Matador's Ultimate Guide to Iceland

Everything from volcanoes to ice caves to hot springs to black sand beaches to epic waterfalls ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Iceland]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Iceland Hi all, Iceland can feel like a remote, mysterious land full of volcanic activity, black-rock moonscapes, and massive ice caves, even with the droves of American tourists. It's become an increasingly popular destination and the [stopover program]( makes it all the more accessible. [The capital]( is worth checking out for a few days, but the best way to see Iceland is on the road. Iceland is a country made for road trips with stops like waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanic craters that you can drive up to along the main Ring Road. While these often-photographed natural wonders are well worth the visit, there is a whole other side of Icelandic life filled with small fishing villages, geothermal pools, and wildlife sightings that many people miss. You can get dirty and check out the rugged drives along Iceland’s F-roads, or go in the winter and seek out the northern lights. Check out our list of curated articles below for all the best stuff to do in Iceland, and find an adventure that’s all your own. [EXPLORE ICELAND]( [GuideGeek]( Get Inspired [Landmannalaugar, Iceland]( The Best Time To Visit Iceland for Every Type of Traveler In the summer, you’ll enjoy nearly 24 hours of sunlight, balmy weather, and ideal conditions for viewing the country’s many waterfalls. The fall and spring bring a popping palette of colors and fewer tourists to contend with on the roads. While you might think winter is the worst month to visit, the colder months actually bring Iceland a magical coat of snow and frost. [READ MORE]( [Northern Lights]( How To Best Experience Iceland's Northern Lights, According To Tour Experts Though I did get to briefly see the lights during my 5-day stay with Reykjavik Sightseeing, there are quite a few tips I wish I had known before my trip. Here, experts share their insight on how travelers can best see the northern lights in Iceland. [READ MORE]( [Stykkishólmur]( 7 Remote, Charming, and Quirky Icelandic Villages Worth the Detour You might have to get off the main road in order to find them, but these small towns offer a glimpse into the slower-paced Icelandic lifestyle where nature is front and center. From a small town that has the best seal watching to a remote village that is home to the Queen Elf of Iceland, these seven places prove why in Iceland, it’s best to take the scenic route. [READ MORE]( [Hotel Flatey]( What It’s Like To Eat at Iceland's Hotel Flatey, One of the Most Remote Restaurants in the World When a thick fog rolls in off the ocean, it first swallows up the orange lighthouse overlooking the sleepy fishing village of Stykkishólmur, in Iceland. The fog then moves inland, blanketing the few restaurants and shops within walking distance of the village’s marina. That alone would be reason for visiting the beautiful town, but the location’s port is also a launching point to a remote, serene, and almost totally isolated island destination: Flatey. [READ MORE]( [ice cave]( Iceland’s Ice Caves Could Last for Decades — or Be Gone Next Month. Here’s How To See Them. Langjökull Cave is one of the biggest and most captivating Iceland ice caves. Unlike solution (or rock) caves, ice caves are temporary, at the mercy of temperatures and glacial melt. They may sit mostly unchanged for years and years — or they could disappear come May, never to return again. [READ MORE]( [whale museum]( 8 Museums in Reykjavík for Huge Whales, Northern Lights, and Lots of Penises Iceland’s capital may be small, but it packs a punch. There are more than 60 galleries and museums in Reykjavík, giving the culturally inclined, and those who want to escape the brutal, ever-changing weather, a large choice of places to spend a couple of afternoons. [READ MORE]( [Airbnb in Iceland]( Jaw-Dropping Iceland Airbnbs for a Bucket List Summer Vacation Booking an Airbnb in Iceland can help keep your budget in check. It allows you to prepare meals at home and lets you experience what it would be like to actually live in such an otherworldly landscape. [READ MORE]( Nature + Adventure [Blue Lagoon]( A Soak in the Rejuvenating Waters of the Blue Lagoon Is One of the Best Things To Do in Iceland Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is an 8700-square meter man-made geothermal spa. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland, bathers flock to lagoons to soak in the milky blue water and rub (supposedly) medicinal clay at the bottom of the pools on their skin. Clouds of steam rise up from the waters, giving the Blue Lagoon a dreamy, serene atmosphere. [READ MORE]( [Seljalandsfoss]( How To Walk Behind and Around Iceland's Incredible Seljalandsfoss Waterfall Iceland is famous for many things. Among them are volcanoes, natural hot springs, unique foods, scary Christmas traditions, and, of course, waterfalls. Some estimate that there are as many as 10,000 waterfalls in the country, all varying in sizes, shapes, and strength, but there’s one that is arguably more acclaimed than the rest of them: Seljalandsfoss waterfall. [READ MORE]( [Ring Road]( Iceland’s New Westfjords Way Is a Wild, Empty Alternative To the Ring Road The best way to explore Iceland has always been on four wheels (or two, if you really want a challenge), as the land of fire and ice offers some iconic driving routes. If you want to get off the beaten track and discover a side to the country that few visitors see, then you’ll want to try a new Iceland drive: Vestfjarðaleiðin (Vest-fyar-tha-lay-thin), or the Westfjords Way. It is Iceland’s newest auto route, located in the northwest of the country. [READ MORE]( [Vestrahorn]( A Trip To Iceland's Vestrahorn Is an Otherworldly Experience Iceland is filled with places that look unreal. Seljalandsfoss is one, with its path that leads visitors to walk behind the waterfall; Reykjadalur Valley is another, with its natural hot river that lets people bathe in the middle of a scenery that looks like the Shire. But few beat the beauty of Vestrahorn, a mountain with jagged peaks that sits on a black-sand beach where the tides of the Atlantic ebb and flow. [READ MORE]( [Glymur Waterfall]( 7 Spectacular Day Hikes From Reykjavík If you’ve heard anyone talking about a trip to Iceland, you’ve likely heard them speak in a string of superlatives: the most beautiful, the cleanest water, the most geothermally active, the best hikes. But you don’t have to get deep into remote Iceland to experience these amazing natural features. Reykjavík, meaning “smoky bay” in Icelandic for the steam that rises from the ground, is an ideal hub for exploring many of Iceland’s diverse and wildly beautiful landscapes. Here is a collection of seven spectacular day hikes you can do if you are based in the world’s northernmost capital city. [READ MORE]( Food + Culture [Penis Museum]( Everything You’ll Find Inside the Iceland Penis Museum It turns out that there’s much more to a penis than meets the eye. In addition to the approximately 300 penis specimens on display, you’ll also find historical artifacts, oddities, and artwork. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge you likely weren’t expecting. Go for the novelty, sure, but expect to learn plenty. [READ MORE]( [Laufabrauð]( Iceland’s Laufabrauð Is One of the World’s Most Beautiful Christmas Breads Long, frigid winters make growing most crops, other than tubers like turnips and potatoes, difficult. Wheat is especially tricky to cultivate. So Icelandic people had to come up with a way to stretch the little flour they did have — whether it was purchased from traders in neighboring Denmark or cultivated at home. The result of their industriousness is laufabrauð, known as leaf bread or snowflake bread in English. [READ MORE]( [Waterfall in Iceland]( This Guide To Icelandic Will Have the Locals Guide You To All the Secret Waterfalls When visiting Iceland, one of the first things travelers will notice is how widespread English is; from signs and menus to the way locals quickly switch from Icelandic to English to help out visitors find their ways. However, not every Icelander speaks English, and there is real value to learning the basics of Iceland’s language to help you make the best of your trip. [READ MORE]( [fairy house]( 8 Fun and Folksy Experiences To Immerse Yourself in Icelandic Culture Alongside the natural beauty are mythologies and traditions that still inform the Icelandic way of life today. Diving into the country’s cultural offerings is as rewarding as road tripping the Golden Circle and as beautiful as gaping at the Goðafoss waterfall. To truly get a sense of Icelandic culture, these are places to put on your list. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Iceland places to stay]( [Iceland places to stay]( [Iceland places to stay]( [Iceland places to stay]( [Iceland places to stay]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE [Facebook]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [Custom]( [Twitter X]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States