I’ve always had two places on my list of ideal trips, Sweden and Iceland. Very recently I ticked Sweden off my list and so it has prompted me to start doing some research on Iceland! The main things I want to know about are food, transportation, great tourist stuff like museums and quiet spaces. I love to travel with my camera so finding locations for great photographs is both essential, and rewarding. I also usually have a daughter or 3 with me. So a varied itinerary is essential for us. With that in mind, here are my 5 Reasons to Visit Iceland.
Food
Great food is a must have. When traveling to a new country I want to try local delicacies, street food and anything that comes highly recommended. Being vegan can sometimes make this a difficult thing to do however with a quick google I found a few great places! Happy Cow is my go to website to find out information and reviews from locals and tourists about food spots. My husband and daughters all prefer to eat meat, so we tend to try out many places while we are on holiday. I could picture them eating Kæfa on bread or Kjötsúpa while I get to eat some seasonal veg! Sounds idyllic to me! I’ve read that the food is simple, usually locally sourced and the flavours compliment each other really well.
Wildlife
Arctic Foxes, Whales, Reindeer, and Dolphins are just some of the amazing Icelandic wildlife you can see. I think the most popular photographs of animals in Iceland is of their unique Horses, apparently arriving with the Vikings in 900 AD they run freely with the most beautiful backdrops on the planet. That would be an absolute dream to see and something that I for sure have looked into. I know the girls would love to see any of these gorgeous animals in their natural habitats while exploring a new country.
Wildlife is also a huge draw for photographers, professional and amateur alike, so make sure you’re fully charged, spare batteries and insured if you’re going out to shoot (not literally) any of the amazing creatures you can find in Iceland.
The Golden Circle
This is massively raved about on tourist websites and seems to be a total must. Although usually I try an avoid typical tourist spots, I feel like if I didn’t do a Golden circle tour in Iceland I would be missing out the chance to see some amazing sights. Volcanic craters, waterfalls, Whale watching, Horse riding, hot springs and so much more. All sounds to me like the ideal opportunity to explore and get the camera out. If you want to get the most out of your time, hire really good guide or tour package. They’ll know all the best spots, where things are likely to be at what times of the year and most importantly trained in safety and you will have the joy of meeting new people also on their travels.
I think personally I would be opting for a winter vacation so I maximised my opportunity to indulge in some serious Northern Lights beauty.
The Midnight Sun
Just the very sounds of it amazes me. Imagine yourself sitting out till early morning being able to read, relax with a coffee and soak in some calm vibes. Summer (May – late July) sees the arrival of the 24 hours of daylight. The idea of being able to explore late in the day, camera in hand just buzzes with creativity and peace. The Midnight Sun is so very different from what I have experienced in other countries or indeed my home country. We have friends who moved to Iceland a while ago. I’m captivated by the instagram images of reading at midnight.
It sounds like something from a fairy tale. Speaking of Fairies…
Elf School in Reykjavik
I will hold my hands up and say, without a doubt I believe in fairies. I am not alone here, apparently many Icelanders also believe in them. The Elf School is around 30 years old now and covers hidden people (Huldufólk), gnomes, dwarfs, fairies, trolls, mountain spirits,other nature spirits and mythical beings in Iceland. How exciting is that!
The fee of 54 euro includes, a study book, refreshments, around 4 hours of study and a certificate.
The Special Sessions cost around 202 euro and are more intimate, only having up to 3 pupils.
The Elf School sounds like the kind of once in a life time experience both adults and children would treasure.
So there are my 5 Reasons to Visit Iceland. I hope you enjoyed the post! If you have anything to add get in touch with me to let me know.
If you are a travel lover, then you might like A Road Trip Around Europe – Plus Map!
