Top 10 Places to Visit in Iceland

Never limit your options when in Iceland for a vacation. There are many attractions to see and places to visit that will help make your tour a worthy outing. Making the right choice will be very challenging for beginners but this article will give you a hint by discussing the top ten places that you can visit when in Iceland. Make prior research before embarking on your tour and it will cushion you from any last-minute hitches.

Lake Myvatn Geo-Thermal Area

This is the fourth largest lake in Iceland and an ideal place to stop by once in the country for a vacation. Its formation resulted from a volcanic eruption around 2,300 years back and has remained strong in the 21st century as a top tourist attraction in Europe. The volcano remains active considering it erupted in 1984. There are many types of wildlife at the lake with the surrounding heavily covered by ice lands. Generally, it is a land scape that you will cherish visiting all the time on tour of Iceland.

Reynisfjara Beach

This is a black sand beach that covers roughly 180 km of land. The surrounding area has huge rocks, dark caves and basalt columns that you will enjoy seeing. There is also a huge pillar called Dyrhólaey which is within a walking distance making it easily accessible. Guided tours at the beach are offered on a regular basis but taking a swim at the sea will be a dangerous adventure. The currents are always heavy while temperatures are low most of the times.

Blue Lagoon

Many people say that the sea water at this lagoon has natural powers that can heal. That is one of the reason why visitors flock the place from year to year but the truth is that the waters are very rich in minerals and silica. There is also a specialized clinic offered at the lagoon for skin treatment as well as some luxurious spa treatments to satisfy those who go there seeking some healing. The experience you will have at the blue lagoon will be incomparable to none thus a must-visit place for you when in Iceland.

Seljavallalaug Pool

This pool was constructed in 1923 and holds the record of being among the oldest out-of-doors swimming pools in the country’s history. The architectural design of the pool is equally marveling and a good sight to see for those people keen on understanding the ancient construction. The pool is established on a natural setting that will offer you more opportunities to explore the unexplored. There is a footpath linking the pool from Seljavellir so you don’t need any complicated mode of transport to access this place.

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

This sits at 534 meters over the sea level and that is a good place for habiting by seafowl. Until recent times, this place was very remote with no communication network, lagged behind in technology and poverty was widespread. The few people who used to live here have since left, paving way for it to be transformed into a tourism destination. Thousands of international tourists come to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve to have a view of the wonderful landscape. You also need to be part of the experience which is worth the sacrifice.

Husey

This is the ideal place for wonderful excursions in Iceland and a good place to always visit. There are more than 170 different plant species that grow at this place which is way beyond what any other part of the country can offer. A total of 30 birds’ species have turned this place into a nesting zone and the right time to visit Husey is in the mid-summer. You will get to see more than you expected including idle seals, grazing reindeer and obsidian sands from the river banks.

Thingvellir National Park

You will be thrilled by the cultural as well as historical significance that this park holds in Iceland. The number of tourists who visit every year has been overwhelming and it’s a matter of time before it gets noticed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Alþingi, the world’s oldest parliament, was established here in 930 and it will be something worth a visit. The parliament holds a lot of history about all the legislative processes that shaped the country’s future and it will be a plus for your tour if you can get hold of that in detail.

Asbyrgi Canyon

This is a place for you to visit in Iceland if at all you have thirst for some spiritual satisfaction. There is a pilgrim’s parade that you can be part of while other things to enjoy include fantastic views of the landscape and the flooding effects of river Jokulsa a fjollum. Actually, the flooding of the river caused the Asbyrgi shape even though there have been many other explanations to the same.

Skaftafell Park

If you want to have a view of the world’s most bizarre and weirdest landscapes then you must visit this place in Iceland. You will see for yourself some of the things that you will not believe. You will have a awe-inspiring experience camping at the Skaftafell Park because the landscape is made of green wood forests, glacial rivers, black sand deserts and ice cap to make it something out of the ordinary. Many Hollywood movies like "Die another Day" and "A View to a Kill" have been filmed at the park which underlines its value. The climate there is relatively warm with sunny days while guided tours are always on offer for visitors to enjoy.

Hekla Volcano

This is a highly active volcano in the world and came up from an eruption that occurred back in 1104. From that time, up to thirty eruptions have taken place which ended up in a gate of hell being placed at the central point. The unique landscape has inspired many people including authors and artists to explore its existence which has evidently caught the attention of international tourists. It is an ideal place to visit while in Iceland.