Coffee roasted in-house and brewed by friendly baristas draws a young crowd into the old stone building near Reykjavik’s imposing Lutheran cathedral. Share one of the seven tables with a regular patron and catch up on local gossip while vinyl spins on the vintage record player. Kaffismidja Islands. Kárastígur 1, 354/517-5535. This appeared in the May/June 2012 issue. Photo by Katy Yen.
I traveled to Iceland in September 2011 with my mother en route to Norway. I had time to visit the Blue Lagoon and experience the amazing 100 degree waters in the spa and enjoy these hyper-real blue colors. The creamy blue of the water contrasted perfectly with blue of the sky. I write a blog on color and was awed by this site. See: http://lifeincolor-randi.blogspot.com/
Jokusarlon Floating Iceberg Boat Tour was a Must See in Iceland! It is South East on the ring road and is at the bottom of Skaftaell National Park on the map.
They say the reason Iceland has many houses covered in grass is due to the difficult climate. Before central heating was ever around this was how houses were kept well-insulated during the cold winter season.
As soon as we got to Iceland the first thing we did was go out and wander around Reykjavik. We soon found ourselves at Hallgrimskirkja and decided to go up to the top and were rewarded with a great view of the whole city. But it was so cold and windy that we had to keep running back into the indoors part of the tower. The rest of the trip was very busy and we were up by 7 am to go on some excursion somewhere every day but it was so peaceful and nice to be at the top of the tower during the long sunrise as soon as we got off the plane to a new place.
When we talked to artist Olafur Eliasson in the March/April 2011 issue of AFAR, he mentioned some work he was doing in Iceland. And on August 20 of last year, that work was inaugurated: The Harpa-Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre officially opened with the lighting of Eliasson’s amazing facade. Go for the facade, but stay for the events: the Iceland Airwaves festival starts October 31; last year’s lineup featured Bjork and Yoko Ono, among others. And the concert hall will be home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.
Three days in iceland. Doesn't sound like much time? I'm here to convince you otherwise. We experienced glacier hiking, ice climbing, waterfalls, volcanos, Icelandic horses, snow-capped mountains, lava fields, Vikings, Viking beer, relaxing in the Blue Lagoon, geysers, a park where continental rifts are pulling away from each other and home to the oldest continuously-operating parliament (since 930AD), runterting til 6am, Icelandic hot dogs and all of this accomplished under endless summer days.
They call it The Sea Baron, but ironically it's as cozy as you could wish for. This tiny restaurant is one of the oldest on Reykjavík's harbor, and serves the world's best lobster soup. Stay and rub elbows with fellow seafood lovers at the communal tables, seated on plastic kegs, or take it to go, and slurp the steaming rich stew, filled generously with chunks of local lobster while watching the Icelandic sunset.
My husband and I traveled around the periphery of Iceland (on Ring Road) over a 9-day trip this summer. We spent 2 days in Reykjavik which I am told is the northernmost capital city in the world. The sheer vibrancy of the city blew us away.It felt so good to breathe in the clean, cold air of this gorgeous, sometimes-quirky-always-fun city, which couldn't have felt more alive if it tried.
I was there for a weekend and wanted to maximize my time. I highly recommend taking a bus tour to see everything and there are sooooo many to choose from. It's great to have a guide to tell you about the country and some history or interesting information about what you're looking at. Things are really far away from each other, so there's a lot of driving to do. Riding in a bus is a lot more relaxing and less tiring, and they left us plenty of time to visit each spot. (anywhere between 20-45, so they're usually more than just drive by's!)
My husband and I traveled around the periphery of Iceland (on Ring Road) over a 9-day trip this summer. Around the start of our trip I started counting random waterfalls we passed through (apart from the obviously famous ones - the ones with names), and I gave up at number 33...there were just too many. So, if you encounter Icelanders boasting about waterfalls in their backyard, please do believe them! :)
At the beginning of a 4-day, 40 mile trek through the fringes of the Icelandic highlands, we saw these artistic masterpieces. Landmannalaugar. To me, they were the Rainbow Mountains. Majestic. Surreal. Hiking by this beautiful landscape seemed almost as if we were walking through a painting, in which the artist used impressionistic brushstrokes and colors to create the nature. No trees were nearby, only moss and short grasses, which were being consumed by small herds of sheep that resembled pieces of lint on a field of felt in the distance. This section of the Laugavegur Trail was one of the most breathtaking areas of the hike, and is surely something that visitors must see when traveling to Iceland.
My husband and I just returned from Iceland for my 40th birthday. What a beautiful country! Because of technical problems with our plane leaving JFK, we ended up arriving in Reykjavik at 2:00 a.m. We drove straight from the airport to Gulfoss, about a 3-hour's drive, arriving in Gulfoss around 5:00 a.m. Being pitch black outside, we were so curious to know what the landscape around Gulfoss would look like once the sun came up. We went to sleep in the car and woke up at 10:00 a.m. when the sun was just rising and this is what greeted us. Iceland's landscape is unlike any I've seen - everything is a soothing shade of pink, blue, black or white. Because the sun never gets too far above the horizon during the winter months, the mountains are all bathed in a beautiful alpenglow most of the day. Waking up that morning in Gulfoss and feeling like I'd been dropped on a beautiful moonscape is not something I'll soon forget.
Icelandic lobster—also known as langoustine—is more like an oversize crayfish than a meaty Maine lobster. Nonetheless, it’s delicious, either grilled in garlic butter or cooked in creamy Icelandic lobster soup. For seafood straight from the source, head to Fjöruborðið, a small restaurant in the town of Stokkseyri, about a 45-minute drive from Reykjavík. —Michele Chabin Fjöruborðið, 354/483-1550, fjorubordid.is. Photo by Mark Gillow/Istockphoto. This appeared in the November/December 2010 issue.
Iceland is a visual treat. Geysirs, waterfalls, fjords, volcanoes and glacial lagoons. If you only have a couple of days, make the effort to get out of Reykjavik. Visit Geysir and Gulfoss and then head another two hours east to Jokulsarlon. You will NOT be disappointed. Watch waves wash broken icebergs ahsore, as they crash on a black-sand beach; take a 30-minute boat trip to the foot of the glacier, dodging icebergs on the way; try not to scare away the seals atop floating ice, as they bask in the sun rays; and see what 3,000 year-old ice tastes like as you sample it on your boat ride back to shore. Boat rides depart regularly from the main entrance at Jokulsarlon. Warm up with a hot chocolate from the canteen afterwards and bring an extra memory card...it may take a few shots to capture the perfect Jack & Rose pose.
The weather outside may be frightful, even in summer, but the waters of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Iceland are always delightful. We visited the Blue Lagoon Spa during an 8 hour lay-over in Reykjavik. All inclusive round-trips are available from the airport and make it easy to relax and fight off jet-lag the best way possible. The clean and modern complex includes locker-rooms, a fine-dining restaurant and cafeteria, and plenty of healing waters to relax in. The water averages 37–39 °C (98–102 °F), which feels perfect compared to the brisk outside air. Best of all, there is a swim up bar, where you can order a glass of champagne or, even better, a Blue Lagoon. Best lay-over ever.
The 101 Hotel’s clean lines and minimalist color scheme—Nordic-cool grays, whites, and blacks warmed by tan oak floors and natural light—reflect the sensibility of owner Ingibjörg S. Pálmadóttir, a graduate of The New School for Design in New York. Named for Reykjavik’s stylish 101 district, Iceland’s first boutique hotel is situated near the city’s central shopping and dining neighborhood, and is a showcase for modern Icelandic art. The hotel feels intimate with only 38 rooms, and the bar and lounge are popular with trendsetting locals. 101 Hotel. Doubles from $285, Hverfisgata 10, 354/580-0101. This appeared in the May/June 2012 issue. Photo courtesy of 101 Hotel.
By far, one of Iceland's best features, especially in the winter, is its amazing sunsets. When my husband and I visited in January, the short days meant that the sun fully rose above the horizon around 10:00 a.m. and dropped below it again at 6:00 p.m. or so. During the day, the sun sat just above the horizon and bathed the landscape in a soft alpenglow - magical lighting for photography. My husband and I made it a point at around 4:30 each afternoon to be somewhere we could watch the sun setting, and we would sit there enjoying the sun paint the sky all shades of pink and blue before slipping below the horizon around 6:00. Then off we would go to find a delicious dinner, happy as could be. Those amazing Icelandic sunsets - and the serene lighting throughout the day - were some of our best memories of this one-of-a-kind country. I can't wait to go back!
Yes, it’s a hot dog stand. But Bæjarins Beztu might be the most popular eatery in Iceland, famous for feeding Bill Clinton as well as hordes of drunken partiers. The line starts to form at the Tryggvagata location around 10 p.m. every night and persists till 4:30 a.m. on weekends. What’s the appeal? Best damn hot dogs on the planet. You will go back for seconds. Bæjarins Beztu. 170 Seltjarnarnes. This appeared in the May/June 2012 issue. Photo by Gustaf Brundin/IStockPhoto.com
As a friend and I were westbound on the southern part of the island, we made a stop in Vik. The dominant green cliffs and relaxed vibe of the town convinced that Reykjavik could wait. Vik was our favorite part of the trip. It's a great little town with a beautiful outdoor pool, a quaint little pub, and of course, some remarkable views.
Ever dance with the Devil in the pale moon light? No? You should try it - you'll love it. If you can't find the Devil, try dancing with a sheep. There are plenty in Iceland. Vikings too - but it's tough to teach a Viking how to dance (citation needed). Kirkjufell is a mountain that rises out of the sea in the town of Grundarfjörður, on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland. The town itself is pretty and quaint; Kirkjufell, and its neat little waterfall, are simply stunning. Kirkjufell is one of the penninsula's major draws, but it's never really overrun - not during the shoulder seasons, at least. We spent three nights in Grundarfjörður and visited this spot three times - never once did we meet another soul. This place will always be near and dear to my heart - not only is it one of the world's most impressive sights, it is also where I got engaged to my best pal in the whole wide world. It all happened down on that rock at the base of the waterfall - I'm a lucky guy.
When everyone went to Mexico for spring break, I went to Iceland...by myself. Some of my friends didn't believe it when I told them my plans until they saw the pictures. Then they were just jealous. It was one of the best trips of my life. For a geology or landscape buff, there can be no better place. Late March weather in Reykjavík is chilly but not horrible, there's just as much daylight as darkness, and there's still a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The atmosphere lends itself perfectly to contemplative solitude, and so many people speak fluent English that it's an exotic get-away without being complicated or intimidating. Many roads to the center of the island and even around the island might be closed at that time of year, but there is more than enough to do for 10 days in and around Reykjavík. Wander the city, catch a concert, visit museums, soak at the Blue Lagoon, and take a small plane tour over Mount Hekla and the volcanic islands forming off the south coast. Then take a daytrip with Reykjavík Excursions (www.re.is) and see on the ground what you saw from the sky. Some of my favorite photographs (including the one posted here) are from a day tour of the south shore, with its stark and hauntingly beautiful backdrops. I think another visit to Iceland--perhaps in the summertime, for a pony trek?--might be in order....
During our trip in Iceland -before we took a fresh bath in the myvatn nature baths we had some fresh breakfast at Vogafjos Cafe. Sat outside and enjoyed the country side while we eat some fresh fruit and breathed in the wonderful air!
My husband and I just returned from a trip to Iceland for my 40th birthday. We were lucky enough to be in Iceland during a somewhat-rare solar storm that made the Northern Lights much brighter and more active than usual, and since that's what I really wanted to see during our trip I was thrilled. One of my favorite things about the country was its beautiful Icelandic ponies. They're about 3/4 the size of a typical horses, standing about 52-56 inches tall and weighing in at 700-850 pounds, with an endearing curiosity and sweet disposition. I especially liked the ponies with the striking blond mane and tail like this one, who found himself really sleepy after my husband gave his ears a good scratching. I didn't know what to expect from Iceland, but from its rugged landscapes and unique geothermal activity to its brilliant Northern Lights and beautiful ponies, the country certainly did not disappoint. We can't wait to go back in the summer for some great hiking.
The charming red and white Garðskagaviti lighthouse near Keflavik is Ideland's tallest. Built in 1944, the lighthouse was a gift from American servicemen grateful for being rescued from a sinking U.S. Coast Guard vessel. You can climb all the way to the top of the lighthouse for an amazing 360-degree view. But no matter the time of year, you're bound to be met with a strong wind blowing in off the ocean - pleasant in the summer but a big chilly in the winter. But even in the winter, the endless panoramic view from the lighthouse, as well as the stately lighthouse itself, makes it more than worth a visit.
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