Hidden Gems in Iceland: 9 Secret Spots

Wondering where the top hidden gems are in Iceland? Prefer the less visited places to the touristy hotspots? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!

Over the years, Iceland has become a more popular travel destination. And for good reason – the country is EPIC! 

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not on the same level of busy as Italy or Spain. But more and more people are discovering natural wonders like the Great Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the wonders along the south coast. On our last visit, we found the popular spots were pretty damn busy!

So, can you visit the Land of Fire and Ice anymore and have a peaceful trip? Yes, of course you can! If you know where to look.

9 Incredible Hidden Gems in Iceland

I’ve been exploring several of the secret spots in Iceland and cannot wait to share them with you. These are the places to visit if you want to get a little more off-the-beaten-path. If you feel like ditching the tourist crowds and getting back to the raw nature (and unique places) within the country.

And I guarantee, you’re going to love it! 🙂

Here are my 9 favourite hidden gems in Iceland.

1. Brúarfoss 

Now, no doubt you’ve heard about the Golden Circle. It’s the most visited tourist route in Iceland, a perfect day trip from Reykjavik, and features some of Iceland’s most magnificent sights – Geysir, Gulfoss, and Thingvellir National Park. 

However, there are a few spots on the Golden Circle that are much less visited. Brúarfoss is one of them. 

This waterfall is completely stunning and one of the bluest waterfalls in the entire country. It used to involve a 2-hour hike to reach, but they’ve recently built a new car park just a 5-minute walk from the falls. 

You do have to drive down a pretty rough dirt track for about 10 minutes to get to the waterfall, but it’s completely worth visiting when you see the colour of the water. 

Top Tip: You do have to pay for this new car park which is 700 ISK per car. However, you can still park at the old car park (which is free) and hike to the falls if you’d prefer.

2. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Located in south Iceland between Vik and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, about 10 minutes from the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, you’ll find Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. And yes, that sentence is a bit of a mouthful!

If you love epic scenery and very impressive mountain views then you’ll adore this place. It’s easily one of the most incredible hidden gems in Iceland. 

Carved over millions of years by the meandering Fjaðrá River, the canyon stretches for approximately 2 kilometres into the Icelandic countryside.

The car park located here (also chargeable at 1000 ISK per car) is right at the base of the canyon. There’s also a small bridge at the base that you can walk along to view the canyon from the bottom.

From the base of the canyon, the short hike to the viewpoint takes around 20 minutes. It’s a little uphill, particularly at the beginning, but it’s not too strenuous.

As you get deeper into the canyon, you can see the greenery unfolding around you (especially in the summer months – one of the best times to visit Iceland) and the scenery gets much more dramatic. 

Once you get to the end, there are two platforms. The first one gives you panoramic views over the canyon. The second viewing platform leads to a waterfall. 

You can actually walk further down the canyon from here if you want, but most people choose to turn around and head back to the car park. 

Top Tip: If you’re visiting Iceland in the winter months, I highly recommend wearing crampons to visit this trail. It can be pretty slippery if it’s icy.

3. Gunnuhver Hot Springs

If you’ve never visited the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, you are missing out! Gunnuhver Hot Spring is located at the southwestern tip of the country. It’s about 20 minutes by car from the airport. This was our first stop on our most recent Iceland itinerary.

Before we’d even arrived at this geothermal marvel, we could see the clouds of steam billowing into the air. It was like a huge white cloud. 

We pulled up to the small parking area, right in front of the springs (which is completely free) and hopped out to explore the area.

Named after a legendary ghost, you’ll find bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and the main attraction – the spring itself – all created by the intense heat beneath the Earth’s surface. The hot springs reach temperatures of over 300°C, making them some of the hottest in Iceland. 

As soon as we got out of the car, we could smell the sulphur! It was pretty eggy, especially when a gust of wind blew the cloud of steam right into your face. 

However, it’s well worth a visit if you like unique outdoor attractions and the raw power of Iceland’s dramatic landscape.

✅ This is one of the best ways to see the Reykjanes Peninsula.

4. Kvernufoss

This actually turned out to be one of my favourite waterfalls in the country. It surprises me that this is such a hidden gem in Iceland when it’s such a short drive (literally 5 minutes) from one of the most popular spots on the island: Skogafoss. 

Kvernufoss is a small waterfall in southern Iceland. Tucked away from the main tourist routes, visiting this enchanting waterfall is a much more secluded experience.

The falls don’t have a dedicated parking area. Instead, you have to park in the nearby Skogar Museum car park and walk to the falls from there.

You’ll find the trailhead quite easily – it’s just to the left of the museum. After that, it’s around a 15-20 minute walk to the falls themselves. 

The walk runs inside the canyon, along the river. There are a few sections where you can walk right next to the riverside, and climb onto boulders which certainly makes the short walk a little more interesting. 

Then, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the waterfall itself. Cascading gracefully from a height of around 30 metres, Kvernufoss is surrounded by moss-covered cliffs, lush greenery and, in the case of when we visited in April, ice and snow. 

It was absolutely beautiful and what sets this apart from the other waterfall on this list is that you can walk behind it. Trust me, the views from behind the waterfall are even better. 

5. Saxholl Crater

Visiting Saxholl Crater was one of the most exhilarating things we did on our road trip around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Once again, not a traditional stop on that route, the crater is one of the best places to go off the beaten track in Iceland. 

It’s located along the western tip of the peninsular, and climbing the crater is a fun, albeit a little scary, experience. There is a rickety metal staircase snaking its way up the side of the crater and you can literally walk up the side of a volcano. 

The views from the top are absolutely incredible. It’s a pretty remote area and the vast, icy, surrounding landscape stretches out all the way to the ocean. 

The thing that made it a little more exhilarating was the wind. When we visited, the wind was really strong. When we got to the top of the volcano, you could literally lean fully into the wind and it would hold us there. It was insane!

Top Tip: If the wind is strong when you visit, be extra careful. Although it can be fun, it can also be very dangerous and you always need to be vigilant in strong winds, especially on the staircase. We always made sure that we stayed a safe distance from the edge.

6. Skool Beans Cafe

If you have a sweet tooth or love coffee, this is easily one of the top hidden gems of Iceland. Tucked away down a very dodgy gravel road in Vik, this is one of the cutest coffee shops I’ve ever visited. 

Crafted out of an old school bus, Skool Beans Cafe is the perfect place for a little pit stop along the south coast. We stopped here on our way to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and it was well worth it. 

An award-winning micro-roaster in Iceland, Skool Beans serves a delicious range of coffees, teas, and chocolate treats alongside fresh bagels and pastries. It was only established in 2020 and is such a charming little spot to grab a drink. 

I ordered a mocha and my fiance ordered ‘The Overdose!’ a delicious hot chocolate, with Malteasers, two chocolate bars, cream, and marshmallows on top. 

It was so scrummy and, by Icelandic standards, not too expensive either – pretty much on par with Costa! But much more original, more delicious, and definitely worth a visit!

Top Tip: There aren’t toilets here, so if you need the loo during your pit stop, you’ll need to head to the Kronan supermarket across the main road.

7. Reykjavik Lava Show

The original Lava Show opened up in Vik but has become so popular that they’ve recently opened a second in Reykjavik. I still consider it to be one of the best hidden gems in Iceland because, compared to the other museums and attractions in the city centre, it’s much less visited. 

The Lava Show is absolutely fantastic. If you’ve ever been curious about all the volcanic activity in Iceland, this is a great way to experience it first-hand. 

Your guide will take you through a journey of Iceland’s volcanic history. You’ll learn about the volcanic eruption that literally wiped out most of the life on the island, recent eruptions that halted all plane travel in Europe and actually see molten lava in real life.

The lava is heated to 1100°C and poured down a tunnel. You could instantly feel the heat as soon as it entered the room. It was absolutely mesmerising. 

Once the lava began to cool, our guide showed us more features of the molten rock. This included creating a mini lava tunnel, cracking into it once it appeared to be cool so you could see how hot it still was inside, and lifting it up while molten so you could see strings of lava dangling through the air. 

If you want a completely original experience in Iceland that you literally can’t find anywhere else in the world, I highly recommend the Lava Show.

8. Seltun Geothermal Area

This Icelandic hidden gem is also located on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the airport. Seltun is actually right next to one of Iceland’s most visited attractions – the Blue Lagoon – and yet people somehow seem to miss it!

I think this was actually my favourite spot on the Reykjanes Peninsula. As you approach, you’ll once again be greeted by billowing clouds of steam. But, this time, you’ll have to walk through them to get to the rest of the site. 

This was a pretty unique experience in itself, but once again, stinks of eggs! As you continue to explore the area, you’ll find a collection of colourful mineral deposits and bubbling mud pots. The colourful rocks are so beautiful.

You can wander along the wooden boardwalks and up a series of steps to reach the top of the area where you’ll get a panoramic view of your surroundings.

✅ This is one fo the best ways to see the Reykjanes Peninsula.

9. Hellissandur Street Art

Last but not least, we have Hellissandur. This little town is located on the northwestern tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and is most famous for its wonderful collection of murals that are dotted around the town. 

This is one of the top hidden gems in Iceland that is actually man-made. What was once a quiet fishing village now contains an explosion of colour on many of its walls and buildings. 

Some of the murals are incredibly impressive too. I particularly loved the Ram and the Viking ships.

Final Thoughts on the Top Hidden Gems in Iceland

Overall, yes, Iceland does have plenty of popular attractions these days. But, if you look past those busy tourist spots, there’s a lot of the country that’s still vastly unexplored. 

You can walk through deep canyons, find stunning waterfalls, watch real lava flowing through a tunnel, find hidden geothermal pools, lava fields, and so much more in this incredible country. 

Just don’t be afraid to venture a little off the typical tourist trail.