Iceland
Vast, varied and spectacular, Vatnaj枚kull National Park was founded in 2008, when authorities created a megapark by joining the 8300-sq-km Vatnaj枚kull ice鈥
Must-see attractions in Iceland
Sn忙fellsnes Peninsula
厂苍忙蹿别濒濒蝉箩枚办耻濒濒 National Park encompasses much of the western tip of Sn忙fellsnes Peninsula, and wraps around the rugged slopes of the glacier鈥
The Westfjords
Craggy mountains, precarious sea cliffs and plunging waterfalls make up Hornstrandir, one of Europe鈥檚 last true wilderness areas, covering some of the鈥
The Westfjords
Tumbling in a broad sweep over a 100m-rocky scarp at the head of Dynjandivogur bay, Dynjandi is the most dramatic waterfall in the Westfjords. The bumpy鈥
The Golden Circle
One of Iceland鈥檚 most famous tourist attractions, Geysir (gay-zeer; literally 鈥榞usher鈥) is the original hot-water spout after which all other geysers are鈥
The Golden Circle
The world鈥檚 oldest parliament, Althingi (pronounced 谩l-thingk-ee; also called Al镁ing) was uniquely situated at this monumental site where two tectonic鈥
The Golden Circle
Near the dramatic Almannagj谩 fault and fronted by a boardwalk is the L枚gberg (Law Rock), where the Al镁ingi (Parliament) convened annually. This was where鈥
The Golden Circle
The 脼ingvellir plain is situated on a tectonic-plate boundary where North America and Europe are tearing away from each other at a rate of 1mm to 18mm per鈥
The South
This 62m-high waterfall topples over a rocky cliff at the western edge of Sk贸gar in dramatic style. Climb the steep staircase alongside for giddy views,鈥
The South
On the western side of Reynisfjall, the high ridge above V铆k, Rte 215 leads 5km down to the black-sand beach Reynisfjara. It's backed by an incredible鈥
The Westfjords
Stunning 搁补耻冒补蝉补苍诲耻谤 beach stretches out in shades of pink and red sands on the southern edge of the peninsula. Pounded by surf and backed by a huge azure鈥
The South
One of the South Coast鈥檚 most recognisable natural formations is the rocky plateau and huge stone sea arch at 顿测谤丑贸濒补别测 (deer-lay), which rises鈥
搁别测办箩补惫铆办
Artefacts from settlement to the modern age fill the creative display spaces of Iceland's superb National Museum. Exhibits give an excellent overview of鈥
搁别测办箩补惫铆办
This fascinating archaeological ruin-museum is based around a 10th-century Viking longhouse unearthed here from 2001 to 2002 and other Settlement-Era鈥
North Iceland
The tiny rocky islet of Drangey (drown-gay), in the middle of Skagafj枚r冒ur, is a dramatic flat-topped mass of volcanic tuff with 180m-high sheer鈥
East Iceland
Five kilometres past the wee church is the photogenic small-boat harbour and islet of 贬补蹿苍补谤丑贸濒尘颈, home to a large puffin colony. A staircase and viewing鈥
脥蝉补蹿箩枚谤冒耻谤
Part of a cluster of historic wooden buildings by the harbour, this museum is in the Turnh煤s (1784), which was originally a warehouse. It's crammed with鈥
Heimaey
The 221m-high volcanic cone Eldfell appeared from nowhere in the early hours of 23 January 1973. Once the fireworks finished, heat from the volcano鈥
The Golden Circle
Iceland鈥檚 most famous waterfall, Gullfoss is a spectacular double cascade dropping a dramatic 32m. As it descends, it kicks up magnificent walls of spray鈥
West Iceland
Stykkish贸lmur鈥檚 jagged peninsula pushes north into stunning 叠谤别颈冒补蹿箩枚谤冒耻谤, a broad waterway separating the Sn忙fellsnes from the looming cliffs of the鈥
搁别测办箩补惫铆办
The excellent 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 Art Museum is split over three superbly curated sites: the large, modern, downtown Hafnarh煤s, focusing on contemporary art;鈥
搁别测办箩补惫铆办
Largely a service harbour until recently, the Old Harbour and the neighbouring Grandi area have blossomed into tourist hot spots, with key art galleries,鈥
搁别测办箩补惫铆办
The placid lake at the centre of the city is sometimes locally called the Pond. It echoes with the honks and squawks of more than 40 species of visiting鈥
The Westfjords
The old turf-and-stone fishing shacks of the 脫sv枚r Maritime Museum powerfully evoke a past age. A guide in a typical lambskin fisher鈥檚 outfit shows you鈥
厂苍忙蹿别濒濒蝉箩枚办耻濒濒 National Park
On the southwest coast, Rte 572 leads off Rte 574 to wild black-sand beach Dj煤pal贸nssandur. It鈥檚 a dramatic place to walk, with rock formations (an elf鈥
搁别测办箩补惫铆办
With a series of sights and interesting historic buildings, the area dubbed Old 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 is the heart of the capital, and the focal point of many鈥
The South
Not far from Seljalandsfoss, on the road to 脼贸rsm枚rk (4WD required), hides one of the most thrilling and adventurous scrambles to a waterfall along a鈥
厂苍忙蹿别濒濒蝉箩枚办耻濒濒 National Park
It鈥檚 easy to see why Jules Verne selected Sn忙fell for his adventure Journey to the Centre of the Earth: the peak was torn apart when the volcano beneath鈥
North Iceland
The 18th-century turf-farm museum at 骋濒补耻尘产忙谤 is the best museum of its type in northern Iceland and worth the easy 8km detour off the Ring Road,鈥
The South
Buried by white volcanic ash in 1104 during one of Hekla鈥檚 eruptions, this ancient farm once belonged to Gaukur Trandilsson, a 10th-century Viking who鈥
Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft
The Westfjords
The multilingual displays at this award-winning museum brilliantly convey dark, dramatic tales. Unlike the witches of New England's Salem trials, most of鈥
West Iceland
When the peanut gallery starts moaning, 鈥楢re we there yet?鈥, you know it鈥檚 time to head to 贰谤辫蝉蝉迟补冒颈谤, the perfect place to stretch your legs. Like a鈥
Heimaey
More than 400 buildings lie buried under lava from the 1973 eruption, and on the edge of the flow 鈥楶ompeii of the North鈥 is a museum revolving around one鈥
North Iceland
The bizarre swirls, spirals, rosettes, honeycombs and basalt columns at 贬濒箩贸冒补办濒别迟迟补谤 (Echo Rocks) are a highlight of any hike around Vesturdalur and a鈥
North Iceland
骋辞冒补蹿辞蝉蝉 (Waterfall of the Gods) rips straight through the B谩r冒ardalur lava field along Rte 1. Although smaller and less powerful than some of Iceland鈥檚鈥
North Iceland
On the Vatnsnes Peninsula's east coast, 30km north of the Ring Road, there's a car park, viewing platform and path leading to the splendidly photogenic鈥
Reykjanes Peninsula
At the eastern end of Njar冒v铆k's waterfront, the spectacular 痴铆办颈苍驳补丑别颈尘补谤 is a Norse exhibition centre built in one beautiful, sweeping architectural鈥
The Westfjords
At the tip of the Arnarfj枚r冒ur, local artist Sam煤el J贸nsson lived out his remaining years at a remote farm in Sel谩rdalur, and filled his days by creating鈥
East Iceland
The wondrous assemblage at Petra's Stone Collection was a lifelong labour of love for Petra Sveinsd贸ttir (1922鈥2012). Inside her house, stones and鈥
Iceland
Spectacular waterfall Aldeyjarfoss, 41km south of 骋辞冒补蹿辞蝉蝉, is well worth the journey. The Skj谩lfandaflj贸t river churns through a narrow passage and into鈥
