Your Trip to Iceland: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next How to See the Northern Lights Best Icelandic Hot Springs Skiing in Iceland Top Things to Do in Reykjavik Free Things to Do in Reykjavik Reykjavik's Best Museums Shopping in Reykjavik Guide to the Blue Lagoon Food to Try in Iceland Best Restaurants in Reykjavik Top Reykjavik Bars Craft Beer in Iceland Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Top Places to Visit in Iceland Keflavik International Airport Guide Best Hotels in Reykjavik Driving in Iceland Tipping in Iceland Staying Safe in Iceland Helpful Words and Phrases Best Tours in Iceland Top Northern Lights Tours Seven-Day Iceland Itinerary 48 Hours in Reykjavik Day Trips From Reykjavik Top Things to Do in Iceland Best Beaches in Iceland Hiking in Iceland Your Trip to Iceland: The Complete Guide close Overview Europe Iceland The Best 10 Hikes in Iceland By Erika Owen Erika Owen Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Erika Owen is a self-proclaimed Professional Iceland Enthusiast, covering everything from boutique hotels to ATV tours. She's also a product reviewer who's tested out everything from airplane pillows to travel adapters for TripSavvy. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/06/19 Share Pin Email Iceland is the perfect destination for those looking for adventure and great hiking opportunities. Almost every popular outdoor space has options for all levels of physical ability. The trails loop long, but they also have quicker outs for those looking for a shorter jaunt. Choosing a hike in a country with thousands of trails—some marked and others not—can be overwhelming. These 10 hikes range from a few hours to a few days, and for some, you’ll even want to hire a guide to lead you. Read up and grab your hiking boots. 01 of 10 Glymur TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove View Map Address Iceland Get directions If you’ve only got an afternoon, head an hour north of Reykjavik toward Glymur, the second-tallest waterfall in the country. The hike can take upwards of four hours round-trip, but you’ll spot an impressive array of natural attractions along the way (caves, streams, mountain valleys). The beginning of this hike is relatively easy, and it's convenient to turn around whenever you want and only do part of it, making it a great option for beginners. There is a bit of steep climbing once you get closer to the falls, but there are ropes available for added support. 02 of 10 Landmannalaugar Lepretre Pierre View Map Address Landmannalaugar, Iceland Get directions If hot springs, colorful mountain valleys, lava fields, and sulphur deposits are your kind of thing, spend some time researching Landmannalaugar. Located in the Southern Highlands, this is a very technical area best suited for experienced hikers. You can also hire a guide to lead you through this region, as it’s best experienced over multiple days (ideally four). There are shorter hikes in the area, but getting to Landmannalaugar can be a bit of a journey, especially if the weather is bad. The system of trails in this region will lead you across fields of lava rock, through rainbow-hued valleys, and to the iconic Thorsmark canyon. 03 of 10 Viknaslodir Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo/Getty Images View Map Address Seydisfjordur, Iceland Get directions Web Visit website The best way to take in the eastern fjords of Iceland is by exploring the Viknaslodir trail system. This is the spot for advanced trail hikers as you can spend up to 10 days exploring the area. You can cut that time in half if you just take on the north or south part of the region. Here, you’ll walk past black sand beaches, stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, and ruins of long-gone homes. Getting here is a trip: It’ll take you eight hours from Reykjavik by car. If you’re really short on time, do the three-day hike between Seyðisfjörður to Borgarfjörður. 04 of 10 Hornstrandir Created by Tomas Zrna/Getty View Map Address Hornstrandir, Iceland Get directions Hornstrandir covers the country’s northernmost peninsula and it comes with dramatic cliff sides, lush green fields, and misty mornings. You’ll also find a nature reserve here, which is a prime area for quick and easy hikes. This area is completely what you make it, as you can also find six-day treks. There are countless suggestions on how to tackle this region, so it’s best to figure out how many days you can dedicate to exploring and research an itinerary best fitting your schedule. The weather in this region is also incredibly unpredictable — like most places in Iceland — so be sure to prepare for last-minute itinerary changes. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Reykjadalur Hot Spring River Karol Majewski View Map Address Reykjadalur, Iceland Get directions For the less serious hikers, head 40 minutes north of Reykjavik to Reykjadalur where you’ll find a hot river stream running through the mountain valley. There’s a parking lot that drops you into the beginning of the path, which is surrounded by a couple of small geysirs. You’ll walk through the valley and toward even more geysirs — you’ll see the steam (and smell the sulphur) before you actually see the geysirs. Once you get to the hot springs, which is about a 40-minute hike from the parking lot, you’ll find a wooden boardwalk running alongside the water. The further up you walk on the boardwalk, the warmer the water will be. 06 of 10 Laugavegur Henn Photography / Aurora Photos/Getty View Map Address Laugavegur, Reykjavík, Iceland Get directions Attempt this hike during the summer months, as the Highlands area can be quite treacherous during the winter. For the full experience, you can hike the entirety of Laugavegur, which will drop you at Þórsmörk (more on that next). Set aside four days if you’re hiking through. You can choose to do this hike going from north to south or vice versa, the latter will give you more elevation to tackle, but you’ll get fewer hikers along the way. Take note that the only safe hot spring to swim in is Landmannalaugar, so don’t miss that opportunity to rest your sore muscles. You will hit different elevations — and different amounts of snow, depending on the time of year — so plan ahead and book your lodging (there are huts available to rent along the trail) ahead of time. They fill up fast. 07 of 10 Þórsmörk MartinM303/Getty View Map Address Thórsmörk, Iceland Get directions This is a fantastic spot to catch a day-long hike. There are multiple trails to choose from and, if you find yourself enjoying it so much you want to add even more time in the area, you can hike to Skógar, a wonderful route full of waterfalls, volcanic craters, and other geological wonders. Þórsmörk itself is stunning: Named after the Norse God Thor, the area looks as if Thor himself smashed down his hammed to create the canyon so many people love to explore. 08 of 10 Askja Jan Drahokoupil/Getty View Map Address Askja, Iceland Get directions If you’ve got two hours to spare and you find yourself in the northern reaches of Vatnajökull National Park, head over to Askja, an area with a crystal-blue lake located inside a volcanic caldera. You can hike to the crest of the crater and you won’t regret it once you see the views. It’s best to visit this area in the summertime as it’s located in the Highlands and can be impossible to reach during the winter. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Snaefellsjokull TripSavvy / Christopher Larson View Map Address Snæfellsjökull, Iceland Get directions If you’ve ever dreamed of hiking on a glacier, head to Snæfellsjökull. This moderate hike will lead you to the top of one of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes. You can join a tour group to do this hike, as well, as many operators offer such experiences and it’s encouraged if you’re not an experienced hiker or if you’re taking the trek on during the winter. There are a ton of trails in West Iceland, so it’s worth looking into spending a full weekend exploring the area. To hike to the top of Snæfellsjökull, plan a full afternoon. 10 of 10 Mount Esja powerofforever/Getty View Map Address Mógilsá, Iceland Get directions If you’re sticking near Reykjavik, but still want a bit of a hike, head across the harbor to Mount Esja. You can spot the mountain from downtown Reykjavik and it offers the perfect afternoon getaway. The beginning of the trail begins in Mógilsá, about a 20-minute drive from Reykjavik, and takes you straight up the mountain. This hike isn’t nearly as technical as the others you’ll find on this list and it’ll only take a few hours out of your day. There’s even a guest book at the top you’re invited to sign. How to See the Northern Lights in Iceland Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit