As magical as a horseback trek in Iceland is, there is so much more to see and do in Iceland than can be done on horseback. Extend your stay for a few days before or after your riding trip and discover the wonders of the Land of Fire and Ice.
Volcanoes
Believe it or not, Iceland does not have volcanoes erupting left and right, and even the active volcanoes are not active 24/7. The most recent volcano to erupt in 2021 is Geldingadalir, which has now become the longest ongoing volcanic eruption in the last 50 years. However, its eruption is a cycle of more active and less active periods approximately every 10-12 hours, and fog often obscures the eruption altogether. It’s about an hour hike each way, so be sure to check before you go whether it is erupting or not - there are live feeds of the volcanic eruption on YouTube, so you can gauge activity and visibility before you go.
Glaciers
Iceland is home to many glaciers - 269 named glaciers, to be exact. these snow caps and ice fields are great to explore, but doing so with a guide is recommended. The glaciers are constantly moving and changing, ever so slowly, but cracks, fissures, and crevasses form, which can be unexpected, deep, and dangerous. Ice caves are also popular to explore - tunnels formed by water runoff through the glacier, a truly magical experience.
Mýrdalsjökull Glacier is seated over Katla volcano, which is overdue for an eruption and will make visiting this glacier much more interesting in the near future.
Langjökull Glacier is the closest to Reykjavik, known for manmade ice caves where visitors can dine in an ice restaurant. Snæfellsjökull on the Snæfellsnes Penninsula, is also a popular glacier to visit.
Vatnajökull is Iceland’s largest glacier, Europe’s largest ice cap, and a national park. Svínafellsjökull and Falljökull are both located in the nearby Skaftafell National Park. Tours into the glacier depart from Skaftafell. Breiðamerkurjökull is also nearby, home to incredible ice caves, and ends at Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon.
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Beach
The lagoon and black sand beach on Iceland’s southern coast are dotted with icebergs and sparkling ice from the Breiðamerkursandur pan at the base of Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. Both are outlets of the Vatnajökull Glacier. The pan was formed when volcanic activity shifted the glaciers.
Both the shrinking icebergs and the receding glaciers are visual evidence of climate change
Geothermal Hot Pools
Blue Lagoon
One of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions, known for milky turquoise waters, rich mineral baths, rejuvenating spa treatments, and restaurant featuring seven-course dinners with paired wine.
Sky Lagoon
Reykjavik’s newest geothermal pool, the Sky Lagoon is perched on a cliffside overlooking the Atlantic, bringing together sea and sky with the rejuvenating pool framed by formations of lava rock.
Public Swimming Pools
Besides the well-known hot pots mentioned above, Reykjavik is full of public swimming pools and hot pots, a great way to relax at the end of the day without having to travel as far or pay as hefty a fee at the door. Sundhöllin was one of our favorites, easily accessible on foot from the city center and very affordable, with several pools and hot pots to choose from as well as a sauna.
In Iceland, it is required to take a fully naked shower prior to entering any public pool.
Laugarvatn Fontana is a pool, hot tub, and sauna overlooking a lake, where they bake lava bread - bread baked using geothermal heat.
The Secret Lagoon, though not so secret, is a geothermal pool located next to a hot spring, and is the oldest man-made pool in Iceland (built in 1891).
Reykjadalur Hot Spring is a geothermal river. As you hike higher, the river gets hotter. Boardwalks and changing areas are built into the riverside after about an hour-and-a-half hike, where the river starts to get quite nicely warm. The path is well-marked, with several small waterfalls along the way.
Golden Circle
The Golden Circle takes its name from Gullfoss, which means ‘golden waterfall’ in Icelandic, and is a popular road trip route that touches on some of Iceland’s most popular destinations and is an easy day trip from Reykjavik.
Waterfall Way
You will see so many breathtaking waterfalls in Iceland, by the end of your trip you might even stop stopping to take all the photos. While not all of these are on the Golden Circle, they are in the same general area. Skógafoss, Gljúfrabúi, and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls are some of the most beautiful and very close together, right off the highway. þórufoss and Faxi are both short detours from the Golden Circle. Haifoss was a personal favorite, a canyon of several waterfalls that you can hike down into. Gullfoss is Iceland’s largest waterfall, and Bruarfoss and Sigöldugljufur are known for their brilliant turquoise colors. These are all concentrated in the area between Reykjavik and Iceland’s southern tip, but there are many, many other waterfalls, just as beautiful, throughout the country.
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is the historic location of the Alþing, the Icelandic parliament from 930 until 1798. The site holds historical, political, geological, and cultural significance for the country, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can check out Öxarárfoss waterfall, lagoon, a church and the prime minister’s summer house, and Almannagjá, a rift marking the crest of the mid-Atlantic Ridge. Visitors can also snorkel or scuba dive to see the rift under water.
Geyser Geothermal Area
The Haukadalur Geothermal Field features Strokkur and Geysir, two of Iceland’s largest geysers (and the origin of the word ‘geyser,’ which means ‘to gush’), mud pots, and hot springs. Strokkur goes off every 5-10 minutes or so, while Geysir has gone dormant.
Kerið Crater
The Kerid Crater is a 3,000 year old volcanic crater with a lake in it. It’s a short hike from the car park to the top, with panoramic views around the area.
Snæfellsnes Penninsula
Weird Museums
Reykjavik’s Phallic Museum showcases genitalia from hundreds of different animal species.
The Bobby Fischer Center in Selfoss is a museum dedicated to the world champion chess player.