Falling in Love with Iceland

In four amazing days, I fell truly, madly and deeply in love with Iceland. This is why I think you will too.

Put simply, Iceland is stunning. It has breath-taking landscapes, natural phenomena, cool wildlife, super cute animals, folklore, art, architecture and… a penis museum. What’s not to love?

Aurora Borealis: Chasing the Northern Lights

Seeing the Northern Lights is on just about everyone’s bucket list, right?  It certainly was, and still is, on mine.

I got to see the Northern Lights on the first night of my first trip to Iceland and I can’t begin to describe how intoxicating and mesmerizing the experience was. I do know how lucky I was as there are no guarantees. Many people go to Iceland, spend night after night hunting for the Aurora Borealis and don’t get so much as a glimpse.

The Northern Lights is a natural phenomenon that is as unpredictable as it is breathtaking to see. Even when the aurora forecast predicts high aurora activity, weather conditions have to be just right. But on a clear, dark night, away from the city’s light pollution you just might be lucky enough to witness this most amazing natural phenomenon for yourself.

I can honestly say the night I seen the Northern Lights was one of the most incredible and memorable nights of my life, but there are lots of other reasons to visit Iceland.

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon

Possibly the best known and arguably the most popular tourist attraction in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon, didn’t disappoint. Located in Grindavik, the Blue Lagoon is a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik and a 20 minute drive from Keflavik airport. It has become a popular airport layover tour from Keflavik.

The pool itself is like a gigantic, warm, milky bath and the contrast between the freezing outdoor temperatures and the heat of the water is nothing less than delightful.

With snow covered volcanic mountains and lava rock surrounding the pool, the views are incredible. Spending a few hours bobbing about in the Blue Lagoon felt like swimming in a milky crater in the centre of the earth. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and one that’s unlikely to be replicated anywhere else in the world.

Gullfoss Waterfall

There are lots of beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Gullfoss is one of the most popular, and it was easy to see why. The sheer enormity of the double waterfall was breathtaking.

Geyser Geothermal Field

You don’t have to be a geology enthusiast to appreciate the magnificence of the Geyser Geothermal Field in Haukadalar, as steam pours from geysers, cracks and crevices up over the barren ice covered landscape.

Geysir is Iceland’s most well known geyser, and if you manage to get the timing, lighting and angle right for a photo, which I didn’t, it wouldn’t look out of place in a science fiction film.

The star attraction for me was Strokkur Geyser. Every few minutes Strokkur erupts, spurting boiling hot water up to 40 metres high, displaying the dramatic, immense and utterly tremendous forces of nature.

It was bloodie hard trying to get a photo of Strokkur erupting. This was about the best I could manage.

Thingevillar National Park

Thingevillar National Park, a short 40 minute drive from Reykjavik, is quite literally where America meets Europe. This is pretty much the only place in the world where you can see the meeting of two tectonic plates without deep diving to the bottom of the ocean.

Not only can you put one foot on the surface of the North American plate and one on the Eurasian plate, you can actually snorkel or dive in Silfra, the name given to the lake that fills the fissure between the two continental plates. How utterly cool is that?

I missed out on snorkelling/diving Silfra but for me it’s a must do experience that has since rocketed to the very top of my bucket list.

Hallgrimskirkja

Iceland’s largest Church, Hallgrimskirkja, in the heart of Reykjavik, is said to have been designed to resemble the lava flow of Iceland’s landscape.

For a small fee, you can climb to the top of the steeple for amazing views of Reykjavik from above.

Icelandic Horses

Icelandic horses are so darn cute and also incredibly friendly. These beautiful creatures are reason enough to fall in love with Iceland.

Huldufolk

Few Icelanders would unequivocally deny the existence of Huldufolk, or hidden people. According to folklore, Huldufolk are invisible elves that live in little houses under rocks and boulders and are only visible to a chosen few humans.

Almost every Icelander I spoke to had at least one story to share about their experience of Huldufolk, who for the most part live alongside humans in relative peace and harmony. However, I’m told that Huldufolk do not take kindly to being disturbed, annoyed, angered or disrespected. Legend has it that some of Iceland’s major building projects have been altered to avoid damaging or destroying rocks and boulders where Huldufolk are believed to live.

I don’t know if Huldufolk exist, but they certainly make for interesting and entertaining stories. I’ll leave you to google the various tales of Huldufolk, or better still visit Iceland and see for yourself.

Sun Voyager Sculpture

At Reykjavik harbour, the Sun Voyager Sculpture is worth a visit. It looks like a sculpture of a Viking boat but it isn’t. It’s an ode to the sun which represents hope, progress and freedom. I still think it looks like a Viking boat!

Reykjavik Museums

Reykjavik is home to numerous museums. There’s the National Gallery of Iceland, the Reykjavik Art Museum, the Viking Maritime Museum and of course the Icelandic Phallological Museum, aka the Penis Museum.

Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to visit any of the museums, preferring to spend the majority of my time exploring the great outdoors.  If museums are your thing however, there are certainly plenty to choose from.

For my next visit…

I spent four days exploring Iceland and I barely scratched its surface.  I didn’t venture further than an hour’s drive from Reykjavik and I know there’s plenty still to see.  But, it’s fair to say I fell head over heels in love with this beautiful and mystical country. I have a long list of must-see’s for my next trip to Iceland. I’d love to hear your recommendations, or tales of Huldufolk.