and is believed to have mysterious powers. Whether you choose to believe that or not, of course, is entirely up to you but it must be worth the visit to make the decision. Snœfellsjökull sits in the centre of the National Park of the same name and has incredible views that stretch all the way down to the coast.

 

The Northern Lights

No guide to Iceland is complete without mentioning the Northern Lights. Probably the main thing that people visit for. You are not always guaranteed to see them and whilst some visitors leave disappointed, many also leave having been wowed by the green glow of the Northern Lights. The best time to go to catch a glimpse is from September to mid-April as this is the only time there is guaranteed full darkness this far North. For a much more in-depth insight, take a look at the First Timer’s Guide to Northern Lights.

 

Northern Lights Things To Do In Iceland

 

Take In The Glaciers

Vatnajökull National Park has the most beautiful glaciers that you are ever likely to cast your eyes upon. The National Park is also known as ‘Diamond Beach’ because the chunks of ice sparkle like glittering diamonds when they catch the sun. Imagine capturing that image to take home and treasure forever!

 

Whale Watching

You’ve ridden the horses and had a dip in the Blue Lagoon. So now why not see if you can spot some whales off the North coast? Iceland has some of the best opportunities for observing marine life in its natural habitat. This is why it’s one of the most popular activities to do when visiting Iceland. There are many boat trips are available, but it’s worth mentioning that they can be cancelled at short notice if the waters turn a little choppy!

 

Stay connected

Whilst you’re in Iceland, consider looking up Trawire. Trawire is a company that rents portable wifi modems. This is a fantastic way for you to have constant internet access whilst on your travels. We live in a modern age and whilst holidays abroad are great – they can be tricky when it comes to accessing the internet. These small portable devices can fit in your pocket while hiking or a cupholder while in the vehicle – this will make it so much easier to stay in touch with loved ones at home and to upload those amazing pictures of the Northern Lights to Instagram when you get them!

 

Something for the kids

Whether you are a parent travelling with or without your kids, or you have small people at home expecting gifts – why not take them home something truly Icelandic?

 

7 Must-Do Things To Do In Iceland - A Guide

 

Tulipop is an original, design-led character brand from Iceland, based on the mystical Tulipop island and its inhabitants. The Tulipop world is cuddly and gothic and is full of intriguing characters.Tulipop opened its first flagship store on the 26th of July 2017 and it’s located in central Reykjavík on Skólavörðustígur 43.

And it’s not just for kids either – The Tulipop world comes to life in a variety of high-quality products, ranging from collectable vinyl figurines and lamps to stationary and tableware.

 

So there you have it. Seven ideas for things to do in Iceland if you are wanting to visit either soon or in the near future.

 

Have you ever been to Iceland? Are there any other activities you would add to this list? Perhaps you have a trip planned, what are you looking forward to most? Let me know in the comments.

 

 


All images courtesy of Promote Iceland

Written in collaboration

 

 

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