The best places to visit in Iceland

When to visit Iceland

Since Iceland is a destination that can be explored all year round, deciding precisely when to visit Iceland can be difficult. Ultimately, when you visit Iceland depends on what you’d like to see, and what you’d like to do. During the winter months, you can chase the Northern Lights and dash across glaciers by snowmobile. In summer, you can explore Icelandic landscapes beneath the glow of the Midnight Sun; watching as the light catches on the waterfalls of Þingvellir National Park (the filming location of Game of Thrones’ “Bloody Gate”) and hiking trails coated in moss, lava, and wildflowers.

When designing your bespoke trip to Iceland, our luxury Travel Experts will tailor everything entirely to your passions and interests, recommending the best time to visit Iceland for you.

Where to go in Iceland

Frome the black sand beaches of Reykjanes Peninsula to the bubbling geothermal springs of Hveravellir in the Highlands, Iceland boasts a dazzling array of landscapes. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite must-see places in Iceland.

The Golden Circle

Perhaps one of the best-known places to visit in Iceland, the Golden Circle is a 300km route famed for its striking geothermal wonders; weaving its way across South Iceland and beginning and ending in Reykjavik, the country’s colourful capital. Sólheimajökull glacier is one such wonder. With striking ice formations formed from rugged ridges and veins of volcanic ash, Sólheimajökull is breathtaking. Due to the glacier’s surface, this is also the perfect place to embark on an ice climbing adventure. After scaling and climbing to your heart’s content, you can look out at sweeping views of blue-white ice extending out before you.

Out of the many things to see in Iceland, its thundering waterfalls are not to be missed. One of our favourites? Skógafoss. Located on the Skógá river (and making up part of the Golden Circle), this waterfall is a towering 60 metres high. Due to the amount of spray, you can gaze upon rainbows whenever sunlight touches the water. Whether you wish to breathe in the views from the observation deck above or walk right up to the wall of the water below (we’d recommend bringing waterproofs), our expert local guides will show you Skógafoss at every turn (and angle).

The only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge can be seen above sea level, Þingvellir National Park is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Iceland. Considered to be the first stop along the Golden Circle route due to its close location to Reykjavik (just a 45-minute drive), you can wander between tectonic plates as you walk beside glittering waterfalls coated in ice.

Home to around 60% of the world’s Atlantic Puffin population, Iceland boasts some of the best places to witness these seabirds flocking in their thousands. One such place is Dyrholaey Rock. Formed from rare hexagonal basalt columns (one of only a few such formations around the world), and jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, vast puffin colonies nest here throughout the summer months. You can approach the cliffs from the beach, looking up as your boots crunch on black sand, or from the clifftops themselves, breathing in views of Iceland’s captivating South Coast.

Iceland’s black sand beaches

When deciding where to go in Iceland, visiting one (or several) of Iceland’s black sand beaches is always a good idea. Formed from volcanic rock colliding with the cold North Atlantic Ocean, this silky dark sand makes for a breathtaking backdrop. Whether you’re walking between jewel-like ice formations on Diamond Beach on the eastern coast or hearing the (aptly) dark legends of Reynisfjara where two trolls once turned to stone in the south, we’d highly recommend including this as part of your Icelandic adventure. If you like, we can even arrange for you to explore them more fully – by quad bike.

Reykjavik

No trip to Iceland would be complete without a visit to its strikingly modern (and brightly coloured) capital, Reykjavik. The gateway to the rest of the country, there are many reasons why Reykjavik is one of the best places to visit in Iceland. By day, you can take a seat at Icelandic cafes serving up the freshest kleinur (Icelandic twisted doughnuts), wander between streets lined with vinyl stores and craft breweries, and soak in the views of Mount Esja along Faxaflói Bay. At night, the city comes alive as cafes turn into bars and DJs take to the decks.

Here, you’ll find one of our favourite luxury hotels in Iceland: Reykjavik Edition. Heading to its private rooftop terrace, you’ll look out over the city, waiting for a glimpse of the Northern Lights or lounging beneath the midnight sun. Just a 45-minute drive from Keflavik airport, the city is also in a prime location for the beginning and end of your trip – and for a visit to the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon

Located in the southwest corner of Iceland (only 45 minutes from the country’s capital), the renowned Blue Lagoon is – without a doubt – one of the best places to visit in Iceland. With soothing milk-blue waters and an average temperature of around 37-39 °C, this geothermal spa is perfect for bathing, swimming, and relaxing. You can spend your time floating between tranquil pools rich in microalgae, silica, and minerals, and indulging with an in-water massage.

The Blue Lagoon may be one of our favourite things to see in Iceland, but it’s also one of our favourite places to stay. With striking architecture carved from rock (reminiscent of a Bond film), a subterranean spa, and its Michelin starred Moss restaurant, The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon is not to be missed. If you’d like to have access to your own private corner of the lagoon, just mention it to one of our luxury Travel Experts (we know just the suite).

The Diamond Circle

When planning where to go in Iceland, most people (understandably) want to see the Golden Circle. But to the north, there’s another route, another adventure. Less explored but no less striking, this is the Diamond Circle. Drawing its name from the rhombus-like structure of this 250km loop, this route carves its way across the wilderness of Iceland’s high north – from the Dimmuborgir Lava Fields to the thundering power of Dettifoss waterfall and the forests of horseshoe-shaped Asbyrgi Canyon.

Whether this is your second (or third) trip to Iceland and you’re seeking something a little different, we’d highly recommend exploring this captivating, lesser-known corner of the country. How exactly you explore is up to you. You can travel by foot, boat – or private helicopter.

Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland

For fans of Game of Thrones, Iceland is a must-see destination. Here, you can go behind the scenes of the award-winning TV show, exploring the places in Iceland where iconic moments were staged and shot. At Skaftafell National Park, you can trek up the magnificent Vatnajökull glacier, the largest icecap in the world outside the arctic regions, and where Jon Snow walked North of the Wall. Then there’s Lake Mývatn, located in the heart of north-east Iceland about 105 km south of the Arctic Circle. This epic region is the filming location for The Wall itself, where the wildings roam. Beside the waterfalls and tectonic plates protruding out of the earth at Þingvellir National Park, you can make your way to the “Bloody Gate”.

As part of our Set Jetting collection – a series of immersive, TV-inspired trips – our knowledgeable local guides will take you behind the scenes of some of Game of Thrones’ most awe-inspiring locations, showing you the places in Iceland (and other corners of the globe) where this binge-worthy boxset was actually shot. If you’d like to travel beyond Iceland, to Croatia’s King’s Landing (or, Dubrovnik, as it’s also known) and Ireland’s Winterfell (Strangford Lough), just say the word.

Why book a trip to Iceland with Black Tomato

There are many reasons to experience luxury travel in Iceland with Black Tomato. Our luxury Travel Experts and knowledgeable local guides have (quite literally) delved beneath the surface of dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano. They’ve zipped across black sand beaches by buggy and chased the Northern Lights in every corner of this mesmerising country. They know the best places to visit in Iceland, and precisely the best times to visit them.

Deciding what to see and where to go in Iceland can be difficult – and time-consuming. But that’s where we come in. Building your trip from the ground up, we’ll tailor your luxury trip to Iceland entirely to you and your interests – and that of your loved ones. We’ll take care of every detail, no matter how big or small. If you’re embarking on a family trip, we’ll make sure every member of your clan is happy. Whether that’s ensuring you have a Northern Lights wakeup call at every place you rest your head or arranging iPads for the kids for longer car journeys (as well as their favourite snacks).

Whatever your dream, we’ll make it happen. Just say the word.