Discover Iceland's secret spots that most tourists never see.
Iceland's Golden Circle is famous for a reason — Thingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss are genuinely spectacular. But if those three sites are all you see, you are experiencing roughly one percent of what this country has to offer. The real magic of Iceland lives in the places most visitors never reach: remote canyons, highland hot springs, empty coastlines, and volcanic landscapes that feel like another planet entirely.
Here are seven of Iceland's best-kept secrets, along with practical advice on how to reach them and when to go.
Fjadrargljufur Canyon
Tucked away near the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur on the South Coast, Fjadrargljufur is a two-kilometre-long canyon carved by glacial rivers over thousands of years. The walls reach up to 100 metres deep, draped in impossibly green moss, with the Fjadra river winding through the bottom.
How to get there: The canyon is just off Route 1, about 300 kilometres east of Reykjavik. A short gravel road leads to the car park, and from there it is a well-marked walking path along the canyon rim.
Best time to visit: June through September, when the walking paths are open and the moss is at its greenest. The canyon has been periodically closed for environmental restoration, so check current access before you go.
Photography tips: The best light hits the canyon walls in the morning. Bring a wide-angle lens to capture the scale, and consider a polarising filter to cut glare on the river below. The viewpoints along the eastern rim offer the most dramatic compositions.
Studlagil Canyon
If you have seen photographs of Iceland's famous basalt columns, chances are they were taken at Studlagil. This canyon in East Iceland was hidden beneath glacial river water until a hydroelectric dam upstream diverted the flow in 2009, revealing an astonishing corridor of hexagonal basalt pillars rising from turquoise water.
How to get there: Studlagil sits in the Jokuldalur valley, about 30 kilometres south of Egilsstadir. There are two access points — the east bank trail (no river crossing, about 3.5 kilometres each way, flat) and the west bank trail (shorter but requires fording a river). The east bank is recommended for most visitors.
Best time to visit: July and August offer the best water colour and the most reliable weather. The turquoise colour depends on glacial melt conditions, so it can vary.
Why so few tourists: East Iceland is the least-visited region of the country. Most tourists stick to the South Coast or the Golden Circle, meaning Studlagil rewards those willing to drive the full Ring Road. You may have the canyon entirely to yourself on a weekday morning.
Kerlingarfjoll: Highland Hot Springs Most Tourists Skip
Deep in the Icelandic highlands, Kerlingarfjoll is a geothermal mountain range painted in shades of rust, ochre, yellow, and white. Steam vents hiss from hillsides streaked with rhyolite, and natural hot streams wind through valleys that feel genuinely otherworldly.
How to get there: Kerlingarfjoll is accessible via the Kjolur highland road (Route 35), which connects the south and north of Iceland through the interior. A 4WD vehicle is required. The mountain hut and campsite at Kerlingarfjoll serve as a base.
Best time to visit: Late June through early September, when the highland road is open. July and August are the most reliable months.
What to expect: The Hveradalir geothermal area is the main attraction — a surreal landscape of steaming vents, bubbling mud pots, and hot streams surrounded by colourful mineral deposits. Several marked hiking trails range from one to five hours. The highland hut offers basic accommodation and camping.
Why it is special: Kerlingarfjoll sees a tiny fraction of the visitors that Landmannalaugar receives, despite being equally spectacular. If you want geothermal landscapes without the crowds, this is where to go.
Hveravellir: A Geothermal Oasis in the Interior
Hveravellir sits almost exactly in the middle of Iceland, on the Kjolur highland road between Kerlingarfjoll and the north. It is a small cluster of hot springs, fumaroles, and a warm bathing pool in the middle of one of the most barren landscapes on Earth.
How to get there: Via Route 35 (Kjolur), accessible by 4WD or the Reykjavik Excursions highland bus. The site has a staffed mountain hut and campsite.
Best time to visit: Late June through August. The highland bus runs on a limited schedule.
What makes it special: Bathing in the natural warm pool at Hveravellir, surrounded by nothing but lava desert and sky, is one of Iceland's most memorable experiences. The silence is extraordinary. At night, the highland sky — free of all light pollution — delivers some of the best stargazing in Europe.
The Westfjords: Iceland's Last True Wilderness
The Westfjords are Iceland's most remote and least-visited region, a jagged peninsula of deep fjords, towering sea cliffs, and empty gravel roads in the northwest corner of the country. Fewer than three percent of Iceland's visitors make it here, and that isolation is exactly the point.
Dynjandi waterfall is the crown jewel — a 100-metre-tall cascading waterfall that fans out like a bridal veil over a series of stepped rock faces. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Iceland, yet it receives a fraction of the visitors that Seljalandsfoss or Skogafoss attract.
Other Westfjords highlights:
Latrabjarg cliffs: Europe's westernmost point and one of the best places in Iceland to photograph puffins up close. The birds nest in the cliff face and are remarkably unafraid of humans.
Raudasandur beach: A rare red and gold sand beach on the southern coast of the Westfjords, backed by dramatic cliffs.
Hornstrandir nature reserve: Accessible only by boat, this uninhabited peninsula is Iceland's ultimate wilderness experience — Arctic foxes, seabird colonies, and no roads.
Practical considerations: The Westfjords require at least two to three days to explore properly. Roads are narrow, winding, and often unpaved. Some sections close in winter entirely. A 4WD is strongly recommended, and essential for some routes. The reward for the effort is an Iceland that feels like it did decades ago — raw, empty, and profoundly beautiful.
Snaefellsnes Peninsula: Miniature Iceland
Snaefellsnes is sometimes called "Iceland in miniature" because it packs an astonishing variety of landscapes into a single peninsula just two hours from Reykjavik. Glacier-capped volcano, black sand beaches, lava fields, fishing villages, sea cliffs, and a dramatic coastline — all within a manageable day trip or overnight excursion.
Key stops:
Snaefellsjokull glacier: The glacier-topped stratovolcano that inspired Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. On a clear day, it is visible from Reykjavik across the bay.
Arnarstapi and Hellnar: Coastal villages connected by a spectacular cliff walk past sea arches, basalt formations, and nesting seabirds.
Djupalonssandur beach: A black pebble beach framed by lava formations, with four "lifting stones" that Icelandic fishermen once used to test their strength.
Kirkjufell mountain: One of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, especially striking with the small Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in the foreground.
Budir black church: A tiny black wooden church set against a lava field and mountain backdrop — one of Iceland's most iconic images.
Why it works: Snaefellsnes is accessible year-round on paved roads (Route 54), does not require a 4WD, and can be explored in a single long day from Reykjavik. For travelers with limited time who want more than the Golden Circle, this is the answer.
Planning Tips for Off-the-Beaten-Path Iceland
When You Need a 4WD
Any destination accessed via an F-road (highland road) requires a 4WD vehicle by law. This includes Kerlingarfjoll, Hveravellir, Landmannalaugar, and Askja. Standard rental cars are not insured for F-roads, and you can face significant fines and liability if you attempt them.
For Studlagil, Fjadrargljufur, and Snaefellsnes, a standard car works fine. The Westfjords are technically accessible in a 2WD in summer, but a 4WD provides a significant safety and comfort margin on the gravel roads.
How to Avoid Crowds
Travel in May, September, or early October. Shoulder seasons dramatically reduce tourist numbers at all sites.
Start early. Most tour buses arrive at popular sites between 10am and 2pm. Arrive before 9am or after 5pm for a completely different experience.
Go east and north. The further you travel from Reykjavik and the South Coast, the fewer people you will encounter.
Skip the car park viewpoints. At many sites, a 15 to 20 minute walk beyond the main viewpoint will leave you entirely alone.
Route Planning
The best way to string these hidden gems together is a full Ring Road trip with detours. A minimum of 10 days allows you to cover the Ring Road plus Snaefellsnes and Studlagil comfortably. Add three to four days for the Westfjords, and two to three days for a highland detour through Kerlingarfjoll and Hveravellir.
Iceland rewards the curious and the patient. The further you venture from the well-worn tourist trail, the more the country reveals itself — and the memories you bring home will be ones that no one else has.