WanderingTrader

Best Things To Do & See In Iceland: Tourist Attractions

The things to do in Iceland aren’t well known since the country is mostly visited by Europeans instead of Americans & Australians.  Iceland is a phenomenon that occurs nowhere else in the world.  The island sits on top of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates causing a massive amount of geological activity: volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and geysers all part of the daily Icelandic life.

We were able to see the mid Atlantic Ridge which is the rift between the North American and European tectonic plates.  Many travel guides insisted that you visit Iceland after the financial crisis and once people arrived they kept coming becuase of the unique combination of tourist attractions there are in the country.  While the Icelandic currency (the Kronar) has started to recover you can still find some deals here and there.

Iceland was one of the first countries that I shared on this blog so I am very happy to present the top 5 things to do in Iceland:

The Northern Lights, northern lights iceland,

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

A spectacle that can only be witnessed in the winter months, be sure to arrive between the months of September and March (those two months are actually best).  There is nothing in the world like it, definitely a must see in your lifetime.  This is an one of the Iceland tourist attractions that cannot be missed.  While the northern lights can be seen throughout the entire hemisphere, most tourists visit Alaska, Iceland, and the Nordic countries in Europe to see the northern lights.

REYKJAVIK:

The tourist attractions in Iceland start and end with Reykjavik.  The largest city in Iceland hosts 2/3 of the country’s entire population.  Culturally unique to any place in the world; parties last for hours into the night, the people and surroundings make it feel cozy and quaint, great museums and arts district, and an opportunity to sample whale and to indulge in some disgusting sea creatures.

Once you visit you will certainly want to return for more disgusting sea creatures.  I wouldn’t recommend living overseas in Iceland as living in Iceland is extremely expensive, remember that it’s part of Europe.

BLUE LAGOON iceland, the blue lagoon, things to do in iceland, things to see in iceland, getting to the blue lagoon
Picture of the Blue Lagoon

THE BLUE LAGOON

One of Iceland’s most popular things to do, the blue lagoon is a geothermal pool that feeds off Earth’s natural forces from 6,500 below the ground.  It’s a pricey attraction but worth every single penny.  You have the opportunity to bathe in a massive heated pool thats heated naturally, get massaged by a powerful waterfall, clenase your face with the mineral rich silica mud (and learn the best “silica removal technique” after bathing).

pictures of glaciers, glaciers in iceland, glaciers
Picture of the Hveravellir Glacier in Iceland

GLACIERS

You can walk on glaciers, see glacier pools, climb underneath glaciers, trek them,  whatch the ice change color when you… (sorry didn’t mean to say that one out loud).  The most popular are Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Jokulfirdir Glacier Fjord.  Many tour operators even take you to the retreating glaciers around Iceland as well.  This is one of the Iceland activities that you will rarely experience anywhere else in the world.  I’ve shared many stories about geysers in my travel blog and Iceland definitely has a very interesting set of geysers as they are found all throughout the country!

Spectacular Natural Beauty

You have water in all its forms; ice, geysers, and ravenous waterfalls. Click here for a video of me surfing in Iceland.  The terrain of lava fields will engulf your imagination.  You are also able to see the splitting of two continents as the Mid-Atlantic trench is ripping the island of Iceland apart.

Being part of Europe, it’s extremely easy to get around Iceland.  Public transportation is available and everything is within walking distance. 

There’s renting a vehicle as an option for more carefree and flexible travel, like going on a South Iceland road trip. If you are going to add camping and make it more comfortable, opt for a campervan. With traveling in a camper popular in Iceland, you’ll come across great campervan options meeting your needs and budget.

The locals speak fluent English (not the “I kinda understand but not really English”) so you are even able to engage in local culture.