HÚSAVÍK, ICELAND’S MOST POPULATED NORTHEASTERN TOWN, IS KNOWN FOR ITS QUAINT CHURCH AND SUPERB WHALE WATCHING.

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BE CAPTIVATED BY PRISTINE LANDSCAPES,

STAGGERING NATURAL BEAUTY, DELICIOUS FOOD AND AN

EMERGING ART SCENE. BY EMMA REYNOLDS

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ICELAND HAS BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD’S coolest travel destinations.

There’s never a bad time to visit this Nordic island nation. Contrary to its name,

Iceland has a relatively green landscape, albeit full of national parks, volcanoes,

lava fields and hot springs.

Unlike that of its frigid neighbor Greenland, Iceland’s climate is

characterized by damp, cool summers and mild but windy winters. By far the

most popular times to travel here are June through August, when there are 24

hours of Arctic sun. September through October is an alluring time too, when

tourist traffic has died down.

From the Blue Lagoon and Viking history in Reykjavik to the national parks

in Skaftafell, here are your must-visits.

Reykjavik Iceland’s capital is its largest city and

by far the most frequently visited.

With a population of 123,000, this is

one of the greenest, cleanest and

safest cities in the world. Although

it’s relatively small, Reykjavik’s culture

and eventful celebrations attract

people from across the world.

STAY When it comes to accommodations,

Airbnb is easily the most favored

option for travelers, though the city

also is home to incredibly luxe hotels.

If a hotel experience better

suits you, the 101 Hotel aims to

impress. This art-focused, 38-room

establishment offers a modern

stay. Contemporary furnishings and

a collection of local artwork are

regularly on display. After spending

the day touring the city, guests can

relax with a basement gym, spa

with steam bath, plunge pool and

hot tub. In-room spa treatments are

available as well.

The Reykjavik Marina Residence

offers seven plush suites inside two

historic refurbished houses. The

modern rooms, each named after

an Icelandic ship, feature antique

and contemporary furnishings

complemented by an old-century

style. Expect sea views and a minibar

with Icelandic snacks and organic

HALLGRIMSKIRKJA IS REYKJAVIK’S MAIN CHURCH

WITH A NATIONALIST ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN.

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toiletries. This stay is for those who

appreciate history as much as design.

The Alda Hotel, which opened

in 2014, is located on the main

shopping street, Laugavegur.

Upscale yet modestly priced, this is a

hub for locals who gather for drinks

in the Barber Bar in the lobby. The

minimalist space features a simple

design, with a color scheme of white,

gray and the occasional pop of red.

Because it’s located in the center of

the city, there’s much to do within

walking distance of the hotel.

EATAlthough Iceland has become

increasingly popular with U.S.

travelers, don’t expect the

restaurants to be fully Americanized.

Mostly on the menu is seafood,

including whale and shark dishes, as

well as savory sides washed down

with potent shots of hooch.

On the pricey side, DILL

Restaurant’s Northern European

fare delights the senses. Located

in Nordic House, one of Reykjavik’s

premier cultural venues, here guests

can experience Chef Gunnar Karl

Gislason’s creative dishes. Classic

Nordic ingredients with a twist, such

as meatballs and plokkfiskur (a hearty

fish stew), are staples, but the menu

changes weekly with three, five and

seven courses available.

If you want the best Icelandic fish,

look no further than Fiskmarkaðurinn,

or Fish Market, which stays true to

Icelandic culinary staples such as

seafood, lamb and local dairy, but

served with an Asian twist. There’s a

nine-course tasting menu available,

featuring dishes like scallop sashimi,

salmon maki and salt cod. If you’re in

a rush, the à la carte menu is nothing

short of amazing.

A local staple, Vid Tjörnina is an old

and charming restaurant specializing

in, you guessed it, seafood. Opened

in 1986, it’s still owned by the family

who founded it. Classic Icelandic

recipes are served, so if you’re up

for the challenge, you can indulge in

fermented shark meat, Icelandic lamb

fillet or skyr. There’s rarely an empty

seat, as this is one of the city’s most

frequented dining spots.

DOReykjavik is home to the famous

Blue Lagoon geothermal spa which

has taken social media by storm.

Located in a lava field in Grindavík

on the Reykjanes Peninsula in

southwestern Iceland, the silica-

and sulfur-heavy water boasts skin

benefits and is ideal for enjoying

picturesque scenery.

One of the city’s most impressive

structures is Hallgrimskirkja, a

church situated at the city’s highest

point. Built between 1941 and 1986,

this is the city’s stab at nationalist

architecture. The can’t-miss

destination is important, as it is one

of Iceland’s more modern design-

focused structures. While touring

cultural landmarks, don’t forget to

stop in the Viking Maritime Museum

to learn about Iceland’s rich history.

Reykjavik’s Golden Circle provides

glimpses of the natural landscape,

THE FAMOUS BLUE LAGOON IN REYKJAVIK IS KNOWN FOR ITS WARM BLUE WATER AND HEALING MINERALS.

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Vik iMirdalThis remote seafront village in

southernmost Iceland is a far cry

from bustling Reykjavik. Located 110

miles south of the capital city, the

modest town sits in the shadow of

the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which lies

directly atop the Katla volcano. Vík

í Mýrdal has a little more than 300

residents, but it’s a picturesque stop

as you travel across the country.

Vatnajökull National Park. Spanning

more than 12,000 kilometers, this

is home to some of Iceland’s most

exquisite landscapes.

Skaftafell National Park welcomes

travelers of all hiking levels to the

expansive terrain, glaciers and

volcanoes. The preservation area has

geography similar to that of the Alps

and has been naturally scarred by

both fire and water (volcanoes and

glaciers). Campsites are available

throughout the national park.

including erupting geysers, sheer

glacial cliffs, cascading waterfalls and

extinct volcanoes.

Travelers will love the culturally

rich art and music scene of Reykjavik.

Over the years, the city has garnered

international recognition as a

creative hub for visual artists. Gallerí

Fold has earned its reputation since

1990 as Iceland’s leading exhibition

and auction house. Art enthusiasts

can enjoy works from Iceland’s most

talented artists, such as Harry Bilson,

whose work was chosen to represent

Art Copenhagen in 2013.

Kling & Bang is another

gallery known for highlighting

emerging and established

artists with thought-provoking

pieces in a variety of media.

Started by 10 artists of different

backgrounds, the mission of the

space is “to introduce emerging

and established, national and

international artists and their works,

that challenge the context and

content of creative thinking.”

Other galleries recommended

for art aficionados include i8 Gallery,

Gallerí Bakarí, ASÍ Art Museum and

Reykjavik Art Museum.

SkaftafellYou’ll feel as if you entered Jurassic

Park when you visit Skaftafell,

the preservation area in Öræfi

in southeast Iceland, part of

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HusavikAs the largest town in northeast

Iceland, Húsavík is a great

destination for those seeking a

cultural narrative of the country.

This is the site of the first settlement

in Iceland, when a viking visitor

came for a winter and then left

behind a man and two slaves

who established a farm. The most

important structure is the wooden

Visitors will love the black basalt

sand beaches, one of the wettest

places in Iceland, and their most

popular inhabitant, the puffin. Vík í

Mýrdal is the country’s warmest place

with an average annual temperature

of 41.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite

short, cool summers and cold (but

not severe) winters, it has the heaviest

rainfall in the country.

Besides the breathtaking views,

enjoy the city’s football club, historic

church and wool factory, open to tours.

church, renowned as one of the

country’s prime locations for whale

watching. Be sure to visit the

Húsavík Whale Museum and take in

the city’s rich Viking history, just two

more reasons why Iceland is a nature

and history buff’s paradise.

(TOP LEFT) SEAFOOD FROM THE POPULAR FISH MARKET; LOCAL NOSH FROM DILL RESTAURANT; i8 GALLERY IS ONE OF REYKJAVIK’S MOST CONTEMPORARY GALLERIES; (ABOVE) GORGEOUS VIEW FROM REYKJAVIK’S 101 HOTEL.