Things to Do in Iceland: 29 Top Sights on One Map
Waterfalls, glacier lagoons, canyons and hot rivers, numbered on one map.
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The Iceland travel guide
Discover
Iceland.
The land of fire and ice.
Reykjavík · Golden Circle · South Coast · Snæfellsnes · North · Westfjords
About the guide
One island.
Every corner.
Iceland is small enough to drive around in a week and wild enough to fill a lifetime. Discover Iceland is a complete travel guide to the island: when to go, how to get around, where to stay, what to eat, what it costs, how to drive safely, and how to read the weather.
394,000people live in all of Iceland, fewer than in many single cities
~10%of the island is covered by glaciers
9 in 10homes are heated with hot water from underground
The map
Explore the island.
Zoom in, drag around and tap a pin to preview a place: waterfalls, glaciers, black beaches, hot springs and more.
The complete guide
Waterfalls, glaciers and black sand.
Mornings at the waterfalls, afternoons on the ice, evenings in a hot pool. The travel guide is built around regions, road trips and easy days out, with maps for each area.
See the regions on the map →- ReykjavíkColourful streets, harbour, pools and Hallgrímskirkja.
- The Golden CircleÞingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in one day.
- The South CoastWaterfalls, black beaches and glacier lagoons.
- Snæfellsnes & the NorthKirkjufell, Lake Mývatn and whale watching.
The complete guide · 2027 edition · Available now
Discover
Iceland
The Land of Fire and Ice, at the Edge of the World.
Every region of the island, the Ring Road and the detours worth taking, the hot pools, the waterfalls and the glaciers, with our own maps throughout. 246 pages, 31 chapters and 13 full-spread maps, every fact checked against official sources. One book for your whole trip, in any season.
Region by regionReykjavík, the South Coast, the East Fjords, the North, the Westfjords and the highlands
Ring Road & day tripsRoutes, drive times and where to stop on the way
Hot poolsLagoons, wild springs and how to bathe like a local
Weather & lightDaylight by month, road conditions and the aurora calendar
Start here
Iceland highlights
Golden CircleGullfossTwo drops into a deep canyon.
Golden CircleGeysir & StrokkurStrokkur erupts every few minutes.
South CoastSeljalandsfossA waterfall with a path behind it.
South CoastReynisfjaraBlack sand and basalt columns.
South CoastSólheimajökullA glacier tongue you can walk on with a guide.
VatnajökullJökulsárlónIcebergs drifting out to sea.
East IcelandHengifossRed stripes in a basalt canyon.
HighlandsCrater lakesBlue water in black volcanic craters.
HighlandsMælifellA green cone on a black desert.
HveragerðiReykjadalurHike to a warm river you can bathe in.
WinterNorthern lightsClear, dark nights from September to April.
SnæfellsnesKirkjufellThe peninsula's much-photographed peak.
Fire & ice
Built by volcanoes. Carved by ice.
Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart, so it is still being made. Glaciers cover about a tenth of the island, the Reykjanes peninsula near the airport has erupted again and again since 2021, and hot water from underground heats about nine in ten homes.
Read the history →The history of Iceland
An island of sagas.
Norse settlers, a parliament in the open air, centuries under Norway and Denmark, then a republic. The guide opens with the story behind the landscape.
- Settlement and the sagas
- The Althing at Þingvellir, 930
- Norwegian and Danish rule
- The republic, 17 June 1944
Northern lights
When the sky comes alive.
From about September to April, clear and dark nights can light up green over the whole island. You need three things: darkness, a clear sky and solar activity. The Icelandic Met Office publishes a cloud and aurora forecast every evening, and a few nights away from town lights give you the best chance.
The full northern lights guide →- SeasonLate August to mid-April, darkest from November to February.
- WhereAnywhere dark: Snæfellsnes, the south coast, the north.
- ForecastCheck cloud cover first, then the aurora activity.
- The guideA full Northern Lights edition is on the way.
From the journal
Tips, maps & field notes
The Iceland Ring Road: Complete Driving Guide
Route 1 around the whole island: days, stops, rules and seasons.
Read the guide →
The Golden Circle: Self-Drive Guide and Map
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in one day from Reykjavík, with times, fees and a map.
Read the guide →
Iceland's Best Waterfalls: The Complete Map
Every major fall around the island, with heights, walks, fees and seasons.
Read the guide →
Iceland's Hot Springs and Pools: The Complete Map
Nineteen lagoons, village pools and wild springs, region by region.
Read the guide →
Iceland's Glaciers: Where to See, Walk and Explore
Viewpoints, lagoons, guided hikes and ice caves, and how to plan them.
Read the guide →
The seasonal editions
Midnight sun or winter dark.
In June the sun barely sets and the highland roads open. In December there are four hours of daylight, the roads can close with snow, and the sky comes alive at night. Each season gets its own book, with routes, gear and safety for that time of year.
Get notified when they launch →- Summer editionHighlands, hikes, puffins and the midnight sun.
- Winter editionIce caves, snow driving and short bright days.
- Northern lightsForecasts, dark-sky spots and how to photograph them.
- Shoulder monthsWhich book to take in May, September or October.
The summer edition · Coming 2027
Iceland
in Summer
Midnight sun, highlands and hikes
Long light days open the whole island: the highland roads, the green valleys of Þórsmörk, the puffin cliffs and the hot rivers in the hills. Made for the months when the sun barely sets.
Highlands & F-roadsWhen the roads open, river crossings and the 4x4 rules
Hikes & treksFrom short waterfall walks to the Laugavegur Trail
Puffins & whalesWhere and when to see them around the coast
Camping & hot poolsCampsites, wild pools and long evenings outside
The winter edition · Coming 2027
Iceland
in Winter
Ice, snow and short days
Blue ice caves, frozen waterfalls and four-hour days of low golden light. Winter Iceland rewards the people who plan it well. How to see it safely, and at its best.
Ice caves & glacier hikesGuided tours, the season and how to choose one
Driving in snow & windRoad conditions, closures and winter tyres
Short-day itinerariesRoutes that fit the daylight you have
Christmas & New YearThe Yule Lads, bonfires and fireworks
The aurora guide · Coming 2027
The Northern
Lights
When, where and how to see them
Clear skies, solar activity and real darkness: the three things that decide whether you see the aurora, and how to stack the odds in your favour. From the forecast to the photograph.
Reading the forecastCloud cover, Kp and solar wind explained simply
Dark-sky spotsThe best places to wait, region by region
Camera & phone settingsSettings that work on a cold night
Tours or on your ownWhen a tour is worth it, and when it is not
Beyond the postcards
Discover the quiet Iceland.
Past the tour buses the island goes silent: fishing villages in the Westfjords, empty fjords in the east, and highland valleys where the only sound is the wind. The guide points you there too.
The maps
One island, mapped.
Pick a map: the Ring Road, the highlights, waterfalls, glaciers, hiking trails or the Golden Circle.
The guides
Four guides, every season.
The complete guide is out now. The summer, winter and northern lights editions are in preparation: leave your email below and we will tell you the day each one launches.
The complete guide
Discover Iceland
Regions, road trips & maps
Available now · €12.99
Summer edition
Discover Iceland
Midnight sun, highlands & hikes
Coming soon
Winter edition
Discover Iceland
Ice, snow & short days
Coming soon
Northern lights
Discover Iceland
When, where & how to see them
Coming soon
Free download
The Iceland Travel Checklist
A free two-page checklist for planning your trip, from landing at Keflavík to your last soak in a hot pool.
One email per new guide. Unsubscribe any time.
- Getting there: Keflavík & transfers
- Schengen entry rules before you fly
- Car hire, insurance & road.is
- Wind, rain & what to pack
- Beach, glacier & road safety
- Emergency number (112)
Part of the Discover series. Independent travel guides, one destination at a time.
The series
One island. Two seasons.
Iceland is a different country in July and in January. The complete guide covers the whole island all year, and three companion books go deeper: a summer edition, a winter edition and a guide to the northern lights.
Discover.
One destination at a time. Every road, every season.
Discover is an independent series of travel guides. Each book takes one place and covers it in depth: where to go and when, the routes that connect it all, honest practical advice and our own maps, with photography that makes you want to pack. Iceland is the latest destination in the series, alongside Hawaii, Indonesia, Australia and Singapore.
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The History of Hawaii
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Volcanoes of Indonesia
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The Coral Triangle
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The History of Bali
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Bali: The 100 Most Viral
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