![]() ![]() That’s the biggest in Europe south of the Arctic Circle, with sheets of frozen water and snow measuring up to 1,970 feet (600 meters) in thickness at some points. Scratch that, it basically is the southeast of the country, because the Vatnajökull has since subsumed neighboring nature reserves to become the largest of the lot in this corner of the North Atlantic.Īt its center is the mighty ice field of Vatnajökull itself. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this one dominates over 5,400 square miles (13,986 square kilometers) of the mountains in the southeast of the country. Welcome to one of the greatest sections of true Icelandic wilderness there is: The Vatnajökull National Park. It also happens to be a great pitstop on the main Ring Road, and a fine jump-off point to other Icelandic wonders, from the hiking mecca of Thorsmork (the end of the Laugavegur trek) to the primeval Vatnajökull National Park (some two hours more to the east). Small it might be, but Vik now touts a range of boutique lodgings, traditional Icelandic restaurants, and even its very own pub. The rock stacks and deep caves of Reynisfjara Beach are also only around the corner, complete with otherworldly basalt columns and 180-degree ocean views. They’re inhabited by colonies of puffins and other rare seabirds. Whatever you’re drawn by, be sure to set aside some time to case out the cliffs on the western side of Vik’s beach. Others are on the hunt for a prized photo with Vik’s famous red-roofed church (the Víkurkirkja Church) and quaint coast cottages. Some come to gaze at the jet-black beaches that score in front of town. Only 300 people live here, but plenty of travelers pass through. VikĮnfolded by sheer-cut rock faces to the west and the frothing waves of the North Atlantic to the south, Vik is often called Iceland’s most picturesque seaside town. Keep venturing westwards on the clifftop paths and you can also discover the rock arches of Dyrhólaey, where a hardy lighthouse offers a viewpoint that’s sure to blow away the proverbial cobwebs. There are deep, dark caves there, too, opening onto a wide bay of shadowy volcanic sand. Once you’re done gawking in awe at one of the best places to visit in Iceland, you can turn your attention to the strange, cubist basalt cliffs that loom on the north end of the beach. ![]() They are what have created the strange Reynisdrangar, a series of dagger-like stacks of stone that emerge straight from the ocean a few hundred meters off the headlands to the east. The whole place has been carved and whittled away by the unceasing movements of the Atlantic over the millennia. One of the most eye-wateringly wonderful parts of the rugged South Coast region of Iceland, Reynisfjara is a land of twisted rock spires and jet-black stone. Leaders would come here to recite the law of the land, and the rocks and crevices were a forum for all sorts of merchants and swordsmiths and farmers throughout the Middle Ages, making it one of the best places to visit in Iceland. It was the original meeting place of the Althingi, Iceland’s national assembly, which began way back in the year 930 AD. ![]() It’s also a place central to Iceland’s national history. Others will take you on the rambling paths past the colossal volcanic rock protrusions of Lögberg and up to the handsome Öxarárfoss waterfall.īut Thingvellir isn’t just about the geology and the wild natural surroundings. Some tours even offer scuba diving in the fissures there, letting you swim between two continents. They do that in grand fashion, tearing huge grykes and canyons into the earth, many of which are now filled with crystal-clear spring waters. Thingvellir National Park marks the spot where the tectonic plates of Europe and North America rip apart in different directions. This guide showcases just 14 of the best places to visit in Iceland, including the iconic Blue Lagoon and the roaring Gullfoss falls. Everything from scenic ring roads to challenging hiking paths over ancient ice fields is on the menu. The island of Iceland is almost tailor-made for budding adventurers. To ensure you do not miss some of the best places to visit in Iceland we have created a guide for you. It’s a barren world, where basalt columns, petrified lava fields, mist-plumed waterfalls and creaking glaciers abound, and where glimpses of whales or the Northern Lights are more common than traffic jams. ![]() Iceland is hailed as the Land of Fire and Ice one of the last remaining frontiers of Europe, where Mother Nature still reigns supreme. ![]()
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