Iceland and all its wonders…

Considering a break with gorgeous natural typography, a unique culture and opportunities for exceptional relaxation by traditional methods. Take a trip to Iceland…

I took a short break to Iceland last year and was blown away by the scenery, culture and relaxation factor. In this blog I will take you through the best things to do in Iceland and how to make the most of those few days away.

A break for 3-5 days can allow you to visit iconic sites such as the Blue Lagoon, the Hallgrímskirkja Church, and the amazing Gullfoss Waterfall. It is also not too difficult to get to with flights from Manchester going directly to Keflavik International Airport up to four times a week and lasting under 3 hours.

Once arrived in Keflavik, the journey to Reykjavik is under an hour by car/taxi or you can also get one of the many bus services into the city. This is best booked in advance to make sure you have a place on the transfer service.

There are several hotels in Reykjavik ranging from 2 – 5*. Reykjavik Residence Hotel is one of the most desirable however; the Best Western Reykjavik hotel remains to be one of our most popular choices with an ideal location close to the main shopping area, clean and comfortable rooms, and a tasty breakfast available.

Bed and breakfast is the most common option for board basis in Iceland which is all you really need in this destination as you will spend most of your time out exploring the amazing scenery and trying local delicacies which normally consist of seafood and traditional stews. Beware that you will struggle to find any proper cheese in this country; as much as I tried I could only get hold of some big slices of mozzarella.

Reykjavik itself is quite small for a capital city but has a great dining culture in terms of food and drink. Dinners are consumed quite early there and bear in mind that drinks can be very expensive, with a glass of vodka and lemonade equalling around £12. Some of the best sites in Reykjavik include the Hallgrímskirkja Church and the Saga Museum.

The church is a huge concrete fortress of perfect symmetry in the centre of the city and has a very modern exterior. The inside of the church is very simplistic with plain walls and clear windows moving away from the traditional stained glass windows, crafted sculptures and detailed tapestries. Although, this plain interior may seem dull at a first look, if you pull up a pew and sit for a few minutes it allows for much clearer thinking without the distraction of different idols and art pieces.

The Perlan Saga Museum is a great attraction to give you an overview of the country and also offers great views of the capital. Sitting on the outskirts of the centre it is easiest to get a bus to this attraction which is easy to purchase from the tourist information office. Alternatively, it can be reached on foot in under an hour from the city centre. The price for the museum is 2000 Krona per Adult. The exhibit shows Iceland’s history and heritage as a timeline of the country and includes models and displays to show the key players in the creation of Iceland and the building of the earliest settlements. Audio guides are also available which are helpful in piecing the displays together. The museum also has a brilliant viewing area to give you a great view of the capital unseen elsewhere, which you can enjoy with a light lunch or a few cakes from their lovely café.

Outside of the city, Iceland offers endless natural wonders to explore and enjoy. Among these attractions, the most popular remain to be whale watching, the northern lights and the golden circle.

If travelling to Iceland at the right time of the year you could see up to 20 species of whales as well as other majestic creatures such as the famous puffins. The most popular whales to see are Minke and Humpback whales but if you are lucky you might even see a Killer whale making its way through. Make sure you time this tour right though… these tours are weather dependent and can be postponed or cancelled if the environment at sea is unsafe.

Iceland is a great place to bundle in a night with the Northern Lights. This natural phenomenon formally known as the Aurora Borealis can be hunted for by evening cruise or even a jeep ride off the beaten track. The best time to see this amazing light show is at the beginning of the year January through to March but again this can be weather dependant as a cloudy night will stop you from seeing the lights.

The Golden Circle is a must do tour when visiting Iceland for a weekend and runs regularly in a loop around South Iceland. This tour includes a visit to the Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir, and Pingvellir National Park.

The Gullfoss waterfall which means ‘Golden Falls’ is a spectacular sight with three plunges down to the river Hvita. This mass of water could easily compete with the Niagra Falls in magnitude and the experience on offer to tourists. The attraction has three levels of height that it can be viewed from with a long walkway bringing you down close to the final last drop in the fall. Get ready to get sprayed if you decide to wonder down this far though, as the power of the water hits the rocks below.

Visiting Geysir you can again see water being thrown into the air. This hot spring bursts from the ground every 15 minutes; the boiling water can be thrown up to 70 metres high. Around this large geyser you will also find several other smaller hot springs and eruptions of steam. This site is almost like a strange minefield as you walk through with sudden bursts of water blowing up around you.

The Pingvellir National Park is a great place to stop and take in the scenery with the largest lake in Iceland among its surroundings and a beautiful landscape that is untouched by the modern world. Interestingly, you can also walk through the rift valley which is significant in geography as it is the continental rift between the North American and Eurasian plates and has formed an impressive canyon to explore.

On the way out of Reykjavik back towards the airport the final must do place in Iceland to visit is the iconic Blue Lagoon. This geothermal spa derives from a lava field and is rich with natural minerals and bright blue water. You can relax in this glorious oasis with a cocktail from the bar and also enjoy the silica facial solutions available among the rocks around the edge of the waters. This formula and additionally the warm mineral water are said to have rejuvenating, anti-ageing properties whether this is true it is hard to say but it is certainly a relaxing experience with the waters being steaming hot and refreshing.

This is probably the most popular attraction in Iceland however which can make it very busy in peak season; this is something to be aware of when choosing which dates to go. There are also several different packages available at the Blue Lagoon, which can include your robe, slippers, a drink and potentially a meal. As well as all the free facial solutions and warm waters you can additionally book other treatments from this retreat including full body massages and full facials. I would certainly recommend this sanctuary to relax in for about half a day, and with regular bus services and storage areas for your luggage and other items it makes a great stop for your way in or out to the airport. This can however be an expensive retreat if not planned carefully, there are a lot of added extras to pay for on arrival if not paid for as part of a package and not planned in advance. Booking in advance is highly recommended to avoid disappointment, as this is such a popular attraction.

This blog has only covered the basics of what Iceland can offer holidaymakers, there is much more to see from great glaciers, to Icelandic horses. There are also many different ways to see this amazing country from short city break to escorted tour.