Winter expedition to Iceland with Northern Lights

Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church in Iceland and one of the most important symbols of the country. It is located in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, and is named after Hallgrimur Pétursson, an Icelandic cleric and poet. The church was built between 1945 and 1986 and is made of black basalt, which is typical of the Icelandic landscape.

Its design is inspired by Reynisdrangar, two cliffs located in the south of Iceland. The church is 74 metres high and is the tallest building in Iceland. Hallgrímskirkja is a popular tourist destination. The view in the church tower, where the elevator leads, is also great. There is no entrance fee to the church, but there is to this viewpoint. A ticket for one will cost 1 300 ISK (year 2023), which is slightly over 200 CZK. There is a beautiful view of the whole of Reykjavik, so the “investment” is definitely worth it.

With this extraordinary structure towering over virtually all of Reykjavík, it is a beautiful sight from many other places in the city, such as the famous Rainbow Street.

Rainbow Street is one of the main streets in the capital city of Reykjavík, Iceland. As you might guess, this is due to the painting of the roadway in rainbow colours, which took place in 2015 as a celebration of tolerance as part of the Pride festival. Pride in particular is a popular event in Iceland, and has been repeated annually since 1999. Rainbow Street is a beautiful street and area in general, not only because of the coloring of the road, but also the view of the majestic Hallgrímskirkja Church. There are also many shops and restaurants in the area.

Rainbow Street is not the only road painted in rainbow colours in Iceland. In the north of the island, in the town of Seyðisfjörður, there is a similar street leading to the local church.

Harpa Concert Hall is a modern concert hall located in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. It is one of the most important architectural structures in Iceland and is a popular tourist destination. The hall was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and Icelandic architect Olafemurm Eliasson. It is made of coloured glass panels that create a unique and futuristic atmosphere. The concert hall is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and hosts many international concerts and performances.

Harpa’s location near Reykjavík harbour, just over a kilometre away from the city centre, makes it a must-see not only in Reykjavík, but in Iceland in general. It is a truly beautiful and photogenic building, whatever the weather.

Sun Voyager is a statue/sculpture located in Reykjavik, Iceland. It is a popular spot in the capital, especially among photographers. It is also very accessible from the city center, where it is only a few hundred meters away. The statue was created by Jón Gunnar Árnason, an Icelandic sculptor, in 1990. It is made of steel and copper and is in the shape of a ship hurtling into the sun. The statue is a symbol of hope and dreams.

If you visit this place, ideally continue further along the coast towards the next major site, which is the Harpa concert hall.

Urriðafoss is a huge waterfall located on the river Þjórsá. The Þjórsá is the longest river in Iceland, approximately 230 kilometres long. This waterfall can be found at the very edge of the Golden Circle, within which is the more famous Gullfoss waterfall. The average flow of the Urriðafoss is 350 m3 per second, but during the spring thaw it can rise to 1 000 – 1 500 m3 per second.

It’s just a few steps from the parking lot, be sure to stop here if you’re headed to Southeast Iceland or the aforementioned Golden Circle. There is a newly created trail with a viewing platform and informational signs.

Seljalandsfoss is a breathtaking waterfall in Iceland, located on the southern coast of the island. It is one of the most famous and most visited waterfalls in Iceland.

What makes Seljalandsfoss special is the fact that visitors can walk behind the cascading water curtain, which is a truly incredible experience. The waterfall falls about 60 metres from the cliff.

Thanks to the path leading behind the waterfall, you can admire the waterfall from a different perspective and as you start to approach the waterfall, you will feel the ever-present dew.

Access to Seljalandsfoss is easy, with parking and well-maintained trails. Visitors can explore the waterfall at their own pace and admire the views. There are several spots near the waterfall from which you will get great photos.

Seljalandsfoss is located near the famous Ring Road, which is why it is a popular tourist destination. It is therefore recommended to plan your visit to the waterfall for the morning, before the parking lot starts to fill up with buses of tourists. It’s a must-see for hikers and photographers, and a stop at it won’t take much time. But we definitely recommend combining your visit with the next waterfall, Gljúfrabúi.

The road to Dyrhólaey is pretty steep, so take it slow. This place is famous for its dramatic cliffs, black sand beaches and the iconic rock arch that juts out into the ocean. It’s easily accessible, and you can park your car in the parking lot almost right next to the lighthouse. It’s up to you how far you choose to walk, the views are amazing. There is quite a bit of wind in the area, be prepared for that. From late April to August you can see puffins here in the morning or evening, during the day they are usually by the sea catching food. It is a small seabird with a typical brightly coloured bill.

Reynisfjara beach is one of the most famous and photographed places in Iceland – a combination of black sand and beautiful cliffs. It is located in the south of the island, near the village of Vík í Mýrdal. The beach is famous for its black sand, which is made up of volcanic ash and other volcanic rocks. The beach is also known for its basalt cliffs that rise above the sea. These cliffs are called Reynisdrangar and are home to a variety of birds, including seagulls and sea eagles.

Reynisfjara is not only beautiful, but unfortunately also a very dangerous place, especially for “inexperienced” tourists. It has happened several times that sneaker waves (which can be translated as creeping waves), which appear insidiously fast and unexpectedly, dragged tourists who had their backs to the ocean and were not paying attention to this danger into the water.

But Reynisfjara is far from the only black beach in Iceland, there is another black beach nearby, basically on the border of the town of Vík, which offers similarly beautiful views and the absolute minimum of people, which unfortunately cannot be said about this more famous beach.

Katla Ice Cave is located under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in Iceland and is one of the most beautiful places on the south coast of the island. Forming near the active Katla volcano, the ice cave offers visitors the chance to explore a world quite different from the ordinary landscape – the beautiful blue ice walls, dramatic glacial formations and ever-changing structures create a surreal atmosphere. The caves around the glacier can only be accessed with an organised group; we can recommend Katlatrack on our behalf.

The expedition includes a visit to the ice caves, interpretation from experienced guides including information about the geology of the area, as well as transport from the town of Vík to this area. We visited Katla Ice Cave in the winter season (February 2024), when the journey by car with giant wheels and the subsequent hike with slingbacks on our feet was a real treat. We opted for a 3 hour hike, but there are more options on offer.

During the whole expedition you have enough time to take photos or ask for details about the cave and the whole area. Although it is not the cheapest expedition, we can recommend it.

Note: When we visited in February 2024, the iconic ice arch was still in place and had even been walked through before the winter of 2024. However, it has collapsed over the summer, but other spectacles in the area are taking shape. That’s what’s interesting about Katla Glacier too – it will always look different on a return visit.

The black sand beach in Vík is a less touristy version of Reynisfjara beach. We stopped here on our way from Vík and can definitely recommend it. Reynisfjara beach can get pretty crowded, but we were always alone here. Leave the car right by the beach, a few steps and you’re there.

Víkurkirkja is an iconic church, towering over the town of Vík, on the south-east coast of Iceland, which is particularly famous for its bright red roof. You basically can’t miss the church when passing through Vík, and as it’s a really short detour, this stop shouldn’t be missed on your itinerary.

From here you have a beautiful view not only of the whole of Vík, but also of the nearby black beach with rock formations, which are especially visible from the most famous black beach, Reynisjara.

The Sólheimajökull glacier in south-east Iceland is a magnet for travellers of unique beauty. It is a very accessible view at the foot of the glacier. The glacier itself, however, can only be seen as part of a guided hike.

The view here is beautiful not only of the glacier itself, its structure, but especially of the surrounding mountains and the lake into which the giant glacial ice falls. You can see the glacier retreat “live”, provided you visit in the summer months. In winter, it is truly an ice kingdom, as we had the opportunity to see for ourselves.

Skógafoss is one of the most famous and most visited waterfalls on the island. With a height of over 60 metres and a wide waterfall, Skógafoss is truly a natural wonder of Iceland. Its mighty flow of water creates clouds of dew and offers a breathtaking view.

This waterfall is located in a picturesque landscape near the village of Skógar. The surrounding mountain peaks and green valleys create a beautiful backdrop for Skógafoss and add to its charm.

Skógafoss is also known for its characteristic width of less than 25 metres. You can walk directly to the waterfall. Along the waterfall, a path leads up steps to a viewpoint where you can look down on the waterfall from above, or you can continue along the path to other waterfalls: Hestavaðsfoss, Fosstorfufoss, Steinbogafoss, Fremri-Fellsfoss, Innri-Fellsfoss, Kæfufoss and Skalabrekkufoss.

Skógafoss is easily accessible and there is a car park right next to it. It is a popular stop for tourists on the southern part of the island. Because of its accessibility, it tends to get a lot of tourists, so the walk up the stairs can be long, but the views are definitely worth it.

Kvernufoss is a hidden waterfall near the popular Skógafoss waterfall. You can park your car directly in the paid parking lot next to it. You can also find a café next to it. To get to the waterfall, you have to take a short hike through the canyon, which is an experience in itself. The hike is around 1.5 kilometers in total, is easy and can be done by anyone, but we definitely recommend sturdy shoes. After walking for a while, Kvernufoss itself will appear in front of you.

Unlike some of the larger waterfalls, Kvernufoss allows you to enter behind the waterfall. When you step into the hidden alcove cave, the feeling of standing in the middle of the flowing water creates a truly amazing experience. Be warned though, it can be slippery in places.

Kvernufoss is less crowded than other famous waterfalls, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s more ordinary. Perhaps on the contrary, thanks to fewer tourists, you can enjoy moments of tranquility with the sound of the water.

Gullfoss is one of the largest and most famous waterfalls in Iceland, the water in the Hvítá River flows from the Langjökull glacier and then cascades 32 metres down the two cascades of Gullfoss waterfall. A path leads directly from the car park to it. We recommend taking a raincoat with you as the water splashes from all sides. In summer, approximately 140 cubic meters of water rush over the falls every second, while in winter this number drops to approximately 109 cubic meters.

Together with the Strokkur geyser and Thingvellir National Park, it is one of the stops on the Golden Circle, which contains the most important tourist sites in Iceland. There is a visitor centre near the waterfall.

Strokkur is one of Iceland’s geothermal geysers, which regularly spews boiling water and steam up to a height of around 20 metres every 5-10 minutes. The geyser is easily accessible within a few minutes walk from the car park. Together with Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park, it is one of the stops on the so-called “Golden Circle”, which contains the most important tourist sites in Iceland.

Thingvellir, sometimes also known as Þingvellir, is a national park in southwest Iceland and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place has a rich history and beautiful nature. The Alþingi, or Icelandic Parliament, was established there in 930 and sat until 1798.

There is an information centre by the car park where you can find out more about the history and geology of Thingvellir, and the area itself is full of well-maintained hiking trails. A free walking tour starts at 10am each day, starting at Thingvellir Church and lasting an hour. There is also a café and shop on site. Along with Strokkur Geyser and Gullfoss Waterfall, it is one of the stops on the so-called Golden Circle, which contains the most important tourist sites in Iceland.

Hvammsvík Hot Springs is one of the most beautiful spas in Iceland. It is located approximately 45 minutes from Reykjavik. It has amazing views of the surrounding countryside, it’s incredibly quiet and you can even go for a swim right in the ocean. The water temperature of each pool varies depending on the tide.

You can’t get in without booking in advance, so book on their official website, ideally well in advance. You can rent a towel here for a small fee. Free parking is available on site.

Opened in 2021, Sky Lagoon is about 15 minutes’ drive from Reykjavik city centre. There is a large car park on site, which is free of charge. If we had to choose, we would definitely prefer Sky Lagoon over Blue Lagoon.

Buy your tickets in advance on the official Sky Lagoon website, popular times tend to disappear quite quickly. You can choose one of three packages – the basic Pure Lite, which includes admission to the lagoon itself, the second option is Pure, which includes The Seven-Step Ritual, which we definitely recommend, and the Sky Pass, which includes private changing rooms in addition to The Seven-Step Ritual.

The Seven-Step Ritual consists of a sauna, cold mist, scrub, steam and shower. The sauna has a beautiful view of the ocean and is worth it for that at least. The water is around 38 – 40°C.