Iceland is a beautiful country with no shortage of places to stop and tour. Most stops are worth your time, but several are better off left alone. From barren stretches of desert to unique restaurants, we’ll tell you exactly What NOT to Do in Iceland!

After driving over 2,400 miles around Iceland’s Ring Road, we saw a ton of what the country has to offer. This included both the good and the bad. When we return, there are definitely a few places we would skip. So if you’re trying to find what to do in Iceland, or more importantly what not to do, you’ve come to the right place!

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Here’s our list of things we wouldn’t go out of our way to see again:

Drive Through Northern Iceland

If you plan on driving the Ring Road counterclockwise (like most people do) there’s really not much to see between Höfn and Akureyri, Iceland’s “capital of the north”. The coast is always pretty, but as soon as you start driving inland, there’s little to see and no towns for miles. Certainly, at first the views do not disappoint but eventually the dark brown earth starts to blur into one giant rock field. Sounds kind of like Nebraska minus the corn!

If you do go North, make sure to fill up on gas beforehand and pray for no car problems. When we say you’re on your own up there we mean it. Even with a very fuel efficient vehicle you’ll be running on fumes between towns. Additionally, be sure to buy “Pre-Paid” gas cards as many pumps do not take credit cards and don’t have actual stores attached to them.

The Arctic Henge

Per #1 on our list, the Arctic Henge is one of the attractions that drove us to northern Iceland in the first place. Located just 20 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the megalith is in Raufarhöfn, the northernmost city in the entire country. On good nights, the stars and Aurora Borealis above the Arctic Henge are unimpeded by any light pollution. On bad nights, the clouds, cold, and unbelievable wind keep away even the hardiest travelers.

The attraction is not yet completed, but when it is, it will become a main attraction for Paganism in the world. While we respect the local cultures and religions, we are weary of the Arctic Henge because of this. Regardless of your views, in its current state the attraction is not worth the drive.

DC-3 Plane Crash at Sólheimasandur Beach

In 1973 a US Navy DC-3 airplane was forced to crash land on this black sand beach in southern Iceland. The years have not been kind to the plane. Harsh weather has worn away all recognizable marks and only the hull remains. Rumor has it a local farmer sold the tail years back for some quick cash.

Social media has exploded the popularity of the old wreck and in such expedited its demise. The thousands of new visitors are now expected to hike 2 miles across the sand to the wreck. Short yellow sticks guide the indeterminate pathway and wind kicks up the sharp volcanic sand the entirety of the hike. It was very cool to climb and crawl around the plane but you need to be very careful. Sharp metal fragments and wires jut out in every direction.