Iceland is an amazing part of the world, full of rare and beautiful sights, which will captivate you and make you feel at one with nature.
Even the name “Iceland” inspires a feeling of wonder and brings up images of rugged windswept lands and frosty forests in.
Iceland is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the world and is ranked among countries having the happiest people in the world.
Visiting it is a once in a lifetime experience and if you’re planning to go there, you’ve come to the right place.
Here is what you should check out in Iceland:
1. The Northern Lights, a sight found in very few places around the world.
The Northern Lights are unique in that you cannot buy a ticket to see them and you cannot see them just anywhere in the world.
You have to be in Iceland and if they wish for it, if luck is with you, you’ll see them. If they don’t want you to see them, then tough luck, you’ll have to keep yourself content yourself with all the other wondrous sights Iceland has to offer.
In Nordic mythology, these lights were thought to be the glimmers of Valkyries (Viking warrior fairies) who were taking the honourable dead warriors to Valhalla.
Iceland has less cloud cover than most countries apart from the occasional volcano eruption which shuts down European airspace of course (Cough, Eyjafjallajökull, cough) and you can see the Aurora for about 8 months of the year.
Take a trip to Iceland between October to April and you might catch a glimpse of this amazing flickering light show nature has to offer. Guided tours from Reykjavik will provide you with the best chance of seeing the northern lights since it requires experience to know when and where they will shine.
2. Hot Springs- There are a few benefits to having so many volcanoes that you’re literally a pot full of magma topped with ice.
There are several hot springs across the country and the most famous among them is the Blue Lagoon. The waters of the lagoon are astonishingly blue because of the high contents of silica and sulphur (nothing life-threatening) and they make a good contrast against the black rocks. Blue Lagoon is a bit expensive and if you don’t want to visit it, you can try a few others like the crowded and free to visit Landmannalaugarand the world’s oldest man-made hot springs, Seljavallalaug.
3. The Strokkur Geyser, a miracle of nature–
Another benefit of having volcanoes are geysers. They are a very rare natural phenomena and there are only a thousand of them in the world. You can have the time of your life sitting next to one and then be surprised when it bursts forth suddenly.
These beautiful natural springs are formed when water comes in contact with magma which makes it heat up and rise at a very rapid speed until it emerges from the ground. The first European geyser to be discovered, the very old “Great Geyser” is in Haukadalur about 90 km or 56 miles from Reykjavik, this geyser is now dormant but near it is the Strokkur Geyser.
Image courtesy- Pixabay <https://pixabay.com/photos/geyser-strokkur-geyser-strokkur-3242005/>
The Strokkur erupts very often and you’ll be able to see it erupt in its full glory when you visit.
The word geyser itself comes from the Icelandic word “geysa” which means to gush out and we have no doubt that you’ll enjoy yourself in this ethereal land of ice, geysers, lava and volcanoes.
4. The Westfjords, one of the best places for tourists in Iceland –One of the most beautiful places that you’ll be able to set your eyes upon in Iceland are the Westfjords. The mountains there seem to surround the viewer with their unique beauty and yet are fraught with the dangers of an avalanche or rock slides like any self-respecting mountain.
Don’t worry, you’ll be okay if you stick with your guide.
Filled with boundless energy, places like Þingeyri, Rauðasandur, Látrabjarg, Flateyri and Ísafjörðurwill captivate your imagination and haunt your dreams with their otherworldly beauty.
5. Watching whales in Húsavík, a must see in Iceland-
Remember the movie “Free Willy”? Keiko, the Killer Whale in this famous movie was from Reyðarfjörður Fjord in Iceland. If you can’t pronounce that, don’t worry because neither can we.
There are 11 species of whale that you can find in Iceland. Húsavík is a small town of barely two hundred inhabitants and yet is one of the most visited locations in the world for watching whales.
When you’re in Húsavík, don’t forget to see its famous whale museum.
The two other places you can watch whales from are its capital Reykjavik and Eyjafjörður– the longest Fjord in Iceland. Both these places have their own unique beauty too and Reykjavik is especially accessible.
The fact that you can find these rare whales just off the capital city makes you wonder about how beautiful and pristine Iceland is. Whales can be found all year round but are seen best during the summer months (June to September)when their food, fish and krill are abundantly available.
6. Gullfoss Waterfalls, an essential part of your Iceland sightseeing list- The magnificent Gullfoss Waterfalls are found in the South-West of Iceland. These waterfalls are some of the most awe-inspiring cataracts in the world. They flow over a series of naturally terraced rocks before crashing almost 32 metres into the frigid Icelandic waters.
Looking at the mist-shrouded falls which often have multi-coloured rainbows and mist covering them is a mystical experience. During summer, you can see the falls surrounded by lush green hills which make for amazing hiking around the Hvita River.
7. Reykjavik-How can a list about Iceland be complete without its beautiful capital city?
Reykjavik is a fun and charming city and is one of the best places to visit in Iceland in both winter and June. The city has many attractions like Hallgrimskirkja which is an ancient church made of white concrete.
It was conceived by Guðjón Samúelsson two years before World War 2 and can be seen from anywhere in the city. Its unique design was inspired by the volcanic pillars of basalt that are found in Iceland. A monument of the legendary Viking explorer, Leifur Eriksson who first discovered America stands guard over the massive church and looks sternly down upon the tourists flocking to take pictures of him.
This was our list of the 7 Best places to visit in Iceland. There are many more and we recommend that you go to this strange and distant place and check them out for yourself. Happy holidays!
Author’s Bio
Yogi and Suchna believe in taking the road less travelled and stumbling upon some hidden gems along the way! For over a decade, they’ve mapped their way across various continents, sniffed out unusual routes, discovered new flavours’ and stayed at quirky hostels. TheVillaEscape is their expression of soul travel. To check Iceland Packages From Indiayou can catch up with them at TheVillaEscape.