For those looking for an adventure in Iceland with a historical twist, this is a list just for you. I have put together 14 of the more unusual places to explore, for those who want to experience the island with an out of the ordinary perspective. From abandoned ships to WWII ruins and everything abandoned and haunting in between, these are some of the best spots at which to climb, crawl and hike. Although some are well visited, they are not places on the popular tours and itineraries.
- Ricky Menzies
- Last Checked and/or Updated 28 August 2025
- Travel Ideas, Iceland
It is no secret Iceland is wild. It has an obvious appeal for people who love adventure and nature. For those also interested in history, it is not always easy to combine unusual, out of the way historical locations with adventure activities. And, for some places, it is not clear how to get there. Or what you will need for your trip. For that reason, I’ve compiled a list of the 14 of most interesting and obscure historical sites to visit for intrepid and adventurous. Whether you are a hiker, an urban explorer, or someone who simply prefers slightly more enigmatic kinds of tourism, there will be something for everyone on this list.
Some places I have included demand a certain physical fitness, while for others it is only a matter of coming off the beaten track. A few sites do require a 4×4 vehicle; planning ahead is therefore essential to make these trips safe and successful. Others may require taking a tour, flight or boat. However you do it, you are in for a stimulating experience.
Three Recommended Adventure Tours
Sólheimasandur & the DC-3
A 2-hour ATV adventure to the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier and the black sand beaches of Sólheimasandur and the DC3 plane site.
WWII & Iceland
A 7-hour day trip from Reykjavik to Hvalfjörður to explore the historic sites and landscapes and the War & Peace Musuem.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
An 11-hour day trip from Reykjavik to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, taking in Kirkjufell and Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach.
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Berserkjahraun (Berserk Trail)
A 40,000 year old lava field located just a 2-hour drive away from Reykjavik, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. It is a marvel I recommend everyone see while visiting Iceland. Not only is it a natural wonder, but it has ties to the historic past of Iceland. While some are happy to simply stop along the road to take a few photos, others are tempted to hike some of it.
The lava field was featured in Eyrbyggja saga as being the product of two Swedish Berserkers called Halli and Leiknir. The story goes that an Icelandic farmer brought the two Berserks to Western Iceland, but found they were too much to handle. He decided to give them to his brother Víga-Styr. To keep the Berserks in line, Víga-Styr made a deal with them. If they could cut a path through the lava field, one of them could marry his daughter. This was considered an impossible feat, however, the two Berserks did manage to do it. To prevent either of them from marrying his daughter, Víga-Styr hatched a plan to have them both killed in a sauna on his farm. It is said they were both buried at the lava field.
This is a site that can be visited in all seasons. During the winter months you may be able to enjoy the snow-covered lava field under a clear night sky. During the summer months it is a good spot for camping and hiking. Good sturdy boots and appropriate outdoor clothes are always recommended. However, it is particularly important to wear ankle protection on this trail due to the sharp, hard, volcanic rock that is known for tripping hikers, twisting ankles, and even breaking bones. You will need a car to get to the trail as it is located outside of Reykjavik with no public transport that will bring you there.
DC-3 Plane Wreckage on Sólheimasandur Beach
Set in the backdrop of what could easily be mistaken for a Post-Apocalyptic movie, one of the most famous abandoned plane wrecks in the world is located in the South of Iceland. The American DC-3 plane was abandoned on the beautiful black beach of Sólheimasandur. Very popular for photographers, and made famous by the likes of Sigur Rós and Justin Bieber, this is a must-see for those who love exploring modern ruins.
From WWII until 2005, the United States had a permanent base in Iceland. In November 1973 the US Navy plane was flying over Iceland from Höfn in the East to the West with seven crew members. It is not fully concluded why the plane crashed in Sólheimasandur. Some argue it was due to bad weather, others believe the plane ran out of fuel. Thankfully, all seven crew members survived the crash. The plane was, however, abandoned.
Interestingly, the area that the plane crash landed is part of a glacial flood wash plain. Underneath the nearby glacier, Mýrdalsjökull, a volcanic eruption is expected. When this happens, it is predicted that the plane will be washed away with the melt water.
The easiest and perhaps the most adventurous way to visit the wreck is to join an ATV Quad Biking tour. These can be reserved on GetYourGuide. Alternatively, those who want to try and find the wreck by themselves will need a car. The site is about a 2-hour drive away from Reykjavik on on route 1 on the Southern coast. For a fee, there is a car park for visitors, where you leave your vehicle and begin the hour long walk to the aircraft (for more about walking or taking a bus, read my article linked to below). It is recommended doing this in the summer due to the limited daylight hours in Iceland in the winter. This is a particularly popular spot for photographers who want to capture the wreckage under the Northern Lights. To that end, the best time of year to go would be between November and January.
Gardar BA 64 Shipwreck
Built in 1912, the same year as the Titanic undertook its ill-fated maiden voyage, this whaling ship has become a ruin. It is Iceland’s oldest steel ship and now a popular destination for urban explorers visiting the Westfjords.
State-of-the-art in its day, this steel ship was built to break through sea ice with a reinforced hull. It was originally built in Norway and was sold to a number of different countries before finding a home with Iceland in 1950. Decommissioned in 1981, it was decided rather than scrapping this iconic ship, it would be stranded at Patreksfjörður, one of the fjords in the North-West of the country.
Today visitors can find the skeleton of this ship just off the Örlygshafnarvegur on Route 612. There is an information sign warning visitors not to climb on the boat due to the risk of injury. It is very rusty so I would recommend a tetanus shot if you plan on getting inside.
Drangey
The remains of a 700,000‑year‑old volcano, the Isle of Drangey is a haven for both readers of the Sagas and for nature lovers. Home to a huge variety of birds, the island is also significant for its mention in The Saga of Grettir the Strong (read more about Sagas and Places in Iceland).
The island is located in the North of Iceland, around an hour and a half drive from Akureyri, Iceland’s second city. Popular for those who want to see puffins, ravens, and all other manner of bird life, the island is also the stuff of legend and folklore. It is said that the island formed when two giants and their cow were surprised by daybreak and were turned to stone. It also hosted many of the final acts of Grettir in his saga. Here is where he performed the magnificent feat, swimming 7 kilometers back to shore to collect fire. It is also where he met his end after being injured by a log cursed in runes by a witch.
Today some brave Icelanders take part in the annual swimming competition where they attempt to swim the same distance across the sea as Grettir. For those feeling extra adventurous, read the participation details.
For those less willing to get wet, there are other options on how to see the island. Drangey Tours offers two types of experiences. The first being a boat ride to the island where you can get off and explore the island itself. In this tour you will be able to get close to the wild birds of the island and see the small shack built in honour of Grettir. The second option is to take a boat tour around the island and see it from a distance. You will not be able to see what is on the top of the island, since the island rises 180 metres from the sea. This is a good tour for those on a time budget or have accessibility needs.
These tours only run during the summer due to weather restrictions, and I recommend you book in advance.
World War II remains at Öskjuhlíð
Despite not being a key player during the Second World War, Iceland did find itself occupied by British and American troops. In fact, Iceland’s main airport at Keflavik was built by the Americans as an airbase to replace the one at Garður in the north of the country run by the British. However, this was not the only installation built during the war. For defence purposes, bunkers were also built at Öskjuhlíð by the British for defence. Nowadays they are a crumbling reminder of times gone by.
Remains of the bunkers, pillboxes, barrack emplacements, and fuel depots can be found on the hill near the shining glass dome of Perlan. Between the ruins are also hiking trails to explore. Due to this being in Reykjavik, this is a particularly accessible site for those who don’t have a car. A 30 minute bus ride to Perlan museum will get you there from the city centre. The bus number 1, 3, 13, or 18 will take you there from the town hall in the city centre. There are also hop on hop off buses that visit the site which can be caught all over the city. A popular place to get on this bus is from the huge church Hallgrimskirkja.
Alternatively, there is a guided tour visitors can join. The tour is a 7 hour bus tour of all things WWII related in Iceland. Along with a stop at the bunkers, the tour will also take you out of the city to see some other affected areas from the war. This is bookable on Get Your Guide. I have taken the shorter World War Two Walking Tour in Reykjavik, offered by the same guide, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Selatangar
It is unsurprising that fishing has been the predominant industry in Iceland for hundreds of years. For that reason, there are many abandoned ruins of fishing communities across the coasts of the country. One of the most interesting of these sites can be found in the South-East 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) east of the town of Grindavik.
An important fishing outfit that was eventually abandoned in the 1880s when Iceland began to industrialise, the haunting remains can be found among the lava fields. It is located near the car park for the Fagradalsfjall volcano hiking trail. The jagged and dramatic landscape obscures some of the crumbling ruins, especially during difficult weather, so hikers should keep a keen eye. What is clear from the moment you reach this coastline is how harsh it is. The violent storms, churning water, strong winds, and surrounding sharp volcanic rock makes it a wonder how anyone could live or work here. It is probably for that reason the place was abandoned.
Like many isolated places in Iceland, Selatangar has its own fair share of folklore. This particular outlet was haunted by a mythological being called Tanga-Tómas. The remains of the huts used for hanging and drying fish can be accessed via Route 42. You will then need to come off the main road and follow Route 427 which requires a 4×4 to drive on.
Draugasetrid
Iceland has no shortage of ghosts, elves, and trolls. For those who want to explore the more supernatural side of Iceland may find this Ghost Museum the perfect stop. Located in Stokkseyri, in the South of Iceland close to Selfoss, it is a museum dedicated to Iceland’s rich corpus of folklore.
Storytelling is an important aspect within Icelandic culture. Ever since the days of the early settlement in the 870s AD tales were told around the fire to scare children, warn against improper behaviour, and give the landscape more significance. One of the most interesting Sagas, Eyrbyggja saga, is filled with zombies, ghosts, and other creepy and supernatural events such as blood rain and hauntings. Other more obscure and local traditions also live on within folk tales, passed down through generations.
Draugasetrid or The Ghost Centre in English, is dedicated to these stories. Told through wooden models, this creepy museum immerses those brave enough to enter into the world of haunted Iceland. Visitors travel between 24 different ghost stories told through an audio guided tour offered in several languages that brings you closer to the worldview of the Icelanders. Another section of the museum is dedicated to the world of the elves and the role they play in folklore.
For those who want to discover the world of ghosts in Iceland, this is a must see.
Giantess Cave
In the town of Keflavik in the South-West of Iceland there is a cave called The Black Cave. Inside lives a Giantess. She has no name, but Icelanders call her Skessan, or Giganta in English.
Inspiration for this cave came from a children’s story written in the North of Iceland called Sigga and the Giantess, by the Icelandic author Herdís Egilsdóttir. Written in 1959, this popular children’s series told the story of a little girl named Sigga and her Giantess friend over fifteen books. The final book told the story of how the Giantess moved from the North of Iceland to Keflavik, where the cave was built and opened in 2008.
The cave itself is located on the seafront at the marina in the west of Keflavik. The entrance is located at the west end of the main street and down into the harbour. There are giant footsteps you can follow to a sign that says ‘Skessuhellir’.
This is a great place to bring kids who can learn and enjoy the wonders of the Icelandic imagination.
Skeiðará Bridge Monument
Twisted metal is all that remains of this bridge. It was destroyed by a combination of volcanic heat and glacial flooding, giving meaning to the name ‘land of fire and ice’. In the extreme landscape between the Skeiðarárjökull Glacier and underground volcanoes, this bridge buckled under the power of nature’s force.
The Skeiðará Bridge was once part of Iceland’s Ring Road that brought drivers over Skeiðarár Sandur, a plain of black sand cut by creeks created by the glacier. In 1996, the Vatnajökull volcano underneath the glacier erupted, causing parts of the glacier to melt and creating huge floods. Along with water, glacial shards of ice crashed into the bridge, causing catastrophic damage. This created a giant gap in Iceland’s main road, disrupting infrastructure for weeks.
Since then, a new road has been built, but the original bridge has been left as a monument to the destructive force of nature on man made structures.
To find this monument, drive along Route 1. It is a short distance from Skeiðarársandur near Hof in the South-East of Iceland. There is a public car park for those who want to stop and take photos. The backdrop to this monument is amazing as you are able to take in Svinafellsjökull in the distance.
Elliðaey Island Lodge
Famous for the internet meme describing anti-social people, this is possibly one of the most isolated inhabited places in Iceland. Known as ‘the world’s loneliest home’, the lodge is on a part of a chain of islands off the South coast of Iceland known as the Westman Islands.
The island is part of a volcanic archipelago that formed between 10,000 and 120,000 years ago. The island is often the first one you see when taking the ferry to the main islands of the Westman Islands. The Westman islands were inhabited at different times throughout history, although today only Heimaey has permanent residents.
It is unclear exactly when this lodge and the shed were built on the island, but it seems to have been built for storage and as a workshop for biologists studying the island’s nature. The lodge is powered by propane and has no running water.
As this is private property, it is not possible to visit Elliðaey Island without the permission of the land owners. Some tours to the nearby Westman Islands, however, sail by the island.
Abandoned Djúpavík Herring Factory
To the North-West of Iceland a small community made up of farmers and fishermen have occupied this area for hundreds of years. However, the story of Djúpavík really began in 1917 when the herring industry took off at the hands of Elías Stefánsson.
Elías began a salting station at the village which changed the lives of the community. That was until 1919 when he became bankrupt. Later in 1935, a newer, bigger factory opened, becoming Iceland’s biggest concrete building. This caused the village to be expanded when 300 people moved there to find absolutely nothing but the factory itself. However, by the late 1940s, the herring had all been fished out. The factory closed down in 1954. By 1968, the town was abandoned.
In 1985, Eva Sigurbjörnsdóttir and her husband Ásbjörn Þorgilsson revived the town by building a hotel and offering tours of the abandoned factory. Today, the factory is used every summer for an art installation, calling back to its golden era. In 2006, Sigur Rós played a show in the factory to 300 people who made the trek.
To get there you will need a car. Be aware that the road to get there is full of potholes and is narrow and winding. It is located around 4 and a half hours drive North of Reykjavik. Some of the turns are quite sketchy along the cliffs so extreme caution is needed. The factory is only open in the summer months and requires climbing stairs and walking uneven ground.
Beached Whalers
In 1986 two whaling ships were sunk in Hvalfjörður (whale fjord) by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and its whale processing factory was sabotaged. Since then, the two ships were raised and beached, left to rot and rust.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a group of animal rights activists who specifically attempt to protect marine life. Iceland is one of very few countries in the world that still permit Whaling. Ironic since the Whale-Watching industry seems to bring in more revenue and is far more sustainable than hunting. Herring fishing is another industry that the Icelanders rely on, which also adversely affects whales. All this is to say that public opinion on the treatment of these Whaling Ships are split. Where some people see the two beached Whalers as a waste and a shame, others see it as a monument to environmentalism and animal protection.
Climbing on the whalers is forbidden since they are connected to heating and electricity. They are technically privately owned. To see them you can drive to Hvalfjörður, a beautiful fjord in western Iceland, a very scenic hours drive from Reykjavik. They are hidden under a rocky outcrop and there is no parking nearby. There are two trails that can lead you to the ships themselves. One along the black beach and the other along the trail from the road.
The Arctic Henge
A stone structure located in a remote village in the northern tip of Iceland, this monument was created by artist Erlingur Thoroddsen. The vision was simple. To create an endless vista where nothing obstructs your view. Now, it is one of the most beautiful places to capture the Northern Lights.
The mythology behind this installation is both fascinating and relevant. The stone arches and statues were created with the Norse Gods in mind. Fitting since the earliest written evidence we have of Norse Mythology comes from Iceland and its manuscripts. The work was inspired by Völuspá, also known as The Prophecy of the Seeress in English. Each individual block that makes up the stone arches are inscribed with one of the names from the poem. Specifically the names of the dwarves. The columns are aligned to to capture the light of the midnight sun and the summer solstice. This is a reference to the famous Stonehenge monument in England.
The Arctic Henge is located at Raufarhöfn, an abandoned herring fishing settlement. This makes the trip doubly worth visiting for people who enjoy exploring abandoned buildings. The village and the henge both overlook the Arctic Ocean. The drive from Reykjavik takes around eight hours. It is one of the most remote places in Iceland. Despite the name, Arctic Henge doesn’t quite reach the Arctic Circle.
Orbis et Globus
There is only one spot in Iceland that the arctic circle cuts through. That is the island of Grímsey. It is here that 66°N is marked by a huge concrete sphere. This giant ball is moved in incremental units each year to accurately keep up with the moving arctic circle.
Inaugurated on the arctic circle in Grímsey Island in 2017, the 3-metre sphere has been moved each year to allow it to remain accurate. In 2018 it was moved 130 metres south. In 2019 it was moved again 69 metres North. This is to track the Earth’s wobble as it travels through space. It is predicted that the arctic circle will leave the island by 2047, not to return for another 20,000 years. The sphere itself weighs around 8 tons. Special industrial equipment is needed to move the concrete ball.
The island itself is sparsely settled with only 100 residents. It also marks the Northernmost point of inhabited Iceland. To get there you can either take a 20 minute flight from Akureyri or a ferry from Dalvík which takes approximately three hours. There is plenty to do on the island including bird watching and hiking. It is possible to stay overnight or to only spend a few hours. It is open both during summer and winter.
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Archaeology Travel Writer
