Iceland Cruise from Reykjavík — 15 Days

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavík is a capital with one foot in the wild. The Atlantic frames the city, volcanic mountains rise on the horizon, and geothermal water warms its pools. Start at Hallgrímskirkja, whose tower commands broad views, then walk down to the harbor and Harpa concert hall. Cafés, design shops, and museums make the compact center easy to explore on foot. Beyond town, geysers and waterfalls make a striking day trip; return for a soak in a neighborhood pool.

Heimaey Island Iceland (Scenic Stop)

At Sea (At Sea)

Qaqortoq, Greenland

Qaqortoq is southern Greenland’s largest town, set around a sheltered harbor beneath steep, bare hills. Colorful houses climb the slopes, while fishing boats give the waterfront its working rhythm. Follow the town’s Stone and Man carvings, then visit the museum for insight into Greenlandic life and Norse history. Boat trips can take you to nearby Norse ruins or Uunartoq’s natural hot springs.

Hvalsey, Greenland

At Hvalsey, Greenland’s Norse past comes into focus among stone walls, open fields and a broad fjord. Here stands the country’s best-preserved Norse church, part of a farming settlement founded during the medieval period. The last known written record of Greenland’s Norse community describes a wedding here in 1408. Walk the quiet site and imagine a life shaped by weather, livestock and the sea.

Qassiarsuk, Greenland

Qassiarsuk lies on the grassy shores of southern Greenland, where sheep farms share the landscape with Norse history. Across the Tunulliarfik Fjord from Narsarsuaq, it occupies the site of Brattahlíð, linked to Erik the Red. Explore reconstructed Norse buildings and medieval ruins within the UNESCO-listed Kujataa cultural landscape. Here, Greenland’s Norse and Inuit histories meet a working farming community, reached by boat from Narsarsuaq.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Nanortalik, Greenland

Nanortalik, Greenland’s southernmost town, sits on an island where fjords, sea cliffs and steep mountains define the horizon. Its name means “place of polar bears,” and bears still roam the surrounding region. From the harbor, boat journeys reach dramatic Tasermiut Fjord, famed for its granite walls and remote wilderness. Visit the local museum for a glimpse of Greenlandic life, then watch for icebergs and seabirds along the coast.

• Fjord Cruising (Fjord Cruising)

Aappilattoq, Greenland

Aappilattoq offers a close view of life in Greenland’s remote south, where a small settlement sits beneath steep, rugged peaks. Colourful houses line the rocky shore, and fishing remains central to local life. Come ashore for quiet village lanes, open mountain views and an uncommon glimpse of a community shaped by isolation. The surrounding coast is best understood from the water. Fjords, glaciers and steep mountain walls define this remote corner of Greenland.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Prince Christian Sound Greenland (Scenic Area)

Skjoldungen Island Greenland, Greenland

Skjoldungen Island rises from southeast Greenland’s remote coast, where steep mountains meet deep fjords. There is no road access or permanent settlement; visitors arrive by expedition vessel, weather permitting. On shore, look for traces of former Inuit life and watch the changing light on dark rock, ice and water. This is Greenland at its most elemental: a place to explore slowly, with expert guides and sturdy footwear.

Tasiilaq, Greenland

Tasiilaq is East Greenland’s largest town, set on Ammassalik Island beneath steep, snow-streaked mountains. Its harbor faces the Denmark Strait, with Sermilik Fjord nearby and icebergs drifting through its waters. Colorful homes and the local museum offer glimpses of Inuit life and history. Come ashore for Arctic scale, clear light and a community shaped by sea, weather and distance.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

At Sea (At Sea)

Patreksfjordur, Iceland

From Patreksfjörður’s sheltered Westfjords harbour to Höfn beneath Vatnajökull, Iceland’s western and southeastern edges reveal strikingly different landscapes. Patreksfjörður is a quiet base for exploring dramatic sea cliffs and Látrabjarg, where puffins nest in summer. Höfn is celebrated for langoustine and views of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Farther west along the south coast, glacier lagoons bring icebergs close to shore.

Grundarfjordur, Iceland

Grundarfjörður sits on the north shore of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, a fishing village beneath steep mountains. Its signature sight is Kirkjufell, a 463-metre peak shaped like an arrowhead. Walk or drive to Kirkjufellsfoss, where cascades frame the mountain. Further west, Snæfellsjökull glacier crowns a volcano and the national park around it. Weather changes quickly here, so bring warm, waterproof layers. Come for scale, silence and light.

• Flatey Island Iceland (Scenic Stop)

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavík is a capital with one foot in the wild. The Atlantic frames the city, volcanic mountains rise on the horizon, and geothermal water warms its pools. Start at Hallgrímskirkja, whose tower commands broad views, then walk down to the harbor and Harpa concert hall. Cafés, design shops, and museums make the compact center easy to explore on foot. Beyond town, geysers and waterfalls make a striking day trip; return for a soak in a neighborhood pool.