Seljalandsfoss waterfall in Iceland Photo: Robert Lukeman, unsplash.com

Iceland

Bright colors and barren rocks, remote wilderness and cultural riches, bubbling volcanoes and glittering glaciers - Iceland is the land of contrasts. Thanks to its volcanism and the drifting apart of the continental plates of Europe and North America, the island is always on the move. And those who visit it usually don't stop for long either, but set off on foot, by bike or on horseback to discover Iceland's many treasures. No wonder the island of fire and ice is a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

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Activities in Iceland

Kirkjufell mountain in the west of Iceland

hikes

long-distance hikes

ski tours

scenic routes

mountain hikes

mountain biking trails

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Attractions in Iceland

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Long-Distance Hiking · Iceland

Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls - Hiking from Skógar to Landmannalaugar

recommended route Difficulty moderate

Distance 78.1 km

Duration 25:00 h

Ascent 2,620 m

Descent 2,060 m

This spectacular multi-day tour takes you about 80 km through nearly the entire range of Icelandic primeval landscapes.

from Reiner Drewe, Community

Scenic Route

Around Iceland in 10 days

recommended route Difficulty Multi-stage route

Distance 2,384.4 km

Duration 36:41 h

Ascent 5,962 m

Descent 5,963 m

Iceland is hardly comparable to continental Europe: The peaceful and largely untouched landscape radiates a heavenly calm. Numerous craters ...

from Silvan Kaspar, Outdooractive Editors

Geotope · Iceland

Geysir and Strokkur

Iceland

"Wildly gushing" is the meaning of the Icelandic word gjósa, from which "geyser" is derived. Hardly ...

from Tabea Götze, Outdooractive Editors

Hiking route · Iceland

In Thingvellir through the crevice to the impressive Oxararfoss (waterfall)

recommended route Difficulty moderate

Distance 4.9 km

Duration 2:00 h

Ascent 30 m

Descent 30 m

The hike in Thingvellir National Park leads along wide paths through the Almannagja (crevice) to the impressive Oxararfoss. But the entire ...

from Stefan Stadler, alpenvereinaktiv.com

Waterfall · Iceland

Gullfoss

Iceland

Gullfoss is probably the most famous waterfall in Iceland. In any case, it is one of the most ...

from Tabea Götze, Outdooractive Editors

Coast · Iceland

Látrabjarg

Iceland

The cliffs of Látrabjarg are Europe`s westernmost point. In summer, thousands of puffins breed here.

from Tabea Götze, Outdooractive Editors

Museum · Iceland

Whale Museum Húsavík

Iceland

open today

The Whale Museum in Húsavík is the only one of its kind in Iceland, a must-do when traveling to ...

from Johanna Singer, Outdooractive Editors

Geotope · Iceland

Hveradalir

Iceland

Probably the largest and most fascinating geothermal area in Iceland with reddish colored rhyolite ...

from Johanna Singer, Outdooractive Editors

Ski Touring · Iceland

Snaefellsjökull (1,446 m) - ski tour on an exposed volcano in Iceland

recommended route Difficulty difficult

Distance 14.1 km

Duration 4:30 h

Ascent 1,300 m

Descent 1,300 m

The ski tour to Snaefellsjökull leads along the pass road and then over open slopes to the summit structure, which is completely covered in snow.

from Stefan Stadler, alpenvereinaktiv.com

Wellness · Iceland

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

The world-famous thermal bath invites you to relax with its fascinating blue water.

from Silvan Kaspar, Outdooractive Editors

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Stunning Iceland

What did the first Vikings think when they saw the first rocks of Iceland lying before them from their ships more than 1100 years ago? They could hardly have guessed what was hidden behind the barren coastline. Anyone who visits the geysers and glaciers, the spectacular waterfalls and cooled lava flows today can well understand why they suspected the home of elves, dwarfs and trolls here. Even today, about half of the Icelandic population still believes in the existence of magical creatures and sees in many boulders elf houses or trolls that were surprised by the sunrise and thus petrified.

The Reynisdrangar in the south of Iceland are, according to legend, petrified trolls.
Photo: Outdooractive Editors

Iceland is not only influenced by its rich myths and legends, but also by the many traces in nature and culture that the Viking Age left behind. The pride of the Icelanders in the eventful history of their country is reflected in many lovingly designed museums. A particularly interesting destination is Þingvellir, the original meeting place of Althing, the oldest existing parliament in the world. The place where Iceland's independence from Denmark was declared in 1944 is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Report · Iceland

Thingvellir – inside Iceland’s first parliament

June 19, 2018

Life was hard in 10th-century Iceland: the sea route to the Scandinavian mainland was long, and the young Viking settlements lay isolated between ...

from Tabea Götze, Outdooractive Editors

Fantastic natural phenomena

There are more than 100 waterfalls in Iceland, many of them among the largest and most beautiful in Europe. Some are the subject of legends and stories, others impress with huge cascades of water and a deafening sound.

Iceland is a volcanic hotspot: on average, a volcano erupts here every 5 years. There are numerous geothermal areas to discover along the tectonic rift zone that runs across the entire country. Hot springs, bubbling mud holes and the smell of sulfur characterize them. The most famous geothermal spring is the Great Geyser in the south of Iceland, but an excursion to Lake Mývatn or into the barren highlands is also worthwhile for amateur volcanologists and explorers.

Iceland

Adventures in Iceland

If you want to explore Iceland's wild beauty on foot, it's best to plan plenty of time for taking pictures. Shorter day trips to waterfalls or lonely lakes often already offer an impressive variety of landscapes, but for many hiking enthusiasts it is trekking tours lasting several days, such as the Laugavegur, that make a trip to Iceland an unforgettable experience.

Iceland

Those who prefer to sit in the saddle of a bicycle can brave the wind on the well-maintained ring road near the coast or venture up to one of the pistes through the highlands inland by touring bike. A new perspective opens up to those who discover the island on guided tours from the back of an Icelandic horse. Whether on foot or in the saddle - at the end of an eventful tour through the Icelandic wilderness, bathing in one of the country's hot springs is particularly good.

South coast of Iceland
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
View from Fjallabak to Vatnajökull and Hamarinn
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Dettifoss
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Fjallabak mountains near Landmannalaugar
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Icebergs in Jökulsárlon
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Northern lights in the East Fjords
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Ljötipollur Crater in the Southern Highlands
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Myvatn near Skutustadir
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
North Coast of Iceland
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Snappadalur in the Central Highlands
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Myvatn
Photo: René Dreuse, Outdooractive Editors
Polarlichter in Island
Photo: Outdooractive Editors

Highlights around Reykjavík

A real trip to Iceland is not only about the country, but also about the people. The best place to find them is in the capital Reykjavík, where more than a third of Iceland's 330,000 inhabitants live. Colorful cafés line up here with cozy fish restaurants, while numerous museums with many relics from the Viking Age are often found in close proximity to exciting modern architecture. Reykjavík is also suitable as a base for excursions, for example to the famous Blue Lagoon thermal baths or to a whale-watching tour out into the North Atlantic.

Wellness · Iceland

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

The world-famous thermal bath invites you to relax with its fascinating blue water.

from Silvan Kaspar, Outdooractive Editors

Iceland in Winter

The main season for outdoor athletes in Iceland is summer when all paths are easily accessible and the average temperatures are usually around 10 degrees celsius. But winter is also becoming more and more popular with travelers. So close to the Arctic Circle it is then only a few hours a day bright until the dawn bathes the country in a mystical light. Even the most visited sights in summer, like the famous geysers, are often deserted and look completely different when covered in snow. In the evening, with a little luck, a very special natural spectacle presents itself in all its glory: northern lights illuminate the Icelandic night sky in dramatic colors.