Iceland Map And Satellite

Iceland Map: Are you coming to Iceland for the first time and wondering where all of the country’s best attractions are on the map? Do you want to know where Reykjavík’s points of interest are or where the best waterfalls are along the South Coast? Find a wealth of maps below with all the main sites and best attractions to be found in Iceland.

At Rough Guides, we understand that experienced travelers want to get truly off-the-beaten-track. That’s why we’ve partnered with local experts to help you plan and book tailor-made trips that are packed with personality and stimulating adventure – at all levels of comfort. If you love planning, but find arranging the logistics exhausting, you’re in the right place.

Organizing a holiday to a foreign country can be a little overwhelming, particularly if you have never been before, so most guests want to know a fair amount before they arrive. Should you stay in one place and take day tours out, or travel further afield at different hotels? Where can you find the best natural attractions, and what are the main sites around where you are staying?

Map Of Iceland

To further add to their troubles, the Black Death plague hit Iceland hard in the early 1400s, and over 50% of the population succumbed to the disease.

The next 400 years continued along the same lines, with various pirate raids along the coast, and then the smallpox epidemic and Laki volcanic eruption in the late 18th century.

The Napoleonic Wars of 1814 broke Denmark and Norway into two kingdoms, however, Iceland stayed under Danish rule until 1944.

Prior to their independence, Iceland proclaimed neutrality during World War II along with Denmark.

Despite their neutral state, on April 9, 1940, German forces occupied Denmark, and Iceland took control of Denmark’s foreign affairs.

But it wasn’t long before Iceland found their own country taken over after the British Armed Forces occupied the island a month later, only to be replaced by the United States in 1941.

As the war came to an end, Iceland regained control of their country, and Sveinn Bjornsson was elected the first president of Iceland. On March 30, 1949, in the midst of domestic controversy, Iceland became a member of NATO.

The United States returned to Iceland in May of 1951, after the signing of a defense agreement, and lingered through the Cold War.

Post-war, Iceland’s economy thrived due in part to the fishing industry and the Marshall Plan (an American program instilled to rebuild European economies and prevent Soviet communism from spreading).

For many decades Iceland enjoyed a strong economy with low unemployment, low inflation, and a per capita income among the highest in the world. Unfortunately, due to the 2009 worldwide economic collapse, Iceland still suffers from a severe financial crisis. Despite that, it remains an alluring place for travelers to visit.

On March 21, 2010, the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in southern Iceland erupted for the first time since 1821, forcing 600 people to flee their homes. Further eruptions in April forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes. And in fact, the resultant cloud of volcanic ash brought major disruption to air travels across Europe.

Golden Circle Iceland Map

Akranes, Akureyri, Arnarstapi, Blonduos, Bolungavik, Bordeyri, Borgarnes, Budardalur, Budir, Dalvik, Djupivogur, Egilsstadhir, Eskifjordhur, Flateyri, Grindavik, Grundarfjordur, Hafnarfjordhur, Hella, Hellissandur, Hnifsdalur, Hofdhakaupstadhur, Hofn, Holmavik, Husavik, Hvammstangi, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Kopavogur, Neskaupstadhur, Olafsfjordhur, Olafsvik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Sandgerdhi, Saudharkrokur, Selfoss, Seydhisfjordhur, Siglufjordhur, Stokkseyri, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavik, Sudhureyri, Thingeyri, Vatneyri, Vestmannaeyjar, Vik, and Vopnafjordhur.

Iceland World Map

A few handy maps, therefore, can take a lot of the stress out of working out what to do. At Guide to Iceland, we have maps to help guests planning all different kinds of trips, such as the best routes around the country, the most popular waterfalls, and the highlights of the capital. Even tourists who do not like to plan too far ahead will them helpful for simple navigation.

If you have booked a self-drive tour or guided vacation package, in which your route, accommodation, and tours will be booked for you, the following maps can still help you visualize what is ahead and get excited about your travels.

The Westfjords are Iceland’s second most remote area after the uninhabited Highlands, simply because the region is cut off from the Ring Road and a bit of a detour to travel to. Many of the roads within it are gravel and snowstorms on mountain passes happen even in summer, so you’ll need to take your time as you drive from one scenic fjord to another.

The Westfjords are hardly accessible during winter time due to heavy snowfalls, closed roads, and even avalanche threats, but in summer are absolutely magical.

If you are seeking magnificent natural features, incredible landscapes, and a wealth of wildlife, it is recommended to spend a few days here.

Iceland Road Map

Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, directly east of Greenland, Iceland is Europe’s westernmost country, the second largest island in the North-Atlantic Ocean, and a little over 3 hours flight from London, Paris, or Copenhagen.

It is suggested that the first permanent settler was Ingolfur Arnarson who arrived in 874 from Norway, and resided in present-day Reykjavík.

He was quickly followed by more settlers from Norway, as well as Ireland, and by the mid-900’s most of Iceland’s cultivable land had been snatched up.

The early settlers put together a council to moderate the area which lasted until 1262, at which point the legislation became incapable of being able to deal with the increasing power.

Around 1380 control of Iceland was passed along to Denmark, and the two were united along with Norway and Sweden as the Kalmar Union for the next several hundred years.

Iceland Map Europe

With everything from geysers and glaciers to erupting volcanoes, Iceland is a truly exceptional place. At the country’s heart is Reykjavík, a chilled capital surrounded by snow-capped mountains, with stylish bars aplenty. Venture out and you’ll find a coastline packed with birdlife, highland valleys offering superlative hiking, breathable outdoor hot pools, and even relics of the Viking age. No matter where you’re heading, use our map of Iceland below to plan your trip.

The sublime waters of the Blue Lagoon should be on every visitor’s bucket list or scramble down the Askja caldera to the geothermal waters of Lake Vití. For a chillier experience, the ice-blue glaciers Skaftafell National Park are truly awe-inspiring. Explore Reykjavík’s nightlife and join the rúntur bar crawl or spot minke and humpback whales off the north coast and sample supremely fresh seafood in Ísafjörður. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try traditional fermented shark or brennivín, a local spirit more commonly known as svarti dauði, or ‘black death’.