Updated: 03/16/20 | March 16th, 2020
Last month, I finally visited Iceland. It wasn’t the impossible budget destination people made it out to be.
The locals were warm and welcoming, took me around, and showed me their homes. They were incredibly hospitable, and I made a lot of Icelandic friends on my trip.
And, while locals make any destination better, what blew my mind was the magnificence of the natural landscape. It’s bewitching. You find yourself in a spellbound daze as you move from place to place, your eyes overloaded by all you’re seeing.
“How could such a tiny place have such a diverse and beautiful landscape?” you think to yourself as your jaw hurts from being open too much.
Over the course of 11 days, I wanted to scream from joy everywhere I went. The land is desolate, sparsely populated, and silent. That was the one thing I noticed — just how silent Iceland is.
There are no distractions, and I think that helps you form a deep connection with nature. You begin to feel its rhythm.
Today, I want to share 30 pictures from my trip in hopes of inspiring you to visit this country. I’m not the world’s best photographer, but it’s hard to take a bad picture in Iceland.
Sulfur pools at Hverir near Lake Myvatn in the north of Iceland. Very otherworldly. If you’re traveling around the main road (the Ring Road) this is a must-see place in the north.
The northern lights lighting the sky up green. This is my favorite picture of them. You can usually seem them from September to March (as long as it’s not cloudy).
Runoff from the geothermal plant near Myvatn.
Somewhere along the Ring Road that circles the country.
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, and its colorful houses. It’s one of the most colorful cities in Europe.
It’s a fun city with a lively nightlife. Be sure to spend at least a couple of days here!
Jökulsárlón ice lagoon in the southeast of Iceland. This ice flow is only a couple of decades old and one of the most popular attractions in the area. I enjoyed just sitting down and listening to the ice blocks crash into each other on their way out to sea.
Best of all, it’s free to visit and there is lots of parking too. Be sure to walk along the narrow river that leads to the ocean. You can see smaller glaciers wash out to sea or end up on the beach.
Fjords on the eastern seaboard that could rival Norway.
Selfoss. Foss means waterfall in Icelandic, and you’ll find a lot of waterfalls throughout the country.
UFO cloud. The truth is out there.
A gigantic sulfur pool at Geysir. Geysir is a geyser that doesn’t erupt anymore. It was the first geyser known to Europeans and where the English word “geyser” originates from.
While Geysir is no longer active, the spot is still popular on the famous Golden Circle tourist trail outside Reykjavik thanks to another active geyser nearby called Strokkur.
Jökulsárlón ice lagoon in the southeast of Iceland. Keep your eyes peeled for seals when you visit!
Mordor… I mean, some beautiful landscape on the way to Myvatn in the north.
The color contrast in this photo blows my mind.
Gulfoss! Part of the Golden Circle, this is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. Its name means “The Golden Waterfall.” It was a really crappy day when I was there.
If you can, try to visit early before the crowds. Lots of tour buses visit the Golden Circle these days!
Looking onto the fjords.
Beautiful clouds above the harsh sea on the eastern end of Iceland.
The road is long in Iceland but it always takes you where you want to go.
More northern lights. You can never get tired of these.
Dettifoss. This waterfall is located in the north near Selfoss and supposed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The road to get here is super bumpy so plan extra time and drive slow or you might get a flat tire.
Icelandic horses playing around. (Look at that long, flowing hair! I wish I had hair like that!)
On a rainy day driving through southern Iceland, we came across these gigantic mountains covered in clouds. The photo doesn’t do the majesty justice but I still like it.
The backside of Seljalandsfoss. Out of all the pictures I took, this one is my favorite. I love the intermix of light, water, blue sky, and green here.
This is also one of the most popular waterfalls in the country. Try to visit before 10am to beat the crowds!
A moss-covered lava field in southern Iceland.
Iceland is the land of rainbows, and I was lucky enough to find the end of one. (No pot of gold though. It must have been on the other end!)
Front side of Seljalandsfoss (rainbow included). You can actually walk behind the waterfall here, though you’ll likely get a little wet so make sure you have a raincoat.
Little pools and lava rocks near Settifoss.
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you might recognize this cave as where Jon and Ygritte consummate their relationship. The water in the cave is warm enough to swim in and used to be a public pool.
Another sulfur pool is Hverir. I like the contrast between the blue water and red earth.
Myvatn Nature Baths. Quieter and less expensive than the famous Blue Lagoon outside Reykjavik. I relaxed here by myself for over an hour.
Northern lights. This was from early in the night when they were just starting to come out. No less beautiful.
I only managed to see a fraction of Iceland during my 11-day trip, but my visit lived up to my high expectations.
No photo or movie I saw did it justice. It was even better in person, and I hope these photos inspire you to move Iceland up on your bucket list.
My In-Depth Budget Guide to Iceland
Looking for more expert tips and awesome itineraries? Check out my brand new guide to Iceland! This two hundred page guidebook will help you get off the tourist trail, save money, and see the best of the country. You’ll see the local side of Iceland as I take you off the beaten path and give you my obsessively curated list of places to stay, eat, and things to see! Just click here to download it today!
Book Your Trip to Iceland: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
- Hlemmur Square (Reykjavik)
- Kex Hostel (Reykjavik)
- Akureyri Backpackers (Akureyri)
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Iceland?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide to Iceland for even more planning tips!
Daniel McBane
I’ve mentioned this before on another blog somewhere, but Icelandic horses always remind me of an Asian boy band with their hair.
Ashley
Beautiful photos! Every picture I see of Iceland is so impressive, so I can only imagine how unbelievable it would be to see these landscapes in person.
Desiree'
Iceland wasn’t that high up on my travel list until now. The photos are seriously gorgeous and you were really lucky to get to see the northern lights on your trip! Well done as always 🙂
Claire
Great shots!
Our trips overlapped for a few days. I wish we could have met.
I totally agree with you. I told people my only problem with Iceland was that my brain overloaded with beauty. Every 15 min you discover a new scenery that blows you away. It is hard to register all of it! But you feel deeply connected to Earth.
Katie
I completely agree that no photo can do it justice, it it the feeling of the place that makes it so special, as well as the jaw-dropping scenery. I only spent 7 days driving the ring road so I definitely need to get back there to explore more
Katie
I really had never thought much about Iceland until I saw your pics – gorgeous! The topography is so unique and diverse. I love the iceberg lagoon, geysers and of course the northern lights. Add in moss, rainbows and waterfalls – it’s magical! haha.
Pat and Carla
Great pictures, Iceland is such an awesome place. We first visited for one week. Most of the time was spent in Reykjavik but we rented a car and went as far as Vik on the southern coast and around the Snaessfellsness peninsula on the west coast. Before leaving we were planning our return trip. Last year we spent two weeks camping around the country. It was a such an amazing time. We STILL have an urge to go back, but we have to visit some more places before a third trip.
Neno
Amazing photos.
Iceland seems to me like the end of the world. Those nature baths look amazing. Friend of mine booked a 4×4 jeep tour couple of years ago.
It is not at the top of my list, but I definitely want to see it.
Neno
Sigurdur Bjorgvinsson
Great Photos!
I am glad that you enjoyed my home country Iceland, I can see that you visited almost every single place in the country and got some great photos on the way.
Did you get a chance to see the volcano?
NomadicMatt
I saw it glowing in the distance but not up close!
Peg Cheng
I’ve been wanting to visit Iceland for some time now so your photo essay came at just the right time, Matt! WOW. I love all the photos and all your fun captions too. You’re right. The landscape is breath-taking and awe-inspiring. That’s it. You’ve motivated me to move Iceland to the top of my trips abroad list. Thanks, Matt!
Natasha
I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland and I find your pictures absolutely beautiful, it must be gorgeous there! I like the colorful houses in Reykjavik and the Jokulsarlon ice lagoon is so unique. I’ve always wondered about the civilization there though, and their culture- I’d love to hear you thoughts on that.
Thanks for sharing your amazing photos!
Brian
Fantastic photos. Iceland has definitely make an entrance into my bucket lists and how I wish I could see those pictures in person.
How many days do you reckon would be enough to cover most if not all of iceland?
NomadicMatt
Most? 10 days. All of it? 3 weeks+
And that still wouldn’t be enough!
Georgia
Beautiful images Matt. I went to Iceland earlier this year and recognise a few of these – particularly the gorgeous Icelandic horses. Did you go on a horse trek? I didn’t get to see the glaciers though – massive regret, or the Northern Lights as I went in May.
I’ll definitely head back one day though.
Todd
Beautiful pictures. I want to go to Iceland now. I did not realize how much beauty there is there. I especially like the picture of the sulpher pools at Hverir. It certainly is otherworldly. I think an episode of Doctor Who could be filmed there. And the auroras always fascinate me. They are so beautiful. Its amazing that the energy of the sun creates these. Thanks for sharing.
Kunal Chaudhry
The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull back in 2010 definitely put Iceland on the map! My friend barely made it to her own wedding because of the flight cancellations the volcano had caused across Europe! Soon after, “Iceland” became the most Googled country, and lo and behold, climbed to the top of many bucket lists! These pics are amazing and Iceland is now at the top of my list! Thanks Matt!
Amanda C
So inspiring, Matt! Those photos are incredible. I’m thinking about spending my honeymoon in Iceland (slightly offbeat, right?) and your photos have me pretty convinced. I’m going to check out the rest of your Iceland posts and see if I can get more tips/inspiration to make this trip a reality! 🙂
Jón Baldvins
It´s a pure privilege to live 🙂 One has to deal with the Northern lights most days and then there is this nature thing peww. Endless geothermal energy and mild climate haha. Get over here and bring some warm and rain clothing. You will probably not regret anything. Aaaaand it´s not that expensive like many say. (hipsters think everything is expensive anyway)
Aaron Kearney
Hi Matt,
I’m relatively new to your blog however i’ve recently begun blogging my own travel adventures, and your blog is such a huge inspiration of what i can one day see mine looking like. Over the course of the years i’ve travelled across Europe, America, Canada, parts of Asia and my homeland Australia, all of which i’ve been joined by my trusty camera. My love for photography grows every time i see an unforgettable sight, such as the Grand Canyon, the Eiffel tower, Uluru, and the many many beautiful landscapes of Canada, being able to create an everlasting image of these sights to share with my friends and family is an amazing experience. Early next year i’ll be travelling to Europe for the second time, however for the first time i will also be visiting Iceland, however it’s just a short 3 day trip. Your photos are a huge inspiration of what possibilities lie ahead as i take on the golden circle, blue lagoon and of course the Northern Lights, where i hope to take home some beautiful photographs.
Aaron
Toni
Hi Nomadic Matt,
First and foremost, your photos are amazing. I think youre right, it woyls be almost impossible not to take great photos of Iceland. Thanks for sharing. Im looking to travel to Iceland in September for about 2 weeks. Thinking of going there mid to end of that month. One of the main things I plan to do is hitchhike around the country. You have a post on hitchhiking at some point of your travel which was really helpful. Any tips for me? Havent started planning yet but already purchased LP guidebook for some early rough planning. Appreciate your help and a big fan here.
T