Four ports, four completely different sides of Iceland. So many of our cruises have leaned into history, old towns and cities, Iceland flipped the script entirely — this was a cruise itinerary built around raw nature, food, and landscapes that don’t look quite real. This port-by-port Iceland cruise overview covers what we experienced at each stop, from Reykjavík’s food scene to the waterfalls and lava fields further afield.

Quick guide to the ports covered:

• Reykjavík, Iceland — city streets and a standout food tour
• Grundarfjörður, Iceland — black pearl beaches and sea cliffs
• Ísafjörður, Iceland — the hike to Dynjandi Waterfall
• Akureyri, Iceland — lava fields, mud pots, and Godafoss

Reykjavík, Iceland

Our first port of call in Iceland, and the natural beauty greeted us before we’d even finished sailing in. Reykjavík is compact and highly walkable. We worked our way through the city center up to Hallgrímskirkja Church, with the rainbow road leading right to it. We took our time exploring the streets and architecture, which felt a bit Nordic in style, complete with troll gardens, before a stop at a museum ahead of the afternoon’s main event.

That main event was a walking food tour with Wake Up Reykjavik — five stops in, and we had no idea how evolved and tasty Icelandic cuisine would turn out to be. Our tour included a sample of the local historic bite — fermented shark. One and done on that one. It also included the #1 street food of Iceland: the hot dog, 80% lamb, mustard and horseradish on top, crispy onions underneath. All in all, this was one of the best food tours we’ve taken, full stop.

Read our full posts: a stroll through Reykjavík and the Wake Up Reykjavik food tour.

Grundarfjörður, Iceland

If Reykjavík was our city stop, Grundarfjörður marked the real beginning of our deep dive into Iceland’s nature. A tender port for us. Our tour included a stop at Djúpalónssandur, a black pebble and sand beach on the western edge of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It was windy as a hurricane the day we visited — but that only added to the drama of the place.

From there, a stop at a stretch of striking lava and water coastline, where jagged volcanic rock meets crashing waves. Then on to Arnarstapi, a small fishing village in the shadow of Mt. Stapafell, where the trip really took our breath away — dramatic coastlines, sculpted rock formations, and natural arches carved by centuries of ocean waves. We closed out the day driving back to the ship through Snæfellsnes National Park, with more sweeping landscapes unfolding the whole way.

Read our full post: Grundarfjörður and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Ísafjörður, Iceland

Our next port was Ísafjörður, the gateway to the remote Westfjords region. From the port, we toured directly to Dynjandi waterfall — about an hour’s drive through the fjords and valleys, serene, beautiful, and remote the entire way.

Dynjandi is stunning both from the bottom and the top, and we hiked up, about 100 meters, following a marked path that gets more challenging in places as you climb. The first portion passes six smaller scenic waterfalls on the way up and is generally fairly easy; the final stretch to the top of the massive falls themselves is a bit more challenging. That said, we saw people of all ages and fitness levels managing it well.

Read our full post: the hike to Dynjandi Waterfall.

Akureyri, Iceland

Our last port of call in Iceland brought us to Akureyri, at the base of Eyjafjörður fjord in the north of the country. We booked a full-day shore excursion with Saga Travel, starting with a drive out to Lake Mývatn. First stop: Dimmuborgir, or “Dark Castles,” one of the lava fields in the area — rock pillars, caves, and formations everywhere you look, shaped by considerable volcanic activity over the years.

Next came Namafjall Hverir, a geothermal area where sulfuric gases and steam “melt” the clay into boiling mud pots. From there, we drove back through the glacial valleys to Godafoss waterfall, a roaring sight over 30 meters wide and more than 12 meters high, with the flat surrounding landscape making it even more spectacular as the sole focal point. Walking paths make it very easy to visit.

Read our full post: lava fields, mud pots, and Godafoss.

Final Thoughts: Are the Iceland Cruise Ports Worth It?

Four ports in, and Iceland delivered on every front. Reykjavík gave us the city side — walkable streets, striking architecture, and a food tour with Wake Up Reykjavik that turned out to be one of the best we’ve taken, lamb and fish and even a taste of fermented shark included. Grundarfjörður and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula shifted things into raw coastal drama — black pearl beaches, sea cliffs, and lava-meets-ocean landscapes. Ísafjörður brought the Westfjords into the mix, with the drive out to Dynjandi and the hike past six smaller waterfalls on the way to the top. And Akureyri closed things out with a completely different kind of nature: lava fields, geothermal mud pots, and a waterfall that stopped us in our tracks. Between the food and the sites, Iceland was easily one of the highlights of this cruise — if you’re weighing whether to add it to your own itinerary, do it.

FAQ

What are the best Iceland cruise ports? All four of our stops earned their place, but Grundarfjörður and Akureyri stood out most for scenery, while Reykjavík was the standout for food thanks to the Wake Up Reykjavik walking tour.

Which Iceland port is best for food? Reykjavík, hands down. The walking food tour with Wake Up Reykjavik covered lamb, fish, the famous Icelandic hot dog, and even fermented shark for the adventurous.

Do you need excursions in every Iceland port? Mostly, yes. Reykjavík is walkable on your own, but Grundarfjörður, Ísafjörður, and Akureyri all involve sights spread out enough — waterfalls, lava fields, national parks — that a tour or private driver makes the day much easier. The actual port towns are quite small.