Iceland, the land of fire and ice is a spectacular destination to explore. We’ll explore some top natural wonders within driving distance of the capital of Iceland – Reykjavik.
Waterfalls
Iceland is a rocky mountainous country that experiences a lot of rain and snow, which means there is an abundance of waterfalls. Would you believe me if I told you there were over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland?
These are just a couple of the beautiful waterfalls we were able to see during our Icelandic adventure.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall on the south coast of Iceland. Itโs a little over an hour and a half drive outside of Reykjavik. If youโve already researched this waterfall, then you know you can walk behind the waterfall. Unfortunately, when we visited it was icy and they had the path closed to visitors. Looking at pictures though it looks like a really neat view, if youโre able to go behind the falls, do it!
Seljalandsfoss has a food and drink stand, convenient for those cold windy Icelandic days. This destination requires you to pay to park, in February 2023 when we visited it was 700 isk ($4.85 usd) to park.
Skรณgafoss
Skรณgafoss is another waterfall on the south coast of Iceland. If youโre planning to see Seljalandsfoss, Skรณgafoss is only a little further on your journey. At this waterfall, you can get nice and close for some really awesome photographs.
The other really neat part of Skรณgafoss is the staircase that takes you up the side of the waterfall where you can view it from the top. There are 466 steps to the top, but it is well worth the view. From there you can continue on the path that leads to a few hiking trails. Due to time constraints and the fact that we didn’t want to drive in the dark, we didn’t do any of these trails.
Skรณgafoss also has a restaurant on the property, however, we didnโt stop at this one. A nice perk of the Skรณgafoss waterfall is that the parking is free.
Krรฝsuvรญkurfoss
Krรฝsuvรญkurfoss was a really unique waterfall to see, as it is situated on the east cliffs of the Krรฝsuvรญkurberg sea cliffs. We were able to see this beautiful waterfall from a helicopter tour, however, there is a hiking trail that you can find on All Trails.
The layers of the cliff were formed from lava settlement from past volcanic eruptions. In these layers, you see the most beautiful combination of browns, blacks, reds, and oranges that drop off right into the turquoise ocean below. The cliffs are home to many birds, even in February we were able to see flocks of birds circling the cliffs. In the summer months, I’m sure this would be a great bird-watching location close to Reykjavik.
Glaciers
Glaciers are dense bodies of ice that form on land. They are formed from packed snow weighing down on itself. Glaciers are constantly changing due to their sheer size and the gravitational pull on the earth. This constant change in the glacier can cause them to look different, can cause different ice caves to form, and can change the landscape around them over time.
Solheimajรถkull Glacier
Solheimajรถkull is about a two-hour drive outside of Reykjavik. Considering the fact that glaciers are rapidly melting, I highly suggest you see them while you still can. You can either walk the path and see Solheimajรถkull from afar as we did, or you can book an excursion and hike the glacier. Though hiking the glacier does sound really neat, seeing it from where we did was also pretty incredible. The walk from the parking lot to where you can view the glacier is rocky but an easy walk.
Parking at Solheimajรถkull was 750 isk ($5.31 usd), it is well worth the parking fee.
Black Sand Beaches
Black sand beaches are created when lava and water mix. Simply, the lava quickly cools, solidifies, expands, and explodes to create black sand. The contrast between the white of the breaking waves and the black beach is truly a sight to behold.
Reynisfjara Beach
Reynisfjara Beach is not simply a black sand beach, it not only offers gorgeous views of the ocean but also has basalt columns, sea stacks, and caves. Though you can’t swim at this beach, not that you’d want to with the chill in the air, it is still a breathtaking beach to see.
The black sand makes the beach feel like a different planet, and then you see the basalt columns and you’re sure you must be somewhere else. The basalt columns are made during the cooling of lava. If you thought, like we did, that these structures were otherworldly, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that there are columnar rocks like this on Mars.
It is important to pay attention to the warnings, especially if you have young children traveling with you. There are some pretty serious dangers if you’re not paying attention to the ocean. Reynisfjara Beach is prone to a lot of sneaker waves, or larger waves that surge further up the beach than other waves. These waves can easily overtake a child or an adult that is not paying attention.
It is free to park at this popular tourist attraction and there is a cafe with lite fare and hot beverages.
Hot Springs
Iceland obviously sits on a large geothermal field, with more than half of the country’s energy coming from geothermal sources. This geothermal energy has been used to heat homes, swimming pools, greenhouses, it’s even been used to heat their roads and melt snowfall.
This geothermal energy is what makes Iceland the perfect place to dip in and relax in a hot spring. Hot springs can help our bodies in many different ways. Hot springs can increase blood circulation, reduce stress, relieve pain, and heal skin irritation.
Laugarvatn Fontana
This beautiful hot spring has a couple of different pools with different temperatures, a sauna, steam baths, and the beautiful lake for a cold dip in between. Each member of our group had their opportunity to take a dip in the lake, each of us getting in deep enough for our own comfort. I got up to my waist and decided that was enough for me. However, the dip in the lake is supposed to be really good for those suffering from arthritis or joint pain.
The hot spring is situated on Laugarvatn Lake with beautiful views of nearby hills. We saw seals swimming across the lake during our visit. Laugarvatn Fontana was such a relaxing stop during our journey and because we visited on a Monday, it was almost like we had the place to ourselves.
Like most hot springs in the area, you can rent towels and robes, the robes were so plush and comfy, I highly recommend. The changing rooms at Laugarvatn Fontana have water extracts where you can throw your bathing suit in after your visit. We really loved this idea, so you weren’t throwing a sopping wet bathing suit in your bag! I would recommend bringing a pair of flip-flops, however going barefoot is just fine too.
This hot spring location had an outdoor bar window so you could walk up and buy a drink while you were in the pools. They also had a really cute cafe to hang out in afterward. They also have a package that includes digging up their famous Icelandic rye bread. We didn’t partake in this option; however, you could see groups going out to dig up the bread from the pools.
Diabetes and Hot Springs
And for those of you out there wearing diabetes technology, don’t forget to plan ahead if you wear devices like I do. Check your owner’s manual for your individual devices and their recommendations. Keep in mind that exposing insulin to extreme temperatures can alter the effectiveness of the insulin. Wearing your devices on your arms is the best way to keep them out of the hot water.
Geysers
Geysers are another type of geothermal activity. They are generally found around active volcanoes which makes Iceland the perfect place for a geyser. When water makes its way below the surface of the earth and comes into contact with hot rocks or magma the water begins to boil. The boiling of the water eventually needs to go somewhere, this is when you will see the geyser erupting into the air with water, steam and often loud noises of pressure being released into the air. Geysers all over the world erupt with different amounts of force and at different intervals. Geysers can often change with the surrounding landscape. For instance, an earthquake can cause a geyser to form in a different location.
Haukadalur Geothermal Field
The Haukadalur Geothermal Field is only about 25 minutes from Laugarvatn Fontana. In this literal geothermal field, you will find geysers, dormant geysers, mud pots, and small hot springs. There is one very active geyser called Strokkur that currently erupts every 8-10 minutes. Strokkur is so beautiful, when she starts to erupt you see a small bubble of the bluest water. Within seconds of seeing Strokkur bubble, she sends water shooting anywhere from 80-120 feet in the air. If that sounds like a far distance imagine a geyser that can send water into the air more than three times that distance. That geyser would be Steamboat Geyser in Wyoming, though she doesn’t erupt in a predictable interval like Strokkur.
Haukadalur Geothermal Field has a parking lot across the street, is easily walkable, and is free to park. There is also a restaurant here although we did not eat there.
Volcanoes
Now, we get to the natural wonder that gives Iceland the fire of their “Land of Fire and Ice” tagline. There are around 35 active and dormant volcanoes that have erupted in the past 12,000 years in Iceland. Many people trekked to Iceland to see the most recent eruption of Fagradalsfjall which began in August of 2022.
Though we took a helicopter tour to see Fagradalsfjall there are other ways to see the lava field. Visit Iceland has great directions, safety instructions, and recommendations for guided tours where you can hike to see the lava field.
Volcano Heli
We booked our helicopter tour through a company called Volcano Heli. At first, four hundred dollars per person seemed a lot to us, but afterward, we had a change of heart. We were thoroughly impressed with our pilot’s knowledge and interest in her surroundings. It was not only a beautiful tour but very educational.
Aurora Borealis
Finally, the whole reason I agreed to go to Iceland in the first place, the Aurora Borealis! If you’ve read The Top 4 Beaches in the Caribbean, then you know I am an avid beach vacationer. However, an opportunity to see the Northern Lights was not something I could pass up.
An aurora is a natural “light display” in the sky caused by particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s atmosphere. Colors can vary; however, green is the most common color to see in an aurora. The best time to see the Aurora Borealis is March and September when the Earth’s axis is aligned with the sun’s magnetic field.
You can book any number of tours that will take you out to see the Aurora Borealis. If you have your own car, you can drive away from the city where you won’t have as much light pollution. Or sometimes you can just walk outside and see her beautiful lights dancing in the sky.
We were fortunate enough to be able to see the Aurora Borealis three nights in a row. The first night was on a tour with a great guide who was very knowledgeable. The second night we happened to walk out of a bar in Reykjavik and saw people looking up at the sky. The third night I was getting in bed when I looked outside and could see the aurora dancing across the sky as bright as day. It was about 1:30 am, we all woke up, put on our coats and boots, and ran outside to get pictures.
Natural Wonders of Iceland
Yes, the land of fire and ice has volcanoes and glaciers. As you’ve read, there are many other beautiful natural wonders in Iceland. This was just a brief overview of what Iceland has to offer. I hope you enjoyed this post. Check out our post What You Should Know About Driving in Iceland for Andrea’s full itinerary of our days of exploring and some great tips if you plan to rent a car.
Planning a trip to Iceland? Let us know by commenting below what you are definitely adding to your list!
The hot springs look like a blast of fun! The sea cliffs, hex stone columns and coastal islands of rock off the coastline look like Ireland. Rugged topography is so interesting!
I agree! Such a beautiful place to visit. ๐