Most children envision Iceland to be a land filled with, well, ice! It is only when we get older we learn this cold country has much more to offer. With its breath-stealing views, delicious foods, and friendly faces, Iceland is a great getaway. See more reasons why below.
Iceland is 39, 769 square miles and much of it is wide, open space. While there are public transportation options available, the most convenient method of travel is renting a car. Easy for Americans, Iceland drivers drive on the right side of the road.
Most European countries warn you to carry cash in case there are no card readers available. That will not be a problem in Iceland. Almost every establishment will accept your credit or debit cards.
Iceland enjoys nearly constant daylight during the summer months. Most hotels or houses will be equipped with light-blocking curtains or blinds, but you will likely sleep better if you carry an eye mask.
While, of course, there are always establishments that stay open for the late-night hooligans, most businesses in Iceland close around 9 pm. Iceland gets quite cold and is not as fun to experience at night. You’ll find most Icelanders enjoying a warm beverage by a fire in the evenings.
An ancient Icelandic proverb is, “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” Average temperatures in summer months are between 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit while average winter temperatures are between 0-32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Perlan is the #1 attraction in all of Reykavik. It is an architectural marvel that celebrates Mother Nature’s impressive prowess. Designed by Ingimunder Sveinsson, the building is topped with a large glass dome that sits atop six heating tanks, each with the ability to hold four million liters of geothermal water.
The building’s exterior walls are lined with mirror slabs, “so that the northern lights could approach the feet of men.”
The prisms of light that constitute the facility help communicate the artistic interpretation of the relationship between night and day, and how light dictates them both. In addition to the artificial ice tunnel beneath the scientifically maintained glacier, Perlan is what many travel to Iceland to see.
On the edge of Reykjavic harbor is Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre. In 2010, Harpa was deemed one of the best concert houses of the new millennium by Gramophone Magazine. In 2016, it was awarded the Best Conference Centre in Europe by Business Destination Magazine. Home to the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, the Icelandic Opera, Reykjavic Big Band, and Mulinn Jazz Club, Harpa’s seats are filled nearly every week of the year.
A national treasure, this museum celebrates the valuable antiques of Iceland. The museum hosts more than 2,000 relics, the oldest of which dating back to 800 A.D. History buffs and antique aficionados will appreciate a trip to the museum.
Iceland is a hotbed of volcanic energy. This results in lots of black sand beaches. Not ideal for sunbathing of wake boarding, these beaches are lined with volcanic ash and debris, mostly in the form of sharp rocks. The cliffs beside them are jaggedly organized, structured as such from years of erosion from both wind and water. These beaches are geological marvels that shouldn’t be missed.
Visited by either hike or ATV ride is the crash site from an old DC3 plane. Purposefully not cleaned up, this now art-piece acts as a reminder of the interconnectedness between man and nature. Broken, rusted airplane wings rest atop a black sand beach that is covered with snow. The cognitive dissonance of this unique scene has provided some awesome social media posts.
One of the not-yet wonders of the world, Katla Ice Cave is an epic tourist destination. Pile into a Super Jeep and let a native Icelander guide you along the glacier. Then, hop out, hike through the tundra, and appreciate the warmth the ice caves provide. Visitors typically spend about four hours spelunking through three differing caves.
Here are Iceland’s busiest international airports. All locations offer business class travel.
As a country with “ice” in its name, Iceland gets most of its global visitors during its warmest months. Summer (June to August) is obviously the warmest, thanks to the midnight sun. This is when much of the snow melts off the hiking trails, paving the way for adventurous exercisers.
Iceland is famous for being one of the few places on Earth to see the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. These life-changing lights are visible for a short time from September through March. During those months, the nights are longest and sightseers will have the most viewing time.
The shortest, a direct flight from Maine to Iceland, is only 5 hours and 47 minutes. The longest, a direct flight from San Diego to Iceland is 13 hours and 45 minutes. The cheapest flight to Iceland from the United States is only $596.
While Voyagu does not rank its valued airline partners, we do provide a list of airlines that offer both discounted business class airfare and last-minute business class deals to Iceland. Keep in mind some of these may not have direct flights while instead arranging comforting connections:
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