Valleys of Iceland: 28 Valley Guides
Carved by rivers, glaciers, and volcanic activity over thousands of years, Iceland's valleys shelter much of the country's vegetation, farmland, and history. They range from glacier-flanked hiking country to quiet farm valleys that appear in the Viking sagas.
This guide is a travel-planning summary, not emergency guidance. Conditions in Iceland can change quickly; check official alerts, roads, and weather before driving, hiking, or booking around volatile conditions.
Pages are reviewed for practical usefulness, source quality, and volatile claims before publication.
Named valleys covered
Regions represented
Longest inhabited valley
Best for Hiking
Þórsmörk, Landmannalaugar, Fljótsdalur
Hot Spring Bathing
Reykjadalur, Landmannalaugar
Best for Waterfalls
Fljótsdalur, Bárðardalur, Þjórsárdalur
South Iceland
Glacier valleys, geothermal areas, and Iceland's best-known hiking country.
Thorsmork
Þórsmörk
Iceland's most famous valley, green ground between three glaciers
Thjorsardalur
Þjórsárdalur
Green valley along Iceland's longest river, with tall waterfalls
Reykjadalur
Reykjadalur
Steam Valley with a warm bathing river near Hveragerði
Hvannadalur
Hvannadalur
A rarely visited valley near Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Landmannalaugar
Landmannalaugar
Colorful rhyolite mountains and natural hot springs in the highlands
Capital Region
Urban green corridors and pastoral valleys within easy reach of Reykjavik.
West Iceland
Saga country valleys rich in history, waterfalls, and geothermal activity.
Borgarfjordur
Borgarfjörður
Broad valley rich in saga history and waterfalls
Hvalfjordur
Hvalfjörður
Whale Fjord valley with Glymur, Iceland's second-tallest waterfall
Skorradalur
Skorradalur
A rare forested valley with a calm lake and summer cottages
Reykholtsdalur
Reykholtsdalur
Historic valley where saga author Snorri Sturluson lived
Northwest Iceland
Horse country, mountain passes, and the deep valleys of Skagafjörður and Tröllaskagi.
Skagafjordur Valley
Skagafjörður
Iceland's main horse-breeding valley and saga heartland
Oxnadalur
Öxnadalur
A steep-sided valley crossed by the Ring Road
Vesturdalur
Vesturdalur
Long valley extending from Skagafjörður into the highlands
Svarfadardalur
Svarfaðardalur
A narrow farming valley on the Troll Peninsula
Northeast Iceland
Fertile river valleys, birch forests, and vast wilderness near Lake Mývatn.
Bardardalur
Bárðardalur
One of Iceland's longest valleys with Goðafoss and Aldeyjarfoss
Fnjoskadalur
Fnjóskadalur
Green valley near Akureyri with Iceland's largest birch forest
Laxardalur
Laxárdalur
Quiet lava-floor valley near Mývatn, known for its fishing
Adaldalur
Aðaldalur
Broad lowland valley with a vast vegetated lava field
Flateyjardalur
Flateyjardalur
A 33 km deserted valley for self-sufficient hikers
Reykjadalur North
Reykjadalur (Þingeyjarsýslu)
Geothermal valley in the Mývatn area with the village of Laugar
East Iceland
Deep glacial valleys with canyons, waterfalls, and saga settings.
Jokuldalur
Jökuldalur
Iceland's longest inhabited valley with Stuðlagil Canyon
Fljotsdalur
Fljótsdalur
Iceland's richest valley for waterfalls including Hengifoss
Breiddalur
Breiðdalur
The largest valley in the East Fjords with salmon fishing
Fagridalur
Fagridalur
'Beautiful Valley' on the mountain road to Reyðarfjörður
Skridalur
Skriðdalur
Steep mountain valley connected to the village of Djúpivogur
Westfjords
Remote fjord-head valleys steeped in medieval saga history.
Central Highlands
High-altitude green valleys in Iceland's barren interior.
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