The northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavík, "the bay of smoke" in Icelandic is gradually becoming a reference in the field of citybreak travel, in addition to being an essential stopover during a trip to Iceland. It has even been very popular since the opening of low-cost airlines such as WOW Air and travellers no longer hesitate to come and pack their bags for a few days. Detailed review of the possibilities of Reykjavík and its surroundings.
Reykjavík extends over various small peninsulas, at the bottom of multiple bays, and thus permanently offers pleasant seascapes. Two-thirds of the Icelandic population, or about 120,000 people, reside here. Regardless of the district, old or brand new (the city is growing at a glance), it is an impression of calm that reigns. Reykjavík will probably be your first encounter with Iceland, a smooth transition between Europe's major cities and Iceland's wilderness. Don't neglect it, as it offers all the cultural and economic infrastructure of a real capital. The creative energy of this prosperous nation is palpable here: in museums, galleries, streets, pubs and clubs that bubble on weekends... Nature is also omnipresent there: what other capital of the world would consider a small lake populated by birds as its city centre?
The main Icelandic city can therefore boast of welcoming a very heterogeneous tourism in search of a multitude of activities and unusual experiences: swimming in hot springs under the midnight sun or the northern lights, strolling among geysers and fumaroles, whale watching, excursion to glacial or volcanic caves... And if most visitors take part in these guided tours to discover the surroundings, the very heart of the city attracts more and more art lovers, partygoers tempted by the call of the runtur on the main street Laugavegur, lovers of the colourful small towns typical of northern destinations who will come to stroll around Lake Tjörnin, or even lovers of a Nordic culture marked by the Viking era whose memory remains engraved through the literature of sagas and folk tales. From the hushed atmosphere of the small cafés on a winter evening to the crazy light of the midnight sun during the summer concerts, Reykjavík flourishes every season and never stops making souls in need of folklore dream
Water and fire at the gates of the city
Many sites are therefore spread out around the capital. Among the curiosities, we will not miss the Blue Lagoon, which has become a must. We immerse ourselves in warm, milky water that springs from the bowels of the earth. Between black volcanic rocks, scrolls of white smoke, reflections of aluminium from the geothermal plant, the pleasure for the eyes and the body is immense.
The visit to the Þingvellir Valley National Park will also delight nature lovers, fishermen, but also history lovers. Here, between lakes, rivers, lichens, grass and open black plains of the fault, is the oldest parliament in the world. Yes, this small house with five pointed roofs hosted the first Icelandic Assembly in 930, the Alfling.
The Geysir Geothermal Area, with its many fumaroles and bubbling ponds, has given its name to the amazing natural phenomenon that is the geyser. It is here that the country's most famous example, the Strokkur, springs forth. Not far away, in Gullfoss, nature expresses itself again with splendour. The water here follows the opposite path. It descends with force several levels and falls noisily between black cliffs. The foam that rises in the sky borders the rainbow that appears on sunny days.
Finally, the Vestmann Islands can be visited by plane or ferry. They offer a concentration of Islande : superb cliffs populated by birds (madmen, puffins, murres), a colourful village standing out on dark lava fields, an important fishing port.
We like the setting of Surtsey Island, a piece of land that may be younger than you, since it emerged from the water in 1963. A godsend for scientists studying its progressive colonization by plants and animals. In short, a short winter stay to discover the surroundings of Reykjavík gives only one desire: to come back in summer and attack the mythical road n° 1 to go around an island full of surprises.
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Getting there. WOW Air offers direct flights from Paris Roissy all year round, and in summer from Nice and Lyon.
WOW AIR - More information on the site
