Volcanoes, glaciers, lava fields and black sand beaches – the magical nation of Iceland is home to myriad breathtaking natural wonders
The far north at the end of the world, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, Iceland offers a rich and unique natural landscape. The vast glaciers, the spectacular volcanoes, as well as the waterfalls, the lakes, the fjords, the mountains, the hot springs and the Northern Lights make for a magnificent picture that will surprise you every time you visit.
City walks and suburban adventures
The capital city of Reykjavík is a unique blend of Nordic charm, modern art and natural beauty, and is the main gateway for visitors to Iceland.
The iconic Hallgrímskirkja, named after a famous Icelandic writer, stands on a hill in the center of the city like a giant pipe organ, inspired by volcanic columns. Admission to the church is free, and the interior design is simple and dignified, with light pouring through the windows and onto the floor, creating a serene atmosphere. Take the elevator to the top floor for a breathtaking view of the entire city.
Not far away, Rainbow Street is lined with colorful houses and graffiti walls, and is paved in a variety of bright colors as if it were a rainbow, with numerous souvenir stores and niche designer stores lining the roadside. Occasionally, art exhibitions are held on Rainbow Street or in the surrounding area, offering visitors the chance to learn more about Icelandic art and culture. For lunch or dinner, Íslenski Barinn and Fjallkonan provides Icelandic specialties such as lamb soup, whale meat, and of course, authentic Icelandic hotdog. Bæjarins Beztu, the famous hotdog store, was once favored by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and sells a range of different hot dogs.
On a pleasant afternoon, take a stroll to Lake Tjörnin, a tranquil body of water in the center of the city that is often inhabited by swans and ducks, and is also known as the Duck Lake, with its mirror-like water reflecting the surrounding buildings. It’s a great place to feed the waterfowl, picnic on the lawn, walk or ride along the lake’s shores, and in winter you can go ice skating on the lake. Next to the lake is the National Gallery of Iceland, which houses many important works of Icelandic and Nordic art. Afterward, walk to the iconic Sólfar. The sculpture is located on the northern coastal path along Reykjavík. Made of stainless steel, the sculpture features abstract elements that create the mysterious form of a Viking ship’s skeleton, with an upward-looking stance that gives the impression of sailing off into the distance.
Come to Old Harbour, where the ships are intertwined, and experience the tranquility and beauty of the area and its rich historical atmosphere. There are many concept stores, galleries and art studios, making it a great place to feel Icelandic culture and creative industries, as well as numerous restaurants and cafes. Looking out to sea from the Old Harbor, you can see the silvery mountains and the beautiful coastline across the way. Whale-watching boats set sail from here every day. Between April and October each year, the weather is clear and there is a good chance of seeing various species of whales and dolphins – minke whales, humpback whales, beaked dolphins, porpoises, etc.
About a 15-minute drive from the center of Reykjavík, you’ll find Sky Lagoon, a popular thermal spa opened recently. It features traditional Nordic grass-roofed architecture blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings, and an infinity-edge swimming pool measuring more than 70 meters in length, with spectacular views directly over the Atlantic Ocean and the volcano. The spa’s specialty is its “Seven Steps of Hot and Cold” – hot tub, cold pool, steaming, cold bath, sea salt scrub, hot steam, and shower – offering a unique taste of Iceland’s bathing culture. There is also a bar and a restaurant at slightly higher prices.
Leaving the city and heading southeast, it’s about a 40-minute drive to Thrihnukagigur. This is the only accessible volcanic lava reservoir in the world, 4,000 years old and showing no signs of activity at all, making it very safe. It is open every summer (May through October). The volcano is not stunning on the outside, only about 35 meters high, but its interior hides amazing magma caves. Upon arrival at the Blue Mountains National Park, you will need to hike about 3.2 kilometers to reach the crater, with rolling hills and lush greenery along the way. Take a special elevator ride that gently descends to the depths of the earth’s core. During the six-minute descent, you will be fascinated by the colorful lava rocks on the cave walls – red with iron, green with copper, yellow with sulphur and black with asphalt. The bottom of the cave is the size of three basketball courts. Sunlight pours down from the opening overhead, illuminating the entire bottom of the cave and making the texture of the rocks even more visible. You can get a close-up look at the strange shapes formed when the magma cooled, and even touch the rocks that have lasted for thousands of years.
Blue Lagoon hot springs & spa
The Blue Lagoon is located in the lava fields of southwestern Iceland, about an hour’s drive southeast of Reykjavík. From Reykjavík Airport, the Blue Lagoon is only about a 20-minute drive away.
Stepping into the Blue Lagoon, the first thing that strikes you is the unique milky blue hot spring water, which contrasts with the black volcanic rock surrounding it. The hot spring area features a kiosk that dispenses face masks and a mini bar where you can get a free drink. The water temperature and mineral content of each soaking pool varies, so you can choose according to your preference. The water temperature of the hot springs averages around 40 degrees Celsius, and even in the cold winter months, the lake is still hot and dreamy.
The water here is rich in minerals such as silicon and sulfur, which have significant benefits for skin health. Since the Blue Lagoon is located on an extinct volcano, beneficial minerals from the strata are deposited at the bottom of the lake, forming hot spring mud with beauty and health benefits. You can get the white mud in the water or on the shore and apply it to your body for a DIY mud treatment. The Blue Lagoon also offers a variety of beauty treatments and massages, as well as a steam room for total relaxation, and the silicon mud mask is not to be missed.
For a more comprehensive spa journey and luxury stay, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon would be a good choice. The predominantly black exterior of the building complements the destination’s reefs and rock formations, and some of the buildings are even tucked beneath the surface, blending seamlessly into the Blue Lagoon landscape. Each room features oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Blue Lagoon or moss-covered lava. The hotel’s spa is designed with nature in mind, incorporating the natural elements of lava, tundra and hot springs to create a serene and mysterious atmosphere. The spa features a sauna, hot spring baths, and treatment rooms. A variety of special treatments, such as Seaweed & Volcanic Mud Mask and Eucalyptus Aromatic Rejuvenation, bring deep nourishment and soothing enjoyment. The spa’s self-developed Blue Lagoon Shampoo was named one of the world’s best by Vogue magazine.
Hotel Silica, another luxury hotel in the area, is only a 5-minute walk to the Blue Lagoon. The hotel is built in a Scandinavian minimalist style and offers a choice of room types: lava view, mountain view and lake view. There is a mini Blue Lagoon within the hotel, and guests can enjoy a private hot spring here and receive complimentary Blue Lagoon tickets and unlimited white volcanic mud masks.
In addition to soaking in the hot springs, there are many other attractions around the Blue Lagoon that are worth visiting. Head to Grindavik fishing village for a taste of the local fishermen’s culture, or visit the Viking World Museum to learn about Iceland’s rich history.
Traveling around the Golden Circle
In the south of Iceland, the Golden Circle brings together some of Iceland’s most iconic wonders.
Thingvellir National Park is located at the junction of the Eurasian and American tectonic plates. Being here, you can clearly see the rift between the two plates as a witness to the earth’s crustal movement. Hike along the trail at the edge of the rift valley to experience nature’s ingenious work. The landscape on either side of the trail is very different, with towering mountains and rocky outcrops on one side, and low-lying lakes and plains on the other, with mirrored lakes reflecting the blue sky, white clouds and distant snow-capped mountains. Lake Thingvadra in the park is the largest natural lake in Iceland, lined with wooden walkways against volcanic rocks. You can also stroll around the ruins of the old parliament and imagine the Icelandic people meeting here back in the day.
Leave the park and come to the Geyser in the Haukadalur Valley. This Geyser was the first hot spring in recorded human history that erupt intermittently, giving rise to the same English word. This Geyser once had the most intense eruptions, but less frequently in recent years. Even so, its historic status still attracts a lot of tourists. Today, the Strokkur geyser, 50 meters south, is very active, erupting every few minutes with water columns of 20 to 40 meters. In fact, the geothermal area of Haukadalur is dotted with dozens of geysers of all sizes, with steaming fountains and colorful mineral deposits.
Continuing north through country roads and picturesque valleys, it takes 20 minutes or so to reach the Golden Waterfall, divided into upper and lower courses, where the water rushes down from the heights into the canyon with a deafening roar. Under the sunlight, the water droplets from the waterfall form a rainbow, as if the entire waterfall was forged from gold, magnificent and incomparable, hence the name “Golden Waterfall”. The viewing platform on the cliff next to the waterfall is the best place to watch.
Scattered along the Golden Circle are a number of quiet, hidden hot springs waiting to be discovered.
In the beautiful countryside town of Fludir, there is Secret Lagoon, surrounded by quiet countryside. Located in an active geothermal area, steam vents and geothermal geysers surround the hot spring pools. The facilities are simple but pristine, the water temperature is moderate, and in winter you may be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. Children under 14 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
South Coast scenery
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is like a huge ink painting, quietly spread out, with the black sand grains contrasting with the white waves. On one side of the beach is a columnar stone wall rising up from the ground, staggered and towering into the clouds. Between the stone wall and the beach, a natural barrier is formed, separating the sea from the land, yet leaving a gap somewhere to allow the sea to enter and exit freely. Stroll on the beach and feel the peace and relaxation like never before. At sunrise, when the first rays of the sun hit the sand, the entire beach glows with a golden light.
Drive south on Route 1 for about an hour to Seljalandsfoss – one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. The waterfall is about 60 meters high, with water cascading down the cliffs, and there is a walking trail behind the water curtain that allows you to walk to the back and experience the shock of the waterfall up close. There’s also Skógafoss – the name means “forest waterfall” in Icelandic – half an hour’s drive away. This waterfall is also 60 meters high, but wider and therefore more powerful. The land below is very flat, so you can walk right up to the wide curtain of water and feel the splash on your face. To the right of the waterfall there is a path that climbs to a viewing platform at the top, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire southern coastline of Iceland.
In the south of Iceland, the Vatnajókull glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the world, with an altitude of about 1,500 meters and an ice cap up to 1,000 meters thick at its thickest point. In addition to this majestic glacier, the park is also dotted with 10 volcanoes, as well as canyons, forests and waterfalls. Here to try to Iceland’s most characteristic programs – glacier hiking and ice cave exploration.
Meet at Skaftafell Base Camp, change into professional hiking gear, and follow the winding trail that gradually goes deeper and deeper into the glacier hinterland, where the ice surface glitters brightly in the sunlight. The glacier water slowly drips into the distance under the plank bridge, and you can even bend down and catch the water with your mouth to enjoy the purity and sweetness of the glacier water. During the hike, you can see the crevasses and ice towers up close, and after a few hours, you will come to the open ice field, where the whole glacier’s magnificent scenery is unfolded.
Move on to explore the Blue Ice Cave. The Blue Ice Cave is a natural cave formed by melting and freezing glaciers, and the light inside the cave takes on a mysterious blue glow when refracted through the ice. Take an off-road bus through the rugged terrain to the hidden entrance of the Cave. When you enter the cave, you will feel like you are in a blue crystal palace, where the walls of the ice rise and fall like waves, and the light inside the cave is unpredictable, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
The melting glacier also formed the glacier lake at the southern end of the Vatnajókull glacier. Take an amphibious boat or kayak tour to get a closer look at the lake’s thousand-year-old ice floes, whose textures and layers are clearly visible. These ice blocks come in a variety of shapes and colors being changed over time. Glacier Lake is open year-round, but the best time to visit is from May through October when the weather is warmer and there is a moderate amount of glacial meltwater. After visiting Glacier Lake, you will come to Diamond Beach. The ice from the glacier lake is washed ashore by the undercurrents, and the transparent ice cubes are spread on the black sandy beach, shining like diamonds under the sunlight, thus the name of the beach.
From majestic landscapes, exclusive activities to luxury accommodation, if you don’t bother to plan on your own, it’s a good idea to consult with a local travel agency. Premium Tours Iceland (https://premiumtoursiceland.is/) is renowned for its expertise in curating bespoke, high-end travel experiences.
The symphony of ice and fire is played to perfection in Iceland, where nature continues its infinite charm.