Savvy Sightseer - tips and insights for seasoned travelers!
Fed by Iceland's second largest glacier, the Hvítá (White) river bursts off a cliff and gives us the Gullfoss tumbling down over 100 feet in a double cascade.
Iceland is Europe's second largest island.
Reaching as high as 115 feet, the Strokkur geyser reliably spouts its stream roughly every five to ten minutes.
Visible from virtually everywhere in Reykjavík, this church is the tallest and largest in Iceland.
Reykjavík: An Icelandic Adventure
A short visit to Iceland’s capital and nearby areas is akin to visiting multiple United States' national parks in just a few days! There’s majestic falls, geothermal pools, black sand beaches, spectacular volcanoes, shooting geysers, several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and impressive geological features – including the fissure where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet!
Iceland’s flag serves as a graphic summary of the elements that comprise this dramatic island-nation: red symbolizes its volcanic fires, white depicts the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean. What it doesn’t show is the very proud, creative and independent residents who call the Land of Fire and Ice home.
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Reykjavík, Iceland
The Harpa, Reykjavík
Iceland is a relatively young country; it wasn’t even generally inhabited until the mid-9th century. The first transient residents were likely Irish monks, followed by Norwegian settlers. Iceland is credited with many firsts – its most important: having a democratic parliament, established back in 930 AD. Among the island nation’s other firsts: being the first non-native English-speaking city to be designated by UNESCO as a City of Literature. Reportedly, one in ten Icelanders will publish a book. It was the first country to have a democratically-elected female president. It has the first known geyser – giving a name to all similar gushers. Another first: census taking. In 1703, it was the first modern country to conduct a complete survey of all inhabitants, not just heads of household or cause-specific (i.e. whom to tax or draft). At that time, 50,000 inhabited Iceland; today the population has surged to about 340,000 residents. The largest concentration is in or around Reykjavík, leaving roughly 80% of the country uninhabited.
Being unlivable, though, is not the same as being unappealing. Iceland’s acres of glaciers, lava fields and barren landscape have become popular destinations for the Hollywood sect, with films and music videos capitalizing on the exotic land for movie scenes.
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) Plains
The compelling landscape stars in such blockbusters as Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Batman, Tomb Raider, James Bond, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller took an epic skateboard run), Captain America, Thor and Fast & Furious.
The allure of these movies have contributed largely to the influx of tourists – and tourist money – to help the country thrive.
Basalt Sea Stacks
Click on the pictures above for a visit to Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavík, or Þingvellir Plains to see stops on the popular Golden Circle route or on the Sea Stacks for the Southwest Iceland region.
From its charming capital city to its other-worldly vast expanses, and all the startling natural sights in between, Iceland is brimming with reasons to visit.
Continue your trip through Iceland with a visit to the Colorful Reykjavík, Golden Circle or South Iceland pages.
For a taste of Reykjavík, try the delicious Cod Stew recipe on the Recipes Tab (under More).
To enjoy the Iceland experience at its fullest, attend a Savvy Sightseer - Reykjavík: An Icelandic Adventure Travelogue at a library or community center near you! Check the Programs page for upcoming dates and locations.
