Dramatic Iceland mountain landscape with red-roofed huts under cloudy skies

Places to see

Iceland Attractions

Use this page to find the landmarks, landscapes, and scenic areas worth building your route around.

Useful for

landmarksroute anchorsscenic stopsphoto planning

All place guides

Find sights worth building into your route.

Search and filter attraction pages and visual collections without mixing in route or region hubs.

The Skarðsá stream valley below Móskarðshnjúkar with rhyolite slopes and rocky hiking terrain.

Móskarðshnjúkar

Móskarðshnjúkar is a pair of golden rhyolite peaks east of Esjan near Mosfellsdalur. Add it when you want a challenging Reykjavík-area hike with big views, and skip it when weather, footing, or daylight is marginal.

Near Reykjavík · Rhyolite hike · Challenging
Esjan and the Kjalarnes shoreline north of Reykjavík in clear daylight.

Esjan

Esjan is Reykjavík's signature mountain hike, rising across Faxaflói in the capital area. Visit when you want a real trail, big city-and-bay views, and enough weather, daylight, and energy to turn back before conditions outgrow the plan.

Reykjavík area · Mountain hike · Weather-sensitive
Mosfellskirkja above green fields and the Mosfellsdalur valley.

Mosfellsdalur

Mosfellsdalur is a quiet rural valley by Mosfellsbær, useful when a Reykjavík-based day needs countryside, Laxness context, local waterfalls, and a slower alternative to bigger route anchors nearby.

Mosfellsbær · Quiet valley · Near Reykjavík
Mosfellskirkja above green fields and the Mosfellsbær valley edge.

Mosfellsbær

Mosfellsbær is a green town on Reykjavík's eastern edge, useful when a city-based day needs local hikes, Laxness culture, small waterfalls, and an easy choice between quiet suburb texture and bigger route anchors nearby.

Near Reykjavík · Green town · Local nature
The basalt cliff of Valshamar above grassy slopes in Eilífsdalur near Hvalfjörður.

Valshamar

Valshamar is a small basalt climbing crag in Eilífsdalur near Hvalfjörður, useful when you want a specialist outdoor stop and can respect private-land access, weather, and climbing limits.

Kjós · Climbing crag · Specialist stop
Úlfarsfell rising above Mosfellsbær on the edge of Reykjavík.

Úlfarsfell

Úlfarsfell is a low mountain on the edge of Reykjavík and Mosfellsbær, useful when a city day needs a real hike, broad views, and a clear choice between a quick outdoor break and a summit walk.

Reykjavík area · Mountain hike · Short stop
Weathered trail signs and lava fields below the Stóri-Bolli and Grindarskörð volcanic hills.

Stóri-Bolli

Stóri-Bolli is a rugged volcanic crater in the Bláfjöll area near Reykjavík, worth adding only when rough walking, mountain weather, and road conditions fit your southwest Iceland plan.

Near Reykjavík · Volcanic crater · Weather-dependent
Hellisheiði Geothermal Exhibition building with steam rising behind it and snowy mountains beyond.

Hellisheiði

Hellisheiði is a lava plateau and geothermal power-plant stop east of Reykjavík, worth adding when energy, steam, exposed pass scenery, and route context improve the drive toward South Iceland.

Near Reykjavík · Geothermal exhibition · Route 1 stop
A small off-road vehicle on a Hafrafell track with lupines and low mountain slopes near Reykjavík.

Hafrafell

Hafrafell is a low mountain above Hafravatn near Mosfellsbær, useful when a Reykjavík day needs a short outdoor climb, wide views, and a clear weather check before committing.

Mosfellsbær · Mountain viewpoint · Short Reykjavík-area hike

Build a trip around the places you want to see.

Once the sights are clear, use planning pages to turn them into a route with realistic timing.