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Tucked just below Greenland in the middle of the Atlantic, Iceland, known as the “Land of Fire and Ice” is unlike any place on Earth. You’ll see geothermal hot springs billowing with white smoke, moss-covered lava fields stretching into the distance, dazzling white glaciers slicked over mountainsides and volcanoes that seem poised to erupt.

The country regularly tops bucket-list destinations for the sheer volume of unique sights and things to do. Go ice caving under a glacier in Vatnajokull, take a night-time tour to the wilderness to see the dancing green aurora borealis, or sit up to your neck in one of the many steaming geothermal swimming pools.

Main photo: Kirkjufellsfoss on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (Discover the World)

If it’s your first time visiting, one of the best things to do in Iceland is to see the main sights by going on a day-long Golden Circle tour, departing from Reykjavik. You can also drive this easily yourself to avoid the crowds. Start off by travelling to the Unesco world heritage site of Thingvellir National Park, scene of the first ancient Icelandic parliament. It’s here that two continents meet and you can even go scuba diving and snorkelling between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates at Silfra in gin-clear waters.

The next stop is Geysir, an exploding hot spring that erupts every few minutes, expelling a torrent of hot water 70m into the air. Finally, get drenched in the spray of the thundering waterfall Gullfoss, which has been the inspiration for many mythical Icelandic sagas, before heading back to Reykjavik.

Another spectacular sight is Jokulsarlon, a glacial lagoon along the ring road in the south that has featured in two James Bond films. During the summer you can take a boat tour that weaves between icebergs of ethereal blue, and spot seal pups lolling on the ice. Wrap up warm to visit the wind-battered black-sand beach at Vik with its spindly basalt stacks, mesmerising geometric rock formations and fizzing Atlantic surf.

Take a boat tour that weaves between icebergs of ethereal blue, and spot seal pups lolling on the ice

Along the south coast, down an unmarked gravel track on the way back from Vik, are the ghostly remains of a DC-3, a US navy plane that is thought to have run out of fuel and crashed on the beach at Solheimasandur in 1973. Wingless and hollowed-out on an expanse of black volcanic sand, the carcass cuts a dramatic silhouette at sunset. Take the shuttle bus that departs every ten minutes from the main road to save your tyres.

Leave time to visit the Blue Lagoon at the end of your trip; the powder-blue geothermal pool is one of the top attractions in the country. Slather soft white silica mud on your face while you bathe in the rich mineral-water pool. The lagoon is close to the international airport in Keflavik, so time your visit before your departing flight.

Best Iceland tours

If you are short on time, base yourself in the southwest of the country in Reykjavik, at one of the smart city hotels. Follow the ring road that loops round the whole country and you’ll find a range of smaller accommodation, from turf-covered huts to family-run guest houses or wooden lodges and cabins. While Iceland’s hotels can be prohibitively expensive, it’s worth splashing the cash for on-site spas and front row seats for the dramatic landscape.

As you drive around the island, you’ll see waterfalls by the side of the road caused by the melting glacial ice in the interior of the country. Some of the most famous falls are Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind, and Skogafoss, both in the southwest.

If you have a bit more time and fancy a deeper dive into the country, consider venturing further afield. The Westfjords in the northwest is cut off from the ring road and is probably Iceland’s most remote region — only about seven per cent of visitors to the country make it here. You can see Arctic foxes — the country’s only native mammal — and go whale-watching in the deep fjords that extend into the land like tentacles. The Westfjords are a ten-hour drive or a 45-minute plane ride away from Reykjavik’s domestic airport.

Go whale-watching in the deep fjords that extend into the land like tentacles

Equally deserted and epic are the Westman Islands, whose main landmass of Heimaey is a 30-minute ferry-ride from Landeyjahofn in the south of the country (right by Seljalandsfoss waterfall). These volcanic islands have steep cliffs that rise from the sea cloaked in lush green moss, looking like something from Star Wars. This is probably the best place in the world to see puffins (from May to mid September) — the biggest breeding colony in the world is on the island.

If it’s the northern lights you want to see, the best time to visit Iceland is between November and February, when they’re at their brightest. Otherwise any time between March and October is great for first-time visitors. Bear in mind that July and August are the busiest months in Iceland and are therefore best avoided if you’re on a budget and don’t like crowds. For the slightly cheaper shoulder season, aim for May and June. Both June and July will offer a good opportunity to see the midnight sun, too. Whale-watching trips run year-round from Reykjavik, but to see the largest number of species, aim for May to September.

Best time to visit Iceland

How many days do you need to see Iceland?
Stay for two weeks to drive round the ring road, stopping at various towns on the way. If you have one week you should spend a couple of nights in Reykjavik and then venture to the southwest; the Reykjanes and Snaefellsnes peninsulas are excellent options, as is the south of the country towards Vik. If you are in Iceland for a long weekend, base yourself in Reykjavik and go on day trips from the city.

Are Icelanders friendly?
Yes. And hospitable — you’ll find yourself making friends easily. Two thirds of Iceland’s 350,000 population are based in Reykjavik, meaning there’s a buzzy city bar and restaurant scene at the weekends — especially in summer, when it stays light late into the night.

How much is a beer in Iceland?
A pint of beer in a Reykjavik bar would typically cost about £7 — a decent investment, given the fun of going out in the city.

Currency
Icelandic krona

Take me there

Inspired to visit Iceland but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui and British Airways. These are the best tours of Iceland from our trusted partners.