For most tourists the plan to see Iceland involves a tour of Route 1, meaning going around the island and visiting the attractions of the so-called Golden Circle. It is totally understandable because this route is full of various places that allow you to experience nearly everything that is the most interesting in Iceland.
However, plenty of really magnificent places are located elsewhere, outside of this basic tour. The attractions of the interior of Iceland, which usually require a 4×4 vehicle, are described in a separate article (The best places of the interior of Iceland [Top10]). Here we will focus on the best places to see that require going off Route 1, leaving the Reykjanes peninsula and Golden Circle but that are available without off-road driving. You can reach these places in a regular car, a big campervan or even on a bike.
Westfjords peninsula
The Westfjords peninsula is all about wild, unspoilt Icelandic nature. Cliffs that are home to countless puffins, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls, the unique, huge, golden sandy beach and roads winding through majestic mountains are just a part of what awaits you there.
Access to Westfjords in winter depends completely on the weather. But in the summer there are no problems getting here. If you love to discover places off the beaten track and away from crowds, this place is perfect for you. Wild nature, enchanting landscapes… all this is truly unparalleled.
The most noteworthy places in Westfjords incluide:
- Dynjandi waterfall
- Latrabjard cliffs
- Raudisandur beach
- Drangsnes and Flokalundur hot springs
- Hornstrandir nature reserve
There are far more beautiful and exciting places there, but even for the greatest attractions of Westfjords you should plan two days. You can easily spend more time there, of course. See more details about this amazing in a separate article here: What to see in Westfjords.
Whale watching cruise from Húsavík
On a cutter
A whale watching trip is a unique opportunity to see blue whale, killer whale or humpback whale. No one can guarantee any sightings for sure but the tour operators usually offer a refund or a free ticket for another day if you end up not spotting any whales at all.
Such cruises also set out from Akureyri, the capital – Reykjavik – and Vestmanneyjar in the south, however, it is here near Husavik where the conditions and chances of seeing these largest of whales are the greatest. Find out all you need to know about the way these cruises are organized, how much they cost, and what all the different options are in this article: Whale watching cruises in Iceland – how, where, when, and how much.
Snaefellsnes peninsula
Budakirkja church
Apart from volcanoes, lava fields, waterfalls and amazing coastal rock formations, all quite common throughout Iceland, things that make Snaefellsnes specifically worth a visit include:
- Iceland’s most beautiful mountain: Kirkjufell
- The most charming church: Budakirkja
- Unusual rock crevice: Raudfeldsgja
- A beach with a permanent seal colony: Ytri Tunga
- Julius Verne’s cave: Vatnshellir
Snæfellsnes is not a big region but the sheer number of places that will leave you in awe is so huge that you may want to spend at least 2 days exploring the peninsula and plan to stay the night here Grundarfjordur or here Arnarstapi.
For more read this article: Atrakcje Snaefellsnes.
Hafrahvammagljúfur canyon
Hafrahvammagljufur
Being 200m tall and about 15 km long the canyon is truly impressive! This huge crevice – although it looks narrow from above – is considered to be one of the most spectacular canyons in Iceland. So despite it not being overly popular with tourists, the place is regularly visited by photographers and nature lovers (not just Icelandic) .
Another interesting thing about this canyon is a dam built right before it that feeds a very peculiar power plant. Moreover, if you love hiking, the Hafrahvammagljúfur area will reveal many picturesque hiking trails and a few really nice shelters to stay in.
Hafrahvammagljúfur is situated about 1 hour drive from the popular Hengifoss waterfall and some 1.5 hours from the town of Egilsstadir on Route 1. If you are driving a 4×4 car, Hafrahvammagljúfur is an absolute must-see on your way to Askja. See this article for more details about the canyon, power plant and other attractions in the area: Hafrahvammagljúfur – huge and beautiful canyon in eastern Iceland.
Surtshellir cave
Surtshellir is the longest lava cave in Iceland. And importantly, it is quite easy to access. Moreover, it is completely free to visit!
This natural lava tunnel leaves everyone who dares to enter it speechless owing to its impressive interior. The walls of its nearly 2 km long corridors are covered with dried black magma. The deepest section of the tunnel, the so-called Ice Cave, reveals amazing, unique ice formations and columns.
To reach the cave you’ll pass through Reykholt, a town surrounded by other special places worth visiting (In the vicinity of Reykholt). The last bit of the journey – the final 8 km – takes you on a gentle gravel road. You can take it easily in a 4×2 car (in the summer) but formally it is classified as a mountain road – F578 – so check whether and under what conditions you can enter it with your car.
Before going into Surtshellir remember to take a strong torch with you! If you have limited mobility, are with small kids or you just don’t feel like wandering into a completely wild tunnel, go to the neighboring Vidgelmir cave. You’ll need to pay for admission and book your tour in advance but the whole walk happens on walkways and convenient steps, plus the fee includes all the necessary equipment as well as a guided tour.
Haifoss waterfall
Haifoss waterfall
The viewpoint on top of the Háifoss canyon offers a breathtaking vista. The water tumbles down huge, vertical cliffs and crashes powerfully against the rocks below. Right next to this waterfall there is another, smaller one – Granni. Anyone who is up for it can go down to the foot of these waterfalls, however, this trek – as rewarding as it is – will take longer.
All the necessary details concerning Haifoss are described in this article: Haifoss – a beautiful waterfall off the beaten track.
Road 332 takes you to the parking area right next to the viewpoint at the top. It is not officially a mountain road but it is gravel and some of its sections are quite steep. Regular passenger cars will navigate it even without 4-wheel drive but a big campervan (a motorhome) may have difficulties.
You can see the famous Hekla volcano in the vicinity as well as a few other interesting places: Okolice wulkanu Hekla.
Vestmannaeyjar archipelago
view from Eldfell
To get to the island of Heimaey you need to take a short ferry ride. But while you are in the area, it is worth taking a cruise of the archipelago and more of its island. This will allow you to see the peculiar shapes and astonishing landscapes. Amazing rock formations, seals and the largest puffin colony create a very special, unique vibe of the area that you just can’t miss on your journey!
Asbyrgi canyon
Ásbyrgi is an exceptionally charming glacial canyon within the limits of the Vatnajökull National Park in the north-east of the country. If you plan to visit the famous, powerful Dettifoss waterfall, bear in mind that Asbyrgi is about 40 km farther north – precisely between the points where roads 862 and 864 join road 85. If you want to see Dettifoss from both sides, Asbyrgi will be on your way!
Asbyrgi has a unique horseshoe shape – 3,5 km long and over 1 km wide. It is a true natural wonder that was formed as a result of dramatic floods that took place thousands of years ago. The canyon (like many places in Iceland) is featured in several Icelandic myths and curious legends.
Ásbyrgi is one of just a handful of heavily forested areas in Iceland. Additionally, it has a “an island” called Eyjan – a huge rock formation – in the center and a pretty lake Botnstjörn near its southern border. The canyon is situated off the beaten track and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery so we encourage you to stay a bit longer and take a few hikes.
See details and maps here: Asbyrgi – a picturesque horseshoe-shaped canyon.
Hveravellir
Hveravellir hot springs
If you haven’t been to the interior of Iceland, this will be a perfect place to start. Both Hveravellir itself and the road that leads there are breathtaking and offer unparalleled views.
When you reach Hveravellir, you will see amazing geothermal area with plenty of steaming springs and bubbling little lakes. The hotel restaurant (unfortunately, not a very cheap one) offers delicious dishes made with recipes developed by famous chefs from Reykjavik. But the most exciting part of this place is the natural hot spring you can soak in. All this makes for an unforgettable experience that you can’t afford to miss.
You get to Hveravellir via road 35. Going from the south, not far beyond Gullfoss the asphalt ends and the road is gravel from that point on. However, unlike many maps claim (yes, I am talking to you, Google!), this is not officially a mountain road; it is still road 35, not F35. It is rather flat, with no steep sections or streams to cross. The last 2 km are on road F735, a mountain one, but it is not going to give you any trouble. Definitely, driving a motorhome here would be quite a challenge, but all other cars will get here easily. Just make sure whether your car rental company allows you to go on road F35 35 because it sometimes has a special status.
Keilir and Lambafellsgja
The Keilir volcano crater and the volcanic fissure called Lambafellsgja are located in western Iceland, beterrn Keflavik and Reykjavik. It takes just a small detour going from the airport towards Reykjavik to enjoy this amazing place.
Since 2021 this area is best described as situated 8 km to the north-east of Iceland’s latest attraction – the Geldingadalir volcano. Together with the nearby geothermal area of Krusyvik they make a very interesting “volcanic trio” not far from Grindavik.
As you walk along the narrow Lambafellsgja fissure with its high basalt walls, you will need a torch. It is good to make your way back on the top to be able to admire the vistas. You will see the very gist of raw, yet unimaginably enchanting Iceland.
The volcanic mountain of Keilir is characteristically conical in shape. Although it is not particularly tall, you can easily spot it on the horizon, towering over the landscape.
Kellir is the symbol of Reykjanes, and it takes 2-3 hours to climb to the top, from where you’ll have a delightful 360-degree view of the surrounding area.
Due to the proximity of the Geldingadalir eruption site, access to these places may be difficult or restricted. Additionally, despite seemingly short distance, Gelidingadalir and Krusyvik are accessed from the south – via roads 427 and 42, while Keilir and Lambafellsgja are reached from the north – via roads 41 and 420.
Find out more about these and other interesting places to see near Grindavik, including a mam, from this article: Grindavik – a charming town near Blue Lagoon.
Other hidden treasures of Iceland
The places described above are just a fraction of the beauty and wonder that you will experience in Iceland. Often the journey itself between all the different destinations is enchanting, with ever-changing landscape outside your car window. Fairytale-like, majestic vistas intertwine with the raw, wild Icelandic nature and climate, painting otherworldly images for you to admire.
There are many hidden treasures and gems that didn’t make it into this article because they are located in the interior of Iceland, which makes them available exclusively throughout the summer months and with an off-road vehicle (See here: Icelandic interior and highlands and The best places in the interior of Iceland [Top10]). Other attractions that are not on this list lie on the so-called Golden Circle (for instance Reykjadalur, Hrunalaug or Fridheimar) or have made this list Top attractions on Route 1 (+ 10 bonusów). Iceland has a myriad of such interesting, albeit less popular or spectacular places.
Definitely it makes sense to plan your trip to Iceland in a way that leaves you a bit of extra time to get off the main road or take a hiking trail to find yourself immersed in Iceland. This is a wonderful experience and the very essence Na pewno warto zaplanować swoją podróż na Islandię tak, by mieć trochę wolnego czasu na zjechanie z głównej drogi czy przejście się na piechotę pieszym szlakiem i pobycie choć kilka chwil sam na sam z Islandią. To wspaniałe przeżycie i chyba kwintesencja niezwykłego uroku tej wyspy.
