10 Places in Iceland worth seeing: route and tickets 2026

The Blue Lagoon, the Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss waterfall all fit into a single day. Iceland is compact, and nearly all of its main sights lie within a couple of hours of Reykjavik. We've put together ten attractions you can realistically see. For each one, we've added a price guide, opening hours, and travel notes.

You'll see right away which places have free entry and which sell out weeks in advance. From Keflavik Airport to the Blue Lagoon is about 20 minutes (on the map), so it's convenient to start exploring the country right from the arrivals gate.

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What to see in Iceland: in short

💡 In short:

• A 4-5 day route: Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon, and the Golden Circle with the Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park.
• Free: Strokkur, Gullfoss, Thingvellir, the Sun Voyager sculpture, and entry to Hallgrimskirkja church.
• Ticketed: the Blue Lagoon, Perlan, and the Arbaer Open Air Museum. Book Blue Lagoon slots in advance.
• Opening hours and prices: as of 09/2026, verified on each place's official website, including the official Blue Lagoon website.

Below is a short comparison table, followed by each spot with photos, hours, and prices.

Our picks: 10 places in Iceland

Use the table as a cheat sheet for your route. The numbers for each spot below are backed up by a link to an official source.

1. Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik

© G. Edward Johnson · CC BYPhoto: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Blue Lagoon is on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in the southwestern part of the country. The water here is milky turquoise because of silica, and you bathe right among solidified lava. You book not just a ticket, but a slot for a specific time. Without a reservation, you won't be allowed onto the grounds.

The price depends on the day, hour, and season, so there is no fixed amount (as of 09/2026, official website). Take a morning slot: by 11:00 there's a line for the changing rooms, and the water gets crowded. The complex is open year-round, and hours change by season: in summer roughly from 9 to 21, in winter from 10 to 20 (as of 09/2026, complex website).

Inside there are bars right in the water, and masks and towels are included in the basic package. Bringing your own swimwear is cheaper than renting on site. After bathing, many people head straight to Reykjavik. The drive is about an hour, roughly 50 km by road (according to the map).

• How to get there: bus or transfer from Keflavik Airport, about 20 minutes (according to the map).
• Cost: slots only, the rate depends on the day and time (as of 09/2026, rates page).
• Who it's for: those who want warm water and aren't ready to go to a wild pool.
• The catch: you won't get in without a reservation, and in high season slots sell out several days in advance.

2. Imagine peace tower on videy island

© McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BYPhoto: McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Imagine Peace Tower stands on Videy Island, a few minutes from Reykjavik. The tower was conceived by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon. During the day you see only a white stone base with the inscription "Imagine Peace" in 24 languages. The main event begins after dark.

According to the tower's official website, the light is switched on on specific dates. The tower shines from October 9, Lennon's birthday, until December 8, the day of his death in 1980. On those evenings, powerful beams rise from the base into the sky. The sight is visible even from the Reykjavik waterfront.

To see the light up close, plan your trip for the evening. Ferries depart from the Skarfabakki pier, and an extra departure runs after the light is switched on. Check the schedule on the tower's page, as it depends on the season and weather.

• How to get there: ferry to Videy from the Skarfabakki pier, the crossing takes a few minutes (according to the Visit Reykjavik website).
• Cost: admission is free, you only pay for the ferry (as of 09/2026, Imagine Peace Tower website).
• Who it's for: those willing to time their trip around specific dates.
• The catch: on other days you won't see the light, only the tower's base.

3. Strokkur geyser in the haukadalur valley

© Hansueli Krapf This file was uploaded with Commonist . · CC BY-SAPhoto: Hansueli Krapf This file was uploaded with Commonist ., CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Strokkur shoots a column of boiling water as high as a multistory building. It sits by the Hvítá river, about 110 km by road from Reykjavik (as the map shows), in the Haukadalur valley. The original Geysir, which gave its name to all geysers in the world, lies nearby, but it rarely erupts.

Here you don't have to wait long. Strokkur erupts every few minutes, so you are almost certain to catch an eruption. The water drops down, the underground cavity refills, and a couple of minutes later comes the next burst. The secret is hot magma heating the water under pressure.

Stay upwind. The spray cloud flies in one direction, and you can easily get soaked with hot water. Good shots also work from a safe distance.

• How to get there: as part of the Golden Circle, about 110 km by road from Reykjavik (as the map shows).
• Cost: free entry (as of 09/2026, city tourist office).
• Who it's for: anyone doing the Golden Circle.
• The catch: the viewing area is windy, and the spray leaves marks on your camera.

4. Gullfoss waterfall on the Hvítá river

© Andreas Tille · CC BY-SAPhoto: Andreas Tille, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Gullfoss drops in two steps into a narrow canyon. The total height is about 32 meters (as of 09/2026, Reykjavik tourist office). It lies on the same Hvítá river, northeast of the geysers, so it's easy to see it on the same day as Strokkur.

In winter the upper step partially freezes, and the view changes completely. In summer a wet trail leads from the parking lot to the viewing platforms, so bring waterproof shoes. There are few railings, and it's best not to go right to the edge.

In the 1920s and 1970s there were plans to build a hydroelectric plant at the waterfall. The project never went ahead, and the waterfall was preserved. Today it is one of the main stops on the Golden Circle.

• How to get there: by car along the Golden Circle, parking at the upper viewing area.
• Cost: free entry, only parking is paid (as of 09/2026, capital tourist office website).
• Who it's for: fans of powerful water and short walks.
• The catch: spray and wind, you get soaked through in a couple of minutes.

5. Sun Voyager sculpture on the waterfront

© Europäische Kommission - Audiovisueller Dienst, Halldór Kolbeins, CE - Service audiovisuel, EC - Audiovisual Service, FA · CC BYPhoto: Europäische Kommission - Audiovisueller Dienst, Halldór Kolbeins, CE - Service audiovisuel, EC - Audiovisual Service, FA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Sun Voyager stands on the Reykjavik waterfront and looks like the skeleton of a ship. The sculpture was installed in 1990, and the idea came from artist Jón Gunnar Árnason. The work was made to mark the city's 200th anniversary, although the artist himself did not live to see it installed.

Many people read it as an image of a Viking longship. The idea is broader: a dream of undiscovered lands and of what is not yet known. At sunset the steel glows red, so in the evening there are always people with cameras here.

See the sculpture in the morning if you want a shot without a crowd in the center. In the morning it's almost empty here, and you can calmly walk all the way around it. You can reach it on foot from the center or take a bus.

• How to get there: bus to the Harpa or Regnboginn stop, then walk (according to Visit Reykjavík (tourist office)).
• Cost: free entry (as of 09/2026, Reykjavik guide).
• Who it's for: those strolling around Reykjavik in the evening.
• The catch: at sunset a line forms at the sculpture for the best shot.

6. Thingvellir National Park

© Andreas Tille · CC BY-SAPhoto: Andreas Tille, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Thingvellir occupies a valley between two lithospheric plates. Iceland's first parliament, the Althing, convened here in 930. In 2004 the park was added to the World Heritage list. Entry to the area is free; only parking is paid.

The main attraction here is the rift valley, the split between two plates. The fissures diverge by about 2 cm per year (as of 09/2026, the capital's tourist office). You are literally walking along the seam between America and Europe.

The valley is rich in vegetation and birds. A trail through the park leads to the Öxarárfoss waterfall, and to the north lies Lake Thingvallavatn, up to 114 meters deep (as of 09/2026, official tourism website).

Scheduled buses from Reykjavik run mostly in summer; in winter it's easier to take a tour or drive. The valley has a cafe and a small bookshop. Allow two to three hours for your visit.

• Getting there: bus or car from Reykjavik, about an hour's drive (per the map).
• Cost: entry is free, parking is paid (as of 09/2026, tourist office page).
• Who it's for: anyone interested in geology and history.
• The catch: the weather here changes within minutes, always bring a rain jacket.

7. Höfði House in Reykjavik

© Laurentgauthier · CC BY-SAPhoto: Laurentgauthier, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Höfði stands alone on the headland of the same name in Reykjavik. The house was built in Norway, then dismantled and shipped to Iceland. Its architecture is Art Nouveau, with clean Scandinavian lines. A French consul originally lived here.

In 1986, the meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev took place within these walls, bringing the end of the Cold War closer. Locals add a legend about the ghost of the White Lady to the story. Tourists are not allowed inside; the house is used for official meetings.

You can walk up to the white facade and take a photo with the sea in the background. Fifteen minutes is enough for this stop.

• Getting there: bus to the Hótel Cabin stop, then walk (per Visit Reykjavík, tourist office).
• Cost: viewing from outside is free (as of 09/2026, official Reykjavik website).
• Who it's for: those who collect urban legends and sea views.
• The catch: only the facade and the headland are accessible for viewing.

8. Perlan on Öskjuhlíð Hill

© Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Perlan occupies the building of a former city heating plant on Öskjuhlíð Hill. Today it houses a cultural center with a natural history museum, shops, and a cafe. Inside, they built a real ice cave and a hall with an exhibition on volcanoes and glaciers. There is also a planetarium.

An observation deck operates on the fourth floor. From there you can see all of Reykjavik and the mountains on the horizon. Above it is a revolving restaurant, where the view changes on its own without any effort from you.

Buy tickets online on the official Perlan website; there can be a line on site. Allow about two hours for your visit. In the evening, the dome's lighting is visible from many parts of the city.

• Getting there: bus to Öskjuhlíð hill, then walk uphill (according to the official Reykjavik tourist office website).
• Cost: entry by ticket, separate rates for children and adults (as of 09/2026, Perlan website).
• Who it's for: families and anyone who wants a city view without hiking into the mountains.
• The catch: the ticket isn't cheap, and on a rainy day the windows get crowded.

9. Árbæjarsafn open-air museum

© Steinninn · CC BYPhoto: Steinninn, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Árbæjarsafn operates as an open-air museum in Reykjavik. It has brought together more than twenty historic buildings: a farmhouse, turf houses, and urban structures from the early last century. You'll see how Icelanders lived before modern comfort arrived.

The museum opened in the 1960s and keeps growing. In summer, crafts are demonstrated in some of the houses: blacksmithing, weaving. Check the schedule on the museum's page.

• Getting there: buses 12, 19, and 22, Strengur stop (according to the Árbæjarsafn museum website).
• Cost: entry by ticket, children go free (as of 09/2026, Árbæjarsafn museum).
• Hours: June-August 10-17, September-May 13-17 (as of 09/2026, museum catalog).
• Who it's for: anyone who wants to understand how Icelanders lived without long trips.
• The catch: some of the houses are open only in the summer season.

10. Hallgrímskirkja church in central Reykjavik

© Steinninn · CC BYPhoto: Steinninn, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Hallgrímskirkja towers over central Reykjavik. The church is 74.5 meters tall, and no other church in the country is higher (as of 09/2026, official church website). Its shape evokes the basalt columns found throughout Iceland.

Entry to the church itself is free. Inside stands a large organ weighing about 25 tons (as of 09/2026, Hallgrímskirkja website). Services are held on Sundays, and concerts are often given on weekdays.

An elevator takes you to the top, but the climb is paid. The tower offers the best view of the city's colorful rooftops. Check the opening hours on the church's page, as they change due to services and concerts.

• How to get there: on foot from the center, the church is visible from any part of the city (according to the Iceland capital tourist office).
• Cost: entry to the church is free, climbing the tower requires a ticket (as of 09/2026, the church's official website).
• Who it's for: those who want a panoramic view of the city from above.
• The catch: the church is controversial among locals, and there can be a line for the elevator.

Iceland attractions on the map

It's convenient to collect all the route points on a map in advance. Your base for the trip: Reykjavik. From there you can reach both the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon. Look for hotels in the center early, prices rise in summer.

Then put your points into one list and check the opening hours. That way you won't waste time on closed gates.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for these attractions?

Four to five days is enough for the route. The Golden Circle with Strokkur, Gullfoss and Thingvellir takes one long day. Reykjavik with Sun Voyager, Perlan and Hallgrimskirkja takes another day. The Blue Lagoon is convenient to leave for the drive to the airport.

Can you visit the Blue Lagoon without a reservation?

No. The complex operates on time slots, and you won't be admitted without a prior booking (as of 09/2026, the lagoon's website). Slots for popular times sell out several days in advance. Book early for the morning or late evening.

What's free on this list?

Strokkur, Gullfoss, Thingvellir and Sun Voyager are free to visit. Entry to Hallgrimskirkja church is also free, you only pay to climb the tower. The Blue Lagoon, Perlan and the Árbæjarsafn museum are paid.

Do you need a car for the Golden Circle?

In summer you can get by with a bus or an organized tour. In winter there are fewer departures, and renting a car is more reliable. Renting at Keflavik Airport gives you flexibility with time, and you can check the price on site (according to the official tourism portal).

When is the Imagine Peace Tower turned on?

The light is turned on from October 9, John Lennon's birthday, until December 8, the day of his death (as of 09/2026, the tower's official website). On other evenings you'll only see the stone base on Videy Island.

In short: what's worth booking

First, lock in the three paid items, the rest can be seen as you go.

If you're short on time: book the Blue Lagoon for the drive to the airport and one day for the Golden Circle. If you have 4-5 days: add all of Reykjavik, Perlan and the Árbæjarsafn museum. If you're traveling with kids: Árbæjarsafn and Perlan are the best fit.

Book in advance. GetYourGuide has tickets with fixed time slots, and DiscoverCars will find a car in Keflavik.

Accommodation in central Reykjavik can be found on Trip.com.