7 Epically Fun Things To Do In Iceland

Iceland is a destination of untouched beauty, incredible natural wonders and unique and exciting adventures. There are so many amazing experiences you can have in Iceland you might not know where to start. So here’s our top 7 Epically Fun Things To Do In Iceland to get you planning your amazing Iceland adventure.

Visit the Ice Caves of Vatnajökull

With an area of 8,100 km² Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest glacier. It resides within the Vatnajökull national park – a protected reserve that covers 14% of the entire landmass of Iceland. The park is a mixture of glacial ice and volcanic activity – nature’s playground, a slow and never ending battle of these elemental forces.

Due to the numerous volcanic eruptions that occur underneath the surface, each Vatnajökull ice cave is continuously changing and each tourist season professional guides seek out new and exciting cave formations to visit depending on safety and weather conditions. This is why you need to make sure you visit with a professional guide, as they’ll find you the very best caves, along with other useful information such as finding the best rent a car in Iceland, essential gear to bring etc.. But one thing is for sure, every cave you visit will be a breathtaking and photogenic experience that you’ll never forget. Visit from November to March

Be Dwarfed By The Power Of Dettifoss Waterfall

Said to be the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe, the Dettifoss Waterfall is not to be missed. Just imagine seeing the fresh glacial water of the Vatnajökull glacier surging over the top of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum 100 meter wide falls and then crashing spectacularly down more than 44 meters to the canyon below.

The waterfall can only be reached by gravel road so it is is only accessible at certain times of the year. The roads can often be closed due to snow or wet conditions so it’s best to avoid Winter altogether. Late May or early June is generally the start of the season. Note: The waterfall does create a large amount of water spray (that’s what’s so cool about it), so make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the conditions or you will not have such a great day – brrr!

Nature & Adreniline In One Day: Whale Watching + ATV Adventure

For an adventure experience that will take you both on and off road in Iceland, you have to experience a whale watching and ATV tour.  Get your hearts pumping by riding your own ATV past beautiful hills and lakes and then head off road for a real adrenaline experience as you roar over the barren Icelandic landscape.

But the adventure doesn’t stop there. If you have ever spotted a humpback whale frolicking and breaching on the ocean’s surface you’d know how exhilarating it is to view. If you haven’t had this experience yet, you are in for a real treat. Also, keep an eye out for minke whales, harbor porpoises and white-beaked dolphins….you might even spot a puffin or two during your boat ride!

Experience The Northern lights at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

A trip to Iceland couldn’t possibly be complete without viewing one of the earth’s most incredible displays of natural Beauty – The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.

The actual scientific description of this phenomenon involves a lot of words like magnetosphere, magnetospheric plasma, thermosphere, electrons, protons and solar winds. I’m going to skip all of the science and just say – the earth is amazing, Go See It!

But due to the fact that is a scientific phenomenon it does make them rather elusive. The best times to see the aurora borealis is from September to mid-April where Iceland is at it’s darkest. You also might want to plan for an extended stay (at least a week)or go on a tour with a company like Superjeep.is to give yourself a better chance of actually seeing the aurora borealis. Weather plays a big part and you need to give yourself sufficient time so that you don’t run out and miss the world’s best light show!

Catch & Dine: A Gourmet Angling Adventure

We couldn’t possibly do a post and not mention something for the foodies! Iceland has some of the freshest fishing experiences you can imagine. Spend a day out catching the best cod Iceland has on offer and then have your catch specially prepared by a local gourmet chef. Tours depart from the Old Harbour in Reykjavik and all of your fishing equipment is supplied. All you need to do is turn up and get fishing.

May until August is the best time to plan your gourmet fishing adventure. May to June for trout and the salmon starts making an appearance towards the end of May until August.

To find out what gear you will need check out this post by CallOutdoors on choosing the best trout spinning reel

Witness the explosive strength of nature at Strokkur Geyser

Discover the awe of one of Iceland’s most famous geysers which erupts every 6 to 10 minutes. The Strokkur Geyser was first discovered after an earthquake back in 1789 which unblocked the conduit of the geyser. It remained active with some eruptions getting as high as 60 meters until the early 20th century where is got itself blocked again – luckily the Geysir Committee decided to help it out by unblocking it in 1963 and it has been happily enthralling locals and tourists ever since.

As it erupts so frequently the Strokkur Geyser is available to see all year round.

Epic Relaxation: Swim In The Blue Lagoon

Is there anything better than taking a nice warm dip in a geothermal spa when the weather around you is a bit frosty – I think not! At the Blue Lagoon the water is supplied from the local Svartsengi geothermal power station and the water stays at 37–39 °C (99–102 °F) all year round. Even though it is a man-made pool, the Blue Lagoon is still a must visit and one of Iceland’s most popular tourist destinations.

The warm geothermal waters are also well known for their rich minerals which help many people with any skin ailments they might have like psoriasis. One thing I personally loved was the swim up bar that is available, where you can grab yourself an ice-cool smoothie or slush while bathing or even a glass of wine or beer.

Things to know

• The water temperature is generally between 37-40°C (98-104°F).
• The lagoon contains 9 million litres of water.
• The water is self-cleansing – it renews itself every 40 hours.
• Blue Lagoon is mostly ca. 0.8-1.2 metres deep. Its deepest point is 1.4 meters.

BONUS EPIC FUN THING TO DO IN ICELAND: Travel in a Camper

All those fun activities point to Iceland as a magical land of fire, ice, and adventure. If you are all gearing up for an extraordinary holiday, you’ll need to start with a campervan rental in Iceland.

Driving your camper puts you in control of your itinerary. A road trip would be all for the attractions and activities during the day and campsites for sleep and rest at night or whenever you are tired.

Choose a camper that functions and feels like home. It’s about having essentials at hand in one place, be it cookware to make warm meals or having a nice sofa-bed.

Well-thought-out features like blackout curtains for bright summer nights and large windows for the beautiful night sky — a panoramic sunroof for viewing the northern lights is top-notch – would definitely make the whole trip more comfortable and cozy.

Safe travels!

Want more? Click here for tips on FREE things to do in Reykjavik 

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