There’s also plenty of choice for relaxing indulgence and pampering yourself. The chilliest thing about Iceland is its name! Iceland welcome to tourists is always warm. Almost everyone speaks fluent English and Icelanders aren’t really given to formalities. The telephone directory even lists people by their first name!
Reykjavik is a city where you’ll feel safe to walk the streets. With its colorful houses, friendly people and walkable city center, it’s like being in a big village. But this “village” has a multitude of cultural venues, gourmet restaurants, and stores. It also has the modern conveniences, services and quality of living you would expect from a world-class city.
Even so, it’s still only a 15-minute cab ride between downtown and wild nature, where you’ll feel you’re the only person on earth. When you’re in nature, you can explore geysers, waterfalls, geothermal hot springs, bird sanctuaries and more!
Iceland is the ideal place for taking a break and setting foot on a European outpost with an exciting, lively, ancient and thriving culture all of its own. You’ll feel at home – free to walk around, shop, admire, explore. It’s a place you could go on discovering forever.
Country for all Seasons
Winter, spring, summer or fall – Iceland has it all….
Winter heats up in Iceland!
Despite what its chilly-sounding name might suggest, Iceland does not freeze to a halt in winter. Average January temperatures in many parts of Iceland are actually higher than those in New York and much of Iceland’s cultural life bursts into bloom from autumn to spring, before the long bright nights and the main travel season begin. Outdoor life goes on as usual in Iceland throughout winter, with horseback riding and sightseeing all year round. And for thrills such as snowmobiling, you don’t even need to go up on a glacier in winter because rental and tour operators will find you plenty of places to zoom around at liberty. Some sports even take on an added flair in winter – like swimming in a geothermally-heated outdoor pool in a blizzard!
On the cultural front you’ll have the choice of symphony orchestra, opera, theaters, and a rich variety of other musical events. Alongside local artists, a growing numbers of celebrated international performers from all fields are eager to include trendy Iceland in their tour programs these days. And for a little daytime cultural input, a fine national and international mix can be found at the many visual art museums and galleries.
The cultural season is in full swing in spring and fall, when numerous festivals are held, like spring’s Reykjavik Arts Festival or fall’s Airwaves Music festival. Birdwatchers will also find these times best for getting a glimpse of northern favorites like the puffing and the ptarmigan. And sports fans can attend an exciting indoor team handball game, one of the nation’s favorite sports.
Summer brings with it 24-hour daylight and the chance to partake in some midnight golf. It’s the height of the tourist season, so museums are open longer and hotel rooms can be harder to find.
Icelandair offers transatlantic travellers on their way to Europe the chance to stop over in Iceland for up to seven days at no additional cost – check out this opportunity if you want to add a new dimension to your trip between continents. Many people seize the chance to stop over and take a dip in the Blue Lagoon, shop in Reykjavik by day and sound out the cultural or social scene at night.
