Iceland: 6 Experiences You Cannot Miss

Bucket List Series

We’ve decided to start a new series on our bucket list destinations – places we haven’t been to yet, but would love to some time in our lifetime! Kicking off our series is the Land of Fire and Ice, Iceland

Iceland has been on our bucket list for a while now. A land of volcanoes AND glaciers, this destination has so much to see and experience, including one of my obsessions, the Aurora Borealis. Whilst we haven’t had the pleasure to visit Iceland (yet!), we’ve compiled a list on what we want to experience when we eventually visit there. Narrowing the best Icelandic adventures down to just 6 things is a difficult task. If you are like us, and like your holidays on the adventurous side, amongst Instagram-worthy scenery like no other on this earth, then Iceland is the place for you.

Iceland by Moylan Bren via Flickr (CC by 2.0)

1. Trek the Golden Circle

This covers 300km from the capital Reykjavík, around central Iceland and back around, going through Þingvellir National Park. This is a great first stop of any Iceland adventure. If you fancy seeing massive geysers (hot springs) erupt every 5-10 minutes, an impressive waterfall, a volcano crater, the hot spring town of Hveragerði, and a geothermal power plant, trek the Golden Circle.

Blue Lagoon at sunset by Lyssie

2. Bathe in The Blue Lagoon

This natural geothermal spa is one of the most visited sites in Iceland for good reason. It’s a pool in Grindavíc lava field that formed in 1976 from geothermal energy output, and became popular in the early Eighties due to the perceived healing powers of its warm, mineral-rich waters. Imagine relaxing in a steamy, warm lagoon whilst being surrounded by snow-capped mountains. This definitely is something I would love to experience. Plus the mud is said to be great for the skin.

Aurora Borealis by Lyssie

3. See the Aurora Borealis

The Northern Lights are a spectacular celestial phenomenon which an exclusive bunch of people will see in their lifetimes. You see, seeing the Northern Lights is like a space launch: everything has to be right, including the weather, visibility and atmospheric conditions. Iceland is a prime place to see this natural beauty; there are many viewing points such as the Grotta lighthouse near Reykjavík. The best thing to do is to check the Northern Lights forecast each night and wait for the clear skies. The clearer the sky and colder the temps, the better chance you have of seeing them. But be warned, if you are anything like me, one sighting will only leave you wanting more.

Iceland’s natural beauty by Lyssie

4. Explore Iceland’s Volcanic Activity

Iceland is famed for its high level of volcanic activity; from active volcanoes to dormant craters, fields of warm lava to glaciers, there are so many ways you can explore Iceland’s volcanoes. South of the capital, lies the empty magma chamber of þríhnúkagígur which has lain dormant for 4000 years, in which you can descend via cable lift.

6. Game of Thrones!

It’s no secret that we love Game of Thrones. I’d go so far as to say I am beyond obsessed, having read all the [released] books and watched all the episodes so far. I’ve gone to the exhibition and visited some of the filming locations, with the dream of visiting all of them eventually. So with that in mind, one of the reasons Iceland is on our bucket list is because that is where a lot of the scenes of the hit TV series were filmed. There are tours that take you around to different locations, or you can be adventurous and map out your own itinerary.

5. Discover the Ice Caves

Exploring the ice caves isn’t for the faint of heart – you’ll need to do your research, get an experienced guide, and make preparations for visiting, such as arranging travel and equipment. There are some amazing eerily palatial crystal caverns in the largest glacier in Iceland: Vatnajökull.

Feeling Pinspired? Hover and click on the images to save them to your Pinterest boards!

No one will blame you if you’re feeling spoilt for choice planning your own Icelandic saga. There are also services like Exodus which have some great adventures in Iceland that’ll help you get your bearings.

Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list of the many amazing tourist attractions that are abundant in this land of ice and fire, but hopefully it will inspire you. Iceland is definitely a place that should be on your bucket-list.

A special thanks to Lyssie from She Went to Spain for sharing her inspiring pictures for this post.