The 5 Best Panoramas in Iceland

The 1,089-meter-high Sveinstindur summit majestically overlooks Lake Langisjór in Vatnajökull National Park. Located in the heart of the Highlands, the lake is surrounded by a vast desert of black sand and green mountains. Hiking Sveinstindur offers fantastic views of Langisjór, and the remoteness of this site makes the experience truly unique.

Reaching the summit reveals one of the most sublime panoramas in Iceland —the most beautiful, in my opinion. No photo can truly do this place justice; you must be there to grasp the magnitude of its beauty. From Sveinstindur, you can see the vast expanses of the Vatnajökull and Mýrdalsjökull ice caps, black sand deserts stretching as far as the eye can see, hundreds of mountain peaks, winding rivers, and dozens of kilometers of horizon in every direction. The immensity of the landscape and the silence awaken emotions of rare intensity.

Blahnúkúr, meaning blue peak in English, is a 945-meter-high volcano located in Landmannalaugar. Formed during the Ice Age, the volcano's name and its characteristic blue-green hue are due to its rhyolitic rocks. The hike to the summit of Blahnukur is one of the most popular and breathtaking in the region, if not in all of Iceland. From the summit, the panorama of lava fields and fantastically colorful mountains and valleys is exceptional.

Tip: If you have the time and energy, combine this hike with the ascent of Brennisteinsalda for an even more memorable experience. See the Blahnukur and Brennisteinsalda hike page for more information.

The Kristínartindar hike takes you to the eponymous 1,126-meter-high peak in the heart of Vatnajökull National Park in southern Iceland. The climb reveals spectacular panoramic views of the Morsárjökull and Skaftafellsjökull glaciers and the deep valleys they carved. You will also see Iceland's highest waterfall, Morsárfoss, in the distance. It is 240 meters high.

The route begins at the famous Svartifoss waterfall, then gradually moves away from the tourist crowds. Walking the loop clockwise reveals many impressive views along the descent of the Skaftafellsjökull glacier.

Discover Lake Blahylur, also known as Hnausapollur, near Landmannalaugar in the heart of the Highlands. Blahylur is a maar, a type of volcanic crater formed when groundwater meets hot lava. Typically, a maar fills with water to form a shallow crater lake, as Blahylur did in 871. The scenery is grandiose, with the blue color of the lake contrasting magnificently with the bright green moss of Mount Tjörvafell and the darker shades of the lava.

Tip: take the time to climb Hnausar Hill to the north. The 360-degree view over the Fjallabak reserve is exceptional. To cover the round trip, allow around 45 minutes over a distance of 1.2 kilometers, with an elevation gain of 160 meters. The trail is steep and slippery. Our 4.5 rating takes into account this magnificent panoramic view. Without it, it would be 3.5, just for the view from the parking lot.

Thakgil (or Þakgil) exudes a mystical atmosphere far from classic tourist sites. Its scenery is reminiscent of that of Thórsmörk. Its landscapes are characterized by gorges and canyons with sheer walls draped in green moss that contrasts with the black volcanic rocks. This unique place is worth discovering—it was truly one of my favorites.