I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the wonderful world of Iceland and believe everyone should make it a point to as well. Iceland is jam-packed with incredible wonders to see and experience. Read on for my top picks for the absolute best things to do in Iceland in summer.
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Looking For The Best Things To Do In Iceland In Summer?
You are in the right place! Iceland is probably the coolest (no pun intended) place I’ve ever been to. It’s definitely on my husband’s list of top destinations!
You can experience most of Iceland’s beauty any time of year. Iceland in summer is an amazing time of year, and there’s an almost endless amount of reasons to discover this gorgeous country for yourself.
No list could possibly contain all the amazing places to see, adventures to have, or experiences to savor in Iceland. Between the volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, beaches, geysers, hot springs, and lagoons, you could spend a lifetime in Iceland and not see it all.
So how do you choose? Well, if I had to narrow it down, here is my top 10 list of must-see experiences during your vacation to Iceland in Summer.
Make sure you read our article on how to plan a trip to Iceland so you know exactly what to do for the perfect Icelandic vacation.
Top Things To Do In Iceland In Summer
Drive The Ring Road
One of the most popular ways to experience Iceland is to drive what’s known as The Ring Road, or Route 1. This road travels the entirety of the country and is approximately 828 miles long. This is just about the distance from our hometown of Boston to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!
Most people drive the ring road in summer, although it can be done in winter as well. Generally people take a week or so to complete this, stopping at multiple incredible sights along the way.
Many folks start their ring road journey with the Golden Circle and then continue down to the south coast of Iceland.
Traveling the ring road enables you to take in numerous natural wonders, such as lava fields, black sand beaches, and majestic waterfalls. It also takes you through multiple towns and villages in Iceland as well.
Some folks opt to do a self-guided tour of the ring road, while others opt for guided tours by area experts. If you choose to do a guided tour, here are some of the most highly rated tours, varying in length.
Bathe in The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is undoubtedly the most famous attraction in all of Iceland. Since it is located a mere 15 minutes from Keflavik Airport, many visitors choose to experience this immediately upon landing in Iceland, or just before their departure. Some folks see this as part of a Golden Circle Tour.
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland near Grindavik, about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. It’s welcoming to all people over the age of 2. If you prefer to avoid crowds, go in the morning, but any time is a good time to visit!
The otherworldly blue cloudiness of the water at the Blue Lagoon is rich in silica and sulfur, making it extremely restorative. All visitors get a mud mask included in admission.
There are also multiple additional masks and luxuries available to upgrade your stay. Couple that with the 100°F water and it’s no wonder the Blue Lagoon is so popular.
There is lodging on site, as well as restaurants, a shop, steam rooms, and saunas. There are plenty of tours that will take you to see the Blue Lagoon as well.
See The Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights, aka the Aurora Borealis, is on almost everyone’s bucket list. It definitely was on mine!
Peak viewing season in Iceland is September through March but that doesn’t mean you can’t see them in other months. The photo above was taken with my iPhone in mid-August at about 1:00 am in Reykjavik from our hotel balcony.
The further you are from the bright lights of the city, the better your chances of seeing this astonishing natural wonder.
The Aurora Forecast app lets you know the probability of seeing the Northern Lights from your location. It’s a great app to help you figure out where and when you have the best chances of seeing the Lights.
There are many Northern Lights tours available from Reykjavik, although seeing the lights is never guaranteed. We can’t control nature, after all!
Hike A Glacier
Did you know that Iceland’s Vatnajökull glacier was a location for the filming of Game of Thrones? This surreal landscape is located about 4 hours from Reykjavik in Skaftafell National Park. Here you’ll find endless crevasses and ice formations for your exploration.
Sólheimajökull glacier is closer to Reykjavik and the most popular choice for a day trip. You get to strap on crampons and a helmet, and enjoy the sensations of crunching ice beneath your feet.
Quench your thirst by bringing a refillable water bottle, or drink right from the melting glacier itself. This water is sure to be the purest icy cold refreshing water you’ve ever tasted.
Try one of these glacier hikes in Iceland in Summer for a truly unique experience! It was probably the most surreal of all the amazing things we did in Iceland!
Voyage Behind A Waterfall
You get to experience a perspective like no other when you actually venture behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall! This 200ft curtain of thundering water will absolutely take your breath away.
You should expect to get wet here, so come prepared with waterproof boots, pants, and jacket. (Note: I have my whole Iceland Summer Packing List here for your convenience.)
You can see just how much water and mist comes off of the falls in the picture above. Fortunately my husband and I came prepared!
The Eyjafjallajökull glacier feeds Seljalandsfoss and is a popular stop on South Coast tours. Here are a few of my top tour picks for exploring various Icelandic waterfalls.
Walk the Rainbow Road
Perhaps one of the most Instagrammed locations in Iceland, the Rainbow Road was designed as a part of Reykjavik’s Pride Festival. Each year since 1999, residents were able to take part in painting this road during the Pride celebrations. In 2019 this road became a permanent art fixture in the heart of the city, representing diversity and joy.
Along this street you’ll find a multitude of wonderful shops and cafes to stop in. The end of this road holds the immense Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral, standing a whopping 240ft high. The Cathedral provides breathtaking views of all of Reykjavik and even of Snaefellsjökull Glacier.
A gift from the US stands in front of the church; a statue of Viking explorer Leif Eriksson. Eriksson is said to have set foot on North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus.
Eat Local Cuisine
Modern Icelandic cuisine is a far cry from the foods of their ancestors. While you can still find traditional Icelandic foods (fermented shark or boiled ram’s testicles, anyone?) most of Iceland eats dishes more typical of a modern age.
Of course, my husband and I had to do the tourist thing and try the fermented shark. But typical Iceland meals are mainly fresh fish or lamb, locally sourced root vegetables and herbs, and Skyr – Icelandic yogurt that is technically classified as a cheese.
You absolutely just have got to stop at an amazing local restaurant in Vik called The Soup Company. Here you can sample some of the most delicious soups anywhere. The red hot lava soup in a black bread bowl is absolutely incredible.
Ride Iceland’s Unique Horses
Icelandic horses are a special breed indeed. The harsh climate of Iceland gives these horses a resilience unmatched by other breeds. They have a friendly disposition, are shorter and stockier than other breeds, and are loved deeply by Icelanders.
One thing that makes them so unique is that, while other horse breeds have 3 gaits (walk, trot, and canter), Icelandic horses have 2 additional ones called the tölt and the skeið. There are many horse riding tours you can take all over Iceland, and it’s an experience you won’t soon forget!
Visit A Black Sand Beach
The world-famous black sand of Reynisfjara Beach is located on the South Coast of Iceland. This is one of the most popular must-see locations in Iceland in summer. National Geographic even listed it as one of the most beautiful beaches on the entire planet!
Here you can experience breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, and absolutely stunning basalt stacks. Legend says these stacks were once trolls turned to stone. Here you can even catch a glimpse of beautiful little Puffins!
Be extremely cautious near the water, however, as what’s known as “sneaker waves” take many a tourist by surprise. Unfortunately, these highly dangerous waves cause the occasional fatal accident.
Never turn your back to the sea. You can marvel at nature, and also respect her power. Here are some top rated tours to take you to Iceland’s incredible black sand beaches.
Experience A Geyser
Active geysers are a rare geological occurrence on Earth. Strokkur geyser is definitely a must-see phenomenon on any vacation to Iceland. It regularly erupts approximately every 5 minutes or so.
When it does, it blasts a warm jet of water from below the earth at about 37 miles per hour! My husband and I stood a bit too close and didn’t think about the wind, so we wound up getting drenched. It was hilarious, and thankfully we didn’t get burned!
The stunning backdrop of Iceland’s landscape provides amazing photo opportunities, and an experience unlike any other. Many people visit Strokkur as part of the Golden Circle tour, which also stops at the thundering Gullfoss waterfall and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Thingvellir National Park.
Here are some highly rated Golden Circle tours you may be interested in.
When coming to Iceland in summer, you want to be prepared to experience all these wonderful places, so be sure to check out our packing list for Iceland in summer.
Additional Helpful Iceland Information
I really love Iceland, and loved every experience I was fortunate enough to have. Here are more of my articles surrounding Iceland that you may find useful in your vacation planning.
Must See Spots In The South Coast of Iceland
The Golden Circle Iceland – Everything You Need To Know
Iceland Summer Packing List – Everything You Need To Bring
