Iceland is a haven for those appreciate rugged natural landscapes and adventures. There are just so many things to do in Iceland that one trip will not be enough. You will have to do your research and plan your itinerary on the best things to do in Iceland.
Summer is a great time to visit Iceland. Everything is open, the weather is pleasant, the roads are in good condition. So if you are looking for the top things to do in Iceland in summer, dive in!
Most of these activities can be done in spring or autumn months too. The days are not as long as summer time, so you have to plan your itinerary accordingly.
Disclaimer: This helpful post contains some Affiliate links. This means that if you click on any of the links in this post (AND make a purchase), I may receive a small commission at absolutely no cost to you. As such I thank you in advance should you decide to click & buy.
Page Contents
Top 20 Things to do in Iceland
Many of the adventure activities in Iceland require a guided tour to be taken, while several are free.
Take a road trip around Iceland.
Without hesitation, I would say taking a road trip in Iceland is one of the best things to do here. While this post covers some of the best places to visit in Iceland, the beauty of this country lies not only in its known landmarks, but the wild rugged countryside that you get to see on a road trip. We took a road trip to Iceland in June. I assure you will get tired of parking the car on the road side and taking photos. Everything will seem epic in the first few days!
A self-drive road trip is easy to manage even if you visit Iceland in spring or early fall. If you are considering Iceland for spring break in April in Europe, note that the country emerges from the winter hibernation and days grow longer.
We did a 12-day road trip in Iceland, this can be easily curtailed to a 10 day trip or a 14 day ring road itinerary around Iceland. A road trip can be planed easily in spring or autumn as well. Winter is the only time when you need to get extra equipment for a road trip and plan your itinerary differently.
Chase waterfalls in Iceland in summer.
With over 10,000 recorded waterfalls in this country, you are never too far away from one. You will encounter beautiful waterfalls while driving on the road, and while hiking. Again, Iceland has some stunning waterfalls across Snaefellsnes Peninsula, North region, East fjords and the popular South coast.
So, what are the best places to visit for Iceland waterfalls? The mighty Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in all of Europe, lies on the Diamond Circle route in North Iceland. You can cover Sellfoss and Godafoss as well, if you go to North.
Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss are 2 huge attractions on the South Coast of Iceland itinerary, right on the ring road. But it is not just the popular waterfalls that are wonderful, you will come across amazing ones on your road trip or your hike that have no names.
Visit the Golden Circle route.
Golden Circle route is one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland. If you are short on time, and this is a first visit to Iceland, most tourists explore Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss waterfall, the 3 famous stops on the Golden Circle Route.
Thingvellir national park is the most popular park in Iceland, partly due to its proximity to Reykjavik that makes it a year-round destination. This is the best attraction on the famous Golden Circle route in Iceland. Mainly because of its unique geology and historical importance. There is no other place on the planet where you can see the rift between continental plates (the North American and the Eurasian one) so clearly above land.
Geysir geothermal area is another popular attraction on the Golden Circle route. This area has geysers, hot springs and colourful earth to view. The famous Geysir (which lent the name geyser) itself is no longer active, but you can see Strokkur nearby. The eruption of Strokkur geyser occurs every 6 to 10 minutes. So best to keep your cameras ready!
Gullfoss or the ‘Golden falls’ is perhaps the most popular waterfall in Iceland due to its proximity to Reykjavik. This attraction also lies on the popular Golden Circle route. The canyon walls on both sides of the falls descend deep into the Gullfossgjufur Canyon.
You can also opt for a Golden Circle Tour from Reykjavik.
Snorkel in the Silfra Fissure.
Imagine snorkeling or diving between 2 continental plates. That too, in the clearest water with visibility of more than 100 metres. Where else is this possible but Iceland?
As I mentioned earlier, Thingvellir National Park is hugely important due to geological reasons. This is the one place on earth where the continental rift between the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates is so clearly visible above land. Iceland sits on the mid-Atlantic ridge.
And Silfra Fissure is the name of the rift at Thingvellir park, where you are literally standing between 2 continents. The water at Silfra fissure is glacial water that flows through porous lava field in the area. The lave field acts as a natural filtration system making the clearest possible water. You need to book a tour to snorkel or dive at Silfra Fissure.
Visit an ice cave.
Ice caves are a unique natural attraction in Iceland to visit. There are many options of natural ice caves in winter months. But one ice cave that is a year-around destination in South Iceland is Katla. A must see in Iceland in summer!
If you visit Iceland in winter, you have other options for natural ice caves in the south coast of Iceland. Each year, ice caves at Vatnajokull (the largest glacier in Iceland) get formed with varied shapes and tunnels. It is mandatory to book a guide to visit Katla Ice Cave.
Go to Landmannalaugar.
Landmannalaugar is highlands in central part of Iceland that are difficult to reach to. t requires planning, but well worth the trip. There is a short season between June and September when the F-roads (or unpaved dirt tracks) open in Iceland. You essentially must navigate F-roads either yourself or book a day tour to reach Landmannalaugar.
Even a short hike is good to see the natural beauty of the multi-hued rainbow mountains and the stark landscape here. There are lava fields, geothermal activity and hot spring to enjoy as well.
The weather can be temperamental in Iceland even in summer. It rained for 2 consecutive days while we were in Vik, a town on the south coast. It became hugely difficult for us to drive to Landmannalaugar ourselves even though we had rented a 4WD to access F-roads. We ended up taking a day tour to the central highlands that offered a great short hike.
Rejuvenate in a geothermal spa.
You cannot visit the Land of Ice & Fire, without a dip in a geothermal spa. We finished off our first day in Iceland with a late evening visit to the famous Blue Lagoon. Soaking in the warm silica-rich waters after a long flight and a hectic first day was just perfect! You need to book tickets much in advance for the popular Blue Lagoon.
There are other known geothermal spas: Myvatn Nature Baths in North Iceland, Sky Lagoon and Secret Lagoon near Reykjavik, People’s Pool in Landmannalaugar.
Walk on a glacier.
There are few places on the planet where you get to hike or do ice-climbing on a glacier. Iceland offers this amazing experience. You must book a guide to hike a glacier. The most popular tour options are on the largest glacier in Iceland: Vatnajokull in South-east Iceland.
You can choose a simple 1-hour walk on Vatnajokull or even a strenuous activity that involves ice climbing and going further inside the glacier. There is a meeting point at Skaftafell from where all tours to Vatnajokull begin. Another popular glacier hike starts at Solheimajokull Glacier, which lies closer to Vik.
Go on a whale-watching tour.
Spotting these gentle giants inn the ocean is a fun activity for the entire family. You can book a whale watching tour in Reykjavik, but the best place to do this is Husavik in North Iceland. Husavik is in North Iceland and is the whale-watching capital of Iceland.
During summer months, abundant daylight along with unique ocean currents make Icelandic waters home to a large variety of krill and fish. This makes them attractive for several species of whales who come to the different bays to feed.
You must book a tour for whale watching in Husavik.
Enjoy the midnight sun in Iceland.
One of the fabulous phenomenon of Iceland in summer is the midnight sun. The ever ending hours of daylight can be experienced in Iceland during the summer months. You have daylight to do as much sightseeing and hiking as your heart desires.
The earth turns on a tilted axis and the North pole faces away from the sun. So for several weeks of the year, the sun does not set over the Arctic Circle resulting in 24 hours of daylight. In Iceland, June and July is season of the midnight sun when the sun doesn’t set until after 12am. The sun barely dips below the horizon during these months so the few hours of night feel like twilight.
We went for a pub crawl in Reykjavik at 9 PM in mid-June. When we left the last pub at 2 AM, there was no need for street lights. Laugavegur street felt magical.
Drive along the scenic route in Snaefellsnes Peninsula & view Kirkjufell.
All of Iceland is scenic, but there are some parts that are more scenic than others! Driving along the coastal route in Snaefellsnes Peninsula is one of the best things to do in Iceland in summer. You come across lovely views of the ocean, waterfalls along the road, some lovely towns like Budir or Hellnar where you can stop by for the night.
The Arnastapi cliffs are columnar basalt formations that jut out of the blue ocean, a must-see in Snaefellsnes Peninsula itinerary.
Kirkjufell is easily the most accessible attraction in West Iceland. This mountain is hard to miss if you drive down the scenic coastal route in Snaefellsnes Peninsula. There is a car park on the opposite side of the mountain. A short walk from the car park takes you to Kirkjufellfoss, the 2 pretty waterfalls. And this shot of Kirkjufell along with the waterfalls is the signature shot of Iceland natural landscape.
Visit a black sand beach.
Iceland is famous for its black sand beaches. Reynisfjara on the South Iceland coast, near the town of Vik is the most famous. This beach has unique basalt columns that make for an interesting photo backdrop. It was voted by National Geographic in 1991 as one of top 10 non-tropical beaches on our planet.
If you are visiting Snaefellsnes Peninsula, make sure to visit Djupalonssandur for interesting lave rock formations. The path here leads to a black sand beach.
Visit Lake Myvatn and its surrounding areas.
North Iceland is home to Lake Myvatn. This beautiful lake region is now home to incredible geological features and plenty of flora and fauna.
I enjoyed the short visit to Hverir or Namaskaro geothermal area and its bubbling mud pools. There is a strong sulphur smell in this area so don’t spend more than an hour here.
Dimmuborgir lave fields, with its gnarled rock formations, is another popular site close to Lake Myvatn. And the climb to Hverfjall volcano crater with its impressive 1 km diameter width of the rim is a fun activity.
Take a boat ride or a kayaking tour in an ice lagoon.
Iceland in summer offers many adventure activities. Vatnajokull is the largest glacier in Iceland, it is located on the south-east coast. Large chunks of icebergs that have broken off the glacier float across a large water body before getting into Atlantic Ocean. Jokulsarlon ice lagoon has been formed due to melting glaciers and is a huge attraction in South Iceland.
You can take a boat ride to see the natural beauty of Jokulsarlon. For the more fit and adventurous, there is also a kayaking tour option.
Go on a summer hike.
Iceland in summer truly comes alive on a hiking trail. You get to see snow-capped peaks, moss covered lava fields, majestic waterfalls and more. The second tallest waterfall, Glymur in West Iceland is only accessible via a hike. You can take other short day hikes like the Waterfall Way, that starts at the top of Skogafoss and crosses 25 other waterfalls and picturesque scenery along the way.
There are both day hikes and multi-day hikes possible during summer months at Lanndmannalaugar in central Iceland. National Geographic has listed the Laugavegur and Fimmvorduhals trek as one of the best hiking trails in the world for a good reason.
Visit a canyon.
Iceland has more than 10 canyons that truly capture the wild beauty of this country. Fjadrargljufur Canyon in south Iceland has become popular amongst hikers and nature lovers for its moss-covered landscape.
We made a short stop at the unique Studlagil Basalt Canyon in East Iceland. With walls made of towering, black basalt, this canyon is a show stopper.
Jokulsargljufur is one of the deepest canyons in Iceland and is located in North Iceland. It has many noteworthy waterfalls including the Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Iceland. We hiked the rim of Asbyrgi Canyon in this area.
There are hidden gems like Mulagljuful Canyon, Kvernufoss Canyon, Gljufrabui, and Sigoldugljufur Canyon.
Climb down a lava cave.
Iceland’s lava caves were formed by numerous volcanic eruptions over thousands of years. These hidden chambers are full of geological history. There are several lace caves and tubes that you can explore in Iceland.
One of the best known lava tunnels lies 30 minutes from Reykjavik. This is Raufarhólshellir. It is a unique experience to witness the inner workings of a volcanic eruption. It is necessary to book a tour to explore this lava tunnel. We booked a tour to explore Vatnashellir lava cave in West Iceland.
Sightseeing in Reykjavik.
Iceland is famous for its natural landmarks, but Reykjavik has many man-made attractions that are must-see. You can cover all of Reykjavik attractions in a day. The top attraction in the city is Hallgrimskirkja. This is the tallest church in Iceland, standing at 74.5 metres in height. You can climb up and get wonderful views of the city all around. It draws its inspiration from nature: basalt rock columns found in the country and mythology (The hammer of Thor inspires the top part of the church building).
Another famous attraction is the Sun Voyager statue. The location of this sculpture is stunning, it overlooks the Flaxafloi Bay with the Mount Esja as the backdrop. The artist Jon Gunnar imagined the Sun Voyager to be a boat of dreams, to epitomize the human need for discovery.
If you are visiting Reykjavik with kids, don’t miss Perlan museum.
Visit a fjord town in East Iceland.
East Iceland is rich in dramatic scenery and culture. The highlight of this region is the beautiful fjords with tiny towns scattered across. This stretch of coastline is from the fishing village of Borgarfjörður Eystri in the north, to Berufjörður in the south.
We drove across mountain passes from Egilsstadir to reach Seydisfjordur. This town is at the innermost point of the fjord by the same name. The look and feel of this part is different from the rest of Iceland. Even if you don’t spend a night at this town, the drive is worth a detour just for crossing the mountain pass with the snow-capped mountains.
One of the iconic spots in the town is the Blue Church with the street art painted on some of the houses leading up to it. And the multi-coloured strips on the street leading to it. The contrast of the rainbow with Blue Church makes it one of the most photogenic spots in Seydisfjordur.
See puffins.
Iceland is one of the best places to see puffins as over half of the world’s population nest here each year. Spring and summer months are the best time to see puffins in Iceland. Puffins typically begin to arrive in Iceland in April and leave by September.
Some of the best-known spots are the Westman Islands (south), Borgarfjörður Eystri (east), Grímsey (north), and Látrabjarg cliffs (Westfjords). The Westman Islands are believed to have the largest Atlantic puffin colony in the world. Borgarfjörður Eystri (Borgarfjordur Eystri) is a small fishing village in eastern Iceland and is also home to a large puffin colony.
Although best known for whales and fishing, Skjálfandi Bay is also home to a large number of bird species including Atlantic puffins. Grímsey is the northernmost inhabited island in Iceland, it is a haven for several birds species and puffins. The Látrabjarg cliffs, located in the Westfjords, are the largest bird cliffs in Europe.
There are many tours designed to help you spot puffins in Iceland. Some are land based tours and some are boat tours.
Have I convinced you to visit Iceland in summer? We had an epic family adventure here and you will too.
Planning a trip to Iceland?
For a full ring road itinerary for 10 to 14 days, see The Ultimate Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
If you have 5-7 days to explore Iceland: Iceland in 5 to 7 days: Three Epic Itinerary Options
For estimating your Iceland Trip Cost and planning tips, read Iceland Trip Cost + How to plan a road trip to Iceland
Best Tours in Iceland: Day Tours for attractions + adventure
What to pack for Iceland: Iceland Packing List for summer or spring or autumn
_________________________________
Pin it for later!
_________________________________
Have you visited the Land of Fire & Ice? What has been your favorite destination or experience there?
Subscribe to Zest In A Tote Digest, my monthly newsletter, for travel tips and inspiration.
Join me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook as I share my travel experiences.