Here Are Iceland's Most Beautiful Highlights!

We are in Iceland, the small island in the European North Atlantic, and yet we sometimes feel as if we are on another planet. During your trip, you can look forward to diverse landscapes that at times appear more than surreal. Where else do floating icebergs and quirky rock formations meet hot springs and bubbling mud pots?

A trip to Iceland is a great idea year-round. The volcanic island lies just below the Arctic Circle, but is influenced climate-wise by the mild Gulf Stream. This means that winter rarely brings sub-zero temperatures, though during summer, maximum temperatures around 57°F still do not make it truly warm. Since it's likely that you will spend most of your time during your Iceland trip outdoors, the best time to visit is in the summer. From June to August, it's not only the warmest, but it also rains comparatively less than in the other months.

The easiest way to get to Europe's second-largest island state is, of course, by plane. If you have a bit more time, you can also take the ferry to Iceland. This means traveling from Denmark over several days to the land of volcanoes. Taking a ferry is particularly convenient if you want to make a short stopover in the Faroe Islands.

Since Iceland is about the size of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg combined but offers at least twice as much variety, a road trip is worthwhile. It's best to rent a 4x4 vehicle right at the airport, allowing you to explore the country at your own pace!

To make your journey through Iceland unforgettable, this article presents the best highlights that Iceland has to offer. We reveal, among other things, which attractions are particularly worth visiting on your itinerary through Iceland and where you can lose yourself in the fascinating solitude of Icelandic nature.

In southern Iceland, you can expect a special highlight: the natural pool Seljavallalaug. This small hidden bath was long considered one of the insider tips among Iceland's attractions, as only locals ventured here until a few years ago. Nowadays, the outdoor swimming pool is attracting more and more tourists. It's best to head out early in the morning, so you have the natural pool to yourself and can relax in the lukewarm water amid the surrounding hills and waterfalls.

Iceland is not only the land of volcanoes but also the land of waterfalls. A truly beautiful waterfall is Skogafoss, located a bit off the Ring Road near the town of Vík. It's not even the height of 197 feet that makes Skogafoss so impressive, but its width: Here, water thunders down over a span of 82 feet!

In the midst of the black void lies this extraordinary sight, which you can reach after a short hike. The plane wreck has been lying in the midst of a vast expanse of black lava sand for over 40 years and provides goosebumps in a completely different way. In fact, all occupants survived the crash in November 1973, although the cause of the accident remains unclear to this day-it's suspected that simply the fuel ran out.

The Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is still one of the insider tips among Iceland's highlights. This enormous canyon is best discovered on a short walk along its edge, where at the end, a gigantic waterfall plunges 328 feet into the depths. By the way: On the way to the canyon, you pass a moss-covered lava field called Eldhraun, a landscape that could well belong on another planet.

The Vatnajökull, covering 3,110 square miles, is Iceland's largest glacier and truly impressive. You have a wonderful view of it from the Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon. Simply park your car at the small visitor center, walk up the hill, and the most beautiful glacier in Iceland will be before you. If you then follow the Ring Road a bit further, you will reach the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Here, you must definitely head to the beach, as ice chunks from the glacier wash up on it-a truly quirky sight.

A special adventure awaits you in the wild Westfjords while kayaking. You'll discover the rugged coastline from the water within just a few hours or even several days-a truly exciting perspective. You can expect lonely nature, high cliffs, and plenty of steaming springs along the shore. With a bit of luck, you might even spot some whales!

The small island in Northern Europe is not only fascinating during the day but also at night. Since there are hardly any cities or larger settlements to drown out the night sky with electric light, the starry sky here shows its most breathtaking side. And with some luck, especially in the winter months, you can observe the Aurora Borealis-the Northern Lights: When the night sky turns green, purple, and turquoise, you'll definitely be left breathless.

Extra tip: At the Bubble Hotel, the night becomes an unforgettable adventure!

Even if you don't interact much with horses back home, you shouldn't miss out on a ride on an Icelandic horse during your trip to Iceland. You don't even need much riding experience; Icelandic horses are naturally calm and very sociable animals. During a several-hour horseback tour, you'll get to know the land from a completely different perspective. For an even greater sense of freedom and adventure, you can ride for several days, reaching areas you would never reach by car. There are many tour operators available.

In the Westfjords, not only does kayaking offer unlimited adventure thrills, but also a snowshoe hike. As soon as you strap on your snowshoes and embark on a hike lasting up to five hours, everything else around you suddenly becomes unimportant. It's just about you, the breathtaking landscape, and the untouched blanket of snow stretching endlessly in front of you-pure madness!

As soon as you land in Reykjavík and feel Icelandic soil under your feet for the first time, the country will captivate you. The stunning nature will engage you with steaming earth holes, black sand beaches, and unspoiled solitude, and it won't let you go quickly. This specific, mystical Iceland feeling along with the many unforgettable impressions and experiences will certainly have a permanent place in your travel-hungry adventurer's heart.