The Ultimate Travel Guide to Iceland: History & Attractions

Land of fire and ice — witness the Northern Lights, erupting geysers, black sand beaches and midnight sun.

A Glimpse into History

Iceland is Europe's youngest country geologically — still being formed by volcanic eruptions — and one of its oldest societies politically. The island was discovered by Irish monks around 795 AD, who called it Thule, before Norse settlers arrived from Norway and the British Isles between 874–930 AD. The world's first democratic parliament — the Althing — was established at Þingvellir in 930 AD, where free settlers (not under a king) debated laws and resolved disputes. The sagas — epic Norse prose narratives written in the 13th century describing the Viking age, settlement of Iceland, and Icelandic explorers like Leifr Eiríksson who reached North America 500 years before Columbus — represent one of medieval literature's greatest achievements. Christianity was adopted peacefully at the Althing in the year 1000. Iceland came under Norwegian (1262) and then Danish control (1397), remaining a Danish colony for five centuries. A severe 1783 volcanic eruption killed over 9,000 people — a quarter of the population — and the poisonous haze caused crop failures across Europe. Independence came gradually: home rule in 1904, sovereignty in 1918, and full republic in 1944 (while Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany). The 1970s Cod Wars with Britain over fishing rights nearly broke the NATO alliance but Iceland prevailed. The 2008 banking collapse devastated the country but unprecedented recovery followed. Today Iceland is consistently ranked among the world's happiest, most gender-equal, and most peaceful societies, powered almost entirely by renewable geothermal and hydroelectric energy.

Top Attractions in Iceland

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

The aurora borealis — solar wind particles colliding with Earth's atmosphere at 100+ km altitude — creates curtains of dancing green, pink, and purple light across Iceland's dark skies from September through March. Iceland's combination of darkness, clear skies, and minimal light pollution make it the world's most accessible destination for Northern Lights viewing.

Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir & Gullfoss

Iceland's most famous day trip covers three astonishing sites: Þingvellir National Park where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates (and snorkel in the crystal-clear Silfra fissure between them); the Geysir geothermal area where Strokkur erupts a 20-metre plume every 5–10 minutes; and Gullfoss — the Golden Waterfall — cascading in two tiers into a canyon.

Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa

The Blue Lagoon's milky blue waters at 39°C are rich in silica, algae, and minerals that feed the skin — a byproduct of the nearby geothermal power plant cooling process that has become Iceland's most-visited attraction. The surreal landscape of volcanic black lava fields surrounding the luminous blue water, with steam rising and snow falling, is uniquely Icelandic.

Vatnajökull Glacier & Ice Caves

Europe's largest glacier by volume covers 8% of Iceland and conceals active volcanoes beneath its ice. In winter (November to March), natural ice caves form inside the glacier's edge — crystal blue cathedrals of compressed 1,000-year-old ice sculpted by meltwater streams. The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon nearby is studded with drifting blue icebergs calved from the glacier edge.

Skógafoss Waterfall

Skógafoss plunges 60 metres in a 25-metre wide curtain of white water that generates a permanent rainbow in sunlight and produces such powerful mist you can walk right behind it. The 527-step staircase to the left of the falls rewards climbers with the beginning of the Fimmvörðuháls trekking trail — a stunning 25 km route through volcanic landscapes to Þórsmörk valley.