Things to Do in Reykjavik

The Silfra fissure is a water-filled crack between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, where the two continents drift apart from each other. Water travels from the Langjökull glacier through porous lava rock during a journey that takes between 30 and 100 years before seeping into the fissure. 

Many visitors see the Silfra fissure during trips to Thingvellir National Park. To truly appreciate the fissure, it's best to go diving or snorkeling in the transparent water, which is lined with volcanic rocks. 

Only PADI-qualified divers with dry-suit certification can dive in the fissure, but snorkeling is available to all travelers, even those with no prior experience. Guided snorkeling tours of the fissure typically depart from Reykjavik. Some organized tours include other activities, such as spelunking in Gjábakkahellir or Leiðarendi lava caves. Other tours make stops along the Golden Circle at sights including Haukadalur, a geothermal valley home to Gullfoss waterfall and the great geyser and nearby Strokkur.  

The Silfra fissure is located within Thingvellir National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where the world's first parliament met in the 10th century. Driving from Reykjavik to the fissure takes around an hour. 

Because the water that feeds Silfra travels underground, it maintains a constant temperature and doesn't freeze over. For this reason, snorkeling and diving tours are available year-round. Silfra is busier in summer; get there early in the day when crowds are thinner. 

The Silfra fissure isn't home to a multitude of marine life"”most fish prefer the warmer waters of Thingvellir lake"”but it is a breeding ground for many different types of algae. It also boasts some of the clearest waters in the world, with the natural purification process ensuring divers enjoy visibility exceeding 328 feet (100 meters). 

Positioned right between the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers in southern Iceland, Fimmvörðuháls roughly consists of a 25-kilometer-long and 1,000-meter-high pass accessible to visitors between mid-June and late-August. Its location makes it one of the most sought-after hiking trails in the country, with some travelers opting for a six-day trip by adding in 

Landmannalaugar and Thórsmörk nature preserves. The Fimmvörðuháls trail alone takes between eight and 10 hours to complete.

There are two mountain huts "“ the first one is modern and the second is quite rudimentary "“ along the route. The journey from Skógar to Thórsmörk is one of the most memorable hiking experiences in the country, if not the world, as it offers splendid panoramas of south Iceland, and of the new lava fields formed by the infamous Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010.

A small eruption actually took place at Fimmvörðuháls following months of earthquakes under the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, just a few weeks before the big outbreak. This eruption produced a 300-meter-long fissure on the northern part of the pass, creating two new craters that later on erupted toward Thórsmörk, briefly stopping tours and hikes in the process. A small reminder that Iceland, despite being on everybody's lips lately, is still a very wild, unpredictable place to travel to. 

With its natural fjords encircled by lava fields and bustling port bobbing with fishing boats, Hafnafjörður makes a lively alternative to neighboring Reykjavík and at just a 20-minute drive from the capital, it's become a popular retreat for both locals and tourists. As the gateway to the scenic Reykjanes peninsula, Hafnafjörður's spectacular surroundings are its main draw and hiking, bird watching, horse riding and whale watching cruises are all popular activities.

There's plenty to see and do in the town itself too, and visitors can soak in one of Hafnarfjordur's three thermal pools, learn about the town's history at the Hafnarfjordur museum, explore the bubbling mud pools at Hellisgerdi Lava Park or visit for one of the many atmospheric seasonal events, like the annual Viking Festival in June or the festive markets held over the Christmas period. 

Iceland, the "land of fire and ice," is a hotbed of volcanic activity. It's one of the most active volcanic regions on the planet, yet the Thrihnukagigur volcano has been dormant for thousands of years. Because no recent eruptions have sealed it shut, Thrihnukagigur is the only place in the world where you can safely descend directly into a volcano's magma chamber.

Thrihnukagigur is a relatively new sightseeing destination. It was only discovered, by an Icelandic cave explorer, in the 1970s and opened up to tourists in 2012. Travelers can experience it by booking a guided tour. It's about a half-hour south of Reykjavik and tours typically begin with a 2-mile (3-kilometer) hike to the volcano across a lava field. Visitors then board an open elevator for a 6-minute journey that descends 700 feet (213 meters) into the magma chamber. There you are free to explore the dormant volcano's cave floor, its vividly colored rocks, and frozen magma icicles, for usually around 35 to 40 minutes. After returning to the surface, visitors are typically rewarded for their efforts with a bowl of traditional Icelandic meat soup.

 

Tours involve a moderate amount of walking but helicopter tours are available for those unable to do the hike.

Thrihnukagigur is in southwest Iceland, about a 30-minute drive from Reykjavik, via the Golden Circle or Ring Road, or a 50-minute drive from Keflavik International Airport. There is no public transport to the site. You can skip the hassle of driving by booking with a tour that includes pickup and drop-off from Reykjavik hotels.

Tours usually only run during the spring and summer months and take place during the day"”check with the operators to confirm. If you want a more personal experience, you can book a private tour, which typically run in the early mornings. Iceland's long summer days and short nights make getting up early a breeze.

Iceland is the only place in the world where you can venture inside a volcano's magma chamber. Thrihnukagigur is easily accessible from Reykjavik and makes for a straightforward day trip, especially if you book a tour that includes round-trip transport.

The Icelandic island of Akurey lies off Reykjavik's shore in the Kollafjordur fjord. Many puffins nest here each summer"”a big draw for visitors keen on sighting the seabirds. Puffins nest in the same burrows year after year, laying a single egg each spring, feeding their puffling for a month or two before heading back out to the open sea.

 

Many puffin-watching tours also cruise by Lundey (literally "Puffin Island" in Icelandic). While you cannot land on either island, boat tours get close enough to see the puffins. Naturalist guides are on hand to share interesting facts about the birds' behavior. Akurey is uninhabited, which is why it has become such a thriving haven for nesting seabirds. Although puffins are the main draw, you can also see cormorants, black guillemots, kittiwakes, and Arctic terns.

 

Akurey is only accessible by boat. Organized tours generally depart from Reykjavik's Old Harbour (a short walk from downtown) and take visitors out into the bay aboard yachts, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), or replicas of traditional Icelandic sailboats.

 

Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives far out at sea, only coming onto land to breed and nest during the summer. From early April through September (the only period of time you will see them in Northern Europe), multiple tours depart throughout the day.

You can combine puffin spotting with whale watching on a tour that combines both around Akurey. During roughly the same season (April through October), you can spot minke and humpback whales in Faxafloi Bay.