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| Northern Europe Series |

ICELAND

ABOUT ICELAND

Iceland is a small island nation that is Europe’s westernmost country and home to the world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik. Iceland was part of Norway and then was ruled by Denmark for more than 500 years, but the country became an independent republic in 1944. Iceland contains about 200 volcanoes and has one-third of Earth’s total lava flow. One-tenth of the total land area is covered by cooled lava beds and glaciers. Because Iceland is volcanic, almost all of their electricity and heating comes from hydroelectric power and geothermal water reserves.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR NAVIGATING ICELAND

A chip and pin card is required

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Iceland and almost everything can be paid for on your card, including very small purchases. All the paid parking that we used throughout Iceland had a card machine.

Book accommodations well in advance

The downside to this is that accommodation in Iceland can get booked up very early. This is particularly the case in the South East which is very popular with overnight trippers from Reykjavik.

Pack for Iceland’s changing conditions

The volatile weather conditions and remote locations mean there are different scenarios that you need to be prepared for when travelling in Iceland.

Get access to mobile data

There is generally very good mobile coverage in Iceland, even in some of the more remote locations. Apart from a few of the wilderness areas in the highlands, we seemed to have good coverage everywhere we went.

Prepare for the endless daylight in the summer

Keep in mind that restaurants tend to close early in Iceland, especially outside of Reykjavik. So if you’re out late into the evening enjoying the endless sun, make sure you’ve factored in having dinner first.

MUST VISIT DESTINATIONS

Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland. The spa is located in a lava field near Grindavík and in front of Mount Þorbjörn on Reykjanes Peninsula.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. At its western tip, Snæfellsjökull National Park is dominated by Snæfellsjökull Volcano, which is topped by a glacier.

Þingvellir National Park is a historic site and national park in Iceland, east of Reykjavík. It’s known for the Alþing, the site of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. On the site are the Þingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters.

Fjaðrárgljúfur is a canyon in south east Iceland. The Fjaðrá river flows through it. The canyon has steep walls and winding water. It is up to 100 m deep and about 2 kilometers long. It is located near the Ring Road, not far from the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

FOOD EXPERIENCES

Omnom Chocolate Factory Tour

Get a look behind the scenes at the making of small batch artisan chocolate bars, including Omnom’s renowned liquoricechocolate combo.

Icelandic Farm-Fresh Ice Cream at Efstidalur

Located on the Golden Circle route is a small family-run dairy farm. Efstidalur has been in family hands since 1750, and today its a team of four siblings who run the farm. Inside, you’ll find a small ice-cream parlour with a selection of flavours using milk from their very own cows.

Icelandic Goats Cheese at Háafell

At the farm, you’ll also find horses, sheep, dogs, Icelandic chickens and cats. You can also sample some of the farm-fresh goat cheeses on display and try-out some other goat products, including bath cosmetics, creams, soaps, leather and other handicrafts in their farm shop.

Bake Bread in an Active Geyser

Hverabrauð, or Geysir bread, is a traditional Icelandic rye bread that is deliciously dense and sweet. Hverabrauð literally means “hot spring bread,” and is baked by burying it in caskets under the ground near a hot spring.

LODGING

Iceland has a ton of accommodation options from sweet suites in the capital to guest houses with either private or shared accommodations to even Icelandic farm stays. You might even opt for a camper van for the freedom to explore Iceland without needing to find accommodation for each day of your trip.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

Transportation in Iceland. The most popular way to get around in Iceland is by car, there are no trains in Iceland so the other options are the buses, flights, taxi or private drivers. The main road in Iceland is called Hringvegurinn or the Ring Road and lies along the coast around the island.

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