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Explore strange places, curious stories, and eerie events around the world, online and in person.

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All Iceland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iceland

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

Updated August 12, 2026
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Puffins on Heimaey.
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Unusual Attractions in Iceland

Grindavík, Iceland

Blue Lagoon

Medicinal spa created from the mineral-rich runoff of a geothermal power 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.
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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.
Hallgrimskirkja

Reykjavik, Iceland

Hallgrimskirkja

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

Iceland

Kerið Crater Lake

This eye-popping Icelandic crater lake is surrounded by red volcanic rock.
See All 165 Things To Do in Iceland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Iceland

The view when you dine within the greenhouse.

Reykholt, Iceland

Friðheimar

Inside this Icelandic greenhouse, geothermal energy keeps tomatoes warm and growing.
The fisherman left their tools, as well as many personal belongings

Eskifjorður, Iceland

Randulff’s Sea House

This remote eatery and museum is preserved as a time capsule of a small Icelandic fishing town.
A classic hot dog, Icelandic style.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

One of the oldest family businesses in Reykjavík serves lamb-based hot dogs.

Discover your next hidden gem with the Gastro Obscura
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See all 8 Places to Eat in Iceland
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

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 15
Art 15
Museums 15
Geological Oddities 14
Islands 10
Animals 10
Sculptures 10
Hot Springs 9
Waterfalls 9
Architecture 9
Vikings 8
Birds 8
Sacred Spaces 8
Monuments 7
Statues 7

Iceland Leaderboard

Places Added

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    jyackabonis
    6
  2. Fred Cherrygarden profile photo
    Fred Cherrygarden
    5
  3. Dampo profile photo
    Dampo
    5
  4. erinculley profile photo
    erinculley
    3
  5. JTYarwood profile photo
    JTYarwood
    3
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Iceland.

Places Edited

  1. Ragnar of Ballard profile photo
    Ragnar of Ballard
    44
  2. A aribrown profile photo
    aribrown
    39
  3. Blindcolour profile photo
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    27
  4. jyackabonis profile photo
    jyackabonis
    25
  5. Jaszmina Szendrey profile photo
    Jaszmina Szendrey
    23

Places Visited

  1. P pierro69740 profile photo
    pierro69740
    95
  2. M margauxcaillon666 profile photo
    margauxcaillon666
    88
  3. Ragnar of Ballard profile photo
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    85
  4. J Jenick profile photo
    Jenick
    84
  5. C ChrzrdCharlie profile photo
    ChrzrdCharlie
    80

Recent Iceland Activity

  • A angelawood611 profile photo

    angelawood611

    wants to go to Blue Lagoon

  • A angelawood611 profile photo

    angelawood611

    wants to go to The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft

  • A angelawood611 profile photo

    angelawood611

    wants to go to Svartifoss

  • Sydney Rose profile photo

    Sydney Rose

    wants to go to The Raven's Nest

  • I Ian Hodgkin profile photo

    Ian Hodgkin

    wants to go to Fjaðrárgljúfur

Stories About Iceland

Vík Í Myrdal church in Vík, Iceland.

Obscura Day Summer 2025: Touring Iceland by Car

Taking in the scenic views ... and the Icelandic Phallological Museum.
by Doug Baldinger, Atlas Obscura
July 31, 2025
Puffins hanging out.

Obscura Day Summer 2025: Chiling With the Puffins on Grímsey

This small, uninhabited island offers a rare chance to spend quality time with Iceland’s signature bird.
by Dylan Thuras, Atlas Obscura
July 30, 2025
This 1882 engraving of Ragnarok, the Viking doomsday, shows Odin mounted on a horse and fighting the wolf Fenrir.

7 Stories That Show Just How Metal the Nordics Are

From Viking werewolves to snacking on pickled ram's testicles, Europe's northernmost countries are badass.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura
September 27, 2024

Podcast: World's Loneliest House

It looks the part, but it's kind of a misnomer.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
February 20, 2024
Gudrid the Far-Traveled even walked to Rome.

The First Viking Woman to Sail to America Was a Legendary Traveler

Back when the Icelanders called a part of Canada the “land of grapes.”
by Frank Jacobs, Atlas Obscura
February 9, 2024
The Yule Cat (or Jólakötturinn) serves as a warning for children to not misbehave, much like the threat of coal for naughty children on Christmas.

Beware the Yule Cat, Iceland’s Child-Eating Christmas Monster

But if you’re wearing new clothes, you have nothing to fear from Jólakötturinn.
by Suzie Dundas, Atlas Obscura
December 22, 2023
Herds of glacier mice, which are actually moss balls, move in concert across the ice.

Herds of Mysterious ‘Glacier Mice’ Baffle Scientists

These moss balls move in unison, and researchers are okay with not knowing why.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura
December 7, 2023
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, Atlas Obscura
October 25, 2023

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

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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