After 10 days of road-tripping across Iceland, we're sharing 10 hidden corners and addresses that left a real mark on us—well beyond the usual tourist trail. Take notes, and follow us on Facebook.
1) The Navy Ghost Plane
The aircraft on Sólheimasandur beach is easier to find these days, though that's a shame. A makeshift car park has been set up near the road leading to the wreckage, which has sat there since 1973. It's a DC-series Navy plane about 20 metres long. The crash came down to fuel failure and claimed no victims—so it's a story with a good ending. After a 4 km walk across an empty beach, you'll come face-to-face with the heavily damaged fuselage. The scene feels straight out of a film: the wreck lies on black sand, torn apart. On one side, the roaring ocean; on the other, a glacier view. Visit while you can—a proper access track is planned, and that will change the whole experience.
2) Summit Trail at Skógafoss
Skógafoss is a well-trodden waterfall, but here's the real prize: head to the top. Climb the stairs to a platform right beside the cascade, push through the gate, and follow the trail that shadows the river upstream. Go as far as you like. You'll walk through a maze of smaller falls, canyons and grassy valleys that feed into the main drop—it's stunning. The tourism trail skips this, which makes it even better.
3) Pillow Lava in Every Direction
Around Höfn, pillow lava stretches as far as you can see. The landscape feels magical. Covered in thick green moss, the rounded formations look like they've stepped straight out of a fantasy book. Wander through them, or—like us—settle in for a good beer and just soak it in.
4) Höfn: Fish & Chips and a Mysterious Red Chair
When you pass through Höfn, stop at Hafnarbudin, a proper fish and chips spot right on the harbour. The timber cabin has real charm inside—a cosy refuge when the wind picks up outside. If fried fish isn't your thing, grab a langoustine sandwich instead. Seriously good. Fifteen minutes east of Höfn on Route 1, you'll stumble on a red chair bolted to a rocky outcrop. It's hard to resist sitting down for a moment or cracking open a book in the middle of nowhere.
5) Hverfjall (Mývatn)
The area around Mývatn is packed with places to explore: fumaroles, thermal pools, caves, lakes. We spent more than two days marvelling at it all. But our real standout was climbing the Hverfjall volcano and hiking its ridgeline. The walk takes an hour or so and gives you views across the surrounding landscape that belong in a film.
6) Stykkishólmur
Stykkishólmur charmed us—and we mean really charmed us. Colourful houses, a location that feels like the edge of the world (it's roughly 500 km as the crow flies from Greenland), and a genuine end-of-the-earth feeling. Spend an evening or morning there. Our tip: the Nesbúðin bakery. We had the best pastries of the entire trip one Sunday morning.
7) Snæfellsnes Peninsula
If you're on the fence about this one: don't hesitate. The peninsula is sublime. Still sea, a glacier, fishing villages, lava fields—everything's here to enchant you on this sparsely populated strip of land. You'll find smooth pebble beaches made of lava and places locals say are home to elves (yes, really). This is also where you'll find the famous Kirkjufell. In short: go, and go with full enthusiasm.
8) Snæfellsnes Church (Ingjaldshólskirkja)
Keep your eyes peeled—it's easy to miss. Yet this tiny church, perched alone on a hillside at the end of a road with a glacier as its backdrop, is as achingly beautiful as it gets. It sits in a frame of green, a dream location for moody photographers. A small, charming cemetery sits beside it. Between Ìf and Hellissandur, watch for the turn-off.
9) Djúpalónssandur & Hellnar (Fjöruhúsid Café)
Another hidden corner tucked into a cliff face that stole our hearts: the Fjöruhúsid café in Hellnar. It's modest—a tiny house with a little deck overlooking the ocean. The welcome is warm and everything's homemade. It's the perfect place to pause and watch the seabirds nesting in the cliffs nearby.
10) Fontana Bath, Laugarvatn
Our last evening in Iceland. The Laugarvatn geothermal baths are perfect for unwinding after the Golden Circle. Far less touristy than the Blue Lagoon, you can soak in pools right at the lake's edge—and dive into the lake itself if you want a shock of cold water. We much preferred it to the Mývatn Natural Bath we'd tried a few days earlier. Of course, Iceland has far more corners that captivated us; this list could go on. This extraordinary island is worth exploring without restraint if you want to find your own hidden spots—and trust us, there are plenty. So don't think twice: two hands on the wheel, good company in the passenger seat, and off you go for an unforgettable road trip.
(updated on )
