Guide to: Iceland

By: P. Szwarc

Most of the clichés that you’ve heard of Iceland are actually true: it is the land of jaw-dropping landscapes, volcanoes with unpronounceable names (try Dynjandi), northern lights and extremely warm and welcoming people (who are not too too hard on the eyes...). Honestly, Iceland is something out of this world, and if you’re into a combination of adventure and leisure, Iceland is the perfect vacation spot for you! In this article, I’m going to go through everything you’ll want to consider when planning an Iceland trip.

When to go:
Icelandic weather is notoriously unpredictable. You have to bear in mind that most tourist attractions are only open from late May to early September, so pick some time in between.  I strongly suggest visiting Iceland sometime between those periods because you’ll experience the natural phenomena denominated as “the “Midnight Sun” (no, not the Bella Thorne movie), when the sun never truly sets. However, if you want to experience the Northern Lights (possibly my favourite part of the trip) go between September and January, but expect freezing cold weather.


What to do:
Okay, this might be a lengthy list but here it goes (I promise it’s worth the read):

1. Visit Reykjavik, the country’s capital, to get a taste of what the country is all about. There are a myriad of wonderful restaurants, including an AMAZING ice cream shop called Valdis, clearly my personal favourite, the capital city also offers concerts, museums and many other entertainment centers. I would call Reykjavik the city that never sleeps, but unfortunately, that name is already taken.
   
2. Go glacier hiking and ice caving. As the name suggests, Iceland is a land that has come to be defined by its frozen landscapes, including the biggest glacier in the world, and the best part is that it is accessible to all tourists! This is good news for those visitors who seek the experience of seeing these mighty giants up close, and are also up for one hell of a hike. (if I didn’t pass out whilst doing it, you’ll be fine).
   
3. Witness the Northern Lights. The country’s position on the world axis truly benefits us all. Why may you ask? I am talking about the surreal Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis, natural lights that only occur in the winter and at the earth’s highest elevations. Personally, I can say it Is a spectacular cosmic show; witnessing these colourful, dancing lights were certainly worth the wait. A picture really does not give the incredible natural phenomenon much favour, and you must experience it for yourself.
   
4. Relax in the Blue Lagoon Spa. I went to the spa with very low expectations, thinking it was going to be hoarded with tourists, and as unrelaxing as a said spa could be, but boy, was I wrong. The Blue Lagoon Spa the moment I got there: it is a giant hot spring with warm, soothing waters containing healing silica mud and billowing steam stacks! Just one piece of advice: don’t dive underwater because you’re going to literally burn your eyes out. So sit back, relax and enjoy the view.
   
5. Visit the gorgeous waterfalls, limited to Sejlandsfoss and Skogafoss. At first hand, this program might seem like the most boring out of the ones I have listed above, but what truly makes these waterfalls so interesting is that you can walk behind them, a completely unique experience! They are also two of the most powerful waterfalls in the world, surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna, so one can only imagine how beautiful the view is. Fun fact: Skogafoss was used in one of the Thor sequels!
   
6. Snowmobile or Snorkel in the Golden Circle. Well, this is pretty self-explanatory, but if you really want to have fun while experiencing the surreal glaciers around you, do it by snowmobiling or snorkeling, two amazing ways to visualise the scenery around you!