Best places to visit on your first trip to Iceland

Iceland’s raw beauty captures the imagination – from its explosive scenery and huge volcanic craters, to its seething geysers and gushing waterfalls. It is no surprise then that Iceland is nicknamed the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’. With an abundance of things to see and do in this otherworldly country, here are my top picks…

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Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is a famous attraction in Iceland’s Golden Circle. It forms part of the Atlantic Ocean ridge that runs through Iceland, located in an active volcanic area. It is the only place in the world where you can stand between two tectonic plates – the Eurasian and North American plates.

This is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site on Iceland’s mainland and the birthplace of the country’s parliament.

Kerid Crater

Kerið is an awe-inspiring volcanic crater lake in the Grímsnes area of Southern Iceland. It is approximately 3,000 years old and features unearthly red slopes and aquamarine waters.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss, which translates to the ‘Golden Falls’, is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá River in Southwest Iceland. It is Iceland’s most iconic waterfall and will truly take your breath away…

Geysir

Geysir is a hot spring in the geothermal area, Haukadalur Valley, located in South Iceland. It is one of the most impressive geological sites in the country, given its rare nature, erupting approximately every 4-10 minutes.

Hallgrimskirkja Church

Hallgrimskirkja Church is Reykjavík’s main icon – its unique exterior and interior structure, and distinctive design, dominates the city’s skyline at 73 metres high. It can be seen from most areas of Reykjavík and is worth visiting both during the day and at night.

The church’s observation deck offers the best views of the capital, with an amazing perspective of the city’s coloured rooftops.

Rainbow Street

This colourful street is located in the heart of downtown Reykjavík, leading to the Hallgrimskirkja Church. You can go on a two hour sightseeing walking tour of Iceland’s capital to see all the main highlights.