It should come as no surprise that at Your Friend in Reykjavik, we love our home city!
That’s why we have so many Reykjavik Walking Tours — so we can show visitors as many of the fantastic sights and attractions in Iceland’s capital as possible.
And our Private Reykjavik Walking Tours showcase the best our city has to offer with a more personalized experience.
However, as much as we love Reykjavik for its history, culture, and cuisine, there’s a veritable treasure trove of natural wonders to be found beyond the city limits.
Iceland’s landscapes are some of the most dramatic in the world with an array of natural phenomena rarely found anywhere else. This is why Hollywood so often films here.
Join Your Friend in Reykjavik today as we choose some of our favorite places to visit in Iceland besides Reykjavik.
And if we inspire you to begin planning your dream Iceland trip, but you just can’t find a tour package right for you, consider our custom tour in Iceland. Our expert team can craft a trip tailored to you.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
The Golden Circle: One of the Most Popular Places in Iceland
The Golden Circle encompasses a 300 km round trip that takes in three of Iceland’s most famous natural attractions:
- Thingvellir National Park
- Geyser Geothermal Area
- Gullfoss Waterfall
It’s worthwhile getting out of the city to explore any one of the three attractions mentioned above, but the Golden Circle allows you to take in all of them in a single day!
The Thingvellir National Park is the site of Iceland’s first parliament (established around 930 AD) and is regarded by many as the country’s spiritual home.
Learn about our country’s past before walking to one of the most extraordinary natural wonders you’ll ever see: two tectonic plates rising from the Earth’s crust to form a beautiful crevasse you can walk through.
Meanwhile, the Gullfoss Waterfall (Golden Falls) is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls — and we have many! Read our picks for the most scenic waterfalls in Iceland to discover more.
Chosen as a filming location for many films and TV shows, Gulfoss is the ideal spot to take some fabulous photos. It looks incredible throughout the year!
Finally, you can visit the geothermal area in Haukadalur. This site is truly unique; you can watch active geysers blast water high into the air.
You can count on the smaller geyser, known as Strokkur, to erupt around every ten minutes.
With Your Friend in Reykjavik, you can visit the Golden Circle as part of an Iceland custom tour or join the Golden Circle and Fontana Wellness Tour.
The latter combines the sites of the Golden Circle with some revitalizing spa therapies.
Marvel at the Magic of Iceland’s South Coast
Any internet search for “Iceland places to visit” will inevitably show the wealth of magical, unmissable locations spread across our country’s southern coast.
Steeped in myths and legends for centuries, the southern landscapes offer unforgettable sites like black sand beaches and glacial lagoons, not to mention charming historical villages dotted all around.
Join Your Friend in Reykjavik for our 2-Day South Coast Tour in Iceland, where you’ll visit the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Skaftafell and Vatnajokull national parks, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, and much more besides.
If you’re tight on time, consider our South Coast Sagas Day Tour in Iceland, which conveniently departs from Reykjavik and will have you back to your accommodation within about ten hours.
And for a taste of movie magic, consider visiting some of the famous film locations in South Iceland.
Go On a Hunt for the Mesmerizing Northern Lights
Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a place, but no trip to Iceland is complete without trying to catch sight of one of Mother Nature’s most beautiful light shows!
Of course, whether you can see the Aurora Borealis will depend upon the time of year you are visiting Iceland.
If you’re here between late August and mid-April, you should make an effort to join a Northern Lights tour or arrange accommodation in a place far from light pollution.
Looking at our Northern Lights Tour in Iceland, you’ll see we don’t even follow a set route.
Our guides use weather and dedicated aurora forecasts to decide the best place to witness the phenomenon. It’s all part of what makes witnessing the Northern Lights such an adventure.
Learn more about seeing the Northern Lights in Reykjavik in 2023.
Feel the Thrill of a Trip to Geldingardalur Volcano
Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, Fagradalsfjall is the name of a prominent volcano and broader volcanic system that had lain dormant for over 800 years.
That is until 19 March 2021, when a volcanic vent opened at Geldingardalur and began spewing forth molten lava.
The eruption has now ended, but the lava is still fresh, smoking, and visible to visitors.
On our Private Hike to Geldingardalur Volcano, we’ll pick you up from Reykjavik and drive you out to the lava fields. We will enjoy a leisurely hike there before spending two hours at the volcano.
Experience Iceland’s Highlights in Snæfellsnes National Park
For Icelanders, Snæfellsnes is often associated with spiritual experiences and folk tales. The landscape here can be positively otherwordly. It glows with Iceland’s unique, mysterious charm.
The Snæfellsnes National Park has long been popular with visitors because the area seems to showcase Iceland in miniature.
Just some of the quintessentially Icelandic natural marvels you can find here include:
- Black beaches
- Majestic mountains
- Volcanic craters
- Diverse birdlife
- Mystical caves
- Snæfellsjökull glacier
Snæfellsjökull glacier is famous for its stunning appearance, as famously depicted in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
If you’re spending a short stay in Reykjavik, consider our Wonders of Snæfellsnes National Park day tour.
We’ll pick you up from central Reykjavik and take you on a 12-hour tour to Snæfellsnes where we will enjoy the site’s highlight features.
Don’t get caught hungry on your travels outside our capital! Read our recommendations for the best restaurants outside Reykjavik.
Popular Places in Iceland Don’t Get Much More Famous than the Blue Lagoon
So, you’ve been enjoying an adventurous stay in Iceland. You’ve been hiking up mountains, exploring caves, walking on glaciers, and filling your belly with lots of traditional Icelandic food and drink.
Where to find a little rest and relaxation before your holiday ends? There’s no better option than the country’s famous Blue Lagoon.
Soak in geothermal waters as you gaze out on a beautiful landscape. Make use of first-class facilities and book spa treatments for optimal revitalization.
There’s luxury; then there’s Blue Lagoon luxury. There are few places on Earth where you can enjoy wellness therapies in such captivating surroundings.
Though you must book entrance tickets in advance, we offer stress-free round-trip transfer to the Blue Lagoon.
Leave the logistics to us and focus on what’s important: pampering yourself in style.
Read our tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon before your visit to get the most from your experience.
Let Us Show You Around Iceland’s Best Places to Visit!
There’s no short answer to the question “Where should I go in Iceland besides Reykjavik?”, so this blog is only an introduction to the amazing things you can see and do here.
Browse our range of Iceland Day Tours and Multi-Day Tours in Iceland for even more vacation inspiration.
If you have any questions about this blog, our tours, or planning your dream trip in Iceland with Your Friend in Reykjavik, please get in touch.
