Discover Iceland: Top Attractions

Visit Iceland: Image: Nicolas Leclerq, Unsplash.
Visit Iceland: Image: Nicolas Leclerq, Unsplash.

Iceland is a country located in northwest Europe, on an island. It has great latitude and a small population. But it also offers great attractions to its tourists. What are these attractions? We made this article to talk about them!

Good reading!

Top Attractions in Iceland

Now we will talk about the main attractions of Iceland:

  • Glaciers;
  • Volcanoes;
  • Northern Lights;
  • Natural Pools;
  • Volcanic Beaches;
  • Stay in quaint towns and in the middle of nowhere;
  • Whales.

Glaciers

Glaciers in Iceland. Image: Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash.
Glaciers in Iceland. Image: Jeremy Bishop, Unsplash.

Iceland is indeed the land of ice. There you will find icebergs and glaciers even during the summer. Our tip is to visit Vatnajökull National Park and embark on a guided walk on the Vatnajökull Glacier.

Volcanoes

Volcanoes in Iceland. Image: Andre Filipe, Unsplash.
Volcanoes in Iceland. Image: Andre Filipe, Unsplash.

In addition to glaciers, Iceland is also the land of volcanoes, as it is located in the zone where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet.

For diving lovers, it is even possible to dive in Silfra, a fissure between these plates, located in Thingvellir National Park, which is filled with crystal clear waters.

For hiking lovers, our tip is to hike over the Kerið volcanic crater, which has green water in the center, and over the Hverfjall crater, in the Lake Myvatn region.

Northern Lights

Finally, and the most enchanting reason of all, is the possibility of seeing Aurora Borealis. Iceland is located in the zone known as the “aurora belt”, which is the region where this impressive natural phenomenon most commonly occurs.

It is good to say, however, that there are several factors necessary for the Aurora Borealis to appear in full force. Among them are the activity of the solar winds, the amount of clouds, the clarity of the sky and the latitude. To shoot, you still need to know some details about the camera aperture, shutter speed, ISO, tripod use, focal length, etc.

Natural Pools

Due to the high geothermal activity, Iceland has some regions that offer bathing in natural pools, with temperatures that can reach 40 ºC. A super practical tip is to visit, on the day of arrival or departure from the country, the pools of the Blue Lagoon.

Thus, that’s because this beautiful thermal spa is located just 22 km from Iceland’s main airport (Keflavik) and has bathrooms with shower and hairdryer!

Volcanic Beaches

Volcanic Beaches. Image: Norris Niman, unsplash.
Volcanic Beaches. Image: Norris Niman, unsplash.

 

Unlike the beach concept we are used to here in Brazil, Iceland’s beaches in the Vik region are formed by black sand of volcanic origin and exhibit the most different rock formations possible.

Stay in quaint towns and in the middle of nowhere

Nowhere. Image: Cassie Boca, Unsplash.
Nowhere. Image: Cassie Boca, Unsplash.

During the entire trip, you will see small villages with three hundred, two hundred and even a hundred inhabitants. In addition to being cute, these cities are an opportunity to get in touch with Iceland’s rural population and get to know their way of life.

A super cozy place we slept was at the family hotel Hunkubakkar Guesthouse. There, we stayed in a little wooden chalet in the middle of nowhere, with a perfect balcony to have a wine and see the Aurora Borealis.

Whales

If you’ve never seen whales, this is an almost certain opportunity to see them in their natural habitat. For this experience, head to Husavik, a small town in northern Iceland of approximately 2,822 people.

Therefore, Iceland has many attractions. They include, above all, the natural beauties and phenomena of northern Europe. And you, what are you waiting for to know this beautiful country? Start planning your trip to this Viking paradise in northwest Europe right now!

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