3 Best Sights in North Iceland, Iceland

With sheer vertical drops on all sides, Drangey rises sharply out of the sea, creating one of the region’s most iconic images. To the south of the island is a remarkable sea stack named Kerling ("old woman" in Icelandic) and farther east is the island Málmey. Besides hosting a legion of diving birds (puffins, guillemots, and auks), Drangey was once the home of legendary Saga hero Grettir, who spent the last three years of his life there in exile. The remains of his turf house can still be seen on the island.

Once home to a small community, Flatey, or Flat Island, is now inhabited only during the summer, mostly by birds and those who love watching them. A sanctuary to at least 30 different species, it has a large population of cute puffins and swooping, scalp-pecking arctic terns. Gentle Giants and North Sailing offer tours to the island, which is 14.7 nautical miles northwest of Húsavík in Skjálfandi Bay.

Easily accessible just off the main road, Hrútey Island is located in the middle of the glacial Blanda River. Dense with trees and vegetation after an extensive reforestation program, the island is now home to a thriving population of birds. A small footbridge connects to the island, which is closed to the public from April 20 to June 20 to protect nesting birds from being disturbed.