What makes Iceland so special? Everything! (with pictures)
- Abigail Gaston
- Jan 4, 2019
- 9 min read
Reykjavik from Hallgrimskirkja
Over the past few years, Iceland tourism has been a hot topic in many different conversation. Some have been discussing the skyrocketing increase in tourists to Iceland (Iceland tourism surpassed 2 million visitors in 2017 according to the Reykjavik Grapevine, an online news source). Others are talking about the amazing natural beauty of the small but incredibly unique North Atlantic island. Jeff and I have heard people say how they are shocked at how Iceland has gone this long under the radar for tourism activity and that it is incredible how cheap it can be to travel to Reykjavik, Iceland. We have also read stories on the mixed reviews of how Icelanders truly feel about the major tourism increase.
Seljalandsfoss Water Fall - South Coast Iceland
The discussion list can go on and on. Why? Currently, Iceland is incredibly popular with tourists from around the world, and it should be. It is one of the most beautiful, friendly, and safest country Jeff and I have visited. Honestly, we cannot get enough of this magnificent wonderland that sits in the cold northern waters between Greenland and Scandinavia.
Many of the avid travelers, travel photographers, and travel bloggers we are connected with, including the two of us, have made at least one trip to this ever-memorable country and through our voice and images via our blog sites and social media pages of this no filter necessary island, many more are planning trips as I type up this article.
Behind Seljalandsfoss Water Fall - South Coast Iceland
So, what makes Iceland so special? Everything. Simply put, everything about Iceland is special. Iceland is an extraordinary and magical place. The Vikings thought so when they sailed up on it from the east and settled around 874. They were so taken by the allure of the island that they decided to perform a bit of trickery and named this extraordinary and vibrantly green island Iceland.
Why did the Vikings do this? They wanted to deter their enemies from invading their beautiful home. Therefore, these cunning individuals thought up a plan to name the beautiful land with 4 seasons, Iceland, and another larger land mass northwest of Iceland, Greenland.
I am sure you all know about Greenland’s non-green appearance. Hence the trickery; the Vikings hoped to persuade other wannabe settlers away from Iceland by giving it a low appealing name. Who wants to visit a freezing cold land covered by ice? Well, Jeff and I do, but we are not necessarily normal travelers according to some of our friends. So, who else other than us would want to visit a destination called "Ice-Land?" Well, truth be told, everyone should because it is one of the most captivating place on earth and in so many different ways.
Some fun after the big snow storm - Truly an Ice-Land this late-February day!
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Iceland’s Beauty:
Atop Langjökull Glacier - Iceland's 2nd largest glacier
Jeff and I both feel that Iceland is the most stunning country we have seen with our own two eyes. Every time someone asks what our favorite place we have traveled to has been, thus far the answer remains Iceland. Iceland’s beauty is incredibly unique. It is unique in that there are so many natural land-forms that make up the 39,769 square miles island (Iceland is only a few thousand square miles larger than the state of Indiana). On the island, you will find mountains, hot springs, volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, waterfalls, beaches, lakes, gullies, cliffs, and so on. Even better, you can explore and enjoy all of them!
The Icelandic Creatures:
Iceland is home to some very beautiful and friendly domestic animals and wildlife. One of the things Jeff and I loved about Iceland is stopping off on the side of the road to pet the very friendly Icelandic horses. They will come up to say “Hi!” for free; however, they do love treats! We totally recommend grabbing a bag of carrots, or some other form of horse friendly food, for your travels. You never know when you might have an opportunity to engage in a little horse play (See what I did there? I knew you would appreciate it).
Other domestic animals you will find along your travels are cattle, sheep, chickens, goats, and dogs; all of which are friendly, at least in our experience they were. Jeff and I spent one day during our Iceland trip exploring the city of Reykjavik. During our explorations, at two separate times we came upon two different dogs roaming the city themselves. They were super friendly too. If you are lucky, however, you may catch a glimpse of an Icelandic Sheep Dog during your countryside drives. We did not see one during our trip to Iceland; however, I have seen pictures and their beauty is as great as the islands beauty.
Popular Icelandic wildlife include puffins (adorable brightly colored seabirds that are indigenous to arctic-like climates like Iceland), arctic foxes, whales, seals, reindeer (currently only located in east Iceland; primarily the highlands). You will also see many seagulls and other birds, but it is an island surrounded by water, so that sort of is a given.
Iceland’s Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis):
Iceland Northern Lights
Although there were many reasons for our desire to visit Iceland, seeing the northern lights dancing and glimmering across the Icelandic night sky was at the very top of the list, which is why we chose to visit during the winter.
Full disclosure, I have not had the luxury of witnessing the wondrous Aurora's anywhere other than Iceland. However, I fail to put together words worthy of describing the awe-inspiring beauty of the Iceland Northern Lights, and pictures only tell a small story of the excitement they bring. Our Iceland Northern Lights experience is our absolute top favorite feature of all our travels thus far. Which is why we totally recommend a winter trip to anyone interested in Iceland; it is when you will see them at their best!
For two people who had their hearts set on seeing the elusive Northern Lights, we were actually pretty lucky. If we would have visited Iceland just one week earlier, chances of seeing them would have been slim. We probably would have seen some activity but not to the extent we witnessed.
A few days before we arrived to Iceland, a giant winter storm crept in over the island. Over the course of 2 days, this storm dumped more snow on the small European country than the Island had seen since 1950 (according to locals)! Multiple Iceland locals told us that the week we visited was the best week to see the Northern Lights in an entire year due to the storm that moved on literally hours before we arrived.
So what did the storm have to do with our Northern Lights hunting prospects? Well, this meant that we were in for one incredibly clear week; no cloud coverage in sight; it took off with the storm! Boy were the Icelandic people right; the week was truly unforgettable.
Two years later I still fill with excitement every time I think about the moment when the sky opened with multiple bursts of bright colors streaming across it. We could see the green and white colors often but there was a moment at around 1:00 AM one evening when we were just hanging out with a few fellow Northern Lights hunters in a mountain that overlooked a beautiful lake about 30 minutes outside Reykjavik (wow, that sentence sounds amazing; take me back!). It was the most mesmerizing sight!
Northern Lights over the mountains
During summer months, there is a very low chance at seeing the Northern Lights shine in the night sky; practically 0% except for around the end of August, when a natural phenomenon called “Midnight Sun” begins to fade away for the year, and the night skies once again grow darker. There is no doubt that temperatures are pleasanter during summer months, but if you are looking to check out some northern lights, during the months of April through September, when the Midnight Sun is present, is not going to be when you want to vacation in Iceland.
Iceland sits just below the Attic Circle. This position in the Northern Hemisphere is what causes the island to experience the Midnight Sun. What happens is that the during summer months, the Earth's axis tilts up toward the sun, causing the nights to be lighted in the far north.
So, when is the best time to see a great Aurora show? Your best opportunity would be from late September to late March.
Iceland’s Midnight Sun:
We have discussed Iceland’s Northern Lights in pretty good detail; however, how about this Midnight Sun we briefly touched upon above? What is that all about? If I am being totally honest, Jeff and I have not yet seen a Midnight Sun. We most certainly want to and it is on our travel bucket list!
That said, some of our favorite fellow travel bloggers and Instagram friends out there have and the stories they tell and the pictures they share are remarkable! As previously stated, the Midnight Sun is a natural phenomenon that happens only during the summer months. It starts in April and ends near the end of August. If you have the Midnight Sun on your personal travel bucket list and want to catch it during your Iceland trip, be sure to travel between this time of year. The Midnight Sun is at its strongest around the summer solstice (June 21st); however, from May until August, you should have a beautiful Midnight Sun experience in Iceland, with a grand sun set at around midnight.
Iceland’s Seafood:
When it comes to seafood, Iceland has grown over time to become one of the leaders in this global industry. Commercial fisherman brave the cold, rough waters of the Atlantic daily to bring back fresh saltwater fish and crustaceans such as cod, monkfish, Langoustine, and more. Plus, the multitude of Icelandic rivers are host to tons of wild trout and salmon. Basically, what you are served at your table was caught right there on the island or in surrounding Atlantic waters.
One of the things I love about seafood in Iceland is that there is no long-haul shipment involved; you can trust that your fish dish most certainly is fresh. I know this first hand; Jeff’s and my experience with the seafood in Iceland was fantastic! We had multiple seafood-based dishes, and each one was spectacular. In fact, we still rave about the fish and Chips to this day!
Ironically, the restaurant we ordered fish and chips at is called “Fish & Chips.” They were perfectly battered; not too thick but the perfect amount of crispy gold breading on the outside. The fish on the inside was thick and flaky, and the whitest meat I have ever seen! It was so fresh and so good. It was quite expensive, however. For two meals including two large pieces of fish and a side of fries, plus one Pepsi, our bill totaled just under $50 American! I know the ticket price is shocking; however, it is so worth the money. Trust me!
Feeling adventurous? Get your hands on some of the below Iceland favorites! Full-disclosure; I only ventured as far as the dried fish and fish soup. Dried fish was definitely better than I thought it would be and the soup was tasty.
- Dried fish
- Fermented Shark
- Fish Soup
- "Saltfiskur" or Salted Fish
- "Gellur" or Cod Tongues
- "Hvalspik" or Blubber
- "Kutmagar" or Fish Stomach
Iceland’s People:
Iceland locals are wonderful! They are friendly, helpful, and truly look at everyday as being a blessing. They respect their land, their wildlife, their animals, their culture, and their bodies by nourishing them with locally grown and caught foods, such as fresh fish.
One of the things that Jeff and I loved about the Icelandic locals during our vacation is that they were always so excited to tell us something great about their country; their island. Whether it be a food we must try, a beer we cannot leave without tasting, a place on the Iceland map we must visit, the best Northern Lights spotting locations, or something different altogether, they have so much love and pride in their home.
Not one time during our trip did we hear a single negative or hateful statement and this feature about the people of Iceland rested deep within our hearts. We cannot wait to head back and further explore this amazing country and interact more with the locals. They truly are lovely, and their positive outlook, stress-free demeanor, and friendly vibes truly is the best way to live!
Conclusion:
Everything about Iceland is amazing in our eyes; we had the time of our lives exploring this heaven touched island. We only discussed 6 of the reasons why we think it is so great (and then there are many reasons inside the 6), and very briefly. You will most likely find reasons of your own that we did not tap into in this article. If you do, I very much encourage you to share them with me by commenting below or emailing us; we love to hear from readers.
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