What to See in Iceland: 10 Unforgettable Things to Do
Wondering what to see in Iceland on your first visit? The difficult part is not finding something worth seeing. It is deciding what to prioritize.
Iceland brings together active volcanic landscapes, enormous glaciers, black sand beaches, geothermal areas and powerful waterfalls within a relatively small country. You can drive between many of its famous attractions, but you can also experience the scale of the landscape from the air, discovering places that roads simply cannot reach.
Whether you are visiting for a weekend or exploring the island for several weeks, these are some of the best things to do in Iceland.
1. See Iceland’s volcanoes from above
Volcanoes have shaped almost every part of Iceland. Craters, lava fields, geothermal valleys and mountains formed by past eruptions can be found across the country.
You can visit accessible volcanic sites by road or on foot, but a helicopter tour provides a completely different perspective. From above, you can see how lava has moved across the land, identify crater formations and understand the extraordinary scale of Iceland’s volcanic terrain.
Volcano Heli’s flights from Reykjavík explore volcanic landscapes, geothermal areas and remote terrain, with routes adapted to weather and local conditions. The Reykjanes Volcano Tour is a particularly direct way to experience Iceland’s volcanic landscape from the air.
It is one of the most memorable answers to the question: what is there to do in Iceland that you cannot experience anywhere else?
2. Explore Reykjavík on foot
Most journeys begin in Reykjavík, Iceland’s compact and colourful capital.
Walk along Laugavegur, visit the waterfront and admire Harpa Concert Hall’s distinctive glass architecture. From there, follow Rainbow Street towards Hallgrímskirkja, the church whose design was inspired by Icelandic basalt formations.
The city centre is easy to explore on foot, making Reykjavík a good option for your arrival day. It is also the departure point for many day trips and helicopter tours from Reykjavík into the surrounding landscapes.
3. Travel around the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle combines several of Iceland’s best-known natural attractions in one convenient route.
At Þingvellir National Park, you can walk through a landscape shaped by the movement of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Farther along the route, Strokkur regularly sends hot water into the air, while Gullfoss pours through a dramatic two-level canyon.
Kerið crater and its colourful lake are also worth adding to the journey.
Driving the Golden Circle takes most of a day. Seeing the region from a helicopter reveals another side of it, connecting its rifts, rivers, craters and geothermal areas within one vast landscape. Volcano Heli’s Þingvellir Rift and Geothermal Tour focuses specifically on this remarkable geological region.
4. Get close to Iceland’s waterfalls
Waterfalls are everywhere in Iceland, from narrow streams hidden inside canyons to huge walls of water visible from the main road.
On the South Coast, Seljalandsfoss is famous for the path leading behind the falling water. Nearby, Skógafoss creates an impressive curtain of spray beneath a high cliff. Gullfoss is the most famous waterfall on the Golden Circle, while countless lesser-known falls can be found in the Highlands.
From the ground, you experience their sound and power. From the air, you can follow the rivers feeding them and see waterfalls hidden far beyond the road network. The Waterfalls and Canyons helicopter tour offers an aerial perspective over some of these remote landscapes.
5. Walk on a glacier
Around 10% of Iceland is covered by glaciers, making ice an essential part of the country’s identity.
Popular activities include guided glacier hikes, snowmobile tours and seasonal ice-cave expeditions. Never walk onto a glacier without an experienced guide: the ice is constantly moving and may conceal deep crevasses.
A helicopter expedition offers another way to experience these frozen landscapes. Depending on the tour and conditions, flights can cross glaciers or include remote stopovers, revealing blue ice, deep cracks and enormous ice caps from a perspective few travellers see.
For travellers who want to make glaciers a central part of their experience, Volcano Heli offers a dedicated Glacier Expedition as well as a Volcano and Glacier Tour combining two of Iceland’s defining landscapes.
6. Discover the South Coast
The South Coast is one of the best regions for first-time visitors wondering what to see in Iceland.
Its major attractions include Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, the Sólheimajökull glacier and the coastal village of Vík. Reynisfjara is known for its black volcanic shore, basalt columns and sea stacks.
The ocean here can be dangerous, so visitors should stay well back from the water and pay attention to local warnings.
Although a road trip is the most common way to explore the coast, flying above it reveals the contrast between glaciers, green valleys, volcanic beaches and the Atlantic Ocean. The South Coast Riverbraids Tour explores this part of Iceland from a completely different perspective.
7. Visit Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is filled with icebergs that have separated from the nearby glacier. Some eventually drift towards the ocean, where waves shape them before depositing pieces of ice on Diamond Beach.
The contrast between clear or blue ice and black volcanic sand makes this one of Iceland’s most photographed locations.
It is a long drive from Reykjavík. Travellers with limited time can consider an extended helicopter journey, transforming hours on the road into a scenic flight across some of Iceland’s most remote landscapes.
Volcano Heli offers a dedicated Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach helicopter tour for travellers who want to experience this remarkable region from the air.
8. Experience Iceland’s geothermal waters
After exploring waterfalls, glaciers and windswept coastlines, relaxing in warm geothermal water is difficult to resist.
The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most famous spa, while Sky Lagoon is conveniently located near Reykjavík. Around the country, you will also find local swimming pools, geothermal baths and more secluded hot springs.
For an even more adventurous experience, selected Volcano Heli expeditions combine aerial sightseeing with remote stopovers in Icelandic nature, away from the most crowded tourist routes. The Hot Springs and Glaciers Tour combines geothermal landscapes with some of Iceland’s dramatic frozen terrain.
9. Search for the Northern Lights or enjoy the Midnight Sun
What you can see in Iceland depends heavily on the season.
Dark nights from autumn through early spring create opportunities to observe the Northern Lights, although sightings are never guaranteed. Summer offers the opposite experience: exceptionally long days and the Midnight Sun, allowing visitors to continue exploring late into the evening.
Helicopter operations also depend on visibility, wind and weather. Flexibility is therefore valuable when planning any flight or outdoor activity in Iceland.
Travellers visiting during the warmer months can also explore seasonal experiences such as the Summer Glacier and Highlands Expedition, while winter visitors may be interested in the Winter Ice Cave Expedition.
10. Take a road trip beyond the busiest routes
The Ring Road connects many of Iceland’s principal regions and is ideal for travellers with enough time to explore.
A shorter journey can focus on the South Coast or Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Longer itineraries can continue towards East Iceland, the north or the remote Westfjords.
Driving allows you to stop whenever the landscape catches your attention. A helicopter gives you access to another Iceland entirely: mountain ridges, glacier valleys, isolated geothermal areas and Highland terrain far from paved roads.
For remote landscapes that are difficult to appreciate from the road, experiences such as the Highland Explorer, Highlands and Riverbraids Tour and Glacier River Systems Tour reveal the extraordinary scale of Iceland’s interior.
What is the best way to experience Iceland?
There is no single best way to see Iceland. Walk through Reykjavík, drive the Golden Circle, stand beside a waterfall and relax in geothermal water.
Then, when you want to understand how all these landscapes connect, see them from above.
Volcano Heli operates sightseeing flights and helicopter tours in Iceland from Reykjavík, ranging from shorter volcanic flights to extended journeys over glaciers, waterfalls, geothermal regions and the Icelandic Highlands.
Travellers looking for a more flexible itinerary can also explore private helicopter charters in Iceland, including tailor-made journeys and point-to-point flights.
Because every flight is influenced by Iceland’s changing weather, routes may be adjusted to provide the safest and best possible experience. That unpredictability is part of exploring a living, constantly changing island.
Ready to see Iceland from a completely different perspective? Explore Volcano Heli’s helicopter tours from Reykjavík and discover what lies beyond the road.