This tumultuous Icelandic lava field looks so alien European researchers want to use it as a stand-in for Mars.

A lonely beacon, precariously perched atop a remote sliver of rock.

An isolated, rusty phone booth commemorates Iceland's first international telegraph cable.

A stratovolcano located in the south of Iceland, with a long history of charted activity and a rich mythology attached.

Three columns of volcanic rock shoot out of the ocean.

This hobbit-y little hot spring may be the oldest spring used by humans in all of Iceland.

A trio of hidden hot tubs takes advantage of Iceland's natural geothermal vents.

This wrecked airplane has been sitting on a black sand beach since the 1970s.

This replica Viking village was created for a film that was never shot and is now open to visitors.

This fairytale-like structure is the last turf church ever constructed in Iceland.

The oldest church in Iceland is one of the few to feature ornate decoration.

These ominous lava formations were said to be an entrance to the netherworld so of course they inspired a famous metal band.

Surrounded by ash fields in Iceland, an impossibly verdant valley looks like something out of a fairytale.

This tiny museum's sizable collection is jammed into a former underground public toilet.

The oldest (maybe) swimming pool in Iceland is a stunning oasis built into the side of a lush hill.

A little-visited waterfall in an otherworldly landscape.

The Icelandic Sea Monster Museum explores the area's history of aquatic cryptid sightings.

This valley of hot springs and boiling mud pots is home to the record-holding "Geysir," which originated the English word.

Every summer local children form "pysja patrols" to save young birds that have wandered from their nests.

Learn about Iceland's hidden folk at this school dedicated to the study of elves.

A winding, blood-red tunnel of hardened lava navigable by foot.

This elegant arc of a waterfall marks a religious turning point.

Iceland's "Smoky Valley" is a beautiful river that is shrouded in a constant cover of steam clouds.

The most powerful waterfall in all of Europe.