14 Must-See West Iceland Attractions:
If you want to visit Iceland, you have to visit the beautiful attractions in west Iceland. The west coast of Iceland has some of the most beautiful things to do that should be on every bucket list. West Iceland has waterfalls, mountains, lakes, hot springs, and beaches, so it has something for everyone.
It is also easy to visit because it is near the airport and Reykjavik. You can either stay in Reykjavik the entire trip or find multiple accommodations as you travel throughout west Iceland. The west Iceland attractions will not disappoint, I promise! This guide has everything you need to know about the best west Iceland attractions!
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The Best West Iceland Attractions
**Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Kleifarvatn Lake
Kleifarvatn Lake is the largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula in West Iceland and is 318 feet deep. An earthquake in 2000 created a fissure in the middle of the lake and drained most of the water, but over the years it refilled back to its original state.
Kleifarvatn Lake is often overlooked, but I promise you will fall in love with this west Iceland attraction! We visited because we wanted to do something near the airport before we headed into the city, and we were in awe of the beauty of the area!
The stunning lake is easy to get to and surrounded by beautiful mountains. You can spend your time enjoying the lake, hiking, or seeing the Northern Lights. Because there is not much light pollution near Kleifarvatn Lake, it’s the perfect place to see the Northern Lights!
Þórsmörk (Thorsmork)
Þórsmörk is a valley and mountain range between three glaciers, Tindfjallajokull, Myrdalsjokull, and Eyjafjallajokull. There is so much to do in Þórsmörk, and you could spend anywhere from a day to a week exploring this beautiful west Iceland attraction.
Do you want to hike? There are many trails. Do you want to go on a glacier tour? You can book one. Do you want to walk around and take pictures of Iceland’s beautiful lands? You are in the right place! Oh, and you want to see some beautiful waterfalls on your way there? There are plenty!
The easiest way to get into Þórsmörk is by mountain bus. The F road leading to Thorsmork is incredibly bumpy and difficult to drive with deep river crossings. I highly recommend booking a ticket on a special mountain bus that can easily take you into and out of Þórsmörk.
Hiking is one of the best ways to explore everything Þórsmörk offers, and you have many hikes to choose from for all levels. Wether you want to hike a short trail or one of the longest trails in Iceland, Þórsmörk has a trail for you! Below are a few of the best hikes in these highlands.
Valahnukur - 1.5 miles round trip
Langidalur - Valahukur Loop - 2.7 miles round trip
Thorsmork Loop - 6.2 miles round trip
Básar - Móði Loop - 9.5 miles round trip
If you want long or multi-day hikes, do not worry! Þórsmörk has those for you, too! Laugavegur is a 34-mile trek that brings you to Landmannalaugar (I talk about Landmannalaugar later in this post). Fimmvörðuháls is a beautiful, but strenuous, 16-mile hike, bringing you past Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull as well as 26 waterfalls. Both are not for the faint of hearts but well worth the journey if you are up to it!
No matter how you decide to explore Þórsmörk, it will quickly become one of your favorite places in West Iceland!
Háifoss
Háifoss is the fourth tallest waterfall in Iceland, measuring 400 feet tall, and is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in west Iceland. It is my favorite waterfall we visited in Iceland, and I know you will fall in love with it!
The best part about this spot is your position to Háifoss. The viewpoint is on the cliff opposite Háifoss, so the view is incredible. You also have the chance to hike to the bottom of the waterfall! Surprisingly, there aren’t many people who drive here, so you are likely to enjoy it without the crowds.
If you want to avoid driving on the F road, you can still hike to the bottom of the waterfalls! The hike begins in Stong and is about 6 miles, following the river upstream until you get to the waterfall.
Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar, also known as the People’s Pool, is a beautiful place in west Iceland with multi-colored mountains, lava fields, and volcanoes! It is a popular area for a day-hike or multi-day hiking and offers beautiful, natural hot springs (hence the name “People’s Pool”).
Landmannalaugar, however, is difficult to get to because many of the F roads leading to it require river crossings. If you are too nervous to cross any rivers like we were, you are in luck! Taking F208 from the north will lead you in without any river crossings. And it will lead you to a camping site with a beautiful hot spring. However, the road is very long and bumpy, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get into this magical place.
If you want to do a multi-day hike, I suggest the Laugavegur trek, which is 34 miles and brings you to Þórsmörk. The entire hike is breathtaking! If you don’t want to do a multi-day hike, have no fear, there are plenty of hikes for you! Mt Bláhnjúkur, also known as Blue Peak, is a 4-mile, relatively easy loop and gives you amazing views of the Laugahraun Lava field and multi-colored mountains. Another fun hike is the Sulphur Wave Trail, which loops through the Laugahraun Lava field.
Although the drive is long and difficult, you will not regret visiting this beautiful west Iceland attraction! It is our favorite place in the Iceland highlands that we visited. The trails we hiked were incredible, and we were in awe of the views. You will not be disappointed!
Fjaðrárgljúfur
Fjaðrárgljúfur is by far one of the most beautiful attractions in west Iceland. It is a gorgeous canyon about 330 feet deep and over a mile long. The area was created many moons ago by the erosion of glacier water. Fjaðrárgljúfur is easy to find because it is about 2 miles off of the Ring Road.
This is a popular place, so you will know you made it once you see the influx of cars. The area has a few hiking paths that take you around Fjaðrárgljúfur, offering views of the canyon and nearby waterfalls. You will fall in love with Fjaðrárgljúfur as soon as you lay your eyes on it!
When we visited, we were in awe of how beautiful the canyon was! We went on a moody day which honestly was amazing and made the greens pop. It quickly became one of our favorite places in west Iceland!
Reynisfjara
Reynisfjara is the infamous black sand beach near Vík and should be on every west Iceland itinerary. The sand on Reynisfjara is from eroded volcanic rock, which gives it a black color, and it is beautiful!
There is a lot to see here, so get your cameras ready! You have the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, the Hálsanefshellir sea cave, and the Gardar cliff. BUT before you begin exploring, take note of the ocean. The waves can be unpredictable on the beach. People have been taken out to sea for not paying attention.
There is also a cliff nearby where Dyrhólaey Lighthouse is located. It is a short drive to the top of the cliff, where you can see the beach for miles. You can also see Dyrholaey Arch from here! Once you take in the beautiful views of the black sand beach, turn around, and take in the view of the multi-colored mountains and glaciers! You can see Myrdalsjokull and Eyjafjallajokull from here. The entire area near Reynisfjara is stunning, and it was one of our favorite places near Vik!
Glymur
Glymur is the second tallest waterfall in Iceland, standing at 643 feet, and is one of the best waterfalls in west Iceland. You have to work to get to this waterfall, but the 5 miles round trip hike is really fun!
The trail travels through a cave, up steep inclines, and crosses two rivers. Once you get to the Glymur viewpoint, you can experience the beauty of the waterfall and the views overlooking the valley.
The hike to Glymur was one of our favorite hikes because the views of the surrounding area and waterfall were incredible! We loved sitting near the top viewpoint overlooking the mountains.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is a beautiful 200-foot waterfall you probably have seen because it is the iconic waterfall you can walk behind! The trail to walk behind Seljalandsfoss is easy, but make sure to bring a raincoat because you will get soaked! Walking behind Seljalandsfoss was one of my favorite things to do!
One of the best parts about Seljalandsfoss is it doesn’t require driving on any F roads. It is easy to get to, which makes it a popular area. I recommend visiting Seljalandsfoss early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid most crowds!
Skógafoss
Not too far past Seljalandsfoss on the Ring Road is another famous waterfall in west Iceland, Skógafoss. It is just as tall as Seljalandsfoss but is 82 feet wide, so it is a powerful waterfall. Similar to Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss is right off the Ring Road, so it usually has crowds.
You can enjoy the views of Skógafoss from the bottom of the falls or on the side of it. There are about 530 steep steps to get to the top, but it is worth it for the views! You will fall in love with Skógafoss, no matter how you decide to experience it!
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is an iconic waterfall in west Iceland located on the Hvítá River, fed by the second-largest glacier in Iceland, Langjökull. Gullfoss is easily accessible off of the Ring Road near the Great Geysir, so the area is usually busy. The waterfall cascades down in two sections, one 36 feet high and the other 69 feet high, into a 1.6-mile long canyon. It is the largest volume falls in Europe, so it is incredibly powerful!
Gullfoss in Icelandic means “Golden Waterfall”. Because the water is glacier-fed, it carries sediments, giving the water a golden color on a sunny day. You can also see thousands of rainbows on a sunny day! You can get up close and personal to this beautiful waterfall by following a path from the parking lot that brings you alongside it.
Kerid Crater Lake
Kerid Crater Lake is a volcanic crater with a lake in the middle, and it is beautiful! It is one of the few things you have to pay for (not including tours) in this 7-day Iceland itinerary. The small entrance fee goes to help them keep the place beautiful and preserved, so in my opinion, it is worth it. You can hike around the lake or the rim of Kerid Crater.
The hike to Kerid Crater is fun and a great thing to do as you are driving around west Iceland! We loved the hike and views of the lake in the crater.
Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull is one of the smaller glaciers in Iceland but doesn’t lack beauty. The road to the glacier is relatively easy compared to other roads to attractions in West Iceland, and once you are parked, it is a small hike to the glacier viewpoint. There is also a glacier walk that takes 3 hours, and the guide brings you all over the glacier. It’s an incredible way to explore the glacier and get an up-close and personal experience with it!
Bruarfoss
Not all of the waterfalls in Iceland have to be big to be beautiful, and Bruarfoss is a perfect example of that. Because it is glacier-fed and multiple streams are converging into a deep crevice in one place, the water takes on a bright blue color. And yes, the water is that blue!
The path to Bruarfoss is difficult to follow at first but becomes easier as you travel on it longer. Once you get to the end of the trail, there is a bridge overlooking Bruarfoss, where you can enjoy the beautiful views.
Because Bruarfoss is difficult to find, and the parking lot is small, it can be very peaceful here. It’s a nice change of pace being away from the crowds that gather at most of the other waterfalls in West Iceland!
Kirkjufell
If you have ever seen an advertisement for Iceland, you have seen Kirkjufell. It is an iconic mountain in west Iceland and is also one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland because of its isolated position by the sea. It has a small and beautiful waterfall named Kirkjufellafoss, and both are on the Snæfellsness peninsular in the northwestern part of Iceland.
There is a small parking lot near Kirkjufellafoss that is always crowded. Many people want the iconic picture of the waterfall and Kurkjufell, especially during sunset, so be prepared. I highly recommend visiting during sunset, though, because the area is stunning in golden light. You won’t be the only person there, but it’s worth it, I promise!
What to Pack for West Iceland
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
If you are looking for the best things to do in West Iceland, this guide is perfect for you! It has everything you need to know about the best West Iceland attractions that you should add to your itinerary.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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