Tjörnes Peninsula
Tjörnes Peninsula Nuzzled between the Öxarfjörður and Skjálfandi fjords, the Tjörnes peninsula could be summed up in two words: birds and fossils. Indeed, the peninsula is famous for its uncharacteristically large population of rock ptarmigan game birds, its colonies of sought-after puffins and a
Sólheimajökull Glacier
Sólheimajökull Glacier In a country famous for its glaciers, one of the easiest to explore is Sólheimajökull. A 13.5-square-mile (35-square-kilometer) projectile extending out from the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, Sólheimajökull’s otherworldly landscape of ice ridges, cre
Solfar Sun Voyager
Solfar Sun Voyager The Solfar, or the Sun Voyager, is a well-known sculpture in Reykjavik. It was created by Jon Gunnar Arnason who came up with the concept in the late 1980s. It was his entry into a competition for an outdoor sculpture to honor the 200th anniversary of the city of Reykjavik, and
Reykjavik Art Museum (Hafnarhusid)
Reykjavik Art Museum (Hafnarhusid) The Reykjavik Art Museum - or Hafnarhusid - has three sites and around twenty exhibitions a year. The main location is Hafnarhús in downtown Reykjavik, established in 2000, which hosts exhibitions of contemporary art in a number of gallery spaces. The other impor
Mývatn Nature Baths
Mývatn Nature Baths Iceland’s natural hot springs are world renowned, but while the beloved Blue Lagoon is crammed with day-trippers from nearby Reykjavik, the Myvatn Nature Baths remain a pocket of tranquility, hidden away in the less-visited north. With waters bubbling between 36°C and 39°C (96.
Lystigardur
Lystigardur Iceland’s most famous garden and the northernmost botanical garden in the world, Lystigardur, or Akureyri Botanic Garden, defies its close proximity to the Arctic Circle by growing trees, plants and flowers from all around the world. The 3.6-hectare space first opened as a public park
Icelandic Aviation Museum
Icelandic Aviation Museum Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or just looking for something unique to do, the Icelandic Aviation Museum is one of Akureyri’s most impressive museums. Located in a large hanger at Akureyri airport, the museum’s exhibits span over 2,200 square meters, with a varied
Húsavík
Húsavík Albeit being one of the main settlements in North Iceland, Húsavík is home to only 2,500 inhabitants. It is, however, considered to be the whale-watching capital of the country, as the immense mammals are seen on about 95 percent of expeditions. Sitting on the eastern shore of the Skjálfan
Godafoss
Godafoss Frequently cited as being one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland, Godafoss is a 40-foot (12-meter) high and 100-foot (30-meter) wide fall located in the Skjálfandafljót River. It is along the route leading to the Sprengisandur highland plateau, which is huddled between the Hofs
Gjastykki
Gjastykki For those looking to venture off-the-beaten-track, the rift valley of Gjástykki makes a worthwhile side trip from the Mývatn area or Akureyri - a steep-sided valley of lava fields and multi-colored slag, still hot with volcanic activity. Ravaged by the eruptions of the neighboring Krafla
Dettifoss
Dettifoss With an immense 500 cubic meters of water falling each second, Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and one of Iceland’s most extraordinary natural attractions, famously immortalized in the opening scene of Ridley Scott’s 2012 film, Prometheus. Dropping 45 meters and stret
Dalvik
Dalvik Home to just over 1,500 souls, “the bay of the Svarfaðardalur valley, as per its Icelandic name, is located in the north-central part of the country in the splendid Tröllaskagi peninsula. The small settlement is flanked by dramatic mountains, formed by what is said to be the most beautiful
Aurora Reykjavik (Northern Lights Center)
Aurora Reykjavik (Northern Lights Center) Intrepid travelers visiting Iceland during the winter months can take their chances on viewing the elusive Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, but for summer visitors or those short on time, the Aurora Reykjavik (Northern Lights Center) offers the next be
Ásbyrgi Canyon
Ásbyrgi Canyon As one of the highlights of the Diamond Circle, Ásbyrgi Canyon doesn’t disappoint. The horseshoe-shaped depression is technically part of the Vatnajökull National Park (the largest in Europe) and measures approximately 3.5 kilometers in length, 1.1 kilometer across and up to 100 met
Arbaer Open-Air Folk Museum (Arbaejarsafn)
Arbaer Open-Air Folk Museum (Arbaejarsafn) Quaint old buildings have been uprooted from their original sites and rebuilt at the Árbæjarsafn or Arbaer Open-Air Folk Museum, a kind of zoo for houses, 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from the city centre. Alongside the 19th century homes are a turf-roofed c
Seltún Geothermal Area
Seltún Geothermal Area Seltún is located in a area of intense volcanic and geothermal activity called Krýsuvík, slightly southwest of Reykjavik on the Reykjane peninsula. It sits right above a major fissure on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and even in the land of fire and ice, it is a bizarre and volatil
Ljotipollur Lake
Ljotipollur Lake The crater lake of Ljotipollur is in the Landmannalauger uplands in southern Iceland, and was created by the vast volcanic explosion in 1477. At its deepest point, Ljotipollur is around 14 m (46 ft) in depth and measures around 0.5 sq km (0.19 sq miles) in surface area. Despite it
Langjökull
Langjökull Iceland is famous for the extraordinary natural beauty of its volcanic-carved landscapes and more than ten per cent of the island is covered with ice. The nearest extensive glacier to the capital city of Reykjavik is Langjökull, which stretches across 367 miles sq (950 km sq) in the mid
Katla Volcano
Katla Volcano With a square area of over 595 kilometers, a caldera of 10 kilometers in diameter, and a peak reaching 1,512 meters, Katla Volcano is one of the largest in Iceland. It is also one of the most actives, having erupted at least 20 times since the year 1100.Katla is a particular volcano
Isafjordur
Isafjordur Tucked away in the north-west corner of Iceland about five hours drive from Rekjavik, the spectacular Westfjords peninsula is one of the island’s remotest regions. Isafjordur is the area’s biggest town, wonderfully located on a spit at the head of Skutulsfjordur fjord.Traditionally earn
