Hidden Iceland: Underrated places locals truly love
The headline attractions on the Golden Circle route, along the South Coast and increasingly, on the Reykjanes Peninsula tend to be popular year-round, but especially in summer. Though you won’t be disappointed in the must-sees, it’s also worth seeking out places off the beaten path in Iceland. In this article, we’ll encourage you to explore beyond the most photographed spots and uncover the lesser-known places cherished by locals. Yet, you don’t have to do so alone: consider Icelandia your gateway to the kind of authentic, uncrowded experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.
A brief note about regional variations
Iceland consists of seven distinct regions: the capital area, Reykjanes, West Iceland, the Westfjords, North Iceland, East Iceland and South Iceland. (The highlands aren’t a region in their own right; they overlap with other administrative areas.) Official statistics reveal a huge difference in visitor numbers. For the period between February 2025 and January 2026, 86% visited the Reykjavik area in contrast to just 16% who set foot in the Westfjords.
The South’s appeal to day-trippers is evident in the discrepancy between visitors (79%) and those staying overnight (57%). This pattern repeats, albeit to a lesser extent, in West Iceland (49% visiting compared to 31% overnighting). Numbers drop off considerably the further you travel from the south west, with the North and East regions also seeing relatively few overseas tourists.
While such information won’t suit all travellers hoping to find underrated places, local favourites and authentic Iceland experiences, it’s certainly worth bearing in mind if you’re still at the planning stages for your trip. Even spending a night out in the countryside might help – you’d be able to appreciate the area in a different way after the day trippers have returned to the city.
This epic walk, spread over five exhilarating days, is ideal for travellers seeking to get off the beaten path in Iceland
The Highlands
Iceland’s mountainous interior is far harder to access than its coastline and consequently fewer visitors make it there as a result. It remains a bolthole for locals, especially during the summer when the seasonal F-roads open and the swollen rivers subside sufficiently to make fording them possible. In any case, the lack of permanent settlement across much of this part of the country means there’s a much greater chance you’ll find some comparatively secret places in Iceland here.
It’s probably pertinent to mention at this point that unless you’re used to challenging driving – the potholed terrain and prevalence of rivers aren’t for the faint-hearted – it’s wise to let someone else sit behind the wheel. Between June and September, the Highland Bus is a budget-friendly option that serves captivating areas such as Landmannalaugar and Þórsmork. In winter, you’ll need to book a super jeep tour instead. Both are a lot of fun as a passenger!
Þórsmörk
Þórsmörk is one of the prettiest parts of the southern highlands, though it receives far fewer visitors than the more accessible coastal strip. The Highland Bus serves three stops here throughout the summer; though you can get there and back in a day, a longer stay is far more rewarding if you’re hoping to get further off the beaten track.
Hike to viewpoints overlooking panoramas of snow-capped peaks, mighty glaciers and braided rivers snaking like torn ribbons through broad valleys. Once you set eyes on the area’s lush greenery and birch forests you’ll quickly appreciate why travellers and locals alike describe this part of Iceland as an oasis.
Landmannalaugar
Thanks in part to another handy Highland Bus service, this landmark hub also gets busy during peak season, but many day visitors are content to walk the shortest trail and follow it up with a dip in the People’s Pools. One way to get away from the crowd is to stay a few days, which opens up the possibility of longer hikes to equally beautiful but far quieter spots.
One such place, for instance, is Grænihryggur (Green Ridge), named for its curious and bold colouring. Compared to busier routes around Landmannalaugar such as the popular trails leading to Bláhnúkur or Brennisteinsalda, this path is favoured mostly by locals. Pick up the Halldórsgil trail at the Landmannalaugar campsite and be prepared to spend about eight hours getting there and back.
The Laugavegur Trek
If you’re having trouble deciding between Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar, there’s a way of achieving both: the Laugavegur trek. This epic walk, spread over five exhilarating days, is ideal for travellers seeking to get off the beaten path in Iceland and challenge themselves in the process.
Variety is its USP: a splendid mix of steaming hot springs, immense glaciers, craggy mountain panoramas and of course Iceland’s famously dramatic waterfalls. The transition from the rhyolite mountains and stark lava fields of Landmannalaugar to the lush greens of Þórsmörk is nothing short of spectacular – this is Iceland in full colour.
Háifoss and Þjórsárdalur
One of the newest ways to experience this quieter side of the country is Icelandia’s Into the Upside Down: Háifoss & Þjórsárdalur tour. This small-group experience ventures deep into Þjórsárdalur valley, far from Iceland’s busiest routes, to visit Háifoss – one of the country’s tallest and most striking waterfalls – along with beauty queen Hjálparfoss and a reconstructed Viking-era farm called the Commonwealth Farm. The surrounding landscape feels vast and cinematic, shaped by volcanic forces and glacial rivers, and offers a rare chance to explore the edge of the Highlands without the crowds.
Fjallabak Nature Reserve
If you’re keen to explore the Fjallabak Nature Reserve beyond Grænihryggur, then consider investing more time. This is where the long-distance Laugavegur trail begins. If you want to thoroughly explore this secluded hidden gem, then we’d suggest you sign up for Icelandia’s four-day hiking journey.
Through this tour, we make wilderness accessible as our guide leads travellers to an array of extraordinary landscapes: colourful rhyolite mountains, unspoilt waterfalls, remote geothermal hot springs and untouched moss-carpeted lava fields. This is Icelandic nature at its glorious best, and yet because of such splendid isolation, you’ll hardly share it with another soul.
Skaftafell
Another option for any visitor seeking tranquility and seclusion is to contemplate a scenic hike somewhere out of the way. Icelandia’s Skaftafell Panorama Hike is a strong contender, an overlooked gem that deserves to be on more people’s radar. You’ll need to be really fit to accompany our guide: this walk is 18km long and features an elevation gain of around 1215 metres over about 8 hours.
However, if your goal is to encounter hidden Iceland, here’s a good place to start. Begin close to the visitor centre at Skaftafell; wind up through verdant countryside first to the basalt column-flanked Svartifoss and then to the more rugged and exposed terrain above. This has all the makings of an outstanding day out as it combines stellar views of mountainous landscapes and of course Vatnajökull’s breathtaking outlet glaciers.
Summit hikes
If you’re fit enough, then a sure-fire way of ditching the crowds is to summit one of Iceland’s more interesting peaks. Hiking to the top of a mountain isn’t an undertaking you should consider unless you are physically capable and have the relevant experience in mountain environments. However, the satisfaction of completing such a challenge coupled with the incredible views you enjoy from these lofty vantage points is reward indeed.
Icelandia offer guided summit hikes in three separate locations. You can climb the country’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, ascending to 2110 metres. From the top, the views over the South Coast’s glaciers and sandy plains are remarkable. Another option is to tackle Snæfellsjökull, a dormant stratovolcano blanketed by a gorgeous glacier – undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary places in West Iceland. Completing the trio is Eyjafjallajökull – bonus points if you pronounce where you are – this moderately challenging hike requires no prior experience.
Choose your season carefully
Another strategy to thin out the crowds is to visit Iceland outside peak season. There’s a significant difference in tourist numbers between summer and winter, meaning that if you come outside peak season places will be quieter. While the big headliners will still attract a crowd, it’s a technique that works for places on the fringes.
Accessing off the beaten track places outside summer is made a whole lot easier by Icelandia’s fleet of super jeeps. These modified 4x4s have extra clearance and the capability to cope with the kind of terrain that’s off-limits to regular cars. Combine it with a snowmobile ride and you really can leave everyone else behind and have one of these quiet places in Iceland pretty much to yourself and the rest of the group.
Super jeeps really come into their own in winter after dark for travellers keen to seek out the Northern Lights. The darker and more secluded the locale, the better the chance you have of seeing the vivid greens and purples of the aurora pop against an inky black background. Super jeeps can reach further into the countryside than standard minibuses, and for that reason they’ll especially suit those keen to get off the beaten track.
Safety first
One important thing we need to mention is that some of these lesser-known Iceland attractions we’ve been discussing are environments that can be hazardous if you don’t know the area well. For example, if you’re planning to summit a peak, step inside an ice cave or hike up on the surface of a glacier, then doing so with a fully-trained and well-equipped guide is essential. Conditions change frequently and as such it is impossible for a casual visitor to know the landscape as well as those who live and work here.
Similarly, Iceland’s F-roads may lead to some of the most unique places to visit in Iceland, but you may not feel confident that you have the driving skills necessary to reach them without incident. It makes a lot of sense to hand over responsibility to someone whose skills are up to the job, whether that’s a super jeep tour leader or the driver of the Highland Bus. After all, holidays should be about relaxing and enjoying yourself rather than stressing about finding the best route, for example, across a turbulent river.
Even if all you plan to do is walk, Iceland’s terrain and weather can be a dangerous partnership. You’ll probably feel more confident on a long distance hike with the safety net of a guide; in addition, they can help you make more sense of your surroundings with commentary along the way that provides useful context. You’ll be able to concentrate on the scenery while they keep an eye on weather reports and take care of the logistics of getting you from A to B without incident.
Icelandia’s many and varied suggestions for things to do pair mainstream destinations with some of the most delightful yet underrated places in Iceland. Why not let us be your guide as you venture off the beaten path in Iceland and see a side to our beautiful country that relatively few visitors have the privilege to experience? Hidden Iceland is waiting for you – and won’t disappoint.
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Into the Upside Down: Háifoss & Þjórsárdalur Tour
Step beyond Iceland’s busiest routes and into the raw landscapes of Þjórsárdalur. Towering waterfalls plunge into volcanic canyons, Viking history rises from lava fields, and cinematic highland scenery unfolds in every direction. This is Iceland at its most dramatic.
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Discover the essence of Iceland's natural beauty on this day tour, featuring two of Iceland's most renowned waterfalls and an exhilarating kayaking experience on a glacier lagoon. Journey through landscapes that blend cascading waters with icy wonders, all in a single, unforgettable day.
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The dormant Þríhnúkagígur volcano is a unique natural phenomenon. By setting up the necessary gear and equipment, we’ve created a tour that opens the door to a new world.
Volcanic Wonders with Grindavik Visit
Once a bustling fishing village, Grindavík now serves as a stark reminder of nature’s relentless power. After a recent volcanic eruption forced the evacuation of its residents, much of the town remains uninhabitable, its landscape forever marked by the destructive forces of the earth.
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