Iceland vacations 2024 & 2025

Packed with volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, hot pools, and giant lava fields, Iceland is an ideal destination for outdoor adventures and soaking up the wild, untamed landscapes. It’s the kind of place where you can snorkel between tectonic plates, marvel at glittering ice caves, hike on a glacier, or laze in a steaming pool as you watch the northern lights shift and swirl overhead.

Iceland’s thundering waterfalls are another major draw, and getting out into the wilderness on foot, taking a whale-watching trip, or visiting a remote Icelandic island all bring you closer to the country’s natural wonders.

Along with its dramatic landscapes, you’ll also discover Iceland’s rich history and culture. You can take a cooking class, explore Reykjavík’s museums, visit the site of the oldest parliament in the world, or explore Icelandic legends. You’ll come away with a whole new understanding of life on the edge of Europe.

You’ll find a wide choice of places to stay in Iceland with properties ranging from sleek, minimalist urban hotels to remote lodges ideal for watching the northern lights. You might like the private thermal pool and views of surrounding lava fields at the Silica Hotel by the Blue Lagoon or the on-site stables and plush intimacy of the Skálakot Manor Hotel.

Other options include Hótel Búðir, a renovated 17th-century trading post turned intimate hotel and the Frost and Fire Boutique Hotel with its riverside hot tubs. In Reykjavík, you’ll find everything from stylish apartments with sleek, modern design to Art Deco landmarks brought up to date. Your specialist will help with hotel suggestions, but to get an idea of what’s on offer, browse our collection of places to stay in Iceland.

Most trips to Iceland begin in Reykjavík, the nation’s capital — from there you can opt to see the renowned Golden Circle, explore the coast via the ring road, or venture inland for a wilder sort of trip.

A cosmopolitan hub known for its quirky design, thriving arts and music scene, and fine dining, Reykjavík is an easily walkable city. A tour of the Golden Circle introduces you to the history and geology of Þingvellir National Park, Geysir’s blowholes, and the sheer force of nature at Gullfoss waterfall.

Further afield, the south coast offers black-sand beaches, ice-choked lakes, massive glaciers and a network of walking trails deep into the wilderness. Touring the Westfjords, you’ll encounter small fishing villages, steep-sided fjords, and volcanic landscapes, while in northern Iceland you’ll find bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles at Hverir, strange geological features around Lake Mývatn, and whale watching in Eyjafjörður.

From the East Coast of the US, flights to Reykjavík take around six hours. There are no direct flights from the West Coast so the journey will take around 14 hours with a stop en route.

Iceland’s time zone is UTC+0 hours all year round. Iceland does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

The best way to get around Iceland is to drive yourself if you’re visiting between May and September. This gives you the freedom to explore as you wish, discovering the country’s many remote but scenic regions. In the winter months, when roads are snowy and icy, and daylight hours are short, having a private driver-guide is the safest and most efficient way to travel.

When traveling on a US passport, no visa is required for Iceland or any of the other Schengen Area countries. Visa-free stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period are allowed.

Your doctor is best placed to offer advice on vaccination. Check in advance that you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country too. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your trip to Iceland and that you have one black page for border documentation.