With its wild landscapes of volcanoes, glaciers, lava fields, black sand beaches and geothermal zones, Iceland offers a complete change of scenery just three hours from Paris. A destination still too little known by tourists, discover what to do in Iceland.
Do you need a change of scenery but don’t have the time to travel far and wide? Well, there’s a country just a three-hour flight from Paris that can offer you the ultimate change of scenery:Iceland. This island state with its strong Viking identity is ideal for a short stay of 3 or 4 days, especially its capital, Reykjavik, which is a treasure trove of hospitality and cultural attractions.
When you arrive, relax at the Blue Lagoon
On arrival at the airport, you’ll find yourself in Keflavík, a town close to one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, the Blue Lagoon. This large, neon-blue lake at 40°C in the middle of glaciers is a unique experience. Then head straight back to Reykjavik to spend the night and be at the heart of the activities for the rest of your stay.
Photo credit: Flickr – Rene Passet
Reykjavik, one of Europe’s most welcoming capitals
Iceland’s capital is amazingly multi-faceted, and within a small area you can walk all over the city. Spend at least a day wandering around the city – there’s so much to discover!
Culture in Reykjavik:
– The town’s main attraction is undoubtedly its church, the Hallgrímskirkja, with its dizzying height, which will often help you find your way around. It’s possible to climb to the top, which offers an extraordinary panorama of the whole town and its magical surroundings.
– The Art Museum: Reykjavik is home to a number of museums, depending on your interests, from the Viking History Museum to the National Museum of Iceland and even the Icelandic Phallological Museum, so it’s up to you… One of the most interesting is the Art Museum, which showcases Iceland’s avant-garde art. A word of advice: don’t spend your day in museums. It’s worth visiting one or two, but the city’s interest is best experienced outdoors.
Walking tours of the city, places of interest
– The harbour: A stroll along the harbour is a unique experience, with its huge fishing boats and glaciers in the distance. If you go as far as Reykjavik Bay, you can admire the famous sculpture « The Sun Traveller » or « Solfar » overlooking the bay. Some lucky visitors have even been able to see the Northern Lights from this spot, weather and season permitting. Don’t miss the legendary hot dog stand at the entrance to the harbour. The hot dogs served here are famous throughout the city and turn out to be really tasty, and in this cold, a hot snack is never unwelcome!
– The heart of the city: Stroll through the few streets of the city center, admiring the beautiful shop windows, the magnificent graffiti on the walls and the beauty of this urban landscape, so calm, quiet and clean. The serene atmosphere makes it feel more like a village than a capital city. Buy yourself a coffee to go, then enjoy it on the shores of the magnificent Lake Tjörnin. Right in the center of town, where swans and ducks live side by side, with the colorful facades of the little houses all around, it’s a typically enchanting Scandinavian landscape that awaits you. Stop off at one of these charming little coffee-shops, where you can enjoy excellent burgers, cakes and coffees in a cosy atmosphere. The Laundromat Café is one of the best addresses.
But Iceland has many other tricks up its sleeve, such as the uniqueness of its countryside, so it’s essential to plan at least one day trip outside Reykjavik.
– The Golden Circle: The tourist office offers a wide range of excursions to discover the Icelandic landscape. The most grandiose is the Golden Circle, where within a 300 km radius of Reykjavik, you can admire geysers, waterfalls, lunar landscapes, fields and sheep as far as the eye can see. It’s absolutely grandiose and unforgettable.
Photo credit: Flickr – Bryan Pocius
– The Iceland Airwaves Festival: One of the best times to visit Iceland is between October and November, before the extreme cold sets in. A music festival is held every year in Reykjavik at the beginning of November, the Iceland Airwaves, which brings a breath of light-hearted madness to the city, while maintaining an astonishingly calm, benevolent and reassuring climate. Increasingly well-known, it takes place everywhere, from the smallest cafés to the large Harpa auditorium. You can attend many small, intimate concerts all over the city, even without a festival pass.
What souvenirs to bring back from Iceland?
You’ll be spoilt for choice, as the stores in Reykjavik are very attractive. If you like clothes, don’t leave without your traditional Icelandic knitted sweater, you’ll be ready to face the most polar cold.
Icelandic herbs are renowned for their medicinal virtues, and you’ll find herbal teas and cosmetics made from them that are quite surprising. Don’t hesitate to buy the famous hot-dog sauce at the supermarket, delicious and impossible to find in France. Harder to bring back, don’t forget to try the famous « skyr » yoghurt, very hearty and fresh, one of the Icelandic specialties not to be missed.
Main photo credit: Flickr – Claudia Regina
Map of hotels and accommodation – Iceland