You Simply Cannot Miss These Unique Places in Iceland

Are you looking for unique places in Iceland? Take a look at what we feel are must-see places that aren’t talked about as much! The famous places are great, but Iceland has so much more.

So, you are making your checklist of things you want to see in Iceland. Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík, Þingvellir National Park with North-American and Eurasian Tectonic plates, Geysir geothermal area, and Reynisfjara black sand beach are probably on the list. And they should. There is a reason these places are famous. But what unique places in Iceland should you check out as well?

Húsey

Image: Visitegilsstadir.is

Only about 55 kilometers away from Egilsstaðir, in East Iceland, is a place called Húsey or House Island. It is not an island but a place on the shore and is a great spot to explore untouched nature, birds, reindeer, and seals.

You can go horseback riding in the area which is nestled between Lake Lagarfljót and the glacial river Jökulsá á Dal, as well as hiking or enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Dettifoss

This waterfall was used in the first scene of the Hollywood movie Prometheus. You could see how powerful it was, but it is nothing compared to being there and seeing it for yourself.

Situated in North Iceland, this waterfall is the most powerful in Europe. It’s considered the most powerful due to its height and water flow, which is meltwater from the Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe.

Whale watching

Iceland is one of the best places in the world to go whale watching – if we do say so ourselves. And the best place in Iceland to do so is in North Iceland, even though tours from Reykjavík are excellent and fun. There is just something about going to Húsavík, checking out the whale museum, and then going whale watching.

Hike Mount Keilir

Image: Visitreykjavik.is

This 379m high palagonite mountain is a prominent feature of the Reykjanes Peninsula. The name means cone and refers to the shape of the mountain, and the view from the top of it is excellent. There is an easy hiking path up the mountain from the northeast side, but you will have to walk a bit from the parking lot before the actual hike begins. Do not let that stop you; the hike is worth it.

Horn í Hornafirði

Image: MBL.is

Not to be confused with the town Höfn í Hornafirði, Horn is an abandoned farmhouse. The name means corner so you will be visiting one of Iceland’s corners. Behind it, you see Mount Vestrahorn (Western Corner), which makes an eerie picture.

Since you are in the area, we recommend you check out Eystrahorn (Eastern Corner) and Brunnhorn (Well Corner) as well.

Hornafjörður is the beginning of the East Fjords, and the oldest parts of Iceland are the West and East Fjords, so the mountains are some of the oldest in the country, or about 15 million years old. The East Fjords are also a great place to find semiprecious stones, and Petra’s Stone Collection in Stöðvarfjörður is one of Iceland’s most excellent museums, especially for those interested in geology.

Hólmavík

Image: galdrasyning.is

The small town of Hólmavík in the West Fjords has only about 400 inhabitants, but that does not stop them from having one of the most interesting museums in the country; the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft. It specializes in Icelandic folklore on sorcery, witchcraft, and magic, and you can find the only “real” necropants in Iceland.

Connected to the museum is a restaurant where you can get traditional Icelandic kjötsúpa or meat soup.

If you go to Hólmavík, you really should keep on going and check out the rest of the West Fjords, such as Hornstrandir (nature preserve which has no roads), Látrabjarg (the largest bird cliff in Europe), and Rauðisandur beach to name a few.