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 existing city-destination. Whether your interests are exploring the nature or strolling the streets of Reykjavik, Iceland won’t disappoint.
Exciting all year around
Lots of Icelanders head for warmer climates in the winter, but while they’re leaving the country, other winter enthusiasts from around the world are pouring in. Iceland is a famous “northern” destination, yet it’s not all igloos and snowcaps. Spring, summer and fall have their own charms and add to Iceland‘s appeal. In fact, Iceland is busiest around the summer time as travelers arrive to discover the midnight sun and other natural wonders. It‘s safe to say that the best reasons to visit Iceland is to take advantage of the fabulous outdoors — and there’s a lot of it.
Natural wonders
Few countries boast the number and range of natural wonders that Iceland does. With the biggest glacier in Europe, mountain ranges, volcanos, lakes, northern lights, lava fields, waterfalls, hot springs and geysers, Iceland has a diverse landscape full of surprises.
The following are some of Iceland‘s most spectacular and popular natural attractions:
Gullfoss waterfall
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Eyjafjallajokull glacier
Vatnajokull glacier
Thingvellir National Park
Jokulsarlon
Skaftafell National Park
Lake Myvatn
The northern lights
Reynisfjara Beach
Festivals and events
Icelanders know how to put on a party. Just check out any one of these popular Icelandic events and festivals to find out how hospitable Icelanders really are.
Iceland Airwaves
Secret Solstice
Food & Fun
Reykjavik Film Festival
Design March
Reykjavik Pride
Culture Night in Reykjavik
Aldrei fór ég Suður Rock Festival
Iceland Winter Games
The dining scene is unreal
Eating out in Reykjavik is exceptional – the dining scene is vibrant, diverse, and most importantly, delicious. Many restaurants have nordic cuisines influences (try VOX Restaurant and Fiskmarkadurinn, two of the city’s best restaurants), but there are also world-class Italian joints and plenty of hip farm-to-table places. Seafood lovers will find their nirvana in Iceland – here, seafood is sublime and relatively inexpensive.
Head to the buzzy neighbourhood of 101 Reykjavik for restaurants and cool cafes, swanky cocktail bars and craft beer breweries.
Liberal Politics and friendly locals
With publicly funded health care and legalised same-sex marriage, Iceland has strong social values that make for a friendly visit. In fact, Icelanders are known for their friendly demeanours and helpful natures – so if you find yourself lost, an Icelander is bound to be able to help you out with directions, and maybe even a suggestion for your next lunch stop.
Renowned for its friendly locals, Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world. Tourists can feel safe knowing that property and violent crime rates are both very low.