home » europe » iceland » travel

travel Iceland

Iceland - Places to see and things to do.

Iceland is lovely country set in a large mountainous island which is located in the North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. Almost eleven per cent of Iceland are covered by glaciers; however the climate is mild with many geothermal hotspots. Tourists should know however that the winter months could be quite cold and that is why the best time to visit the country is during the summer. Iceland is one of the least populated Nordic countries and has an area of 103 000 square kilometers. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavik. Today Iceland is one of the most developed countries and a member of UN, NATO, EFTA and EEA. The official language in Iceland is Icelandic, which uses the Latin alphabet. An interesting fact is that the people from the Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Denmark and Norway will understand the written text in Icelandic, but not the spoken language. Tourists however will not have any communication problems as usually all people speak English and have some basic knowledge of German, French and Spanish. The local currency is krona and the usual souvenirs that are boughtas gifts are porcelain sculptures and glasswork, jewellery and wood goods like hats and gloves. Iceland is divided into seven regions, these being Southwest Iceland where the capital is set, West Fjords which is not well populated, West Iceland, North Iceland where could be best enjoyed the Midnight sun, East and South Iceland, as well as Interior where are set the glaciated mountains.

The largest cities in Iceland are the capital Reykjavik, Akureyri which is the capital of the north, the city of Hafnarfjordur which is the city of the annual Viking festival, as well as the coastal town of Stykkisholmur, as well as the settlement of Skagafjordur which is the home of the iclandic horse and the glacial river rating. Besides the sights in the cities, Iceland has lovely memorable sights outside the settlements. These include Blue Lagoon health centre and outdoor pool area, which geothermal spa enjoys milky blue water; the Thingvelir National Park which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List; the Golden Falls which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the ountry; the Geysir which is no longer active. The other places interesting to see are also the volcanic crater lake Kerio, the Myvatn lake and the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, which is 190 meters deep, the West Fjords and the Skaftafell National Park. Iceland is a very very beautiful country where the daylight available varies significantly by season.

In June the sun never really sets down and it does not become dark, while in December the sun never actually sets up and it is dark for days. The citizens from almost all countries could enter Iceland with valid passports and do not require visas. Before plannng the trip however, tourists should check the list of the countries in order to be on the save side. The easiest way to reach Iceland is by plane and the international airport in the country is set at Keflavik, which is 40 km outside Reykjavik. From the airport there is bus transfer which runs from there to the capital and various hotels there. Icelandair offers non-stop flights from Canada and United States with gateways in New York, Boston, Toronto and Orlando. Iceland has a low coastcarrier as well, named Iceland Express, which offers flights from Copenhagen and London, Oslo and Stockholm plus some other seasonal destinations to Keflavik. Iceland could be reached by boat as well but it takes much longer time and is seasonal, though it allows the taking of your own vehicle. During the summer such sails are availabe from Hanstholm in Denmark and Bergen in Norway to the town of Seyoisfjordour. Driving in Iceland is organzied on the right side of the road, with headlights and seatbelts being obligatory all the time. Car hiring is available but could be very expensive.

Most of the mountain roads are closed till the end of June. Almost all roads are dangerous to the tourists who are not used to them, so they should be very careful. The speed limit on the rural roads is 90 km/h, while in the urban areas the speed limit is 50 km/h and they are strictly enforced. Iceland is covered by BSI Travel bus service which reaches most parts of the country. Cycling is a pleasant way to experience Iceland, but only during the summer months and only outside Reykjavik as the traffic there is quite heavy. Hitchhiking is a good and very cheap way to go around Iceland. The country is safe and the people are very friendly. For the longer distances hitchhikers should be prepared with food, water and a tent. The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, is also its largest city with population of 117 706 residents.

Reykjavik is the cultural centre of the hountry and the most popular tourism destintion. The city is very beautiful, with many attractions all set within walking distance from each other. If tired from sightseeing, tourists are welcome to enjoy the sandy beach, the outdoor swimming pools, plus a golf course and a solmon river closeby. Among the places to be visited are the Old City with its bright color roofs, the rotating restaurant Perlan set on the top of the water towers, the National Cathedral and the Reykjavik Pond where people gather to feed the ducks with bread. Other pleasant spots include the Althingi green park in the centre of Reykjavik, the National Museum and the Hallgrimskirkja Church, as well as the Culture House which is a great museum. The region around Reykjavik is ideal for whale watching and angling, horse riding and rafting. Best relaxation is available at the outdoor geothermal swimming pools that are used by both families and friends and are excellent places for having fun.

Akureyri is the second largest city in Iceland, which has a reliable public bus system but also is pleasant for walking. The city is also a good base for visiting the more remote areas in the country such as Myvatn, the Devils Kitchen and the Godafoss waterfall for example. Another settlement which we will present here is Hafnarfjordur which is set in the southwestern part of Iceland and has population of arounf 25 000 people. The town is walking friendly and here is organized the annual festival of the Vikings. The last town to be featured here is Skagafjordur which is set in the northern part of the country and is home of the glacial river rafting, the Icelandic horse and the old turfhouse. Interesting to be seen here are the Historical Nature Park Island Drangey and the folk museum Glaumaer.