9 Best Sights in Reykjanes Peninsula and the South Coast (with the Golden Circle), Iceland

The world-famous Geysir (from which all other geysers get their name), shoots boiling water and steam 100 feet in the air when it erupts every few months. From Þingvellir, the first stop in the Golden Circle, continue east on Route 36, turn left on Route 365, and turn left again on Route 37 at Laugarvatn. At the end of Route 37, turn left and take Route 35 northeast to Hótel Geysir, which is next to the hot springs. 

Most people visit Þingvellir for its historical and geological significance, but in this same place another perspective awaits those who don’t mind trading their walking boots and windbreaker for a dry suit and flippers. Named one of the top three freshwater dives on the planet, at Silfra you can snorkel on the surface of crystal clear water or dive to depths up to 30 meters. Exploring these underwater cracks is like entering another world: the silence is striking—a perfect companion to the vision of muted blues, bejeweled with silver globules of gas mushrooming to the surface from the divers below. An adventure in this underwater wonderland between the continents of North America and Europe leaves you with vivid images but no words. For tours with knowledgeable instructors, book with dive.is, Tröll Expeditions, or Arctic Adventures.

This highly popular active geyser is located in the Geysir Geothermal area, and is also along the Golden Circle. Though not as powerful as the Great Geysir, it does erupt much more frequently.

Across a wide tension crack that opened due to the divergent movements of the North American and Eurasian plates is a narrow footbridge built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America. You can (symbolically) walk from one continent to another in seconds, marveling at the tectonic forces at work on this island; the average rifting of the plates amounts to about 2 cm per year. The bridge is just off Route 425, and there's plenty of information on-site as well as some classic photo ops (many visitors pretend to hold the bridge up).

This mountain was formed in a single geologic event, and while exploring this magical stretch of coastline, you can see evidence of the different phases of the eruption. Tuff forms during an explosive eruption, and pillow lava forms when lava flows underwater. Out on the sea, you can see majestic black cliffs that serve as castles for birds. A bit farther out you can see the famous Eldey Island, where the great auk (a now-extinct species of bird) used to live. The auks survived the longest in Iceland, but the last great auk was killed on June 3, 1844 for a Danish natural history collector. Eldey is now a bird sanctuary. To reach Valhnúkur, take the road that leads off Route 425 through lava fields. Turn right (the turn is marked, "Reykjanesviti"), at the T-intersection, and then go 900 meters on an unpaved road, past the impressive Reykjanesviti lighthouse. On the way back, take the left branch at the T-intersection, and in 500 meters you'll reach Gunnuhver, Iceland's biggest mud pool.

Five kilometers (3 miles) west of Grindavík, this naturally carved lava tub is constantly filled and drained by ocean surf. Folklore says that the geological pool was the giantess Oddný's favorite spot to bathe. On windy days it's thrilling to watch the incredible force of the sea—just be careful of slippery rocks.

Not far from Vin is a small island (connected to the main body of Iceland) with a shallow inland lagoon filled with sea birds and a massive sea archway, 120 meters high, stretching out into the sea. At Dyrahólaey you will also find a spectacular white lighthouse, the southernmost tip of Iceland.

This 10-km-long (6-mile-long) row of craters formed in the Reykjanes Fires, a volcano-tectonic episode in AD 1210–1240. The whole area has a spooky and majestic vibe thanks to the steam escaping the craters as well as a nearby borehole. Eldvörp is a bit hidden, but several well-marked walking trails pass near it, including the Reykjavegur. It's also accessible on foot, by bike, and by car on a dirt track from the Grindavík–Blue Lagoon link road.

Reached by a footbridge, this gorge is better known these days as Peningagjá (Money Gorge) because it's customary to fling a coin into the gorge's ice-cold water and make a wish. Don't even dream about climbing down to wade here—it might look shallow, but it's more than 30 feet deep.