Iceland attractions

Tjaldsvæðið á Arnarstapa

Arnarstapi camping means the campsite in Arnarstapi, a small harbor village on the south coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, with Stapafell and the Snæfellsjökull glacier rising behind it. Known locally as Tjaldsvæðið á Arnarstapa, it is run by Arnarstapi Center, the village hotel and restaurant. Sleeping here puts you on the coastal cliffs before the tour buses arrive and keeps you there after they leave. Evenings and early mornings are the quietest times on the shore, which is the best argument for staying rather than visiting on a day trip. Facilities are simple: toilets, showers and electricity, with camping equipment for rent if you arrived light. You can book a pitch ahead through the Parka app or pay on arrival at the Arnarbær restaurant, and arriving after reception closes costs extra. Pets are allowed if kept under control, and quiet hours run from 23:00 to 07:00. The Arnarstapi campsite is open from late May to September. Its published price list is out of date, so check the current per-person rate and electricity fee with Arnarstapi Center before you go. Children 14 and under camp free, and seniors get a discount. The coast is a few minutes' walk from your tent. Gatklettur, the rock arch, and the stone statue of Bárður Snæfellsás stand close to the harbor, and a marked path of about 2.5 kilometers follows the lava shore to Hellnar past sea caves and nesting seabirds. In early summer the arctic terns dive at walkers, so wear a hat. Arnarstapi is about 190 kilometers from Reykjavík, roughly two and a half hours via Borgarnes. Rauðfeldsgjá gorge is a few minutes up the road, and Lóndrangar, Vatnshellir lava cave and Djúpalónssandur beach are all within about 20 minutes.

Stuðlagil

Stuðlagil is a basalt-column canyon on the Jökla river in Jökuldalur, East Iceland, about 70 kilometers west of Egilsstaðir. For decades its walls of tall, regular columns sat underwater, hidden by the heavy glacial river. Then the Kárahnjúkar dam diverted much of the Jökla's flow in the late 2000s, the water level dropped, and a blue-green river now runs between the columns. Stuðlagil canyon is roughly an hour's drive from Egilsstaðir, and both ways in start from Road 923, which leaves the Ring Road in the valley. You choose between two sides, and they offer quite different experiences. The west side, at the farm Grund, is the easy option. A flat path leads from the parking lot to viewing platforms on the rim, and stairs added in 2025 take you closer to the water. Allow 20 to 30 minutes, and note that there are paid restrooms here. The east side, from the farm Klaustursel, is the Stuðlagil canyon hike, and it is the only way to stand at river level among the basalt columns. From the parking lot by the bridge it is about 5 kilometers each way along the river, passing the Stuðlafoss waterfall, so allow 2 to 4 hours round trip. A second lot about 2 kilometers farther on cuts the walk in half, but the dirt track to it needs a high-clearance vehicle, and there are no toilets on this side. Timing matters more here than at most places. The water is clearest from late June through July, and from August overflow from the reservoir upstream can turn the river gray and murky for the rest of the season. In July and August, arrive before 8 a.m., because both lots fill by mid-morning. In winter the west viewpoint usually stays accessible, while snow and ice make the east trail unsafe. Both lots charge a parking fee, paid through the Parka app with the QR code on site, so pay before you lose signal. Bring waterproof shoes and warm layers, since summer temperatures here average only 7 to 8.5°C. Swimming is a bad idea: the current is strong and the water stays near freezing all year.

The Einar Jónsson Museum

The Einar Jónsson Museum is the home, studio and sculpture collection of Einar Jónsson (1874–1954), the pioneer of Icelandic sculpture, on Skólavörðuholt hill right next to Hallgrímskirkja in central Reykjavík. Einar designed the blocky, fortress-like building, called Hnitbjörg, himself, and it opened to the public in 1923. Most visitors walk past it on their way to the church tower, which is a shame. His work pulls from Icelandic folklore, mythology and his own spiritual ideas, and much of it explores the tension between the physical and spiritual worlds. Expect large plaster figures and heavy symbolism rather than gentle portrait busts. The current exhibition, Spirit and Materiality, runs from January 2026 to January 2028. You can also step into the apartment where Einar and his wife Anna lived, with their furniture still in place. The sculpture garden behind the museum is the part almost everyone can fit in. It holds 26 bronze casts of his works among trees and paths, and it's open to the public year-round, day and night, at no charge. If you're already at Hallgrímskirkja, it takes five minutes to walk through, even late in the evening. The museum is now part of the National Gallery of Iceland and is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. A single ticket to the Einar Jónsson sculpture museum costs ISK 1,500, visitors under 18 get in free, and seniors and students get a discount. A combined ticket for ISK 2,900 also covers the National Gallery's other exhibitions. Give yourself about an hour for the house and garden, and pair it with a walk down Skólavörðustígur toward Laugavegur.

Loftsalahellir Cave

Loftsalahellir cave is a hollow cut into soft tuff on the southwest slope of Geitafjall, a small mountain in Mýrdalur on Iceland's south coast, just off the road to Dyrhólaey. From inside, the opening frames Dyrhólaey and the black sand running toward Reynisfjara like a picture window, and most people who find it come for that one photo. Long before photographers, the farmers of Mýrdalur used Loftsalahellir as their assembly place, meeting in the shelter of the cave to settle local business. A nearby outcrop is called Gálgaklettur, or Gallows Rock. Its name suggests executions took place there, though no records have ever been found to confirm it. The cave sits just off Road 218, the side road from Route 1 to Dyrhólaey, about 15 minutes' drive west of Vík and roughly 2.5 hours from Reykjavík. Watch for a small parking area on the left side of the road. From there, a short trail crosses a meadow and climbs to the cave mouth in about five minutes. The path is grassy and gets muddy after rain, and in winter it can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip. There are no facilities at the site. Ten or fifteen minutes is plenty here, which makes it an easy add-on to Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara and Vík on the same day, and late-afternoon light is best for photos looking out to the coast.

Systragil Camping Ground

Systragil Camping Ground is a campsite on a wooded slope in the western part of Fnjóskadalur valley in North Iceland, 16 km east of Akureyri. It looks across the river to the birch woods of Vaglaskógur forest and makes a quieter base than the town campsites. You'll find it on Road 833, about 2 km off the Ring Road (Route 1), on the farm Hróarsstaðir. Trees shelter the pitches from the wind, and the Systragil campsite takes tents, caravans and motorhomes. Facilities include heated toilets, hot showers, a cooking area, a washing machine and dryer, a waste disposal point for motorhomes and a playground for kids. The location works well for touring the north. Goðafoss is about 25 km east, Húsavík about 65 km away, and the Mývatn area 60 to 75 km, while Akureyri's shops and swimming pool are a short drive west. Forest trails in Vaglaskógur start just across the valley. The season runs from May 26 to September 30. For summer 2026, the campsite lists ISK 2,000 per adult per night, ISK 1,700 for guests 67 and over, and free stays for children 15 and under, plus an accommodation tax of ISK 400 per unit per night. Electricity is ISK 1,200 per 24 hours, and the washer and dryer cost ISK 1,000 each. There's no online booking, so contact the campsite by phone or email if you want to confirm space early or late in the season.

Þingvallavatn

Þingvallavatn is the largest natural lake in Iceland, about 84 square kilometers of water filling the rift valley in Southwest Iceland, partly inside Þingvellir National Park. It lies where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart, and it averages 34 m deep with a maximum of 114 m. Most of its water arrives underground, filtered through lava from the highlands, which is why the springs on the north shore are so clear. Silfra, a flooded fissure that opens into the lake inside the park, is where people snorkel and dive between the plates on guided trips. The lake drains through a single river, the Sog, and volcanic islands such as Sandey rise from the middle. Lake Þingvallavatn is also one of Iceland's best-known fishing waters, home to brown trout, stickleback and four distinct forms of Arctic char. On the national park's shore the season runs from April 20 to September 15, from land only, since boats and float tubes are banned there. Until May 31 only fly fishing is allowed and every brown trout must be released. A day permit costs 2,500 ISK per rod at the service center at Leirar or online, and Fishing Card holders can fish the park's shore too, though the Kárastaðir land is excluded. The lake is about 45 minutes' drive from Reykjavík and sits beside the first stop on most Golden Circle days, so you can see it year-round from the viewpoints and roads around the rift. Summer brings the long evenings that suit a walk or a cast along the north shore. In winter, check the official road-conditions map and weather warnings before you drive Route 36.

Tjaldsvæðið Myllulækur

Myllulækur campsite is a small countryside campsite in the Nesjar farming district of Hornafjörður, Southeast Iceland, about 10 minutes' drive north of Höfn. Known locally as Tjaldsvæðið Myllulækur, it looks across to the Hornafjörður mountains and the outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull. The reason to stay here rather than in town is the setting. Lake Þveit is about a two-minute walk down the path, fishing permits for the lake are available, and on a calm evening the walk to the water is the best part of the day. Facilities cover what most campervan travelers need: spots for motorhomes, electricity, wifi, showers, toilets and a dishwashing area. Prices and opening dates are not published, so call the campsite on +354 848 2553 to check the current rate and confirm it is open before you rely on it, especially early or late in the summer. Myllulækur camping keeps Höfn's pool, harbor and langoustine restaurants close. Stokksnes and Vestrahorn are roughly 20 to 25 minutes east along the Ring Road, and Jökulsárlón and the Diamond Beach are about an hour west, so one or two nights covers the area well.

Campsite Þorlákshöfn

Campsite Þorlákshöfn is the town campsite in Þorlákshöfn, a fishing and ferry port on the south coast of Iceland about 45 minutes from Reykjavík over the Þrengsli pass. It is on Skálholtsbraut beside the town church, right behind the swimming pool, and close enough to the capital for a first night after picking up a campervan or a last one before the airport run. Tent pitches share the ground with caravans and motorhomes, and electricity is available. You get toilets, hot and cold water, tables and chairs, barbecue facilities, a playground and a waste disposal point for motorhomes. Dogs are welcome on a leash, but open fires are banned. The pool, a supermarket and a couple of places to eat are a short walk away, which makes cold-weather camping far more bearable. Beyond town, the black-sand beach and rocky point draw surfers, and Route 427 heads west past Strandarkirkja church along the lava coast to Reykjanes. Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel is about 15 minutes north, and Hveragerði, Selfoss and Eyrarbakki are all within half an hour. The season runs from May 15 to September 15. Þorlákshöfn camping is part of the Camping Card network, but rates for guests without the card are not published, so contact the campsite before you arrive. The site sits close to the open sea and catches the wind, so stake tents down well.

Skipalækur Guesthouse and Camping

Skipalækur Guesthouse and Camping is a farm stay on the bank of Lögurinn (Lagarfljót) at the southern edge of Fellabær in East Iceland, close to the Ring Road bridge and about 3 km from the center of Egilsstaðir. From the campsite, you look straight across the water to the town. Skipalækur Guesthouse covers a wide range of budgets. Inside, the choice runs from sleeping-bag spaces and basic rooms with a shared kitchen and living room to family rooms for four and rooms with a private bath and breakfast buffet. Down by the water are five Skipalækur cottages, three sleeping four and two sleeping two, each with a shower, a small kitchen and a grill. Skipalækur camping is on the field beside the guesthouse, which has toilets, and the farm sells fishing permits and rents out horses. Summer is the time to pitch a tent, with long evenings on the lake. Because the guesthouse is open all year, it also works as a winter base, when a chalet beats a tent by a long way. Vök Baths and the Egilsstaðir pool are a few minutes' drive away, Hengifoss is about 35 minutes south along the lake, and Seyðisfjörður is about half an hour over the Fjarðarheiði pass. Camping prices and season dates are not published, so call Skipalækur on 471 1324 before you arrive, especially early or late in the year. Rooms and chalets can be booked through the official website, and children aged 2 to 11 pay half rate in the guesthouse.

Hafnarfjörður Camping

Hafnarfjörður Camping is the town campsite in Hafnarfjörður, beside Víðistaðatún park at Hjallabraut 51, about 10 kilometers south of central Reykjavík and roughly 30 minutes' drive from Keflavík Airport. For a first or last night of a trip, it's hard to beat on logistics. Lava Hostel runs the site, which takes tents, campervans, caravans and motorhomes up to 12 meters long. Facilities cover toilets, hot showers, washing-up sinks, charcoal grills with benches and a disposal point for camper toilets. Electric hookups are in Zone B, and campers in Zone C can run a long cord across the driveway to reach them. The campsite is open from May 15 through the end of September. For 2026, a tent costs 3,000 ISK and a campervan, caravan or motorhome 3,500 ISK, each including one adult, with 2,500 ISK for every extra adult and free stays for children 13 and under. Electricity adds 1,300 ISK a night, and lodging tax adds 400 ISK per tent or vehicle. In July and August, book through the official website well ahead, since nights are paid up front. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a 500 ISK fee, check-in starts at 1 p.m., and stays are capped at seven nights. City buses and the airport bus stop nearby. The town pool, the harbor and the restaurants of Hafnarfjörður are a short walk or ride away, so you can leave the car parked for an evening.

Haukafell Campground

Haukafell campground is a forest campsite in the Mýrar district of Hornafjörður, Southeast Iceland, just east of Fláajökull and about 40 minutes' drive west of Höfn. A marked trail leads from the site to the glacier front, so you can walk to the ice before breakfast. Locals planted the first trees here in 1985, and the woodland now breaks the wind that sweeps off Vatnajökull. Low birch and berry bushes fill the gaps between pitches, and the berries are usually ripe in August. The last stretch from Route 1 is partly gravel, though the operator says a normal car manages it if you drive slowly. Facilities are simple but recently improved. The toilet and shower block has been expanded, and there's electricity for vans and for the site's canvas tents. Those tents suit anyone traveling light: each has 16 square meters of floor space for two people, with made-up beds, a heater and lights. Haukafell camping runs from early April to the end of September. Prices aren't published by the operator, so check the Parka booking page or call ahead. Do your shopping in Höfn, because there's no store on site. Most people come for the trails. Short family walks loop through the forest, and a longer marked route crosses the Kolgrafardalsá river on a footbridge to the front of Fláajökull and its meltwater lagoon. Weather near the ice turns quickly, so check the forecast and never walk onto the glacier without a guide.

Camping Ground

Úthlíð campsite is a year-round campsite at Úthlíð, a farm and holiday estate in Biskupstungur, South Iceland, about 10 km from Geysir. The estate also has cottages, a restaurant and a nine-hole golf course, and the camping fee includes the hot tubs, so you can pitch a tent on the Golden Circle in January and still end the day in hot water. Úthlíð sits just off Route 37 between Laugarvatn and Geysir, about 100 km from Reykjavík on paved roads, or roughly an hour's drive. That puts the upper Golden Circle within easy reach. Brúarfoss is only a few kilometers away, Gullfoss is a short drive past Geysir, and Laugarvatn and Reykholt are each within about 15 km. Úthlíð camping costs 2,000 ISK per person per night plus a 400 ISK tax per tent, camper or trailer, and the fee covers showers and the hot tubs. You do not need to book. There is an automatic laundry, and the Wi-Fi is free in the restaurant, Réttin, which opens daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for pizzas, burgers, soup and lamb dishes made with local produce. Unusually for rural Iceland, the site stays open all year. In winter, vehicles park on the lot and grass field outside the service center, and toilets and showers stay available around the clock. On a clear night the hot tub is a comfortable place to wait for the northern lights, so plan on two nights if you want time for both the sights and the soak.

Hofsós Camping Ground

Hofsós Camping Ground is the village campsite in Hofsós, next to the primary school on the eastern shore of Skagafjörður in North Iceland, a five-minute walk from the village swimming pool. On clear summer evenings, the sun goes down behind the islands out in the fjord. It's a large, open site with a new service building that has toilets and showers with hot water. A small indoor kitchen seats about 18 people, which counts for a lot on the cold, wet evenings Skagafjörður gets even in July. Motorhomes have electrical hookups and a waste disposal point. Hofsós is on Route 76, about 37 km north of Sauðárkrókur and under two hours' drive from Akureyri. Once you've had your swim, the village has the Icelandic Emigration Center, the Retro restaurant by the harbor and a hike out to Þórðarhöfði headland. One night works if you're passing through on the way to Siglufjörður, but two give you time for all of it. The Hofsós campsite season runs from May 1 to October 1, starting earlier if the weather allows. In 2026, adults pay 2,200 ISK for the first night and 2,000 ISK for each night after, while seniors 67 and over pay 2,000 ISK and then 1,800 ISK. Children 12 and under stay free, electricity is 1,300 ISK a day, and a 400 ISK accommodation tax is added per unit per night. If you're touring Skagafjörður by campervan, keep your receipts. The Hofsós, Sauðárkrókur and Varmahlíð campsites work together, so a receipt from one gets you the lower additional-night rate at the next. Hofsós also holds its Jónsmessuhátíð midsummer festival in June, so expect more company that weekend.

Ásbrandsstaðir camping

Ásbrandsstaðir camping is a family-run farm campsite near the sea on the north side of Hofsárdalur valley, about 7 km from the village of Vopnafjörður in Northeast Iceland. Few campsites in Iceland stay open through the winter, and this is one of them, well away from Ring Road traffic. The campground has a grassy field for tents and a gravel area with electric hook-ups for campervans and caravans. In the service house you'll find toilets, a shower, a laundry with indoor drying lines and a cooking area, and the drinking water is pumped from 70 meters underground. Children get play equipment, and Wi-Fi is available. The farm also rents two summer cottages: a larger one for up to six guests with a full kitchen and a sundeck, and a small one for two. Prices are not published online, so call the owners before you arrive, especially outside summer. Walking paths lead from the farm through land with plenty of birdlife, and golf clubs can be rented here for the course near the village. Ásbrandsstaðir was also home to Runólfur Guðmundsson, the last rural postman in Iceland, who carried mail on foot and horseback across the mountains. For supplies, Vopnafjörður has a shop, gas and a harbor, and the riverside pool Selárdalslaug is a short drive north of the village. To get there, leave the Ring Road on Route 85 toward Vopnafjörður, then take Route 920 over the hill into Hofsárdalur. From Egilsstaðir, the shorter way is Route 917 over Hellisheiði eystri, a steep gravel mountain road, so check the official road-conditions map before choosing it, especially outside summer.

Rauðisandur

Rauðisandur is a beach of red and gold sand, about 10 kilometers long, on the southern coast of the Westfjords, on the same peninsula as the Látrabjarg bird cliffs. Rauðasandur beach, as it's also spelled, sits at the bottom of a steep gravel road, and few beaches in Iceland feel this far from everything. The color shifts with the light and the tide. On a bright day the sand glows orange and pink, while under heavy cloud it can look plain brown, so wait for sun if your schedule allows. On clear days Snæfellsjökull shows across Breiðafjörður bay, and seals often rest on the sandbanks at low tide. Access is by Route 614, which leaves Route 612 and drops to the coast on a steep, winding gravel road with tight bends and few guardrails. In dry summer conditions an ordinary car can manage it with care, though a 4x4 is more comfortable. Snow often closes the road in winter and spring, so check the official road-conditions map before setting out. Most people start from the small church at Saurbær or from Melanes campsite. Reaching the sand takes 15 to 20 minutes from the parking, often through shallow water even at low tide, so waterproof boots help. Check the tide tables before you go and allow at least an hour on the beach. Patreksfjörður, the nearest town with gas and groceries, is about an hour's drive away. Summer is the practical season for Rauðasandur beach in the Westfjords, and there's no fee to visit. A seasonal café near Saurbær has opened in past summers, but don't count on it for lunch.

Árnes camping ground

Árnes camping ground is a summer campsite in the small village of Árnes on Route 32 in South Iceland, about 1 hour 20 minutes' drive east of Reykjavík. It sits at the mouth of Þjórsárdalur, so it is the last easy place to pitch a tent with a pool next door before heading up the valley toward Hjálparfoss and Háifoss. The Árnes campsite is a broad, grassy field beside the Kálfá river, with around 60 electricity points for campervans and caravans. You'll find toilets, indoor showers, hot and cold water, a washer and dryer and a playground, and dogs are allowed. The Neslaug village pool is a couple of minutes' walk away, handy after a long day in the valley. Few people come for the village itself. Hjálparfoss, a two-tiered waterfall framed by basalt columns, is about 20 minutes up Route 32, and the Gjáin gorge and the Stöng farm ruins are a little farther along. Háifoss, one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls, sits at the end of a rough gravel road, so check the official road-conditions map before taking a small car up. On clear days Hekla fills the view to the east. Going the other way, the Secret Lagoon at Flúðir is roughly 15 minutes' drive, and the Golden Circle stops are within an hour. That central position makes Árnes a quieter alternative to the busier campsite at Flúðir. Camping in Árnes is possible in summer only, and the season dates can shift from year to year, so confirm them with the operator before you travel. Pitches are taken on arrival, so there's usually no need to book. Nightly rates and electricity fees also change from season to season, so ask for the current prices at the same time.

Hekla

Mount Hekla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, a long, snow-streaked ridge about 1,490 meters high at the edge of the South Iceland highlands. Medieval Europeans called it the gateway to hell, and the mountain has done little since to shake the reputation. In the late 20th century, the Hekla volcano erupted roughly once a decade, in 1970, 1980 to 1981, 1991 and 2000. The last eruption began in February 2000 and lasted under two weeks. Since then, the ground beneath the mountain has kept inflating, and volcanologists regard it as capable of erupting at any time. What makes Hekla dangerous is how little notice it gives. The 2000 eruption was preceded by only around an hour of earthquake activity, so a hiker on the summit would have almost no time to get down. Before going anywhere near the mountain, check the current volcanic alert level and leave a travel plan with Iceland's travel-safety service. Hiking to the top is possible but not encouraged. Most ascents start at Skjólkvíar on the northwest side, reached on the F225, a summer-only 4x4 road that leaves Route 26 opposite Búrfell. Expect wind, loose tephra and snow high up even in July, and confirm on the official road-conditions map that the F225 is open before you set out. For most travelers, the better plan is to see Mount Hekla from below. Route 26 runs along its western flank, about two hours from Reykjavík via Hella, and the views stay with you most of the way to the highland junction for Landmannalaugar. Summer and early fall give the clearest days and open roads. Guided Hekla tours in Iceland usually pair the volcano with Landmannalaugar by super jeep, which takes the F-road driving off your hands. Helicopter and airplane sightseeing flights from Reykjavík sometimes route over the mountain too, weather permitting.

Hvalfjörður

Hvalfjörður is a fjord in West Iceland, about 30 km long and 5 km wide, between Mosfellsbær and Akranes, with its mouth roughly 40 minutes' drive north of Reykjavík. Most drivers heading north never see it, because Route 1 dives under the water through the Hvalfjörður tunnel. That is their loss. Driving Route 47 around the shore adds about an hour, and in return you get quiet beaches, farms and valleys with almost no traffic, plus Glymur and the Hvammsvík nature baths along the way. The name means Whale Fjord. Nobody knows for sure why, though one theory points to whales stranded here in the settlement era and another to the mountain Hvalfell at the head of the fjord. A folk tale prefers a red-headed whale called Rauðhöfði, created when an elf woman cursed her unfaithful lover. The Hvalfjörður tunnel opened in 1998 and runs about 5.8 km under the fjord, reaching 165 m below sea level. Since September 2018 it has been toll-free, which makes it the obvious choice when you're in a hurry. Glymur, one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls at about 198 m, is the big draw at the head of the fjord. The full hiking loop crosses the Botnsá river, which is only practical in summer, so time your visit for the warmer months if you want the whole loop. Closer to the mouth, the Hvammsvík nature baths sit right on the shore. During the Second World War, Hvalfjörður was a busy Allied naval anchorage, and Arctic convoys bound for the Soviet Union gathered here. Outside summer, check the official road-conditions map and weather warnings before choosing the shore road over the tunnel.

Surtshellir

Surtshellir is a lava tube in the Hallmundarhraun lava field, in the highlands above Húsafell in West Iceland. Nobody sells tickets and nobody switches on the lights, so this is a raw cave you explore on your own, with a headlamp and a lot of care. The Surtshellir cave runs for about 1,970 meters, and together with the neighboring Stefánshellir it forms a system of roughly 3.5 km. Both formed in the Hallmundarhraun eruption around AD 900, and the cave takes its name from Surtr, the fire giant of Norse myth. Eggert Ólafsson described it in detail on his travels in 1750. Inside, the main tunnel reaches about 10 meters high and 15 meters wide, with the roof dropping to 2 to 4 meters toward the ends. The westernmost section, Íshellir, holds permanent ice on the floor. Digs in 2001, 2012 and 2013 found that animal bones once blamed on outlaws point instead to Viking Age rituals held here in the decades before Iceland adopted Christianity around AD 1000. Getting there takes planning. From the end of Route 518 near Kalmanstunga, the F578 track runs about 7 km to a marked parking area a short walk from the entrance, and as an F-road it needs a 4x4 and is open only in summer. Check the official road-conditions map before you set out, and allow two to three hours for the cave itself. The floor is a jumble of loose boulders and ice, and rocks do fall from the roof. Bring a helmet, sturdy boots, warm layers and more than one light, and never go in alone. If that sounds like more than you want, the nearby Víðgelmir lava cave is the guided version with walkways and lighting.

Laugar Camping

Laugar Camping is a campsite in the village of Laugar in Reykjadalur, North Iceland, just off Route 1 and about 20 minutes' drive west of Lake Mývatn. The lakeside campsites at Mývatn fill fast in July and the midges there can be fierce, so Laugar makes a calmer base, with the village pool a short walk from your tent. The campsite sits next to the village sports field and is run together with Dalakofinn, the local shop and restaurant on Route 1. It takes tents, caravans and campervans, and the service house has toilets, showers and a cooking area. Since Laugar is also the service center for the Þingeyjarsveit district, a bank, a grocery store and a summer hotel are all a few minutes away on foot. After a long drive, the Laugar swimming pool is the best reason to stay. It has a 25-meter lap pool, two hot tubs and a wading pool, and it's open daily from 10:00 to 21:00 in summer. There's also a six-hole golf course within walking distance. Camping prices aren't published online, so check current rates with Dalakofinn when you arrive. The campsite operates in the summer months, which means confirming opening dates if you plan to come outside June to August. From Laugar, Goðafoss is about 10 minutes' drive west and Akureyri is under an hour away. Two nights at Laugar Camping are enough to cover Mývatn, Goðafoss and a day trip to Húsavík.

Askja

Askja is a volcanic caldera in the Dyngjufjöll mountains of the northern highlands, inside Vatnajökull National Park, with a floor about 1,100 meters above sea level and rims rising to roughly 1,500 meters. Getting there takes a full day on 4x4 roads, and the reward is Iceland's deepest lake lying beside a warm, milky-blue explosion crater. In the southeast corner of the caldera lies Öskjuvatn, often called Lake Askja, which is more than 200 meters deep. It formed after the great 1875 eruption, when the roof of the magma chamber collapsed. Beside it sits Víti, a smaller crater from the same eruption, and that eruption spread pumice and ash across East Iceland, forced farmers off land in Jökuldalsheiði and helped push a wave of emigration to North America. The walk starts at the Vikraborgir parking lot, which has toilets. The marked trail to Öskjuvatn and Víti is 2.5 km, rated easy, and the park allows about two hours for it, across bare pumice and lava. People do bathe in Víti, where the water is usually above 20°C, but the path down is very slippery when wet, the mud on the eastern bank can be hot and rocks fall from the crater walls. Askja is an active volcano monitored by the Icelandic Met Office, so check the official volcano and weather warnings and ask the park rangers about current conditions before you go. Rangers are based at Drekagil and Herðubreiðarlindir in summer, and in high season one is at Askja daily and leads guided walks. There are no shops, restaurants or gas stations anywhere in the area, so fill the tank before leaving the Ring Road. The Askja highlands can only be reached in summer, once the F-roads officially open. From Route 1, drive the F88 past Herðubreiðarlindir, which has river fords at Grafarlandsá and Lindá, or take Route 901 to the F905 and F910, then continue to Drekagil and the last 8 km on the F894 to Vikraborgir. Expect about three hours each way from Mývatn in a capable 4x4, which is why many visitors join a guided 4x4 tour from Mývatn or Akureyri instead.

Reykjadalur Valley

Reykjadalur is a geothermal valley just north of Hveragerði in South Iceland, where a hiking trail leads to a warm river you can bathe in. The name means Steam Valley, and after about an hour on foot you can lie in the current with steam rising from the hillsides around you. Few hikes in Iceland end with a bath, which is why the Reykjadalur hot springs draw so many walkers out of Reykjavík. The trailhead parking lot is about 45 minutes' drive from the capital on Route 1, close enough for a half-day trip. The Reykjadalur hiking trail runs roughly 3 to 4 km each way, climbing a few hundred meters past bubbling mud pots and steaming vents before it levels out along the valley floor. Most people walk up in about an hour and come down faster, so set aside three to four hours including time in the water. At the bathing area, wooden boardwalks and simple changing screens line the Reykjadalur hot river, but there are no showers, lockers or enclosed rooms. The water is shallow, so this is a soak rather than a swim. It runs hottest upstream and cools where cold streams join, which means you can move along the bank until it feels right, and it's always worth testing with a hand first. The hike and the bathing are free; check the signs at the trailhead lot for any parking charge. Stay on the marked path the whole way, since the ground beside the hot springs can be thin and scalding. Summer is the easiest season, while from late fall to early spring the trail is often icy, so bring microspikes and start early. If you want a shower and a proper changing room afterward, Reykjaböð Hot Springs sits at the foot of the valley in Hveragerði.

Thórsmörk

Þórsmörk is a mountain valley in South Iceland, walled in by the Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Tindfjallajökull glaciers and threaded by the Krossá, Þröngá and Markarfljót rivers. Named after the god Thor, it lies inside the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, and its birch woods and mossy ridges make it the classic hiking base in the south. Hiking in Þórsmörk comes in every length. Valahnúkur, the hill above Húsadalur, is a short climb of a couple of hours with a view over the whole valley, and longer marked trails run along the ridges between the riverbeds. The valley is also the finish of the multi-day Laugavegur trek from Landmannalaugar and the northern end of the Fimmvörðuháls pass, a long day's walk between the glaciers from Skógar. People often call it Thorsmork National Park, though it is a protected nature reserve rather than a national park. Three bases offer huts and camping in the Thorsmork valley: Húsadalur, run by Volcano Huts, Langidalur, run by Ferðafélag Íslands, and Básar, run by Útivist. Beds fill early in summer, so book ahead if you want to stay the night. The season is roughly June to September, when the highland bus runs and the birch is in leaf. The bus to Þórsmörk leaves Reykjavík in the early morning and takes around three and a half hours, stopping at Hvolsvöllur on the way. Dates and fares change every year, so confirm them with the bus operator before you plan around it. Driving yourself means F249 in a high-clearance 4x4 and several unbridged fords, ending at the Krossá, one of the most dangerous river crossings in Iceland. Its level can rise within hours after rain or warm weather, and most rental contracts exclude river damage. For most travelers, the bus, a super jeep tour or the hike in is the sensible way to reach the valley.

Camping Borðeyri

Camping Borðeyri is a small beachside campsite at the far end of Borðeyri, a tiny hamlet on the west shore of Hrútafjörður in Northwest Iceland. It is about as quiet as an Icelandic campsite gets: official figures put the population at 16 in 2018, and in the evening the only traffic is the tide. Borðeyri is in Húnaþing vestra, a short detour off the Ring Road where it rounds the head of Hrútafjörður. From Reykjavík the drive takes a little over two hours, which makes the Borðeyri campsite a handy first night heading north or a stop on the way to the Westfjords. Facilities are basic. A service house has toilets and a washing-up area with hot and cold water, and there are electrical hook-ups, barbecues and a children's playground. The municipality does not list showers, prices or opening dates, so call the caretaker on +354 849 7891 before you rely on them. Before you leave, take half an hour to walk the old trading post, which is the main thing to do in Borðeyri. The village received its trading license in 1846 and grew into a busy seaport, shipping sheep to Britain until emigration to America emptied many farms. Among the oldest buildings is the restored Riis house from 1862. For a pool and a supermarket, Hvammstangi is about 35 minutes away by road.