The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a famous driving route that’s only a short distance from Reykjavik. You can see many of Iceland’s natural wonders om the Golden Circle, including Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir National Park), Geysir, and Gulfoss.
Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the site of Iceland’s first parliament. It’s also the only place in the world where two individual tectonic plates appear above the ground.
Geysir is a site with several geysers, although the largest one (“Geysir”) rarely erupts anymore. A slightly smaller one, Strokkur, erupts once every two to ten minutes. You’ll want to stick around to witness this giant blast of hot water erupt high into the sky.
Last, Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most magnificent and stunning waterfalls. There’s a path alongside the waterfall and several viewpoints along the way.
Black Sand Beach and Skogafoss
Trek about two hours outside of the city to check out this local beach where lava has made the sand as black as coal and majestic rock formations jut into the sky. Almost next door is Skogafoss, another epic waterfall. Make sure you take the hike up the stairs to climb to the top – the view of the ocean is next level.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a miniature version of Iceland that you can easily see in a day. This region is home to Kirkjufell, Iceland’s most photographed mountain. In addition, a large part of the peninsula lies within the Snæfellsjökull National Park, with volcanic rocks and stark landscapes at every turn. At the Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, venture into a lush gorge inside a massive cavern.