Places I Wanna See in Iceland

A formerly glacier-tipped volcano that inspired none other than Jules Verne.

This scenic Icelandic lava flow is named for a pair of Berserkers who were murdered, according to a famous Saga.

Strange rock formations tower above the river that snakes through this enchanting Icelandic canyon.

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

This collection of unique liquids allows visitors to wander the waters of Iceland's glaciers.

This stunning concert hall has become a symbol of Iceland's national recovery.

A little-visited waterfall in an otherworldly landscape.

The picturesque birthplace of Icelandic democracy is drenched in the blood of its brutal past.

This elderly couple's hand-picked collection of rare gems is one of the finest in all of Iceland.

A modern Nordic Pompeii on the Icelandic island of Heimaey.

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

Three million year old fossils are exposed for all to see on this Icelandic shore.

The summer tourists on these cliffs are thousands of seabirds.

Walk in the footsteps of the gods and straddle two tectonic plates.

Eerie ruins of an abandoned medieval fishing village crumble atop an unforgiving stretch of earth.

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

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

Icelandic folklore says this giant boulder was ripped from the mountains and placed at its current location, where it became home to elves.

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

Three columns of volcanic rock shoot out of the ocean.

Cairns built to bring travelers good luck stretch across the land like miniature stone mountains.

Twisted girders are all that remain of an Icelandic bridge that was wiped out by a combination of volcanic heat and glacial floods.

Iceland's largest lagoon is home to stunning multi-colored icebergs.

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

These concrete domes were installed on an Icelandic bluff to honor a very specific musical tradion.

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

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

This volcanic cave lake is essentially hard proof that Iceland is the most magical place on Earth.

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

Rising from the sea like a stone monster.

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

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

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

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

Climb right into the heart of this colorful Iceland volcano.

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

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

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

Staves, storm-calling, and of course, necropants.

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

An encyclopedic collection of mammal penises.

The most powerful waterfall in all of Europe.

If a glacial river suddenly diving into a sheer chasm via a dramatic, multi-stage waterfall isn't peak Iceland, it's certainly close.

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

Two volcanic lakes in an enormous crater formed in a prehistoric eruption.

Iceland's largest geothermal mud pool is a little bit haunted and a little bit dangerous.

Iceland: home to volcanoes, waterfalls and, apparently, Santa?

Puffin enthusiasts flock to Europe's largest seabird cliff, which over one million birds call home.