By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 5th January 2024 | Updated: 13th December 2024
Now we all know that Iceland is full of incredible landscapes. Sitting on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, on both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, Iceland has numerous earth tremors and volcanic eruptions, alongside stunning waterfalls and lagoons filled with ice, all of which means being in the Iceland landscapes are pretty amazing.
With all the beautiful mountains and waterfalls to complement the magnificent churches and lighthouses that are scattered all over the country, creating architecture and nature in harmony, where do you need to visit? Well to get a real feeling of having stepped onto another planet, here are our top otherworldly landscapes you must visit in Iceland;
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Currency Conversion: We recommend Wise
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
For more information on getting to and around Iceland, check out our 7 days in Iceland post as we go into much more detail there.
Incredible Iceland Landscapes You Must Visit Map
Incredible Iceland Landscapes You Must Visit
1. Arnarstapi
📍 Where – Route 54, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, West Iceland
📍 How to get there – 2 hours 30 minute / 195km drive from Reykjavik
📍 Parking – There is free parking just off Arnastapavegur, which leads to the Bárður Snæfellsás Statue and out to the cliffs
📍 Entrance fee – None, possible parking fees depending on where you park
Incredible basalt rock formations, hundreds upon thousands of seabirds, and a stone giant… where else than the wonderful village of Arnarstapi in West Iceland. With numerous walking routes along the coast and into the mountains surrounding the small fishing village, Arnarstapi is a place to gaze at and embrace the natural landscapes of Iceland.
You may even be lucky enough to find the waterfalls cascading into the ocean. Arnarstapi is also part of the stunning Snæfellsnes National Park, the whole area of which is worth spending a couple of days exploring.
2. Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach
📍 Where – Route 1, South Iceland
📍 How to get there – 4 hours 50 minute / 380km drive from Reykjavik
📍 Parking – Parking at Diamond Beach and at Jökulsárlón, (781)
📍 Entrance fee – None, possible parking fees depending on where you park
If giant diamonds washing up on a volcanic black sand beach doesn’t sound otherworldly, we don’t know what does. Admittedly the diamonds aren’t really diamonds, but ice break-offs of the Jökulsárlón Glacier, but it doesn’t make the view of the beach any less impressive. From the teeny tiny ice pieces to the decent boulder-sized blocks, Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach should be on your list of stops of landscapes you must visit in Iceland if you are in the south of the country.
3. Sólheimajökull Glacier
📍 Where – Route 1, South Iceland
📍 How to get there – 2 hours 15 minute / 165km drive from Reykjavik
📍 Parking – Parking at Sólheimajökulsvegur, 871, Iceland
📍 Entrance fee – None, possible parking fees depending on where you park
Cracking, groaning, and glistening ice that you can walk up to and even on to, has to be on our list of Iceland landscapes you must visit during a trip to Iceland. There are numerous glaciers around Iceland that you can visit, but our favourite has to be Sólheimajökull.
With a large car park at the bottom and a lovely walk around the glacier lagoon up to the glacier mouth itself, it is a stunningly unique landscape that really does have to be seen to be believed. Just make sure you heed any warnings that may be at the glaciers and only ever go on the glacier itself with a guide.
4. Hvalnes Nature Reserve
📍 Where – Route 1, East Iceland
📍 How to get there – 7 hours / 560km drive from Reykjavik
📍 Parking – Parking just off Þjóðvegur, 781, Iceland (it is only small!) near Hvalnes Lighthouse
📍 Entrance fee – None
Smooth black pebbles that reach as far as the eye can see, from the snow-peaked caps of the mountains in the distance to the shoreline. This is Hvalnes Nature Reserve and for a few months a year, it is home to hundreds of Bewick Swans as well as incredible views.
It’s not very obvious that the reserve, (or beach), is there but after you pull up in a small parking lot, you can walk for miles across the pebbled landscape. Just be wary of the tide and often extreme winds!
If you’re after some more black beaches then a little further around the coast lies Reynisfjara Beach & Dyrhólaey, quite possibly the most famous black sand beaches in Iceland.
5. Mýtavn & Hverir
📍 Where – Route 1, North Iceland
📍 How to get there – 5 hours 45 minute / 460km drive from Reykjavik
📍 Parking – Mýtavn Nature Baths parking is at Jarðbaðshólar, 660 Mývatn, Iceland. Hverir parking is just off Route 1 on 885 Námaskarðsvegur, 660, Iceland
📍 Entrance fee – 6900 ISK to Mýtavn Nature Baths. None to Hverir
Number five on the Iceland landscapes list, but most certainly not one to miss, is the stunning area around Mýtavn & Hverir. From bubbling mud pots to steaming chimneys and blue hot springs to warm water lakes, Mýtavn & Hverir is a dream to visit.
We highly recommend having a dip in the warming milky blue waters of the Mýtavn Nature Baths before heading a short distance down the road to Hverir. Here you can experience the steaming mud-bubbling landscape in all its glory.
6. Þingvellir National Park
📍 Where – Route 36, southwest Iceland
📍 How to get there – 45 minutes / 45km drive from Reykjavik
📍 Parking – Parking various locations throughout the park
📍 Entrance fee – None to enter, but there is a fee if you come by car, (around 750 ISK)
Þingvellir National Park is a location known for its dramatic scenery being the location of Iceland’s first Parliament and as being somewhere where you can see the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates slowly pulling apart from each other. (You can even go diving in the icy waters here to see this too). With snowfall-dusted mountains in the distance, wooden boardwalks to follow, and a beautiful waterfall or two hidden in the landscape, you won’t ever want to leave.
7. Saxhóll Crater & the Lava Fields
📍 Where – Route 54, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, West Iceland
📍 How to get there – 2 hours 50 minute / 220km drive from Reykjavik
📍 Parking – Parking just off Útnesvegur at Saxhóll 356, 356, Iceland
📍 Entrance fee – None
Another location in Snæfellsnes National Park to visit is an old volcanic crater surrounded by ancient lava fields called Saxhóll. This somewhat unassuming-looking crater actually has a walking route up to the top of what would have been the old cone, and views over the surrounding landscape that are breathtaking. From the coast to the land Snæfellsnes National Park is a joy to drive through and discover!
Where to stay in Iceland
During a trip to Iceland, we would highly recommend staying in HI Iceland Hostels throughout the country. Not only do they have a vast range of accommodation options but they are also located in some of the most picturesque locations across Iceland. Check out Hostelworld for the locations closest to where you want to base yourself.
Incredible Iceland Landscapes You Must Visit FAQs
Why travel to Iceland?
There are many reasons why tourists travel to Iceland. The country’s natural beauty, with volcanoes, glaciers, and waterfalls at every turn, cultural heritage, and the country’s commitment to sustainability make it a captivating and unforgettable destination for visitors from around the world.
What is Iceland’s climate?
Overall, Iceland has a cool subarctic climate with frequent rainfall, strong winds, and a substantial degree of weather variability! So it is advisable to check weather forecasts and pack appropriate clothing layers when planning a trip to Iceland. Due to its high latitude, Iceland also experiences long periods of daylight, known as the Midnight Sun during the summer months as well as the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights in the winter months.
Best time of year to visit Iceland
If you are planning on visiting all of these locations in one trip, then we would recommend visiting in the spring/summer. During this time of year, you are most likely to get the better weather, i.e. no snow blocking roads to locations as you might in the winter, and possibly fewer tourists too. When we visited in April it was really quiet everywhere, with only the capital and Golden Circle route being the exception.
Which country is Diamond Beach in?
Diamond Beach is located along the southern coast of Iceland, (both it and the nearby Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon are well worth a visit!).
What is the scenery like in Iceland?
The scenery in Iceland is like no other place on earth. You can go from driving through vast lava ridden landscapes with extinct, and active, volcanoes to driving past thundering waterfalls or glaciers so large you cant see the end, all with the odd steam stream or geyser thrown into the mix as well. You really have to see Iceland to believe it.
Iceland Landscapes: Volcanoes and hot springs
How many volcanoes are there in Iceland?
There are roughly 130 active and inactive volcanoes in Iceland making it one of the world’s most volcanically active places. The most famous volcanoes in Iceland are Eyjafjallajökull, (which disrupted air traffic for nearly a week!), and more recently a number of volcanoes that have been erupting one after the other north of Grindavik in the Sundhnúkur crater row and at Fagradalsfjall.
When did the last volcano erupt in Iceland?
Eruptions have been occurring on the Reykjanes Peninsula for a number of years now, with the most recent eruptions happening at the end of 2024. But that doesn’t mean Iceland isn’t safe to visit, it is extremely safe and the Icelanders are used to volcanic eruptions so day to day life continues when an eruption occurs, even if it does turn the sky orange!
How many hot springs are there in Iceland?
There are around 50 natural hot springs in Iceland, some of which are much easier to access than others. There are also hot pots and of course the famous blue lagoons in Iceland too – and yes we mean blue lagoons, there is the famous well known one outside of Reykjavik and also another in the north near Mývatn, both of which are worth visiting.
Iceland Landscapes: Waterfalls
How many waterfalls are there in Iceland?
There are an estimated 10,000 waterfalls across Iceland, which is mostly down to the rain / snowfall the island sees along with glacial melt in the warmer months. We have visited a few waterfalls during our trips to Iceland so be sure to check out our post on the best waterfalls in Iceland here.
Iceland Landscapes: Glaciers
How many glaciers are there in Iceland?
There are officially 269 named glaciers in Iceland making up 11% of the country. The largest of which is Vatnajökull in the southeast of Iceland.
What are three things Iceland is famous for?
Iceland is well known for its fair share of incredible landscapes but the ones that top them all have to be the very active volcanic landscapes, the northern lights, and vast glaciers.
What is the most famous landscape in Iceland?
The most famous landscape in Iceland has to be the Golden Circle Route. Visited throughout the year by tourists across the globe, the Golden Circle has a little bit of everything. Crossing through Thingvellir National Park, stopping by Gullfoss waterfall, and the wonderful Strokkur geyser region too.
Iceland Tours
Iceland tours are the best way to see Iceland, these from Get Your Guide are particularly great:
Conclusion: Incredible Iceland Landscapes You Must Visit
And there you have our Iceland landscapes that you simply must visit. From the glacial lagoons to the volcanic landscapes and all the hot springs in between. Let us know if there are any other places you would add to the list!
All Our Iceland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 Why Is Iceland So Expensive: How To Have An Affordable Iceland Trip
📍 The Perfect 1 Week Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
Planning your own trip to Iceland? Be sure to download Wise by far the best currency conversion app around. We use it daily living on the border of two countries and it is a game changer when travelling!
This post has been produced in collaboration with HI Iceland. Although we were gifted the accommodation (and a few breakfasts!) during our time in Iceland, our opinion of HI Iceland and the individual hostels we stayed at is our own and has not been influenced.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.