Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, makes the easiest base for a first trip. Hallgrímskirkja, the city’s landmark church, sits at Hallgrímstorg, and the Sky Lagoon geothermal pool is about 45 to 50 minutes by car from Keflavík airport (KEF). Add Þingvellir National Park, the waterfalls of the south coast and the whale boats of Akureyri, and the country suits travelers who want hot water, big views and short drives between them.
Timing needs a little care. The River Öxará has flooded at Þingvellir. Most campsites shut after summer, and the winter months bring only a few hours of sun a day. Check campsite status before you go.
At a glance
- Capital sights: Hallgrímskirkja, Perlan, Harpa concert hall, Tjörnin and Mount Esja
- From Keflavík airport (KEF) to Sky Lagoon: about 45 to 50 minutes by car
- Entry for U.S. citizens: no visa for up to 90 days
- Travel advisory: Level 1, Exercise normal precautions
- Lagoon water at Secret Lagoon: 100 to 104°F (38 to 40°C) all year
- Mildest of the months with data: April, high 44°F (7°C)
Where is Iceland and what is it like?
Iceland’s capital is Reykjavík, and its address list starts at Hallgrímstorg, 101 Reykjavík. Keflavík airport lies about 45 to 50 minutes by car from the Kársnes peninsula in Kópavogur, Greater Reykjavík. From the center of Reykjavík, Kársnes is about 10 minutes away by car or taxi.
The city center runs from Aðalstræti up the hill to the end of Laugavegur, the main shopping street. Mount Esja, the Pearl (Perlan) and the pond called Tjörnin are the landmarks people point to. Þingvellir National Park has its address at 806 Selfoss.
Some of the history is easy to touch. Hallgrímskirkja is both a parish church and a national sanctuary. Secret Lagoon, near Flúðir, was made in 1891, and the National Museum of Iceland, at Suðurgata 41 in Reykjavík, keeps the country’s cultural and historical heritage.
Where to go in Iceland
Reykjavík
The city center is compact and works well on foot. A self-guided walking tour can take in the top sights from Hallgrímskirkja church to Harpa concert hall, and Laugavegur runs through the middle of it. This suits travelers who want museums, shopping and an evening out in one place.
The National Museum of Iceland is at Suðurgata 41. Laugavegur’s bars, clubs and restaurants open in the evenings, so plan the museum for the day and the street for after dark.
Þingvellir
Þingvellir National Park is at 806 Selfoss. The Service Center is at Leirar, close to the camping grounds, and it is where camping and angling permits are issued on arrival.
The park suits hikers, divers and anglers, and it draws school visits from around the world. Check the status of the Almannagjá trail and the River Öxará before heading out, since the river has flooded.
Flúðir and Laugarvatn
Two geothermal stops sit in the countryside. Secret Lagoon is at Hvammsvegur, 845 Flúðir, and Fontana is at Hverabraut 1, 840 Laugarvatn.
Both suit anyone who wants a soak away from the capital.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss plunges over the cliffs of Vestur-Eyjafjall in the Seljalandsá river. It sits on road number 1 and is one of the highest waterfalls in the country. It is an easy stop for anyone driving the south coast.
Gljúfrabúi, about 131 feet (40 m) high, stands close by on the land of the abandoned farm Hamragarðar.
Vík and Dyrhólaey
Katla Visitor Centre is at Víkurbraut 28, in the historical Brydebúð building, and Hafnleysa Maritime Museum is at Víkurbraut 17.
Dyrhólaey is a promontory about 394 feet (120 m) high, rising out of the black sand just west of Vík. A small, square, orange-roofed lighthouse built in 1927 stands on the highest point of the headland. The turnoff from Route 1 is well signposted.
What is there to do in Iceland?
Hallgrímskirkja tower and organ concerts
Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church in Iceland and holds the largest organ in the country. The tower is 240 feet (73 m) high and gives a panoramic view of Reykjavík, the surrounding mountains and the ocean.
Organ concerts are held at noon on the first Saturday of every month from September to June. A service in English takes place on the last Sunday of every month from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Pick one of those slots and you hear the church at its fullest.
That makes a good indoor pairing for a rainy day and suits families as well as museum lovers.
Secret Lagoon, Fontana and Sky Lagoon
Sky Lagoon is a geothermal lagoon by the sea, with an optional seven-step ritual.
Secret Lagoon has three pools: a main pool, a hot paddling pool and a cold pool. The water comes from the hot springs Vaðmálahver, Básahver and Litli Geysir and stays at 100 to 104°F (38 to 40°C) all year. A walking path around the pool lets visitors watch the boiling, gushing springs. Several of those springs are naturally 212°F (100°C) and not for entry, so stay on the path.
Fontana offers geothermal baths and a geothermal bakery where rye bread is baked in a geyser. Secret Lagoon is said to be the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, made in 1891 at Hverahólmi near Flúðir. A soak suits almost every traveler, while anyone who dislikes crowds will prefer the countryside pools to the city edge.
Seljalandsfoss and Dyrhólaey
You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss, so waterproof layers are a sensible bag choice. The stop works for photographers and for families who want a short walk.
Dyrhólaey is one of the most reliable puffin spots in South Iceland, with birds nesting in the cliffs from late April to mid-August. Go in that window for the birds. Outside it, the lighthouse and the black sand still make the climb worthwhile.
Visitors can also hike up Reynisfjall Mountain for views over the Atlantic and bird cliffs. At Fjaðrárgljúfur, hiking up the canyon along or in the river is strictly forbidden due to breeding grounds, so keep to the viewing areas.
Glaciers, lava and the Katla exhibition
Mýrdalsjökull glacier offers guided glacier hikes, year-round ice cave explorations, glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling near Katla volcano. The year-round ice caves are the option that works in the months when the weather is rough.
At the Katla centre in Vík there is a free exhibition about Katla volcano and the Geopark.
The exhibition costs nothing and fits a gray day. Glacier trips suit active travelers.
Whale watching from Akureyri
Whale Watching Akureyri offers both a specially designed whale watching ship and custom-built RIB speedboats. The ship takes 200 passengers, and the RIB speedboats take small groups of 12 passengers each with a guide and a specially trained captain.
Choose the ship for a roomier trip and the RIB for a smaller group and a closer feel. Dress warmly for either.
If you want city culture, start in Reykjavík. For hot water, head to the lagoons. For waterfalls, puffins and glacier trips, take the south coast. Those who dislike hiking or boats will find the museums and lagoons the easier fit.
Where to stay in Iceland
Reykjavík is the base for museums, concerts and nightlife. Flúðir and Laugarvatn suit travelers who want a stay beside a geothermal pool, and Vík puts the south coast sights close at hand. Travelers on a camping trip have around 200 registered campsites to choose from.
Most campsites are open from the beginning of June to the end of August or mid-September. Camping outside organised campsites in tent trailers, tent campers, caravans or camper vans is illegal without landowner permission. A traditional camping tent may be pitched for one night on uncultivated land along public routes in inhabited areas. Permission of the landowner is required for more than three tents, and in Vatnajökull National Park groups with ten or more tents must ask the ranger.
Since January 1, 2025, hotels and guesthouses with a license in categories II to IV charge a lodging tax of 800 kr. per lodging tax unit. Campsites and parking spots for motorhomes, trailers, pop-up campers and caravan sites charge 400 kr. Culture Night draws more than 100,000 guests to the city center, and 14,646 people registered for Reykjavíkurmaraþon this year, so book Reykjavík rooms early when an event is on.
When should you go to Iceland?
Of the months with weather data, April is the mildest and brightest. For puffins at Dyrhólaey, plan from late April.
January is the month to skip if you hate short days. The high is 38°F (3°C), sunshine averages about 0.7 hours a day and 15 days bring rain. Winter suits those who come for the lagoons and the city rather than the sights outdoors.
Summer camping runs from June, when most campsites open.
What to know before visiting Iceland
According to the U.S. State Department, U.S. citizens need no visa for up to 90 days in Iceland for tourism or business.
- Passports must have 3 months’ validity beyond the date of departure from the Iceland/Schengen Area, and 6 months is recommended. Two blank pages, proof of funds and an onward or return ticket are required.
- Iceland does not accept the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa-free entry unless it has 3 months beyond the planned date of departure.
- No vaccinations are required, and Iceland is generally a safe destination for travelers.
- In Reykjavík you may not park a vehicle on a crosswalk or within 16 feet (5 m) of it, and you may not stop or park at a bus stop within 49 feet (15 m) of the sign.
- On the road, a vehicle may only be stopped or parked on the right-hand side. A stop of less than three minutes to let passengers in or out or to load cargo is not considered parking.
Booking Iceland for November: what to know
The Grindavík campsite is open from mid-March into November. Check site status for Þingvellir before you set a day there.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- travel.state.gov (https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/iceland.html), checked 2026-10-31
- south.is (https://www.south.is/afangastadaaaetlun/moya/toy/index/place/seljalandsfoss), checked 2026-10-30
- visitreykjavik.is (https://visitreykjavik.is/service/hallgrimskirkja-church-tower), checked 2026-10-30
- skylagooniceland.is (https://www.skylagooniceland.is/it/tickets), checked 2026-10-30
- secretlagoon.is (https://secretlagoon.is/?lang=is%2F), checked 2026-10-30
- reykjavik.is (https://reykjavik.is/en/parking/parking-violations), checked 2026-10-30
- thjodminjasafn.is (https://www.thjodminjasafn.is/en), checked 2026-10-30