What are the top 10 attractions on Route 1 in Iceland?

The Myvatn area, Jokulsarlon and the Diamond Beach, the Reykjadalur hot river, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, the black beaches and cliffs around Vik, the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, Fjadrargljufur canyon, Vidimyrarkirkja church, Skogafoss waterfall and the Solheimajokull glacier.

What is worth seeing near Route 1, off the ring road itself?

Ten more places are worth the detour: a whale watching cruise from Husavik, the trek to Glymur waterfall, Dettifoss, Hafrahvammagljufur canyon, the puffin colony at Hafnarholmi, Haifoss waterfall and the Vidgelmir lava cave. Three of them are whole regions rather than single spots and need a day or more each: the Snaefellsnes peninsula, the Westfjords and the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago.

How much time do you need to drive Iceland's Route 1?

A week to ten days is enough to circle the island on Route 1 and stop at its main attractions. Add a day or two for Reykjavik, and another day or more for each of the bigger side trips - the Snaefellsnes peninsula, the Westfjords or Vestmannaeyjar.

Which Route 1 attractions need a drive on a gravel road?

Two of the ones described here. Fjadrargljufur canyon is about 3 km, or 2 miles, of gravel off Route 1. Haifoss waterfall is another 2-3 km, or 1-2 miles, of gravel and rather steep - only motorhomes tend to struggle with the parking lot at the top. Hafrahvammagljufur canyon lies almost 100 km, or 60 miles, inland, but the road there is paved and no 4x4 is needed.

Can you walk on a glacier on Iceland's Route 1?

Yes, at Solheimajokull on the south coast, about 30 km or 20 miles northwest of Vik. Guides run three-hour hikes there all year round for around $110 per person, gear and a short training included. Walking onto a glacier tongue on your own, without experience and equipment, is dangerous.

Top 10 Attractions on Iceland's Route 1

Route 1 or the Ring Road, is Iceland’s main road. It circles the country so following it (and some of its branches) is the most popular way to go round the island. If you want to make the most of your time here and you only happen to have a week or up to 10 days, driving along Route 1 is a great idea to begin with.

The Ring Road starts and ends in the capital – Reykjavik. As you plan your trip you may want to schedule a day or two to look around the capital city. You can easily throw in some nice places to see near Reykjavik, but not quite on Route 1. These are the so-called Golden Circle, the area around Grindavik (Reykjanes peninsula) and the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Things that require more effort, more time and a longer detour from Route 1 are Westfjords and – accessible only in summer – the Icelandic interior. All these places and activities are described for you in separate articles.

If you like it better, all these places are also covered in two videos on our YouTube channel. The original voice over is in Polish, but they are both subtitled in English. The first one is right here below and the other one you’ll find further down (and on the YT channel). They say that a video is worth a thousand images 😉 so we invite you warmly to watch these.

Video: Top 10 Places to See on the Ring Road in Iceland.

And here’s the map of all these top spots. Places from the Golden Circle, Westfjords and Snaefellsnes are also marked there. You can save the map in your Google profile by clicking it first to activate it and then clicking again on the small star to the right of the map’s title. This way you can access it later at any moment by going to Google Maps > Your Places > Maps

Map: Top 10 Attractions on Route 1, Iceland.

Map: Top 10 Attractions on Route 1 [+ extras].

You can also go to the list of all articles on the attractions of Route 1: Things to see on Route 1.

Myvatn area

Myvatn (in Icelandic: lake of flies) is located in the northeast of the country and is the fourth largest lake in Iceland. It is home to many bird species and it can surprise visitors with peculiar water color. But it is not the lake itself that is the main attraction here. What’s even more interesting are the plentiful exciting geological sites in the area. Many of them are unique on a global scale!

Most of these attractions are on the eastern shore of lake Myvatn, however, some can be found on its northern and southern shores. Some of the major ones include pseudocraters (rootless cones) Skutustadagigar, a huge, peculiar lava field Dimmuborgir, called the Dark Fortress; a tuff crater/volcano Hverfjall; a crater Krafla and lava field called Leirhnjukur as well as the geothermal area of Namafjall Hverir. All this is complete with the second largest – after the Blue Lagoon – geothermal pool complex in Iceland – Myvatn Nature Baths.

The Myvatn area is an absolute must-see. Read more about the geological history of the region and about the lake itself and its sights.

Jökulsárlón and the Diamond Beach

Jokulsarlon

Jökulsárlón lake, (in Icelandic: a glacial lagoon), is a true gem. It is a place where a glacier meets a lagoon and small icebergs “tear away” from it (the glacier is calving) and through a narrow pass got into the ocean. On the way these small icebergs melt and crack allowing the waves to take these smaller pieces of ice to the Diamond Beach – right on the opposite side of the road and the pass. The way the sun reflects off these crystalline chunks of ice scattered around black volcanic sand creates a truly enchanting landscape.

Read more about this magical place: Jokulsarlon lagoon and the Diamond Beach.

In winter there are no cruises on the lagoon, but the very same spot is the starting point for 2-3 hour trips to the greatest wonder of Icelandic winter: ice caves, or more precisely glacier caves. They are carved out by rivers running under the glacier and lit from above through a ceiling of clear ice. After the northern lights, this is the single best reason to come here in winter.

Reykjadalur hot river

Reykjadalur

Reykjadalur (Steam or Smokey Valley) is full of hot springs and boiling mud. It is surprising that the place is often overlooked in trip plans and guides. And it is totally worth seeing, not least because of the hot stream flowing through it. A nice dip in a natural mountain creek with invigorating fresh air around you is a must-experience on your trip to Iceland.

See the detailed article here: Reykjadalur – a hot dip in a mountain stream.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is just over 60 meters (200 ft) tall, so its size is not what makes it special. However, it is one of the very few waterfalls that offers you a peek behind the water curtain, where lies a big cavern that is easily accessible as long as there’s no ice. Please don’t forget your waterproof gear though because the “spray” can be quite wet. There is another nice waterfall nearby – Gljúfrabúi. Read about all these sites in the article here Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui – two beauties.

Black beaches and cliffs around Vik

The view from Dyrholaey

Vik and Myrdal is the southernmost town of the main island of Iceland. Its biggest attractions include the Reynisfjara and Kirkjufjara beaches, the Dyrhólaey peninsula and the view they all offer of the amazing sea stacks – Reynisdrangar. The vista (in season) comes with colonies of incredibly cute puffins.

A bit farther away, but still close, you can find “Yoda’s cave” (Hjorleifshofdi), a DC-10 plane wreck on Solheimasandur beach, the Solheimajokull glacier and Thakgil canyon (though this one takes a longer detour and is not really on Route 1).

You can learn more about all the attractions of the area from these articles: Vik and nearby attractions

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Svartifoss waterfall framed by basalt columns

Svartifoss with basalt columns

Skaftafell is a wilderness reserve in the southeastern part of Iceland and belongs to the Vatnajökull National Park. Skaftafell’s major attractions include waterfalls – the beautiful Svartifoss framed by basalt columns and Morsarfoss (230 m / 755 ft), the tallest one in the country. Svartifoss is rather easy to reach on foot and you can admire it up close. However, the trail to Morsarfoss is longer and you still see it from afar (and even reaching that place takes a few hours).
While visiting Skaftafell you absolutely need to go to the Svínafellsjökull glacier (you can even walk on top of it for a little bit) and the remnants of Skeiðará bridge, destroyed by the flood that was caused by a nearby volcanic eruption.

Find out more about all the tourist attractions in the area and very nice hiking trails you can follow: Svartifoss – a waterfall in the Skaftafell nature reserve

Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon (aka Justin Bieber’s)

Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is often, and wrongly, forgotten and overlooked by various guides. It is over 1 km (0.6 mi) long and 100 m (330 ft) wide and offers one of the most picturesque vistas on the whole island. What you see both from the top and the bottom is truly breathtaking, so do consider it while planning your trip. To get there you need to take a detour of some 3 km (2 mi) on a gravel road.

The canyon has been attracting far more tourists since it appeared in Justin Bieber’s video for “I’ll Show You”, and it has been marketed as the “Justin Bieber Canyon” ever since.

Víðimýrarkirkja church

The small graveyard behind Vidimyrarkirkja church

Cemetery behind Vidimyrarkirkja church

A historic building of the church in Víðimýri is one of the few traditional Icelandic churches preserved to this day. Its special feature is the turf roof, mostly covered in grass. The church is located in northern Iceland and dates back to 1834. It is maintained by the National Museum of Iceland. Its original structure has been fully preserved, which makes it one of the most valuable exhibits of 19th century Icelandic architecture.

Skógafoss waterfall

Another top waterfall on Route 1 is Skógafoss. It is a perfect combination of impressive (though not the largest) size, beautiful shape and great location. There are metal steps that lead to the top of the waterfall. The view of the surrounding area and tumbling water is truly amazing and something you will long remember.

Sólheimajökull glacier

Hikers on Solheimajokull

The last amazing attraction on Route 1 is a close encounter with the icy part of “The Island of Fire and Ice” – the Sólheimajökull glacier.

Sólheimajökull is a part, or rather a tongue, of a larger glacier – Mýrdalsjökull. It is on the Iceland South Coast and the nearby parking lot is about 30 km (20 mi) northwest of the town of Vik.

While there’s plenty of glacier tongues you can see on the South Coast and some of them have a parking lot right next to the tongue’s end (like Svínafellsjökull or Skaftafellsjökull), it is very dangerous to walk on the glacier without extensive experience and proper gear. And so those other places are nice to see, but if you want to get on a tour and actually walk the glacier (and do so safely), you’re best off at Sólheimajökull.

Professional guides lead 3-hour hikes to the Sólheimajökull year-round and it is certainly the best chance to see – or rather: meet – the might of a glacier. A glacier might not look like much from afar, but once you’re on it, it’s an unforgettable experience.

You can book your tour here: Solheimajokull 3-Hours Glacier Hike. It’s about $110 per person and all the necessary gear (and some training) is included.

Extra: Top 10 attractions close to Route 1:

If you have a bit more time to explore and can afford to stop or take a detour, here are the most interesting additional places to see once you are on the Ring Road.

As you’ll notice, some of the places on this part of the list are not individual points of interest, but rather larger areas, full of attractions. We place them at the end of the list exactly because they are not individual spots to see, but rather require a 1, 2 or maybe even a 3-day detour to visit all the interesting places there. You still want to consider them for your trip.

And again – if you’d rather watch it, then read it, or if you’re interested in seeing more about them, there’s a dedicated video on our YT channel which we link below. It’s Polish audio, but subtitled in English – shouldn’t give you issues.

Video: 10 Top Most Important Places NEARBY Route 1 in Iceland.

Húsavík – whale watching cruise

Husavik port

If you find yourself in northern Iceland, whale watching is a must. A boat trip to see the whales is a rare and unique occasion to admire these enormous and majestic creatures. The port in Húsavík, which is the starting point of whale watching cruises, is about 50 km (30 mi) north of Route 1.

Whale watching cruises in Iceland – how, where, when and how much

Glymur – a trek to Iceland’s second tallest waterfall

Glymur waterfall

Glymur is Iceland’s second tallest waterfall and the tallest one you can see up close quite easily (which is really impressive!). The hike takes you through rivers, there are some uphill sections and a bit of rock climbing. You get to see breathtaking landscapes the whole length of the hike, which is highly motivating.

The parking lot at the start of the trail is fairly close to Route 1, but the whole hike takes about 4 hours, so a good part of the day is consumed. This can be perfectly combined with a visit to the Víðgelmir cave and the Reykholt area, as described further down.

Dettifoss waterfall

Dettifoss is one of the most “energy-rich” waterfalls in Europe. The mass of its tumbling water is unimaginable, so being able to see this wonder with your own eyes leaves a big impression. Dettifoss is also unique for its grayish water that contains a lot of dust. Learn more here: Dettifoss – Iceland’s most powerful waterfall.

Dettifoss usually carries murky, grayish water, as its power and speed pick up a lot of sand from the river bed, so it is not very pleasing to the eye. You can however see it from both sides – east and west – and compare the views. And when you go from one to the other you can stop on your way to visit the Ásbyrgi canyon – a hugely interesting place up north.

Hafrahvammagljúfur canyon

Hafrahvammagljufur

To get here one needs to turn off Route 1 and go nearly 100 km (60 mi) inland. But the road that takes you there is asphalt and you don’t need a 4×4 at all. It is the most massive canyon in Iceland, and it lies in the east of the country. You can see it quite well from the parking lot at the end of the asphalt, but the view is better still if you drive on to the next parking lot, already on the F910 road, and take a short walk from there. Read this article for more information, including the power plant on top of the canyon: Hafrahvammagljúfur – a massive and beautiful canyon in eastern Iceland.

Interestingly, it is one of the canyons that feed a nearby hydroelectric power plant, the largest in Iceland. Its surprising design and somewhat intimidating scale are worth seeing too.

Puffin colony at Hafnarholmi

Hafnarholmi is a tiny peninsula just off the harbor of Borgarfjordur Eystri, in eastern Iceland. Its claim to fame is a large puffin colony that chose this spot as its home ground. The birds are not only numerous, but also can be seen from a very close distance, which is not always the case in other puffin top spots. Some tourists even claim that this is THE #1 place to visit puffins on Iceland.

You can expect the colony to be here from mid-April to late August.

Haifoss waterfall

Haifoss is not far from the Hekla volcano and is over 120 m (390 ft) tall, which makes it one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls. To see it you need to go off Route 1 and drive some 2-3 km (1-2 mi) on gravel (a rather steep section), but only motorhomes can have a difficulty reaching the parking lot at the top. Haifoss – a beauty of a waterfall off the beaten track.

Alternatively you can park near Gjain and hike on a mostly flat land all the way to the foot of the waterfall.

Víðgelmir cave

Vidgelmir Cave

On the western stretch of Route 1, but on its inner, eastern side and close to the village of Reykholt, lies the Kalmanstunga area. Its single most interesting spot is the Víðgelmir cave. Like almost every cave in Iceland it is the inside of an old lava tube – the pipe the lava once drained through on its way from the eruption site toward the ocean. Look around at the entrance and you will see that nearly the whole valley is covered by the lava flow the cave runs inside.

If you have an extra day, the area around it is worth it. Close by you will also find Surtshellir (the longest lava cave in Iceland, and still completely wild), the Grábrók crater, Deildartunguhver – the largest geothermal spring in Iceland, the Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls, and the Krauma Spa. See all the articles about Reykholt and its attractions.

You can book a cave tour here: Cave Explorer.

Snaefellsnes peninsula

Kirkjufell mountain

Nicknamed “miniature Iceland”, Snaefellsnes peninsula is situated in the west of the country, north of Reykjavik. This rather small region is full of exciting places to visit, so it makes sense to plan some time there, even 2 to 3 days. One of its top sights is the mountain called Kirkjufell; the delightful black church Budakirkja; the black beach of Djupalonssandur; the Jules Verne cave Vatnshellir; the seal colony Ytri Tunga; the enchanting rocks of Arnarstapi; the huge rock crevice (canyon?) called Raudfeldsgja and many, many more.
For all articles about Snaefellsnes and its attractions go here: The greatest attractions of Snaefellsnes.

Westfjords peninsula

Latrabjarg

Westfjords peninsula is commonly admired for its breathtaking views. Iceland’s austerity combined with its unquestionable beauty hits you full on in this place. When you go to Westfjords, don’t forget to visit such places as the Hornstrandir reserve (where you can encounter arctic foxes), the 400-meter (1,300-foot) cliffs of Látrabjarg (home to massive puffin colonies) and the powerful Dynjandi waterfall. What to see in Westfjords.

Vestmannaeyjar archipelago

Eldfell volcano

This archipelago sits 9 km (5.5 mi) off Iceland’s southern coast. One of its many exciting sites is Eldfell – the world’s youngest volcano. These islands also have the world’s largest puffin colony. The archipelago includes an island called Surtsey – one of the youngest ones in the world – that was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more information, see this article: Vestmannaeyjar – an archipelago off the south coast of Iceland.

Summary and a photo gallery of Route 1 attractions

It is impossible to list every attraction Iceland has to offer, but we hope this article fills your drive around the island with great places and gets you out of the car as often as possible. Wonders of nature at every step and landscapes that change with every bend of the road are what will keep Iceland in your memory for a long time.