ICELAND

Introduction to Iceland

Iceland is a vast volcanic laboratory where mighty forces shape the earth: geysers gush, mudpods gloop, ice-covered volcanoes rumble and glaciers cut great pathways through the mountains. Add some crisp clean air, an eyeful of the cinematic landscapes, and everyone is transfixed. Don’t for a minute think it’s all about the great outdoor. The counterpoint to so much natural beauty is found in Iceland’s cultural life, which celebrates a literary legacy that stretches from medieval sagas to contemporary thrillers by way of Nobel Prize winners.

What to eat in Iceland

Skyr: a thick and creamy dairy product that’s best described as a marriage between yogurt and cottage cheese.

Rye Bread : Icelandic rye bread, or rúgbrauð, is a staple for Icelandic cuisine. There's a million ways to eat it: topped with smoked salmon and cream cheese, chopped and blended in ice cream, served with extra creamy butter and crunchy lava salt.

Seafood: Families in Iceland almost always had fish for one of their daily meals. Stewed, boiled, fried, roasted or grilled, fish has been a mainstay in Icelandic cuisine for as long as people have lived there

Pylsur: Reykjavik's Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur has been in business for over 60 years, serving some of the best hot dogs—made from a blend of beef, lamb and pork. Order it eina með öllu, or with everything, which includes crunchy deep fried onions, raw onions, sweet brown mustard, and a creamy remoulade.

Don't miss

Westfjords: Iceland's sweeping spectrum of superlative nature comes to a dramatic climax in the Westfjords - Iceland's off-the-beaten-track adventure. Broad, multihued beaches flank the southern coast, roaring bird colonies abound, fjordheads tower above and then plunge into the deep, and a network of ruddy roads twist throughout.

Jökulsárlón: A ghosty procession of luminous-blue icebergs drifts serenely through the 25-sq-km lagoon before floating ou to the sea - absolutely surreal scene.

Fimmvörðuháls: If you haven't had time to complete one of Iceland's multiday treks, this 23km, day-long trek will quench your wanderer's thirst. Start at the simmering cascades of Skogafoss; hike up into the hinterland to discover a veritable parade of waterfalls; hike along the stone terraces of a flower-filled kingdom that ends in silent Porsmork, a haven for campers, hemmed by a crown of glacial ridges.