|
ICELAND
  General information
Capital Reykjavik
Currency Icelandic krona (ISK)
Area 103.000 square km
view more info
Preference Family and Kids, Couple, Group, Seniors, Single, Biker, Skier, Adventurer, Explorer, Outdoor traveler, Sportsman
view more info
History, Practical info
view more info
The Map of Iceland
view map
Weather, weather forecast and when to go
Climate conditions in Iceland are strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream. Thanks to it winters are practically mild with temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius. Summers are relatively cool.
Temperature difference between summer and winter is minimal. For example, in the capital Reykjavík, the average temperature in January is around 0 degrees Celsius, and in July around 11 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall reached 850 mm here. Two to two and a half times higher precipitation are in the south of the island.
Due to the diversity of the weather has Icelandic language about 10 words for snow and for 10 wind.
When planning a holiday on Iceland you have to consider what you want to see.
Due to snow conditions some roads and also tourist trails can be closed and you have to accept snowfalls during winter months. Best months are from June to September when the temperatures raise up to 12°C and the annual rainfall is on the lowest level. But these months are also most sought - after by tourist so if you preffer trecking alone you better start earlier or later but you must calculate with more precipitation then.
Top places of interest and picks, top attractions in Iceland
Reykjavik
view map of the city
Old Town (full of parks, lakes, museums)
The National Gallery offers the national collection of 19th and 20th century Icelandic and international art.
The Reykjavik Art Museum is located in 3 buildings: Harbor House, Asmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum and Kjarvalsstadir.
Church Hallgrímskirkja
Volcanic Show Theater
Cathedral
Town Hall
Reykjavik is the northernmost capital of an independent state in the world.
Hekla, Katla and Askja
view map of Hekla
view map of Katla
The most active volcanoes - Hekla, Katla and Askja . The eruption of the volcano in the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier and the surrounding area could trigger a larger eruption at the Katla volcano located near Eyjafjallajoekul (Eyjafjallajökull). This concern is based on the fact that previous eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull were accompanied by subsequent Katla´s eruptions.
Iceland is a perfect destination for volcano tours.
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon - Bláa Lónið - swimming is possible in this interesting outdoor pool
Hafnarfjörður
Hafnarfjörður - City of elves where the Viking festival takes place
Akureyri
Akureyri - Church, Botanic Garden
Jökulsárlón and Breiðamerkurjökull
Jökulsárlón - The Jökulsár Lagoon – outstanding glacial lagoon in southeast Iceland
Breiðamerkurjökull – glacier that formed The Jökulsár Lagoon
Kerið
Kerið - Volcanic crater lake
Waterfalls
A massive waterfall Dettifoss, 60 m waterfall near Seljalandsfoss
Gullfoss - The Golden Falls – many think the most beautiful double waterfall in the world
Glúfrafoss
Hundafoss
Svartifoss
Litlanesfoss
118 m waterfall Hengifoss
Geysers
Big Geyser - the eruption every three minutes, water sprayed up to 20 meters
Strokkur - the eruption every 4 to 10 minutes, water sprayed up to 22 meters and has a cyan color.
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir National Park ("THING-vet-lihr") - National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site
Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park - Iceland's newest national park. Including Iceland's highest mountain - Hvannadalshnúkur, largest glacier - Vatnajökull, and Europe's most powerful waterfall Dettifoss.
Thingvellir National Park
Thingvellir - the most famous national park
Snæfellsjökull National Park
Snæfellsjökull National Park - on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Interesting because of the Ice-covered volcanic crater where the story from the Jules Verne's book Journey to the Center of the Earth takes place.
Hvannadalshnúkur
Hvannadalshnúkur - the highest mountain of Iceland - altitude 2119 meters
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull - the largest glacier - covers approximately 8456 square km. There is caldera (crater) inside the glacier, which formed a hot lake. Sometimes the ice is so warm that it burst and water tear down huge pieces of ice.
Glaciers of Iceland
Iceland has several glaciers. Many of them are big attraction for tourists. The list of the biggest Icelandic glaciers is as follows: Vatnajökull, Langjökull, Hofsjökull, Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull, Tungnafellsjökull. Some of them lie above volcanoes.
The volcano in the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier erupted in 2010. Last eruptions in 19th century were notified in 1821 and 1823. The Eyjafjallajoekull glacier is fifth largest glacier in Iceland.
Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey - Bird looking
Kverkfjöll
Kverkfjöll - Ice cave
Helgafell
Helgafell - sacred mountain
The most popular holiday resorts
Reykjavik
Blue Lagoon - is the most favourite destination with great termal pool.
Trip plan
|
