Why You Should Add Iceland to Your Bucketlist

Taking a trip to Iceland should be on your bucket list. This Nordic island nation is well-known for its spectacular landscape and its gigantic glaciers in its famous national parks, Snæfellsjökull and Vatnajökul.

Iceland is a small country, with a population of less than a million people, about 334,252 according to a 2016 World Bank report. It is, of course, one of the best places on earth to witness the Northern lights, the preternatural Aurora Borealis glow.

Traveling to Iceland

The logistics of a stress-free trip are fairly straightforward. If you are traveling from the US, you will not need a visa, but your passport must be valid for at least three months. Icelandair departs from major cities like Boston, New York, Miami, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. After your plane lands at Keflavik airport, you should get a car at Lotus Car Rental and drive into Reykjavik. This scenic drive will give you a wonderful chance to enjoy Icelandic roads and catch a glimpse of the land’s bubbling geysers, glaciers, hot springs, and volcanoes.

The Best Time to Go

If you are looking for low-cost airfare, then winter, which stretches from October to March, will be the best time to go. Other advantages of going in winter include fewer tourists, cheaper food, lodging prices, and entrance fees. You might be surprised to learn that winter is not bitterly cold but hovers around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There are not many daylight hours in winter—and during the December solstice, it drops to fewer than four hours—but the streets of Reykjavik are always well lit—and the long hours of darkness favor your view of the Aurora Borealis.

If you don’t mind paying more for airfare, food, and lodging, then summer, which has daylight as long as 21 hours before the start of July, will offer more sightseeing opportunities and moderate temperatures of 50 to 60-degree Fahrenheit from May through to September. Incidentally, the peak tourist months is in July and in August.

Places to Visit

There are many unique and interesting places to visit in Iceland. Some favorite destinations are the capital, Southwestern Iceland, the West Coast, and the West Fjords.

Reykjavík

Most of the population of Iceland resides in the capital city. Reykjavik is fueled by geothermal power and its National and Saga museums tell the epic story of the country’s Viking origins.

You can take in the arts and culture, explore the national museums, and visit small art exhibits by local artists. Students in your party will enjoy researching its rich literary heritage. You can also enjoy the vibrant nightlife; the city is abuzz with a multitude of pubs and clubs and parties.

Visitors can shop in Downtown Reykjavik, checking out Icelandic design, well-known brands, and retro shops. And you can swim in the many spas and thermal pools, appreciating this healthy tonic for your mind and body.

Southwestern Iceland

This may only be 200 kilometers in length but its famous for its history. A thousand years ago, this is where Iceland established its first parliament. This region is also where the first churches were venerated as centers of learning.

The West Coast of Iceland

This is a peninsula. The southern rim of Faxaflói is a sweeping bay with a ring road close to the shores that reach out to Borgarnes, Brú, and the northern coast.

The West Fjords

This is a large, mountainous peninsula located in northwestern Iceland. It’s spectacular for a number of reasons: the numerous fjords encased by steep hills, the bird cliffs at Látrabjarg, and the magnificent Drangajökull glacier.

Most Popular Places

Some of the most popular places to visit are Þingvellir Church and the Öxarárfoss waterfall, the Jökulsárlón Icebergs and the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, and Vík í Mýrdal Reynisfjara beach and Dyrhólaey rock arch.

Iceland is a beautiful and fun place to visit and unlike any other place on earth. It’s one of those places that you will reminisce about for many years when swapping vacation stories with friends. – Travel Feeder

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.