Iceland is the most magical place we have ever seen. I wonder if any other country will ever take our breath away like this small island country. If you are planning a trip to land of Fire & Ice, make sure you check each of these off the list. These were the top five experiences in Iceland for us and even if you are only there for a weekend, you can find them.
Colorful Cities
Iceland has some amazing color in their architecture. Reykjavik is the best place to experience this. You just wander the streets and enjoy the bright primary colors. The best view is from Hallgrimskirja. You can take an elevator to the top of the Church’s tower and get 360 degree views of the city and surrounding landscapes. Akureyri is the biggest city in the north and they also have beautifully colorful streets right on the water – definitely a great stop on your trip around the country.
Waterfalls
It is impossible to go to Iceland and not see a waterfall. If you are taking the Ring Road tour, you will definitely get introduced to a couple of the biggest and most beautiful in the country. Our favorites were Godafoss in the north and Seljalandsfoss in the south. The water is so beautiful and powerful.
The Lone Road (Ring Road)
Once you leave Reykjavik, you will often find that you are on the only car on the road. That was one of the best things about our Ring Road trip. Many of the sites are quiet and you are getting to experience magical places all to yourself. You will find more of this on the eastern coast and it’s so worth it. The country is gaining in popularity, but the town of Hofn is still quiet and you’ll be the only car on the road with Reindeer running next to you. It’s unforgettable.
Horses
We read lots about the Icelandic horses, but fell in love the moment we saw our first one. They are smaller than the horses in the US and very friendly. You will find them all over the country. We were lucky enough to get to spend an afternoon riding them alongside a fjord in Northern Iceland. It was an awesome experience and I would definitely recommend it. If you decide not to ride them, there are tons of place to pull off the main road and see them up close.
Geothermal Baths
Thanks to Iceland’s location on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, they are able to use geothermal power to heat over 85% of the buildings in the country. This power also helps create one of the biggest attractions in Iceland – the Blue Lagoon. Visiting one of these giant turquoise outdoor hot tubs is a MUST. We went to the Blue Lagoon which is close to the airport and has a restaurant on site as well as all kinds of fun add-on’s. We also visited the Myvatn Nature Baths in North Iceland which was a lot less glitzy, but equally as awesome. Being able to sit outside on a cold spring day and enjoy a face mask of mud while taking in the surrounding beauty is amazing – especially if you’ve spent the morning hiking.
And the People
I should also include a 6th – Icelanders – the people we met on our journey were incredible. Everyone was an adventurer. We met a movie directer that uses his weekend taking visitors on pub crawls through Reykjavik. We chatted with the owners of a farm in northern Iceland where we had lunch. We swapped advice with a bartender that was about to visit New York City for his first time. English is widely spoken, but we did learn some basic Icelandic and spent the whole week trying to learn how to pronounce the famous volcano that erupted in 2010. You try it – Eyjafjallajokull.
If you want to see more scenery, you can check out the video recap we put together of our trip. Also, definitely ask any questions if you are planning a trip. We love talking about Iceland and hearing about the adventures of others.
