- Getting a Massage at the Blue Lagoon: While you float on your back in womblike weightlessness, enveloped between a blanket and a floating mat, the masseuse’s hands work their magic. Afterward, you can resume the central activity at this spa: bathing in an opaque, blue-green lagoon in the middle of a jet-black lava field and smearing white silica mud all over yourself. If you want to take it to the next level, the more exclusive Retreat Spa is tucked away in a private section of the lagoon.
- Gazing at the Northern Lights from a Hot Tub: You’ll have to visit off-peak to be treated to this jaw-droppingly magic display of light dancing across the sky, seen only on clear, cold nights and best enjoyed from the luxurious warmth and comfort of one of Iceland’s countless hot tubs.
- Soak in a Local Hot Pot: While no one doubts the awesomeness of the Blue Lagoon or the Mývatn Nature Baths, it’s unlikely you will see an Icelander at either. They’re getting their fix at simple local pools and hot pots, which serve as the social hub of nearly every community in the country, even on the beachfront in tiny Krossnes in the north of the Westfjords. See Fosshótel Reykholt.
- See a Performance at Harpa: This remarkable, glass-covered concert hall and conference center on Reykjavík’s waterfront is one of the world’s great cultural spaces. It’s home to the Icelandic Opera and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, but don’t be surprised if a rock concert or jazz show fills the storied halls.
- Whale Watching: Whether you sail from the whale-watching homeland of Húsavík, nearby Dalvík, or even right from Reykjavík, your chances of seeing at least some of the more than 20 species of cetaceans that visit Icelandic waters are quite good. Depending on the time of year, you might even spot puffins, seals, and other marine species on the way.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
