On a whim, we booked a very last-minute trip to Iceland last March. We arrived in Reykjavik without a real plan of what we wanted to see or do and so took a very relaxed approach to seeing what the country had to offer. We jumped on some tours for part of the trip and booked a car at the end to explore on our own. For us, having our own car and the freedom it provides suited our style of travel more, but the tours made sure we saw all the sights that Iceland is famous for! Having our own car ensured we were able to drive away from the crowds and find some quieter spots and go at our own pace. We, like every else who visits, adored the wild and wonderful country and are constantly talking about going back and taking our camper van with us. Here are just ten reasons why Iceland should be on your bucket list if it isn’t already.

ONE

The Northern Lights.
As luck would have it we realised traveling in March is the perfect time to see the Northern Lights. I have dreamed about seeing the Northern Lights since I was a little girl after having read Philip Pullman’s dark materials trilogy. Our first night arriving in Reykjavik, we booked onto a northern lights tour and were blown away when they appeared. We were lucky enough to see them every night of our trip. We saw them from our hotel room, we saw them as we were driving late at night through the mountains and we even saw them whilst we sat in a thermal pool on the edge of Reykjavik city. I really cannot explain the childlike excitement that washed over us every time they danced across the sky. A huge bucket list moment.

TWO

The waterfalls.
Iceland is famous for its waterfalls. There are too many to visit, but we saw plenty in the time we were there. Kirkjufellfoss, Gullfoss, Skogafoss & Seljalandsfoss are some of the most famous in Iceland and for good reason. We loved visiting each one. The good news is that you won’t have to look very far in Iceland to find some of these amazing natural attractions. When I think back on Iceland now it is the waterfalls I see in my mind.

THREE

The horses.
The horses of Iceland are so adorable! In the 10th century Iceland stopped importing in horses from anywhere else in the world. This restriction has never been lifted and so the Icelandic horses there today are descendants of the very first brought to Iceland by the vikings! Interesting facts aside, they are just so cute! We couldn’t help but stop every time we saw them.

FOUR

The thermal pools.
Iceland is referred to as the land of fire and ice. As much as I enjoy seeing all the wild ice landscapes, I enjoyed relaxing in the hot pools even more. We missed a trick and realised that in order to get into the famous Blue Lagoon you have to book in advance, so we opted to try a different one instead. We visited Laugarvatn Fontana, where we soaked in the natural pools and relaxed in the steam rooms, before working up the nerve to run into the icy cold lake behind. There are plenty of hot springs to choose from all across Iceland and they are an essential to any Icelandic adventure!

FIVE

The black sand beaches.
Iceland is one of the most volcanic landscapes in the world and with this comes an endless supply of beautiful black sand beaches. I don’t think I have ever seen beaches as interesting and unique as the ones in Iceland. We first visited Reynisfjara beach. Famous for its easily recognisable basalt sea stacks and dark caves, it is understandable that this is such a tourist hotspot. The other side of the cliff from Reynisfjar is Vik black sand beach, which is much quieter. Away from the main crowds, this beach was amazing to explore.

SIX

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
When we rented a car, we decided to head West as we had heard relatively less about the area and hoped there would be fewer tourists. We were blown away by the landscapes we discovered. Black sand beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, lava fields and colourful fishing villages are just a few of the amazing scenes we came across on our road trip. We loved Kirkjufell Mountain as well as the nearby Kirkjufellafoss waterfall. In one scene, we had a view of the waterfall, the mountain and the sea just below. It was magnificent. The whole drive felt like a true adventure, with the most beautiful views out the window. It was hard to drive more than ten minutes without having to stop the car and jump out to take photos. When people ask where I would recommend exploring in Iceland, Snæfellsnes Peninsula is top of the list. Fewer tourists seem to travel to this part of the country (at least when we were there) and so it’s perfect for those looking for some solitude.

SEVEN

The quirky capital.
We used Reykjavik as our base for our time in Iceland and we loved exploring the little city. It has a small town feel and a cosy cafe culture that we couldn’t get enough of. Being a small city, we explored on foot, wandering around the quirky streets and harbour. Our highlight was definitely visiting Hallgrimskirkja Church which towers above the city. We made sure to climb up to the top to get a view of all the colourful houses below. It was the perfect place to base ourselves for our time in Iceland and should not be missed on a tour of the country.

EIGHT

The tiny colourful towns.
Iceland is full of tiny charming towns that we loved visiting throughout our trip. Vík , with its black sand beach and charming church was one of our favourites. We also loved exploring Grundarfjörður in the West, for its Kirkjufell mountain backdrop and peaceful sea views. It is known that Iceland is home to endless unique landscapes, but I didn’t know just how much I would fall for the charming towns as well.

NINE

Þingvellir National Park.
Located on the famous Golden Circle route, Þingvellir National Park is not only extremely picturesque covering miles of untamed Icelandic landscape, but is also historically and geologically fascinating. A recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site, Þingvellir is where the first Icelandic parliament was introduced, assembled less than 60 years after the first vikings settled on Iceland. Today a flag marks this historic spot where decision making took place. Þingvellir also has huge geological significance as it lies in the boundary between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates. People can snorkel or dive in the fissure between the continental plates and this is something I wish i had done! At least I have an excuse to return to Iceland…

TEN

The Golden Circle.
Iceland is the perfect road trip destination. The popular Golden Circle route is traveled by most tourists who visit the country and for good reason. The route is a 190-mile driving loop from Reykjavik into the southern uplands of Iceland and back. On this one day organised tour we got to see Þingvellir National Park, the famous Geysers at Haukadalur, plenty of waterfalls and much more. If you are only in Iceland for a few days, this road trip is perfect for getting a taste of all Iceland has to offer. We love to find quieter spots on our travels, a bit off the beaten track, but we are so glad we jumped on the tour and saw the most popular sites as they are well visited for a reason.

I cannot wait to return to Iceland to explore more.

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE ICELAND YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE