Iceland Holidays

If you've never walked on a glacier before, Sólheimajökull is one of the easiest places in Iceland to try it. With an experienced guide, you'll cross compact ice, weave between crevasses and learn how volcanic ash has gradually reshaped the glacier over the years.

Silfra is one of the few places where you can float between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Fed by filtered glacial meltwater, the fissure is known for its exceptional underwater visibility, making even a short, guided snorkelling trip unlike anywhere else in Iceland.

Each winter, new ice caves form beneath the glaciers of Vatnajökull National Park before disappearing again when the weather changes. Joining a guided tour lets you explore these short-lived caves up close, where clear blue ice and narrow frozen passages make every visit slightly different.

Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier, offers wide open snowfields that are difficult to appreciate from the road alone. A guided snowmobile tour takes you onto the ice, where the landscape stretches for miles with little more than snow, volcanic peaks and changing weather on the horizon.

If whale watching is on your Iceland itinerary, many travellers head straight to Húsavík. The sheltered waters of Skjálfandi Bay are known for regular sightings of humpback whales during summer, with minke whales, harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and seabirds also appearing throughout much of the season.

Ask your guide about the tölt before you set off, it's the smooth, four-beat gait that Icelandic horses are famous for. Riding through the countryside gives you time to appreciate the landscape at the same steady pace that locals have travelled for generations.

For more than 700 years, Skálholt was one of Iceland's most influential religious and educational centres. Bishops lived here, schools were established here, and many of the country's early political and cultural decisions were shaped within this small settlement in southern Iceland.

Reykholt was once home to Snorri Sturluson, whose writings shaped much of what we know about Norse mythology today. Visitors can still see Snorralaug, the small geothermal pool believed to have been used by Snorri more than 800 years ago.

Hólar remained one of Iceland's leading centres of learning for centuries, long before the country had a modern university. Consecrated in 1763, the present building stands as the oldest stone church in Iceland. Its distinctive red sandstone walls reflect the settlement's lasting influence on Icelandic education and religion.

From the outside, Laufás looks like little more than a row of grassy doorways built into a hillside. Step inside and you'll find a network of connected rooms where farming families once lived, with the neighbouring 19th-century church completing one of Iceland's best-preserved historic farmsteads.

Beneath the streets of central Reykjavík, the remains of a Viking longhouse dating to around AD 871 have been left exactly where archaeologists uncovered them. The exhibition is built around the excavation, making it one of the few places in Iceland where the country's earliest settlement can be explored in its original location.

Often referred to as "Iceland's Pompeii," Stöng was abandoned after the eruption of Hekla in 1104 buried the original farm beneath volcanic ash. The reconstructed longhouse nearby helps visitors picture how one farming family would have lived during Iceland's early settlement years.

Held each November in Reykjavík, Iceland Airwaves is Iceland’s best known music festival, bringing together established international artists and emerging local talent. Performances take place in concert halls, bars, cafes and other venues across the city, creating a lively atmosphere that extends well beyond the main festival stages.

Held each August, Reykjavík Pride is one of Iceland's largest annual celebrations, drawing locals and visitors from around the world. Alongside the colourful parade, the programme includes live music, cultural events, talks and community activities that take place across the capital.

Held every August in the Westman Islands, Þjóðhátíð is Iceland’s largest outdoor festival. Thousands of people gather for live music, bonfires, fireworks and the famous valley singalong, a tradition that has been a part of the festival for generations.

Celebrated during the midwinter month of Þorri, usually between late January and February, Þorrablót is one of Iceland's oldest traditions. Families and communities come together to enjoy seasonal dishes, traditional music and storytelling, keeping customs that have been passed down for generations.

Held each February in Reykjavík, the Winter Lights Festival celebrates the return of longer days after the darkest part of winter. Museums, swimming pools, public buildings and cultural venues host special evening events, with many attractions offering free or extended access during the festival.

Held each autumn, the Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF) brings independent films and filmmakers from around the world to Iceland’s capital. Screenings take place in cinemas and cultural venues across the city, alongside discussions, workshops and special events for film enthusiasts.

Music is never far away in Reykjavík, especially from Thursday through the weekend, when bars and small venues are filled with local bands and touring artists. Many performances are intimate, giving visitors the chance to discover Icelandic musicians in settings that feel more neighbourhood hangouts than concert halls.

A night out in Reykjavík often starts quickly, with people meeting in bars and pubs before the city becomes noticeably busier later in the evening. Most nightlife is concentrated around the streets of Laugavegur and Austurstræti, where live music, craft beer and late-night venues sit within easy walking distance.

The first thing you’ll notice inside Harpa is how the changing daylight pours through its geometric glass walls, creating different colours and patterns as you walk around the building. Alongside concerts, the venue regularly hosts theatre productions, festivals and cultural events overlooking Reykjavík Harbour.

A visit to a geothermal pool is as much a social ritual as a swim in Iceland. Friends often meet to chat in the warm outdoor hot tubs, whatever the weather, and everyone is expected to shower thoroughly before getting in, a tradition Icelanders take seriously.

Stories have played an important role in Icelandic culture. The medieval Icelandic sagas, passed down for generations before being written down, continue to influence literature, local identity and the country’s long-standing love of books and storytelling.

Stories about Huldufólk, or the “hidden people” have been part of Icelandic folklore for centuries. Whether taken as tradition or simply enjoyed as storytelling, these tales remain closely tied to the country’s landscapes and continue to be shared with new generations.

Giving books at Christmas is a much-loved tradition in Iceland. Every autumn, hundreds of new titles are released ahead of the festive season, and many families spend Christmas Eve exchanging books before settling down to read together.

For centuries, Icelanders built homes with thick turf walls to stay warm through long, harsh winters. Although few are still lived in today, these distinctive houses remain an important reminder of the country’s rural traditions and resourceful way of life.