7 reasons to visit Iceland

Iceland is the land of sheep, the Northern Lights, majestic waterfalls, crimson mountains, and beautiful landscapes.

For me, it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth!

How can such a small island have such diverse and beautiful terrain?

It changes every few metres – from green fields to snow-capped mountains and sparkling glaciers that resemble planet Mars.

 

Iceland never ceases to amaze you!

 

When I visited it for the first time, I had very high expectations. I had seen films and photos on various travel websites and expected to see all of this live.

Iceland fully lived up to all these expectations!

Certainly, the country has seen a tourism boom in recent years and prices have skyrocketed, but most tourists focus around Reykjavik – the country's capital.

However, the most beautiful areas are outside the capital! Once you move a few kilometres away, you will discover incredible beauty and landscapes unlike any you have ever seen before!

Here we will present the 7 main reasons why you should book your flights to Iceland immediately!

 

Reykjavik

 

The capital of the island is full of thriving cafes, clubs, pubs and a beautiful old town with wooden houses and traditional mansions.

We could say that it is more like a large town than a traditional European capital.

Although Reykjavik is an exceptionally small city, it is worth dedicating a few days to explore it better and discover every possible corner.

 

One thing is for sure: you will never get bored in Reykjavik!

 

Visit the Westfjords

 

The Westfjords is a large peninsula in northwest Iceland with massive mountains and a heavily indented coastline.

It is one of the most unspoiled parts of Iceland – a place that has remained untouched by human passage.

Few people live here and even fewer tourists visit.

Icelanders usually prefer this place for their summer holidays as it is an area of small towns – mostly fishing villages – which are much easier to visit in summer than in winter when the snow exceeds 5 metres!

 

Relax in the Blue Lagoon!

You cannot visit Iceland and not go to the Blue Lagoon. This huge lake is fed by mineral-rich heated seawater from the nearby geothermal power plant.

Although admission to the Blue Lagoon costs €35 per person, it is certainly the country's top tourist attraction.

Of course, there are other heated springs in Reykjavik, but the Blue Lagoon stands out for its natural scenery.

 

 

 

 

On the website hotpot Iceland you will find all the necessary information about the free hot springs throughout the island!

 

 

The Golden Circle

 

The Golden Circle is the popular tourist route that includes Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park.

On an easy day trip starting from either Reykjavik or the city airport, you can visit everything in this area in a short time, with a travel consultant by your side!

 

Gullfoss: Gullfoss is one of the most popular places in Iceland. It is a famous V-shaped waterfall that enthrals you with the sound and power of its water.

The island's most famous waterfall drops 30 metres and on sunny days creates an amazing and luminous rainbow above the canyon.

Gullfoss is 124 km from Reykjavik and the waterfall is open 24 hours a day with free admission. From Geysir, Gullfoss is about 35 minutes away – follow road 35.

 

Geysir: A famous hot spring in the Haukadalur valley. Geysir itself rarely erupts with water, but nearby Strokkur flows 15-20 metres high approximately every 10 minutes.

There are also many impressive, colourful hot pools in the area along the route.

 

Thingvellir: Here the place is full of hiking trails and amazing camping sites. However, the great attraction in this area is that two large tectonic plates – those of North America and Europe – converge.

A very interesting activity for the adventurous is Scuba Diving as it gives you the opportunity to swim between 2 continents!

Beyond all this, in Thingvellir there is a huge park that takes 1-2 hours to walk through entirely, but its scenery is magnificent and you will certainly feel no fatigue, only magic!

 

Find and be enchanted by the Northern Lights!

Iceland without the Northern Lights is unthinkable! We are sure that every traveller to this country looks out of their window every night, hoping to see the Northern Lights!

 

The Northern Lights do not always appear, and the period with the highest visibility is between September and April.

The Northern Lights are one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, and to admire them in all their glory requires patience, persistence, luck, and absolute darkness.

 

The towns in the north of Iceland are the best places to see the lights – if you are lucky, they can sometimes even be seen from Reykjavik!

For the best results, you should move away from the city lights and go to an isolated spot.

 

 

From Reykjavik, you can find several tour operators who organise nocturnal excursions with the aim of viewing the Northern Lights.

 

The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

 

This icy lake is located in southeastern Iceland and has been one of the country's most popular attractions for two decades now!

The Breiðamerkurjökull glacier retreated very quickly between 1920 and 1965, leaving behind this stunning lagoon, which reaches depths of up to 190 metres!

The landscape is amazing, with icebergs floating on the lagoon all year round.

I recommend taking a boat trip around the lake – the scenery will reward you!

You will reach Jökulsárlón by following National Road 1 – it is at the end of the road!

 

Go on a glacier hike

 

During the winter months, the glaciers are quite resilient, and groups of tourists organise treks across them.

There is no better way to admire the glaciers than to walk on them!

Vatnajökull is one of the most popular glaciers for hiking, although there are many others throughout the country.

Our love for Iceland has become an obsession, and a trip to this wonderful island is coming soon.

Be inspired by this article, also read about the 10 experiences you must have in Iceland, and take advantage of the low prices for Aegean flights through Travelo.gr to get to Iceland cheaply and admire the Northern Lights up close!