My Guide to Visiting Wheelchair Accessible Iceland
I traveled to Iceland in November 2016 as part of an accessible travel group. To be honest, Iceland had never been on my radar before, but it is such a great place to visit! I’m so glad that I decided to go and experience this wonderful country. This is my guide on visiting accessible Iceland.
Getting to Iceland
Since Iceland is an island, unless you’re cruising here, you’ll have to fly in. I took a direct flight from New York City to Reykjavik using Iceland Air.
The service on Iceland Air was fantastic. I cannot comment on how they handle mobility devices, as I was walking with a cane when I visited, and the tour company I used was providing a wheelchair for me to use upon arrival to Iceland.
Should I Cruise to Iceland?
This is one country I don’t recommend cruising to, as there is so much to see and do here that it cannot (or should not) be squeezed into a day. In addition, Iceland has great accessibility, so there’s no reason to worry about getting around.
Where to Stay in Wheelchair Accessible Iceland
Our group stayed at the Fosshotel Reykjavik. It was centrally located in the downtown area and was wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible entrance, lobby, restaurant, and rooms available. There was also an accessible restroom near the restaurant, so you didn’t have to go all of the way back to your room to find accessible facilities.
Getting Around in Wheelchair Accessible Iceland
Since I was part of an accessible tour, there was a lift-equipped bus to take us to all the sights. We did have a free day to explore the city on our own. Despite visiting in cold November, the sidewalks were clear and easy to navigate.
Fun fact, the sidewalks in Iceland are naturally heated from the thermal spring water that runs beneath them.
The city is compact so it’s easy to roll around to almost anything you’d like to do. There may be some slight inclines on some of the streets, but they are still very manageable.
There were plenty of options for accessible shopping and cafes. Not all shops are accessible, however, some require a step or two to enter.
12 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Iceland
I was pleasantly surprised as to just how accessible this country is. Sure, there are plenty of adventurous activities for the more able bodied, but there are also lots of great options for the differently abled. Here are the accessible things I did during my visit.
1. The Pearl or Perlan
The Pearl, located just outside of Reykjavik, is a building featuring a glass dome on top of six huge hot water storage tanks. When you visit the outdoor observation deck, you get beautiful views of the city.
Inside, the Perlan features a museum, café, planetarium, nature exhibits and more. It was a fun stop that allowed us to get a warm drink and new perspective of Reykjavik.
2. Hallgrimskirkja Church
This Lutheran Church is the tallest in Iceland and is a prominent feature in Reykjavik’s skyline. The jagged tower of the church is meant to resemble some of Iceland’s nature. The modern design and church itself are relatively new, having been consecrated in 1986.
Inside of Hallgrimskirkja is Iceland’s largest pipe organ, which was built in Germany. Consisting of 5,275 pipes, 72 stops and weighing 25 tons, this organ is pretty massive. We were lucky enough to hear it being played during our visit. The music surrounds you, as the acoustics in the church are fantastic.
In front of the church stands a statue of Leifur Eiriksson. It is still being debated whether Leifur was Icelandic or Norwegian, but he’s thought to be the first European to set foot on the continent of North America (before Christopher Columbus).
It was nice visiting the church and getting a sense of Iceland’s style (which is modern and a little stark). The views from the church are great and it was a real treat to hear the organ being played.
3. Geysers
Along the Golden Circle, and just outside of Reykjavik, is a geothermal area that has two geysers you can visit. The most popular of these is Strokkur Geyser which erupts every 4-10 minutes and can reach heights of 49-65 feet.
There are other geysers in the area but they don’t erupt often. There are also other geothermal features in the area (such as bubbling mud pots).
Please note that the accessible pathway that guides you around these features can get very slick in the winter/colder months from the mist of the geyser freezing on them.
4. Gulfoss Waterfall
This waterfall, created from a glacier whose water feeds the river and results in a 105 foot, two stage waterfall. The first section of the falls is 36 feet high and the second is 69 feet high. The falls flow into Gullfossgjúfur canyon which has 230 feet walls.
It was absolutely beautiful, despite the drizzly and overcast day I was there. Just know that there is a good chance you will get wet from the mist of the falls.
5. Þingvellir National Park
This UNESCO World Heritage site is simply stunning. There are wheelchair accessible pathways throughout, so you won’t miss a thing. There are some inclines throughout, so make sure you bring your stamina or someone to assist you if needed.
Offering unique geology, history and cultural significance, there is so much to explore here. Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet in between the Almanngjá gorge and are slowly pulling apart producing a valley and other geological features.
This area is considered sacred by most of the country as it was declared that Christianity would be the official religion of Iceland (however pagans were still allowed to peacefully practice their own religion).
6. The National Museum
Originally, we were supposed to go on a whale watching tour, but the weather did not cooperate with that plan. So, instead, a last-minute substitution was made and we went to the National Museum.
This perfectly accessible place details the history of Iceland from the early settlers to modern times. There were plenty of artifacts and exhibits that helped me learn more about this wonderful country.
7. See a show at the Harpa Concert Hall
The Harpa is a beautiful theater near the waterfront. Its unique design is fun to look at. While we were here, we saw a folklore show that featured traditional Icelandic songs and dances. I really enjoyed the performance and taking pictures of the architecture of the theater itself.
8. Search for the Northern Lights
The whole reason why the trip to Iceland was happening in November, was so we would have the opportunity to see the northern lights. The best chance of seeing these incredible astrological features is to visit between October and March. The conditions have to be just right, so cross your fingers and be willing to brave some cold weather.
We made several attempts, but even if conditions were right, it would sometimes be too cloudy to witness. Then one night we got lucky! Beautiful greens lit up the night sky, looking as if God had taken a paintbrush to it.
It was incredible and I almost forgot how absolutely freezing cold it was (almost). I could’ve stayed out there for hours.
9. Visit a Horse Farm
Horses are big in Iceland. They are also beautiful animals. Why not learn more about how horses play an important role in this country? There are options to visit horse breeders or horse farms that have a museum onsite.
We visited a farm that had a small café, but unfortunately, I don’t know the name of it. I did have fun meeting these majestic animals.
10. Skógafoss Waterfall
At 200 feet high and 82 feet wide, this is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country. There are small stones that make up the short path to reach the base (and at the base), but it is still fairly accessible.
Legend says that there is a chest of treasure buried behind the waterfall in a cave. Locals were able to touch a ring of the chest before the chest disappeared. To this day, the treasure has not been recovered.
11. Take a Dip in the Blue Lagoon
Created in 1976, this geothermal lagoon is situated next to a power plant (which drills for steam and hot water). The runoff from the plant runs into the Blue Lagoon and is the source of heat for the water.
The azure blue water is inviting and completely accessible to people of all abilities. There are accessible changing rooms and a ramped entrance into the lagoon. They also have pool noodle looking devices that help people maintain their balance while in the water.
A gift shop sells spa-like products that you can take home as souvenirs. Be aware that the clay like substance in the lagoon can really dry out your skin, so make sure to moisturize after visiting.
I did not go into the lagoon during my visit, because at that time, my breathing capabilities were becoming more difficult and sometimes the pressure of being in the water made it harder to breathe. I did put my hand in the lagoon and know that I would’ve enjoyed it had I not had respiratory issues.
12. Hraunfossar Falls
While this waterfall isn’t very tall, it’s extremely wide… try a couple of thousand feet wide! Flowing over an old lava field from the dormant volcano that lies underneath the nearby glacier.
It’s a great place to visit at any time of year. It also has good accessibility. The hardest part of visiting is looking around the fence to get the picture you want.
Wheelchair Accessible Tours of Iceland
Unfortunately, the American based tour company I used to travel here doesn’t seem to be in business anymore. Which is a shame, because they did a great job and had everything taken care of, so you just had to show up and be ready to have fun. That being said, I believe the American tour company contracted services to a local Icelandic company called Iceland Unlimited.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Wheelchair Accessible Iceland
Most of the sites I listed above can be seen when doing an accessible Golden Circle Tour. These tours can be packed into a day or spread out over a longer period of time. Our tour spread them out so we could really enjoy the sights and not be exhausted at the end of each day. Besides, the drive in between sites can be just as pretty as the attractions themselves.
Exploring Iceland was a very pleasant surprise. There was beautiful scenery, friendly people and interesting history. Originally, I went just to see the northern lights, but I was met by so much more. If wheelchair accessible Iceland isn’t on your bucket list, it should be!
