A country with fierce fire and numbing ice but safe enough to not even need an army? An island where the total population stands at only 357k? Where the crime rate is so low that there is less than one homicide per year? One of the only two places in the world with no mosquitos? And not to mention, the serene beauty?
Ah, Iceland!
Welcome to this unrealistic heaven-on-earth island in Europe. I am going to be showing you the most distinguishing and beautiful places to visit here.
1. Blue Lagoon
This tranquil lagoon is naturally heated by the lava mountains that surround it. Blue Lagoon is a completely natural space around which hotels and spas are now built. The rare natural blue colour of this water comes from the silica present in it.
In-water massages and skin treatments are also available as private services. Geothermal energy is used for not only keeping the water hot but also for electricity and heating. Svartsengi Resource Park is the sole source for this geothermal energy.
This is also one of the best places to see the Northern Lights from. While relaxing and taking a massage in the beautiful blue lagoon, you can view the Northern lights all over the sky. The Aurora is best visible from here between mid-August and May.
2. Northern Lights
Imagine laying in the blue lagoon experiencing serenity and this view being overhead. Yup, that’s Iceland! The best viewing season here is from October through March and the prime time to see the lights is between 11 pm and 2 am. Aurora Forecast : Here is a resource to help you check your chances of enjoying it.
If you don’t want to drive or don’t want to get tangled in the challenges of navigating the road, guided tours are available in buses, jeeps, vans, boats, and ponies. A smaller group may give you relatively more flexibility but also will cost you a little more. It goes without saying that cars are the best way to move around at your own time and pace. Renting cars here is more expensive than in most countries, but totally worth it.
3. Black Diamond Beach
Clear water, morning sun, dark blue skies, snow mountains, and clear ice reflecting a hint of blue. Could there be anything more beautiful than glaciers and black sand? I doubt a lot of people will choose a real diamond over this heavenly view. These ice lumps have broken free from Breidamerkursandur, which is an outlet glacier of the very famous Vatnajokull, the largest icecap in Europe. The pitch- black sand contrasts perfectly with the white foam of the waves and the blue colour of the water. The black colour of the sand rises from the volcanic ashes.
4. Waterfalls
Waterfalls are not your basic waterfalls here. The picture displayed above is the Godafoss waterfall at 12 meters high and 30 meters wide. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country – its name itself means “Waterfall of the God”. It is said that when Icelanders decided to turn Catholic, pagan idols were brought here and thrown into it. The pagan gods became so furious at this act that they split the waterfall into two, and that’s how it has been since.
Another one is Bruarfoss. This one is known for its blue colour. In fact, it is known as “Iceland’s bluest waterfall”. The only way to reach and move around this place is by hiking. The trip is 7kms or 4.4 miles long, so be prepared to walk for roughly 2-3 hours depending on your speed if you wish to see this beauty. There is actually history behind this long trip. It is known that since the previous visitors trashed around here, the original trail is closed to the public.
5. Midnight Sun
I warn you, do not fall in love with both the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights. Both of these events occur at completely different times of the year. The Midnight Sun is usually visible in the sky between Mid-May and Mid-August. The longest days are between May and July, which are 24 hours long. Amusingly, a lot of people ask “How do you sleep?”. The answer is usually, curtains. Blackout curtains are widely popular. The 24-hour daylight makes a striking difference from the dark winters.
6. Iceland in Miniature
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is also known as Iceland in Miniature. It gets its name because it holds a volcano and a glacier, black and white beaches, caves, craters, waterfalls, lava fields, mountains, calm fishing hamlets, villages, and also gorgeous views. The contrast that this place displays is inexplicably extraordinary.
The roads here are quiet and easy to navigate, so driving yourself around is the best way to visit this place. Group tours may not stop at lesser-known, but underrated sites. The roads here for the most part are paved. This is great to visit any time of the year, although summer between June and August in Iceland is the busiest. It is charismatic in winters as well, but without the crowd, you will probably be able to get the most out of the trip.
7. Highlands
The above picture is of Landmannalaugar, one of the most popular places for hiking enthusiasts. It has picturesque mountains, hot springs, and vast lava fields. The name means “The People’s Pools”. This place was historically used as a remote geothermal retreat. It was used by people travelling to relax before they resumed their travel. This tradition lives on in the form of trekkers who relax at the hot springs after their exhausting treks.
8. The Capital of the country – Reykjavik
This place is not usually why tourists come to visit, but it is surely something you should spend some time in. This city is known to be the first region for permanent residency in Iceland. It is one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world. It is the centre of Iceland’s economic, cultural, and governmental activity. Alcohol is expensive at bars. People choose to pre-booze instead since it makes a huge difference in expenditure on alcohol.
