Iceland is a country that exists at nature's extremes, a volcanic island sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the earth is visibly alive, where waterfalls tumble over cliffs formed by ancient lava, and where the sky fills with curtains of green and violet light in winter. It is one of the most geologically active places on the planet.
Reykjavik, the world's most northerly capital, is a city of color and creativity. Compact and walkable, it centers on the striking Hallgrimskirkja church, the Harpa Concert Hall gleaming beside the harbor, and a main street lined with geothermal-heated swimming pools and innovative restaurants.
The Golden Circle covers three natural wonders: Thingvellir National Park where two tectonic plates visibly separate, Geysir with its erupting Strokkur, and Gullfoss waterfall dropping in two stages into a roaring canyon.
The South Coast stretches toward the ice — the black sand beaches of Vik, the waterfalls of Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon where calved icebergs drift blue and luminous toward the sea.
In winter, the Northern Lights transform the Icelandic sky from late September through March. In summer, the midnight sun enables hikes at any hour. The highlands open in July and August, revealing the rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar streaked in red, green, and gold.
Iceland's food scene features skyr, geothermal slow-roasted lamb, Arctic char, and creative New Nordic cuisine. Iceland is expensive, extraordinary, and utterly unforgettable.
