1 National Museum of Iceland

41 Suðurgata IS - Reykjavík
The National Museum of Iceland features reconstructed settings and original presentations (such
as a conveyor belt with a parade of 20C objects) recounting the country's history as well as its
everyday life since its settlement circa 800. A dense and..

2 Gullfoss
IS - Geysir
Fed by the Langjökull Glacier dominating the site, the Hvitá River dives 32m here, then is swept
through a narrow gorge. The roar of the water and foam that looks iridescent in the sunlight make
Gullfoss, "the golden falls", a strikingly be..

3 Thórsmörk Valley
IS - 706 Evindarhólar
The Thórsmörk Valley is hard to get to (by 4WD or on an excursion from Reykjavík), but the
rewards are spectacular: a stunning Arctic landscape watched over by three glaciers and
protected by several dangerous fords. There's a famous trek up to Landm..

4 Skaftafell National Park

IS - 785 Skaftafell
Skaftafell National Park has some fine volcanic discoveries in store for you, including the chain of
craters at Lakagígar, the basalt columns at Svartifoss waterfall and the active Grimsvötn volcano,
covered by the carefully monitored Vatnajökull gla..

5 Vatnajökull National Park

IS - 780 Höfn
This is the largest nature park in Europe. Nothing less would have been worthy of Vatnajökull,
Europe's largest glacier, whose 8,000 km 2 cover almost 12% of the country's area. The park
contains two other breathtakingly beautiful national parks: Ska..

6 Látrabjarg Cliffs
IS - Hvallátur
Northwest of Breiðafjörður, on the edges of Europe, the gigantic Látrabjarg cliffs (440m high by
14km long) are a favourite spot for bird-watchers. They are home to millions of birds, including
the largest razorbill (Alca torda) colony on the planet.

7 Harpa
2 Austurbakki 2 IS - Reykjavik
A concert hall and conference centre, this huge complex, that also houses restaurants, bars and
a record shop, is the jewel in Iceland's architectural crown. Inaugurated in May 2011, Harpa was
designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects and..

8 Blue Lagoon
IS - 240 Grindavík
The Blue Lagoon, created by run-off from a nearby thermal plant, is on Reykjanes Peninsula, a
lava field with open-air volcanic and geothermal activity. The lagoon offers swimmers its warm
and salutary opaline waters. Guaranteed relaxation in a lunar..

9 Landmannalaugar
IS - Grafarkirkja
Specked with strips of obsidian, the mountains of astonishingly coloured rhyolite in
Landmannalaugar unfold as far as the eye can see - from pink Brennisteinsalda to orange and
green Suðurnámur. Don't miss this heroic valley, one of Iceland's most ma..

10 Lake Jökulsárlón
IS - Reynivellir
This largest glacial lake in Iceland, created in 1950, is inhabited by herring, salmon, seals and
numerous aquatic birds. Don't miss this herald of Vatnajökull, especially if you enjoy seeing
eiders swimming between the icebergs, icy sculptures with ..

11 Reykjavík Old Town

Place Austurvöllur IS - Reykjavík
Located between the harbour and Lake Tjörnin, the old town is a small neighbourhood developed
in the 18C around wool-producing workshops. Brightly painted houses in wood and corrugated
iron adjoin recent buildings including the Town Hall. In the cent..

12 Thingvellir
IS - Thingvellir
Thingvellir forms a cirque lined by cliffs and is located on the rift between the Eurasian and North
American continental plates north of Iceland's largest lake. The first parliament, the Althing, was
held here in 930. You can see remains of 18C shel..
13 Geysir Site
IS - Geysir
Geysir, which has lent its name to geysers all over the world, once spewed a stream of water and
steam 60m into the air, created by contact with magma inside a rift. It has calmed down since the
mid-20C, giving up top billing to its neighbour Strokku..

14 Hekla
IS - Asolfsstadhir
Although overshadowed by Snæfellsjökull in Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth,
Hekla remains one of Iceland's most formidable volcanos with twenty unpredictable and
devastating eruptions to its name. Thus its reputation as the Gateway t..

15 Skogar Folk Museum

IS - 706 Evindarhólar
Skogar Folk Museum, one of the finest in the country, is composed of old buildings brought here
from all over southern Iceland. This is a real village with a school, a church and a power plant.
There's not a doily or doorknob missing in the houses. A..

16 Vestmann Islands
IS - 900 Vestmannaeyjar
The volcanic activity in the Vestmann Islands has made this a constantly changing archipelago.
Surtsey Island (a UNESCO World Heritage Site reserved for scientists) sprung out of the sea in
1963, and delightful Heimaey gained a few metres thanks to t..

17 Mount Dyrfjöll
IS - 720 Bakkagerði
Imposing Mount Dyrfjöll is believed to be the home of the queen of the elves. Whatever the case
may be, the tallest mountain on Borgarfjörður Bay remains shrouded in mystery. Only confirmed
mountain-climbers can tackle its steep, jagged summit.

18 Lónsöræfi Park
IS - Reydhara
Lónsöræfi is one of Iceland's largest nature reserves. Coloured rhyolite and deep gorges liven up
this superb, sparse mineral world surrounded by high mountain chains. Stafafell Farm youth
hostel is a good point of departure.

19 Lakagígar
IS - 880 Kálfafell
Lakagígar's gigantic eruption in 1783 ruined Iceland and created climatic havoc in Europe,
affecting harvests and some say partly triggering the French Revolution. An explosively beautiful
site with a series of 130 fascinating craters.
20 Mývatn Region
IS - Reykjahlidh
Lake Mývatn is a bird sanctuary at the crossroads of great migratory routes. Its surroundings
boast unique landscapes, thrillingly disrupted by its volcanic activity: Hverfjall crater, bubbling
mud in Námafjáll and petrified lava at Dimmuborgir.
21 Jökulsárgljúfur National Park

IS - As

Make Jökulsárgljúfur National Park one of your musts - if only for the spectacular
Dettifoss, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss Falls, national monuments, and for its canyon
with 100m-high walls like in Arizona. Sublime!
22cMount Askja

IS - Svartarkot

Mount Askja (a Caldeira in Icelandic) is nestled in the Dyngjufjöll Massif and contains
Iceland's deepest lake, the unfathomable Öskjuvatn (220m). It offers a magnificent
spectacle with the nearby Víti crater, a favourite with swimmers due to its 30°..
3 Snæfellsjökull National Park

IS - 355 Ólafsvík

Snæfellsjökull National Park encompasses a landscape shaped by volcanic activity

and dotted with lava fields. Your first priority should be the mythical and magnificent
Snæfellsjökull glacier (1,448m), wrapped in the literary glow of Jules Verne's Jo..

 4 Eyjafjörður

IS - 603 Akureyri

Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in northern Iceland, with Hrísey Island in the middle, is
located in one of the country's most highly populated regions. But never fear, its
banks are as picturesque as ever, particularly on Tröllaskagi, the Trolls' pen..

 5 Vatnsnes Peninsula

IS - Lækjamót

The Vatnsnes Peninsula is one of Iceland's many remote landscapes. It's worth the
trip, if only for its unreal peacefulness and seal colonies. On its east coast stands
Hvitserkur Rock, an extraordinary geological sculpture.

 6 Hveravellir

IS - Ábær

Hveravellir, on route 35, is a geothermal site framed spectacularly by the Langjökull

and Hofsjökull glaciers. Bubbling hot springs, turquoise waters, geysers and warm
natural pools for relaxing your tired muscles. A dream come true! Accessible from ..
 7 Saga Museum

Öskjuhlið IS - Reykjavík

The Saga Museum retraces the island's history from the 8C to the 18C in 17 scenes
"performed" by amazingly realistic silicon figures. It is housed in one of the six
aluminium-covered water tanks in the Perlan, a hot water reservoir overlook..

 8 Lake Laugarvatn

IS - 840 Laugarvatn

Laugarvatn, a large lake with hot springs and a spa of the same name, is a
destination enjoyed by both foreigners and locals. Indulge in the pleasures of its
relaxing warm baths in the open air, as well as kayaking and boat rides on the lake.

 9 Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest

IS - Valþjofsstaðir

Iceland has made a big effort at reforestation, using imported trees among others.
Hallormsstaðaskógur Forest along Lake Lögurinn is its largest wooded area and is
growing even larger due to its nurseries. There's also an arboretum and nice hiking tr..

 10 Grímsey Island

IS - 311 Miðgarðar

The summer sun never sets on Grímsey, Iceland's northernmost inhabited island, on
the Arctic circle. It is a flat, treeless expanse with steep cliffs, but may have some
surprises in store for you, such as an occasional visit from a polar bear.

 11 Breiðafjörður

IS - Stadhur

With its unique biodiversity, spectacular mountain backdrop and constellation of

between 2,000 and 3,000 islands, vast Breiðafjörður fjord is well worth the detour.
While you're there, check out Flatey Island, inhabited year round, and its charming v..

 12 Eyjafjöll

IS - 706 Evindarhólar

The whole world learned how to pronounce a difficult name when Eyjafjöll, a volcano
in the southern part of the country, awoke in March 2010 after 187 years of inactivity.
The eruption created a plume of smoke that paralysed global air traffic. We ma..