When people visiting Iceland start planning their trip, most don’t realize the number of things to do and see in Iceland. They may have heard of spectacular hiking trails or daring volcanoes, but they are unsure of where these wonders are and what the best things to do are.

That’s why we’ve divided the map of Iceland into regions, so you can easily see where each place is. Here’s a map of Iceland with the most significant attractions of each area.

Regions of Iceland

Our beautiful island full of volcanoes and glaciers is located in the North Atlantic Ocean and is divided into four main regions: South Iceland, East Iceland, North Iceland, and West Iceland. A large percentage of our population lives along the south coast, but there’s something worth visiting in every corner of the island. You can use this as your guide to Iceland.

South Iceland

South Iceland is the most visited region of the country. If you drive along the N1 ring road from Reykjavik to Jokulsarlon and back, you’ll be doing the route most tourists prefer. Along this route, there are countless sites to visit and outdoor activities available. Here’s a list of the main tourist attractions along the south coast of Iceland:

Reykjavik – The capital of the country

  • Blue Lagoon – Great geothermal spa
  • Reykjadalur Hot River – Bathe in Iceland’s hot river

  • The Golden Circle Route

  • Thingvellir National Park – Home of Iceland’s first parliament.
  • Silfra Rift – See how the land divides into two parts and dive between two tectonic plates.
  • Strokkur and Geysir geysers in the Haukadalur geothermal valley
  • Gullfoss Waterfall

While Thingvellir, the geysers, and Gullfoss are the main stops on the Golden Circle route, there are many other places worth stopping at, such as:

  • Langjokull Glacier – Ride a snowmobile on a glacier
  • Fontana Geothermal Baths
  • Kerið Crater – Visit the crater of an extinct volcano
  • Sólheimar Eco-Village
Geysir - The regions of Iceland on a map of the country

  • Beyond the Golden Circle

  • Cascade Skógafoss – You can climb to the top for stunning views
  • Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – Considered the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland
  • The wreck of the military plane in Sólheimasandur
  • Vik and the black sand beach and Reynisfjara basalt columns
  • Landmannalaugar and the Laugavegur trail – Perfect for hikers and mountain lovers
  • Icelandic Highlands – The wildest side of the country that opens in summer and can only be accessed with a 4x4 vehicle
  • Vatnajökull National Park – The largest national park in Europe
  • Vatnajökull Glacier – The largest glacier in Iceland. Explore the glacier, visit its ice caves, and explore the glacier caves.
  • Skaftafell Glacier – Perfect for a glacier hike
  • Svartifoss Waterfall – Iceland’s black waterfall with black basalt columns
  • Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon – A lagoon full of icebergs
  • Diamond Beach – Pieces of ice scattered across the beach, some as big as an SUV.

The East

East Iceland is known for its small, beautiful coastal villages scattered throughout the coastline and the eastern fjords. You won’t regret spending a few days in this area or stopping by during your journey across the island.

The North

The North of Iceland is another gem not yet well-known. I wish more people would decide to travel here and spend a few days. In my opinion, it’s as beautiful as the south and also has many fascinating things to see and experience. Here’s a list of the most interesting points in the north of Iceland, many of which are located on the Diamond Circle route.

  • Diamond Circle Attractions

  • Húsavik – The whale watching capital of Iceland
  • Ásbyrgi Canyon – A horseshoe-shaped canyon
  • Vesturdalur Valley – Amazing basalt rock formations
  • Dettifoss Waterfall – The most powerful waterfall in Europe
  • Krafla Lava Fields – This area was once invaded by rivers of lava in ancient times Hverir geothermal area – Colorful, steaming, and whistling fumaroles
  • Lake Mývatn – A volcanic lake with turquoise waters
  • Jardbobin Natural Baths – A much less crowded alternative to the Blue Lagoon
  • Dimmuborgir Lava Fields – Eerie rock formations
  • Goðafoss Waterfall – An important part of Iceland’s history
  • Hverfjall Volcano Crater – A black crater 1 km wide
  • Grjótagjá Cave – Hot springs and Game of Thrones location
Dimmuborgir Lava Fields – The regions of Iceland on a map of the country

  • Attractions outside the Diamond Circle in North Iceland

  • Akureyri – The capital of the North
  • Dalvik – Along with Akureyri, the best places for skiing and snowboarding Hósós Thermal Pool – Infinity pool with amazing fjord views.

The West

Finally, but certainly not least, we have Iceland’s West Coast. Not only does it house the famous Westfjords, but we also find the Snaefellsnes Peninsula here. Snaefellsnes is a beautiful area to spend a wonderful day from Reykjavik. There’s so much to see that two days would actually be ideal for visiting this area.

  • The Westfjords of Iceland and the West Coast

  • Látrabjarg Cliffs – Cliffs full of birds, perfect for puffin watching
  • Raudasandur – Iceland’s pink sand beach

  • Snaefellsjökull Peninsula

  • Eldborg Crater – You can hike to the top of this volcanic crater
  • Landbrotalaug – The secret thermal pool where only 2-3 people fit
  • Gerðuberg Basalt Column Cliff – You’ll see it from the road
  • Budir Black Church – Traditional Icelandic architecture with interesting colors Raudfeldsgjá – A gorge with a hidden waterfall
  • Djúpalónssandur – A black pebble beach
  • Stykkishólmur – A picturesque village, perfect for a stop
  • Vatnshellir – 8,000-year-old lava tunnel
  • Snaefellsjökull National Park – Home to the famous glacier
  • Snaefellsjökull Glacier – The setting for Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Center of the Earth Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall – One of the most photographed places in Iceland.
Glacier – The regions of Iceland on a map of the country

The regions of Iceland on a map of the country

I hope this guide to the regions of Iceland has been useful to you. You’ll see that there are beautiful places waiting for you at every turn with your rental car in Iceland, and many surprises to discover. You will have unforgettable experiences when exploring Iceland, and that will make it the trip of your life. There are many more things to see beyond the ones we’ve mentioned here, so get ready! Tell us what your favorites have been and what you would add to our Iceland map.