Iceland Travel Blog: Expert Tips, Itineraries and Travel Guides

How to get around Iceland comes down to three main choices: renting a car, joining guided tours, or taking public buses. A car gives you the most freedom, tours suit short stays and winter, and buses cost the least but need careful planning.

Icelandic names usually include a last name based on a parent's first name rather than an inherited family surname. Common endings are -son ("son") and -dóttir ("daughter"). The Icelandic Naming Committee reviews first names that aren't already on the Personal Names Register.

The Icelandic souvenirs worth buying are the ones made in Iceland, not imported for the tourist trade: the lopapeysa wool sweater, chocolate and licorice, flaky sea salt, Brennivín and craft gin, geothermal skincare, and fish-leather designs. Buy from local makers rather than generic gift shops.

Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland from a geothermal hot spring is one of winter’s purest thrills. Warm water, crisp air, and the aurora dancing overhead.

Unique experiences in Iceland are the places most itineraries leave out, usually because reaching them takes a gravel or mountain road, a summer-only season, or a boat.

Independence Day in Iceland, or National Day (Þjóðhátíðardagurinn), falls on June 17 and marks the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944. The date honors Jón Sigurðsson, a leader of the self-government movement, born on June 17, 1811.

You can see the Northern Lights in Iceland from September to April on dark, clear nights with enough solar activity. Iceland spans roughly 63°N to 66.5°N, within the auroral zone, where you can see auroras on more than half the nights each year. Dark countryside is a short drive from Reykjavík, making Iceland one of the easiest places to plan an aurora trip.

Mr Iceland Farm is a working horse farm at Efri-Úlfsstaðir, a farmstead in South Iceland about 15 minutes from Hvolsvöllur and 1.5 hours from Reykjavík. Arctic Adventures CEO Ásgeir Baldurs spent a full day and night there, riding Icelandic horses, sharing a farm dinner, and hearing Njáls saga told by candlelight in the district where it takes place.

The best places to eat in Reykjavík for fine dining are Dill and ÓX, while Grillmarkaðurinn is the strongest choice for Icelandic grill food. Kopar is the standout for seafood by the old harbor. A smaller budget still gives you plenty of choice, from Indian food at Hraðlestin to pastries at Sandholt. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur rounds things out with the city’s famous hot dog.

Planning a trip and trying to figure out which airlines that fly to Iceland are worth considering? Start with the quick picks below. Then we’ll break down direct routes by region and how to choose the right option for your budget, baggage, and travel style.

Driving in Iceland is an adventure: spontaneous stops at remote fishing villages, awe-inspiring natural wonders, and thundering waterfalls. But behind the beauty lie real hurdles. Out on the road, your journey is dictated as much by the whims of Viking weather and rugged terrain as your vehicle’s engine.

Swimming is a cherished tradition in Iceland. With countless swimming pools, inviting lagoons, and natural hot springs, our guide lists the must-visit places to experience this part of Icelandic culture.

Iceland's tourism has settled into a three-year plateau of roughly 2.3 million foreign visitors a year, and the 2026 story is no longer growth but distribution across seasons, regions, and how far ahead people book.

The total solar eclipse in Iceland took place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in the late afternoon. The path of totality crossed western Iceland: the Westfjords, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Reykjavík, and the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the moon fully covered the sun for about 1 to 2 minutes.

Iceland in summer is at its most open. You get about 21 hours of daylight on the June 21 solstice, pleasantly mild weather, puffins on the cliffs, whales offshore, and Highland trails that are closed the rest of the year.

Iceland has a rich and varied history on both the big and small screen. Many famous films and series have been shot on this mystical island, even when the story is set elsewhere.

Thor is the Norse god of thunder, protector of gods and humans, and one of the most widely worshipped gods of the Viking Age. He wields the hammer Mjölnir. Most of his surviving stories come down to us through two medieval Icelandic books, the Poetic Edda (Codex Regius) and Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda.

Considering moving to Iceland? With its enchanting landscapes and northern charm, Iceland has become a sought-after destination not just for travel but also for relocation. If you're wondering how to move to Iceland and start a new life in Iceland, here's everything you need to know.

The history of Iceland began with Norse settlers around 874 AD and reached independence in 1944. Sagas, foreign rule, and volcanic eruptions shaped the years between.

Ragnarök is the prophesied end of the world in Norse mythology: a final battle in which the gods fall, fire and flood destroy the nine worlds, and a green earth rises from the ruins. The main surviving source is the Icelandic poem Völuspá, preserved in the 13th-century Codex Regius.