Travel guide Iceland

This natural phenomenon is the result of solar winds rubbing against the Earth's atmosphere. The result is a fabulous spectacle to be admired as soon as night falls, under clear skies, from late August to early April. The best time to see the Northern Lights is from October to March, between 8pm and 2am.

Among Iceland's most famous "lagoons" is the Blue Lagoon, which has become very popular in just a few years, but there are a plethora of free, wild hot springs to discover during your stay. Others have also opened their doors all over the country, including the Vök Baths, the Sky Lagoon and the Hvammir hot springs.

Volcanic eruptions, both explosive and effusive, are the source of most of Iceland's craters. On the Laki fault, it is possible to discover a row of no less than 115 craters. Testimony of a catastrophe, that of the eruption of Laki in 1783-1784, this alignment forms one of the many tourist places of Iceland.

Some travelers decide to tour Iceland simply to see the multitude of abandoned farms that are found there. Several of them have been converted into museums, while others remain uninhabited. You can even stay there! Of course, there is a plethora of farms dedicated to breeding.

With Europe's largest glacier, Iceland has well earned its name of "land of ice". One eighth of its surface is covered by glaciers, which in places reach a thickness of almost 1,200 m. But global warming is not far off. But global warming is just around the corner... Ice is also the perfect place for a wide range of sporting activities.

If Iceland is famous for its ceramics, it's even better known for its woollens (the famous Icelandic sweater), knitwear and other textile productions with geometric jacquard patterns. The oldest Icelandic knitting patterns date back to the last quarter of the ^16th century. They were even exported to northern Europe as early as the Middle Ages.

The Icelandic economy is based primarily on fishing and its by-products. Reykjavík, Akureyri, Grindavík and Heimaey are among the main ports of the country. But there are still dozens of small localities where fishing is done by hand. Thus, in the fjords of the East is a charming fishing village, located in a grandiose decoration, Djúpivogur.

When the skies darken, Reykjavík's streets remain lively, giving young people the opportunity to enjoy themselves in nightclubs. And these traditional weekend nights have a name: runtur. The streets are packed with people, shouting, singing and drinking. Leaving the impression that a hurricane has passed through..

You're bound to encounter the smell of sulfur on your trip. Near Geysir, for example, solfataras release steam mixed with hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur can even be found in commonly used water (as you'll see when taking a shower), but it's not dangerous.

Elves are part of Icelandic mythology, strongly rooted in the imagination of a population very fond of the Huldufolk ("hidden people") legends. Among the local legends, there are also often so-called haunted places (some of which are mentioned in the guidebook), and trolls behind certain rock formations.

The sagas contain many stories of famous Viking heroes. This name was given to the Scandinavian navigators who crossed the seas from the end of the ^8th to the beginning of the ^11th century. During this period, they also developed a veritable art form, producing wood carvings, fabrics and hangings, as well as goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares.

As a "hot spot" - i.e., located at the boundaries of tectonic plates - Iceland's increased volcanism is shaping the country. The most active volcanoes in Iceland are Hekla, Krafla and Grimsvötn. The Eyjafjöll and Bárðarbunga volcanoes are the best-known, having erupted in 2010 and 2014 respectively.