Why Iceland is an increasingly popular holiday destination

Experience the Northern Lights in Iceland

As another couple of my clients head out to Iceland this weekend, I thought it’s about time I shared with others the attraction of this beautiful destination. The Northern Lights, also called Aurora Borealis, and Norðurljós in Icelandic, are perhaps one of the most famous attractions this far north. They are, of course, one of the most spectacular shows on this earth and can frequently be seen in Iceland from September to March on clear and crisp nights. This is when nights are dark so your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are greater. Of course, we can’t guarantee you’ll see the northern lights because it will depend on weather conditions, but when you do get to see it, you will never forget it.

Reykjavik; the world’s most northern capital

Iceland has so much more to offer, so I thought I’d take you on a quick tour, but if you want to know more just get in touch.

Starting with the capital Reykjavik, this is the world’s most northern. It has a thriving cultural scene with an abundance of first class restaurants, stylish galleries and historic landmarks.  The famous Hallgrimskirkja church has to be seen. Its design was inspired by basalt lava columns, a common volcanic rock formation in this part of the world. Hallgrimskirkja is the largest church in the country, and towers over the centre of Reykjavik. Its 73-metre-high tower provides a wonderful panoramic view of the city, the mountains around and the ocean stretching west to Greenland and the Americas.

Next is Perlan, a Nature Exploratorium and among Reykjavik’s main landmarks. You will learn all about Icelandic nature in fun and interactive ways. Some highlights include a real indoor ice cave, hands-on exhibits, a life-size bird cliff and a show all about volcanoes. There is also a first-class Planetarium dome theatre where the northern lights virtually dance all around you. So, if you happen to miss the northern lights because of cloudy skies you can experience the next best thing here.

Iceland is principally about the outdoors and so it’s the incredible natural wonders that surround Reykjavík that make it more than your average city break destination.

The Blue Lagoon

A Blue Lagoon tour can take you from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon where you can relax and soak in the soothing, milky blue waters, and enjoy the breath-taking scenery. Fed by geothermal seawater from deep under the lava, the Blue Lagoon holds a staggering six million litres of milky blue seawater which is the equivalent of three Olympic size swimming pools!

The Golden Circle

Moving further away from the capital, visit the classical sights of south-west Iceland known as the ‘Golden Circle’, a collection of Iceland’s most popular natural wonders and geological phenomena. The many highlights of this tour include Gullfoss waterfall, the queen of Iceland’s waterfalls that tumbles down a deep meandering gorge, and the nearby world-famous Geysir geothermal field, where hot springs are in abundance, geysers explode and create pools of mud bubbles. The most active geyser, Strokkur, spouts water high into the air every 15 minutes. A visit to the Geysir museum is also recommended; an informative multimedia exhibition that vividly shows how the forces of nature shaped the country and the people.

Thingvellir National Park

Finally, but no less spectacular is a visit to the Thingvellir National Park situated 50km east of Reykjavik. It’s known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. On the site are the Thingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault.

There is still time to book a winter Iceland adventure and experience all of this and more. So, contact me if you would like to embark on an adventure you will always remember.