Turf has been used as an architectural material for thousands of years by cultures across Europe, and in Iceland, this became the primary technique for building houses. Iceland was settled in 874 AD by Norse and British settlers who were familiar with turf. Contrary to wood, which was at that time sparse and slow to regenerate, [...]
Iceland gets cold, dark, and frigid during winter time, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting in winter. Locals cheer themselves up with over-the-top festivals, you don’t have to fight for space at the most popular spots, or tables at restaurants and hotel rates drop as far as the temperatures. The northern lights One of the [...]
The expanse of Iceland‘s natural beauty, from lagoons and glaciers to volcanos and northern lights, is almost unparalleled worldwide. But Iceland's allure is not just the great outdoors, Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, has cosmopolitan vibe of a clean, safe, friendly and cultural city. In fact, Reykjavik repeatedly is lauded as one of the world's most [...]
If you’d like having a drink or two on holiday in Iceland, you might want to consider where to buy your favorite cocktail or beer. If money is not an issue, you will have no problem locating a local bar in downtown Reykjavik. If you, however, don’t want to spend all your money on spirits and [...]
So, you’re all set for your upcoming trip to Iceland. You already packed your bags, including your winter jacket since, let’s face it, the weather in Iceland can be somewhat unpredictable. Make sure you have your passport and wallet and don’t forget your smartphone, you want to make sure all your friends get crazy jealous when [...]
You might be one of the many travelers that decide to head east of Reykjavik to gaze upon the spectacular sights of south Iceland. The final destination for many is Vik in Myrdal, famous for its nearby attractions. Driving from Reykjavik to Vik is pretty straight forward, just follow highway 1 (the ringroad) and you’ll [...]
When you get to Thingvellir on your golden circle route you might ask yourself what it is you want to see. It feels like a mandatory stop while in Iceland and in all honesty, it should be, as Thingvellir plays such a big role in the history of Iceland. Thingvellir is in many ways the birthplace [...]
For every conversation about Iceland there is at least one mention of volcanoes. Iceland is rich with volcanic activity and has had its fair share (and then some) of eruptions throughout the centuries. Not every eruption has been catastrophic but few of them have altered large parts of the country, mostly in south Iceland. As a [...]
The town Kirkjubaejarklaustur sits as a starting point for the south-east region, relatively close by to Vatnajokull glacier, Skaftafell and Jokulsarlon. The town itself isn’t a must-see sort of destination, but it has a very agreeable setting and several interesting sights, and definitely worth spending a day there on your journey to the eastern parts [...]
Fifteen million years ago, a volcanic plume unleashed itself through a crack in the ocean floor and boiled its way upward to become a landmass above water. For the next twelve million years—and even today—seismic activity shaped and reshaped the small island country near the topmost arc of the Earth. One thousand one hundred forty-one years [...]
