travel guide - Iceland

THE WONDERS OF ICELAND

Reykjavík Amazing View Traditional Building Petite Reykjavík boasts all the treats you’d expect of a European capital – such as excellent museums and great shopping – but the city’s ratio of coffee houses to citizens is nothing short of staggering. In fact, the local social culture is built around such low-key hang-outs that crank up the intensity after-hours, when tea is swapped for tipples and the dance moves are broken out. When you're not swigging handcrafted caffeine or microbrews, you might be wandering the Old Harbour and neighbouring Grandi, which have blossomed into hot spots for tourists, with key art galleries, and several museums. Other city draws are Hallgrímskirkja, the white concrete church with a viewing deck in the 74m-high tower, and the Icelandic Phallological Museum, with its huge collection of penises. 2

Viking's S tew The Sun Voyager Reykjavík's promenade 3

The Golden Circle Huge Ge ThingvellirPNaarktion On a quicker visit to Iceland, you can take in some major sights on a shorter driving route, all within a couple of hours' drive from the capital. It can feel more commercial than other areas, but despite the hordes, the Golden Circle remains one of the most memorable routes on the planet. It spans roughly 185 miles (300km) and takes in three main sights, which are all true knockouts: Þingvellir where tectonic plates meet, Geysir where water erupts more than 100 times a day, and the roaring and staggeringly voluminous waterfall Gullfoss. It takes about four hours to drive the loop without any add-on stops. If you have time, though, check out nearby activities: rock-climbing, rafting and soaking in geo-pools, plus visiting a hydropower museum, fishing and exploring a 6500-year-old explosion crater. 4

eysir Hike and Climbing Geothermal Pool nal Volcanic Crater Lake 5

Jökulsárlón Ice Cave Entranc A ghostly procession of luminous-blue icebergs drifts serenely through the ten-sq- mile (25-sq-km) Jökulsárlón lagoon before floating out to sea. This surreal scene (handily, right next to the Ring Road) is a natural film set; in fact, you might have seen it in Batman Begins and the James Bond film Die Another Day. The ice caves come from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, an offshoot of the mighty Vatnajökull ice cap. Boat trips and kayaking among the bergs are popular, or you can simply wander the lakeshore, scout for seals and exhaust your camera’s memory card. 6

ce Boat Trip Glacier Hike Vatnajökull 7

Húsavík Black Beac Húsavík, Iceland’s whale- watching capital, has become a firm favorite on travelers’ itineraries – and with its colorful houses, unique museums and stunning snow- capped peaks across the bay, it's easily the northeast's prettiest fishing town. The excellent Whale Museum provides all you need to know about the impressive creatures that visit Skjálfandi bay. Húsavíkurkirkja, the town's beloved church, has an Alpine style and is nothing like any other church you'll see in Iceland. Whale Watching 8

ch Cute Puffins Húsavík Church 9

Snæfellsnes Peninsula With its cache of wild beaches, bird sanctuaries, horse farms and lava fields, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is one of Iceland’s best escapes – either as a day trip from the capital or as a relaxing long weekend. It's little wonder it's called \"Iceland in miniature\" – it even hosts a national park and glacier-topped stratovolcano. Jules Verne was definitely onto something when he used Snæfellsjökull's icy crown as his magical doorway in Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Visit the black sands at Djúpalón Beach, where a series of rocky sea stacks emerge from the ocean. Stykkishólmur, on the populated northern coast, is the region’s largest town and a logical base. A Trip on Icelandic Horses 10

Road To Snæfellsjökull SUPATrrniaprstapi Cliffs 11