When it comes to tourism and that too in Europe, you can’t miss the beauty of the country Iceland. Iceland also is known as the “country of ice and fire” that would make you go all swooning over its beauty. The European country has marvelous nature’s gift and many artificial sites for tourists to visit. From thermal spas, splendid mountains, breathtaking waterfalls to magnificent glaciers; Iceland has everything to make a person crave to visit here as many times as he can.

Some of the places to visit in Iceland:

1. The Húsavík Whale Museum

The Húsavík Whale Museum can be traced back to the year 1997. It is located in Húsavík, Iceland. The museum is a beautiful place to visit in Iceland and it aims to teach people about the conditions of whale and other species occurring in the North Atlantic. The museum displays real Whale Skeletons which help in understanding the whale conditions and their history. The research program of the museum expands to international places as well. Visit here to get an insight into marine life. 

2. Aurora Reykjavík

The Aurora Reykjavík is a scientific museum in Iceland. The museum is dedicated to providing fabulous information about the northern lights. If you have always fascinated about the northern lights and how it forms then this is the place. Learn the history and functioning of Northern lights in this museum. 

You can visit the mythology and science section to understand the neutral phenomenon of the universe, Northern lights theatre to watch the display of Northern Lights all over Iceland on a 7m wide screen in 4k quality, Northern Lights Photography- to learn how to capture Aurora beautifully, and Aurora Photo Booth- to take pictures with northern lights destination wherein you can learn the history of the stunning Northern Lights and can also take tours to witness the Northern lights of the museum. Well, the best time to visit here is between the months of April to September.

3. Hallgrimskirkja

Hallgrimskirkja was established in the year 1945. It is a famous tourist site in Reykjavík, Iceland. It is a 74.5m high Lutheran Parish Church which is about 74.5 meters high. The church is among the tallest buildings in Iceland. The Expressionist architecture style makes it a beautiful historical church to visit in the country. As the church is located on a hilltop the top provides beautiful views of the city too and is visible from across the city. 

4. National Museum of Iceland

The National Museum of Iceland is a well built and stunning architectural place to visit in Iceland. Visit here to know about the traditions, history, and people of Iceland. The museum is located in Reykjavik and was established in 1863. The primary attractions of this place are antique objects that display the history. One such attraction to visit here for is the Valþjófsstaður door, a carving of Lion-Knight slaying a dragon and freeing the lion that later becomes his companion.

5. Ljósafossstöð – Hydropower Station

The Ljósafossstöð, Hydropower Station is a very fascinating place to visit in Iceland. The place displays energy exhibitions and educates people about the energy generated by electricity and the usages of it. It also takes on a guided tour to the station telling about the generation of sustainable energy and renewable energy by Ljósafossstöð. The place is good for both adults and children.

You can educate yourself about the power of electricity and the various energy generations and its history.

6. Sundhöllin

The Sundhöllin was established in 1937 and is located in Reykjavik, Iceland. The oldest public bath in Iceland is Sundhöllin. It is also known as Swimming Palace. The bath has indoor saltwater swimming pools and hot tubs.  Visit here to enjoy a relaxing and fun bath in one of the oldest pools in Iceland and give yourself a good time.

7. Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

The Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is a stunning concert hall in the city of Reykjavik. It is considered an important landmark in the city. The honeycomb glasses are the striking feature of the concert hall.

Many great events and concerts are organized here. The building has won European Union’s Mies van der rohe award for contemporary architecture in 2013.  This hall has also featured in many Netflix films and series. 

8. Tales from Iceland

Tales from Iceland is a Video Museum located in Reykjavik, Iceland. The place is all about Icelanders and the country of Iceland. Visit this place in Iceland to know about the history, tradition, and culture of Iceland from close. The museum people have arranged and made many short cinematic features about the culture, places, and people of Iceland. You can simply choose any topic and watch it on the screen. Some of the topics are Geysers, Mountains, Buildings, Valleys, etc.

9. Hveragerdi – Stone and Mineral Museum

The Hveragerdi – Stone and Mineral Museum is located in Breidamoerk 1, Hveragerdi, Iceland. This is a privately run museum owned by a family that is known for an extensive collection of rock, stone, and minerals. You can visit this place in Iceland to see the various types, structures, forms of rocks and stone. Witness this fossil collection in one of the most beautiful places in Iceland to give your trip a wonderful experience. 

10. Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River

This astonishing place of Iceland is located in PažinkPasaulį. The hot spring is a natural thermal spring located on a trail leading uptoReykjadalur valley. The valley has many hot springs, mud pools, and a hot river where you can enjoy your relaxing bath. The environment is peaceful and is located in a beautiful valley. On the trail of hiking, you can also witness nature’s beauty. The most beautiful among which is the Djúpagilsfoss waterfall of Djúpagil canyon. Hike to this place during summers for a beautiful trip experience. 

11. Vestrahorn Mountain

This is one such unique mountain area in Iceland. As Iceland never ceases to amaze people with its amazing natural phenomenon, Vestrahorn Mountain is one such beautiful place to visit in the country. The 454m high mountains have beautiful stretch and unique black sand beach that adds up to the beauty. 

Visit here to feel the beautiful waters of the beach surrounded by stunning surroundings. If you are lucky you can also see seals around the shore. 

12. Viking World Museum

 The Viking World is a museum located in the Njarðvík, Reykjanesbær, Hungary. The museum is very popular among those who fascinated by the Viking ships and the Viking era. The museum exhibits Viking ships and has a replica of an old Viking Ship. Viking World Museum displays the Íslendingur, which is the replica of the Gokstad Viking ship. The museum was opened in 2009. 

 13. The Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis

The Northern Lights also called Aurora Borealis are the most popular tourist attraction in Iceland. Tourists from all over the world come to Iceland to witness the Northern lights. It is the most stunning thing to see in Iceland. Aurora’s are caused due to the collision of ions from the sun to atmospheric molecules, which in turn causes bursts of energy. These energies appear as circles around the poles. You can witness these lights in remote places. Many hotels inform you before about the occurrence of lights, so make your plan according to that. The best way to witness Northern lights is to take a Night tour provided in Reykjavik.

14. Skaftafell Ice Cave, Vatnajökull National Park

 Vatnajökull National Park is located in the south of the country. It is a land of magnificent ice caves and glaciers. The ice cave is renowned and attracts tourists from all around the world. The park is divided into parts making it a major tourist site. Vatnajökull glacier, Skaftafell Ice Cave, and Höfn and Skriðuklaustur and Jökulsárgljúfur are something you can stroll around when visiting the park.  The main attraction of this park is Skaftafell Ice Cave, which seems to be in blue light. The best time to visit these ice caves is winter. You can opt for a glacial trek which is provided there with an experienced guide. The treks will let you experience walking on the ice and see glacial cracks and caves. One can also drink fresh water from the small pools in the cave.

15. Blue Lagoon, Grindavík

Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa which is located near the city of Grindavík. Giving the view of Mount Þorbjörn on the Reykjanes Peninsula, this is a must-see tourist attraction. The waters are supplied from the Svartsengi geothermal power station. 

Visit here to take a bath on the blue water formation due to silica. People also use the white mud on the bottom of the lake to rub on themselves while bathing. The water and mud are said to have healing properties and are good for health and skin. Other attractions of this place are the shop selling skincare products and places to eat. This place has also featured in many popular shows. 

16. StrokkurGeysir

StrokkurGeysir is a fountain geyser in Iceland that attracts tourists from all around the world.  It is located in the southwest of Iceland besides the Hvítá River. It is the most fascinating place to visit in Iceland. You can see mud pits boiling here and about 100 small geysers that explode. The Strokkur setups every 6-7 minutes and can go up to as high as 40m. This high active hot spring is something you never want to miss. The area provides many other fun activities. The best way to explore Strokkur and other areas is by taking Golden Circle Classic Day Trip that proceeds from Reykjavik.

17. Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve

Landmannalaugar National Park is located around 180 km from the capital city of Iceland. It is considered as one of the most popular places in Iceland. The prime features of this mystical landscape are the Hekla volcano, multihued rhyolite mountains, and extensive lava fields. You can go hiking here among the beautiful scenery and nature in its best form. Hiking could be of a few hours to several days. Stay in Landmannalaugar Hut, a mountain lodge for a better experience.

18. Askja Caldera

If you are in Iceland and you want the best thrilling experience, Visit AskjaCarrera in the Dyngjufjöll Mountains. The geothermal pool and Askja Caldera is something to look forward to when in the country. As it provides quite a dangerous experience, this is not for the faint-hearted. The impressive 50 square km Askja Caldera is surrounded by a mountain range. It is formed due to the eruption of burning ash which broke the roof of the volcano’s magma chamber. The water is around 30 ℃ in Viti and is a geothermal pool in Askja Caldera. It is not prescribed to visit here in wet weather. 

19. Dettifoss Waterfall

Dettifoss Waterfall is located in the north of Vatnajökull National Park. It is a must-see tourist place in Iceland and is a perfect example of the raw power of nature. It falls at a height of 45 meters and has a width of 100 meters, this is called as the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The waterfall area is safe around the east side of River Jökulsa.  Other attractions of this place are Selfoss, a smaller waterfall that falls from 10m, and Hafragilsfoss waterfall that falls from the height of 27 meters into a steep canyon. 

20. Kirkjufell Mountain, Grundarfjördur

In Iceland, lies a small fishing town called Grundarfjördur primarily located on the north coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. The village is something you should visit to get the best of nature. It is laced with splendid mountains, small streams, and stunning waterfalls. The primary attraction of this place is Mt. Kirkjufell which is something you should go for in Iceland. The mountains are best during the winter season and provide the perfect view of Northern Lights. Other highlights of this place are Eyrbyggja Heritage Centre which organizes exhibitions on Grundarfjördur’s seafaring history.

21. Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall is another magnificent waterfall you can visit in Iceland. It is located in the West of the city of Reykjavik. The waterfall is formed by the river Hvítá which forms three-step terraces. The Gullfoss has two cascades the upper one drops with a height of 11m and the lower one falls at the height of 21m. All these waterfalls makes the place worth visit. 

22. Þingvallavatn

Thingvallavatn or Þingvallavatn is a lake in southwestern Iceland. Covering the area of 84 km², this is the largest natural lake in Iceland. The lake has many other attractions that are along its shore. The depth of this lake is 114 m. The lake is within Þingvellir National Park, you can see the volcanic prints of islands in the lake, Almannagjá ravine, Silfra fissure, and River Sog.

23. The Pearl Observatory 

The Pearl Observatory is one such beautiful place in Iceland. This observatory is located on the magnificent Öskjuhlíð hill. The hill itself is a beautiful place to visit with an excess of 176,000 trees. The hill has bicycle trails and the observatory provides beautiful views of the city. 

The place has a revolving restaurant, gourmet, and souvenir shops. Also known as Perlan, the observatory organizes exhibition and concert in Winter Garden. Other attractions of this place are the Observation deck and Planetarium.

24. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

As the name suggests Iceland, the trip is unfinished if you don’t see the ice. Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland for one such amazing experience. You will get to have a boat ride between large chunks of ice that are separated from the glacier. The ice is in all shapes and sizes from small to big. The view is so mesmerizing to miss with the blue lagoon, glacial cave formations, and beautiful birds flying above the natural environment. For a perfect guided tour take Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Day Tour from Reykjavik is a popular tour.

25. Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is located in Westfjords. The nature reserve is a true beauty of Iceland.  The green slopes, slate-blue bays, snow-capped glacier peninsulas make Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. The green valleys, tufts of dandelions, and pebbled shores are a perfect place to visit in Iceland with your family and friends. You can go for Hiking in Hornbjarg, a cliff located in the Northwest part of the reserve. 

 Kayaking options are also available here. The place is best to visit during summer as guided tours are provided. 

26. Snæfellsjökull

Snæfellsjökull is a snow-fell glacier located in western Iceland. It is a 700,000-year-old glacier-capped stratovolcano. The glacier is the prime attraction of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. 

The peninsula itself provides many other sites to visit in Iceland and is known as Miniature Iceland. This place has also been a part of popular culture when in Journey to the center of the Earth novel the main leads find the entrance passage in Snæfellsjökull which leads to the center of the Earth. 

27. Reynisdrangar

Reynisdrangar is located village Vík í Mýrdal. The splendid place in Iceland is a popular tourist site. These are basalt sea stacks under the mountain Reynisfjall. These sea stacks have very popular legend stories that make it an interesting place in Iceland. It is said that the formation of these stacks is due to the unsuccessful mission of trolls who tried to drag a three-masted ship to land and when the sun rose they turned into needles of rock. 

28. Sun Voyager

The Sun Voyager also known as Sólfar is a sculpture made by the artist Jón Gunnar Árnason. This sculpture is located in Reykjavík, Iceland. It was unveiled in the year 1990 on the birthday of Reykjavík. It was described as a dreamboat, an ode to the sun by the artist. It stands on granite slabs and is made of stainless steel. Surrounded by a beautiful river and the spectacular views this sculpture resembles a long Viking ship. 

29. Tjörnin

A stunning small lake in Iceland is Tjörnin. Located in central Reykjavík, it is a good tourist site. The lakeshore has many attractions that you can visit while enjoying the lake. Tjörnin itself means “the lake” and is often referred to as “the biggest bread soup in the world”, due to the popular past time of birds feeding at its shore.  Reykjavík Art Museum, the National Museum, the Supreme Court, the National Theatre, the Parliament building, Reykjavík City Library, and the Dómkirkja cathedral are other attractions nearby this lake. 

30. Reykjavik Art Museum

This museum was founded in 1973 and is located in Reykjavik. It is one of the largest visual art museums in Iceland. The museum is spread over 3 regions in the city. It is known to organize various exhibitions throughout the year and also many artworks from this museum are on open display in the city. 

With various galleries and multipurpose rooms of this art rooms, it possesses the largest art collection in Iceland. The three places of this museum are Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, and Ásmundarsafn.

31. Reykjavík Cathedral

Reykjavík Cathedral or Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík is located in the city of Reykjavík, Iceland. The cathedral church is known to be the mother church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland and the seat of the Bishop of Iceland. This church is located at Austurvöllur. Due to its proximity to the Parliament House, during the year 1845, the session of Parliament used, to begin with, Mass at the cathedral. Many other tourist sites are located near the cathedral.

32. Golden Circle

The golden circle route has places that are among the most popular places to visit in Iceland. Also known as Gullnihringurinn, the route covers 300km of Reykjavík into the southern uplands of Iceland and the trip back. If you want a small trip but want most of Iceland, you can opt for this route. The primary attractions of this place are the Gullfoss waterfall, the Þingvellir National Park, and the geothermal area in Haukadalur.

33. Hverir

The Námafjall Geothermal Area is also known as Hverir. It is among the top tourist destinations in Iceland. It is located to the east of Lake Mývatn in Iceland. The lake itself is a nice tourist spot. Here in Hverir, boiling mud pots and smoking fumaroles can be seen. The place is surrounded by crystals of sulfur in various colors. It is such a beautiful place to visit. You can also go hiking in nearby touring places such as Námaskarð pass and Námafjallmountain.

34. Icelandic Phallological Museum

The Icelandic Phallological Museum or the Icelandic name, Hiðíslenzkareðasafn is located in Reykjavík. The museum is home to the world’s largest display of penises and penile parts. The collection comprises of 300 penises from about 100 species of mammal and about 22 penises from people and creatures of Icelandic folklore. The size varies from 170 cm to  2 mm to the size that can be viewed from a magnifying glass. This museum has gained popularity over the years and the owners and founders thrive to search for more penis from interesting creatures to display.

35. Laugavegur

The Laugavegur is a trekking route in Iceland in the south-west region. The route begins fromLandmannalaugar( hot spring area) to the glacial valley of Þórsmörk. Through this route, you will get to see many scenic beauties and nature in its best form. The stops of this route are Mountain huts at Hrafntinnusker, Hvanngil, Álftavatn, and Emstrur. For a comfortable trek, experience opts for this route.

36. The Cave People

Ever wondered how it is like to live in a cave? Then this is a place for you. Laugarvatnshellir – the Cave of Laugarvatnis located in Iceland and provides you the remarkable experience to live in a cave. The best part of this cave is that people of two families have actually lived in this cave. You will get to live in a cave-like cave people. Engraved names and titles can also be seen here.

37. Sigurgeir’s Bird Museum

The Sigurgeir’s Bird Museum is located beside Lake Myvatnon the farm Ytri-Neslönd. The museum is popular and is known to be the largest private bird collection in Iceland. If you love birds then visit this place to see various species of Icelandic birds and educate yourself about them. Other highlights of this place are a shop with refreshments, a multi-lingual computer guide to Iceland’s birds, bird books, and telescopes to watch the birds on the lake.

38. Skorhagafoss Waterfall

Skógafossis a waterfall on the Skógá River located in the south of Iceland. It is the must-visit place in Iceland. It has a width of 25m and falls from the height of 60m. The waterfall is considered as one of the largest waterfalls in the country. The sprinkles of water often make rainbow during sunny days. So, if you are planning to visit this place make sure you do on a sunny day to watch rainbows among the astounding waterfall.

39. Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is a part of Breidamerkursandur glacier plain which is located by Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. It is the most beautiful and stunning place in Iceland. You will love this place for sure. The ice chunks from Breidamerkursandur glacier float around in the glaciers and rest on the black sand of Diamond beach. The ice caps from turquoise to white to dark blue in colors reflect sunlight and rest on black sand to give a mesmerizing view

40. Breiðárlón

The beauty of Iceland can be found in any place it houses. One such tourist place is Breiðárlón which is a glacier lake. The lake is located at the glacier Vatnajökull. Visit this place to find many other attractions to marvel at. From here you can also go for other attractions at Vatnajökull National Park, Jökulsárlónlake and see Breiðárlón river.