Iceland Travel Tips

Iceland is a mountainous island in the North Atlantic, located between Europe and North America. Although a bit austere, Iceland is a country of unreserved natural splendor. The almost unreal beauty of lava eruptions, hot springs, geysers, fissures and glaciers make this land truly unique. Nordic and Celtic people settled Iceland in the 9th century, and in fact, Ing'lfur Arnarson, a Norwegian Viking, founded the first settlement on the site known as present day Reykjavik, which is Iceland?s capital city.

Of all the tourist attractions, one of the most famous, and certainly the most popular, is the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. Some people actually think they are only visible during the winter months, but actually, you can see them all year long. The Midnight Sun is another tourist favorite. Occurring in Scandinavia during early summer, the Midnight Sun means just what it says?the sun is visible at midnight. Its opposite, the Polar Night, occurs in winter.

At some point in your vacation, you will most likely spend some time in Reykjavik City, Iceland?s capital. It is one of the cleanest, greenest cities in the world, and the nightlife is vibrant. The variety of pubs, bars, cafes and dance halls is endless, and live music is becoming a trademark. In fact, there is at least one concert on any given night. The assortment of local craft shops and Scandinavian designer stores making shopping an adventure, as does the Kringlan shopping mall.

Of course, if you go to Iceland, you must try one of the many whale-watching tours. The ocean around Reykjavik is a natural haunt for whales, dolphins and seals. Your tour will probably take you past Puffin Island, as well. Reykjavik?s landmark is the Perlan, or Pearl. Built in 1988, it sits under a large glass dome on top of huge tanks, which store the natural hot water for heating the city. The dome houses a rotating restaurant, with first-rate cuisine and a breath-taking view.

If Viking history is an interest of yours, you most definitely want to check out some of Reykjavik?s museums. The Sun Voyager should be another stop on your list of things to do. This Sun Voyagers is a huge steel sculpture of a Viking ship, by Jon Gunnar Arnason. You definitely want to view this sculpture at sunrise or sunset. Another attraction you can?t miss is the Restaurant Fjorugardurinn. Done up in the Viking style, and serving up a traditional Viking feast, this one-of a-kind eating establishment lets you to step back into time, and taste a little Viking culture.

A very popular tourist attraction in Iceland is the Blue Lagoon. This outdoor, geothermal seawater pool is approximately 45-minutes, by car, from Reykjavik. The fluorescent blue pool, covered in steam, stays at about 104-degrees all year long.

Iceland offers tourists a wide variety of inimitable experiences, all of which both enchant and awe. Both strikingly and strangely severe, a trip to Iceland is simply unforgettable.