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All Iceland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iceland

145 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Iceland

Updated December 7, 2023

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Hallgrimskirkja
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Puffins on Heimaey.
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  1. Akureyri
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Unusual Attractions in Iceland

Blue Lagoon

Grindavík, Iceland

Blue Lagoon

Medicinal spa created with the discharge from a geothermal energy plant.
Svartifoss

Iceland

Svartifoss

The unique waterfall in Iceland's south features a backdrop of geometric black lava columns.
Sorcerer's cottage

Hólmavík, Iceland

The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft

Staves, storm-calling, and of course, necropants.
When the tide is out one can clearly see the concrete support

Iceland

Hvítserkur

Rising from the sea like a stone monster.
Gljúfrabúi, Iceland

Hamragarðar, Iceland

Gljúfrabúi

This fantastical waterfall is hidden in a cave located in a cracked cliff.
Kerid Crater Lake

Iceland

Kerið Crater Lake

This eye-popping Icelandic crater lake is surrounded by red volcanic rock.
Hallgrimskirkja

Reykjavik, Iceland

Hallgrimskirkja

One of the tallest buildings in Iceland, and perhaps, the most visually impressive.
Jökulsárlón

Iceland

Jökulsárlón

Iceland's largest lagoon is home to stunning multi-colored icebergs.
See All 145 Things To Do in Iceland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Iceland

The fisherman left their tools, as well as many personal belongings

Eskifjörður, Iceland

Randulf's Sea House

This remote eatery and museum is preserved as a time capsule of a small Icelandic fishing town.
The view when you dine within the greenhouse.

Reykholt, Iceland

Friðheimar

Inside this Icelandic greenhouse, geothermal energy keeps tomatoes warm and growing.

Akureyri, Iceland

Giant Viking Beer Can

Akureyri is home to an oversized can of one of Iceland's favourite beers.
The museum explores the history and production of the unique Icelandic dish.

Bjarnarhöfn, Iceland

Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum

At this museum in Iceland, visitors can sample fermented Greenland shark.
See all 7 Places to Eat in Iceland
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Atlas Obscura Trips

Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends

A land of folklore and myths on a backdrop of remarkable natural wonders.

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

18 Mini Golf Courses You Should Go Out of Your Way to Play

Adventures filled with oversized characters, obstacles, and castles await—all you need to join is a putter and a ball. Yes, we're talking about miniature golf, the Lilliputian game with a big imagination. Since 2012, we—Tom Loftus and Robin Schwartzman—have been documenting the world of mini golf on our website A Couple of Putts. After putting our way through more than 300 courses, we’ve stumbled into becoming experts who design, build, and consult on all things miniature golf. With our keen eye for elements that make courses distinctive and magical destinations, we’ve created this world tour to showcase some of our personal favorites, as well as a few courses on our “must play” list. In keeping with the theme, here are 18 unique courses that span the globe. This wild assortment of putting places offer unique ways to interact with the past and present. Putt when ready!

View Itinerary
The courses may be miniature, but the spectacle is gigantic.

Explore Iceland

Geology 34
Water 23
Nature 21
Natural Wonders 16
Volcanoes 16
Rocks 14
Art 14
Geological Oddities 14
Animals 10
Islands 10
Hot Springs 9
Birds 8

Iceland Leaderboard

Places Added

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    Fred Cherrygarden
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    JTYarwood
    3
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    erinculley
    3
  5. Avatar image for Dr Alan P Newman
    Dr Alan P Newman
    3
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Iceland.

Places Edited

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  2. Avatar image for Blindcolour
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Places Visited

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Recent Iceland Activity

  • H

    hydrostevo

    has been to Harpa

  • H

    hydrostevo

    has been to Skemmtigarðurinn Grafarvogi

  • H

    hydrostevo

    has been to Reykjavík 871±2

  • U

    Ursa Major

    wants to go to Keldur Hall

  • U

    Ursa Major

    wants to go to Kerið Crater Lake

Stories About Iceland

More people are mounting horse heads on poles throughout Iceland.

Impaled Horse Heads Are Appearing More and More Around Iceland

The rise of paganism in the country is reigniting a macabre ritual from the Viking Age.
by Olivia Young
October 25, 2023
A feast of pancakes for Sólardagur.

The Holiday That Welcomes Back the Sun With Pancakes and Coffee

Around January 25, winter-bound villages in Iceland celebrate the return of the sunlight.
by Alexandra Yingst
January 24, 2023
The Milky Way and curtain-like auroras fill a clear southern sky off Nugget Point, at the edge of New Zealand’s remote Catlins. While the island nation is too far north to see the aurora australis regularly, aurora-hunters flock to the Nugget Point lighthouse area for its dark skies and unobstructed view off the South Island’s southeastern coast.

Aurora Hunters Capture the Wonder of the Northern (and Southern) Lights

A curated collection of images shows why this natural phenomenon has fascinated and inspired humans for millennia.
by Gemma Tarlach
December 21, 2022
Research suggests that cats, solitary night hunters, are one of the greatest causes of bird mortality worldwide—a bigger threat than window and building collisions.

In Iceland, Cats Face Curfews and Bans Aimed at Curtailing Their Murderous Ways

The cat-loving island nation is redefining its relationship with the 'elegant assassins.'
by Egill Bjarnason
June 13, 2022

Podcast: The Last Big Mac in Iceland

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
May 16, 2022
For a time, the burger resided at the Bus Hostel Reykjavik.

How a Big Mac Became a 'Historical Artifact' in Iceland

A 12-year-old Big Mac, to be exact.
by Alexandra Yingst
January 21, 2022
A recently-unearthed pot of rye bread sits on the shore of Lake Laugarvatn.

The Icelandic Bakery That Buries Its Bread in Hot Springs

Laugarvatn Fontana's sweet, cakey rye gets baked by geothermal energy.
by Tiffany Eastham
January 17, 2022

Podcast: Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool Relisten

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
December 21, 2021

Lists Featuring Iceland

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.
A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet
Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

12

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

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