• Reykjavik

Iceland

Iceland means new and different things for you to see and do, whatever the season. Every part of the year has its own special attractions, character and charm. And don´t let the name deceive you - Iceland can be very warm in summer when the sun shines virtually round the clock, while January temperatures are around 0°C. Much of Iceland is still taking shape before your very eyes — raw, dramatic landscapes born from volcanic eruptions and carved out by glaciers. Other parts have hardly changed since the first Viking settlers saw them more than 1,100 years ago. You’ll experience wilderness and wildlife, energy and total calm, within easy reach wherever you stay, even on day trips.

Icelanders are proud that they still speak the ancient language of the vikings, but they certainly don´t just live in the past. Their cherished ancient heritage lives on in harmony with the most exciting innovations from the world of arts and cultue today. This refreshing mix of local, traditional, progressive and cosmopolitan culture appeals to almost every taste.

Music and song
— the whole scale from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra to Björk

Colourful festivals and theme exhibitions bring local history to life around the country
International and home artists with dozens of exhibitions at museums and galleries every month
Volcano exhibitions and shows learn how nature lets off steam — and how man has learnt to live with it
Mid-Atlantic music venue when major bands visit Iceland, audiences flock in from both sides of the Atlantic
Nightlife and entertainment is in a league of its own

Situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is a hot spot of volcanic and geothermal activity: 30 post-glacial volcanoes have erupted in the past two centuries, and natural hot water supplies much of the population with cheap, pollution-free heating. Rivers, too, are harnessed to provide inexpensive hydroelectric power.

People
Out of a population numbering more than 280.000, half live in the capital Reykjavík and its neighbouring towns in the southwest. Keflavík International Airport is located about 50 km from the capital. The highland interior is uninhabited (and uninhabitable), and most centres of population are situated on the coast.
Iceland offers a great variety of tours, some covering large parts of the country, others small areas at a time.There are traditional tours as well as tours quite different from what can be experienced elsewhere.There are nature tours with striking landscapes, young lava fields, roaring waterfalls and majestic glacial ice-caps. In addition, there are organized day tours, and weekend and holiday tours all year round with Icelandic touring clubs where the emphasis ison hiking. Travelling into the uninhabited interior of Iceland is limited to the months of July and August, except for some specially organized winter tours (see section on opening of the mountain tracks).Winter tours in Iceland are unforgettable: there is skiing for both beginners and the experienced, glacier tours on snowmobile or snowcats, and ice-fishing.

Activities
Iceland is an ideal destination for today's active tourist. The following is a list of some of the many activities available.

Activity Vacations
Activity vacations are offered all over Iceland. These vacations may feature river rafting, hiking, glacier tours, fishing, horseback riding, boat tours, whale watching and swimming.

Whale watching
The cool clear North Atlantic encircling Iceland is teeming with whales of various sizes and species. Already thousands of tourists have enjoyed whale watching from various sites around the country. The whale watching ports are all around the coastline.

Bird Watching
Some places in Iceland are a paradise for bird-watchers. Látrabjarg in the West Fjords is the largest birdcliff known in the world. A great variety of cliff-nesting species can be found there, including the largest razorbill colony in the world. The Westman Islands are known for many kinds of seabirds, and are home to Iceland's largest puffin population. Lake Mývatn in the north has more species of breeding ducks than any other place in Europe. The great skua colony on the sands in south Iceland is the largest in the world. Seabirds such as puffins can be seen in many places, as well as eiders, Arctic terns, waders and passerine birds. Some tour operators organize tours for bird-watchers in early summer.