Iceland’s volcano watch continues. For several weeks, thousands of small earthquakes have pointed to an increasingly likely eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano located near Grindavík, a fishing town located just 16 miles from Keflavík airport, the country’s largest airport and the main hub for international flights.
Discover where locals travel in Iceland
03.11.2023 - 22:41 / lonelyplanet.com
Iceland is a short flight from Europe and the east coast of North America, yet its beauty is so extraordinary— rainbow-capped fjords, black lava fields, glowering volcanoes and glass-clear glacial rivers—it could be on another planet.
While popular and cinematic attractions like the Ring Road, a 830-mile drive around the island’s coastline, the moonlike Reynisfjara beach, and the iconic Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on the Reykjanes Peninsula are worth exploring, Iceland offers even more to those who wish to experience it like a local.
With the toasty warmth of Reykjavik's bars during winter and colorful fishing towns to explore in summer, there is an endless supply of authentic experiences to enjoy. So, if you want to holiday like an Icelander, where should you begin?
Carolyn Bain is a guidebook travel author who lives in Reykjavík.
The small island of Hrisey is a 15-minute ferry ride from the North Iceland village of Árkógssandur, but it’s a world away from the hustle of the Ring Road. The ferry doesn’t carry cars; wheelbarrows huddle at the island’s dock so new arrivals can transport their luggage. Parked nearby is a row of tractors, the island's preferred mode of transport.
Some 160 people live here, and there’s not much by way of services: a shop, low-key restaurant, guesthouse, and geothermal swimming pool (this is Iceland, after all!). I come for the tranquillity, the birdlife (ptarmigan, terns, gulls and ducks aplenty), the walking trails, and the views. Hrisey sits in the middle of a long, mountain-lined fjord, with stunning panoramas in all directions.
It's well worth visiting at any time of year. In winter, the ferry continues to operate and the geothermal pools remain open. Plus, the island's beauty is just as captivating. I love visiting in the summer, too. Friends and I will rent a cottage with a private hotpot on the deck (a spa tub, minus the bubbles) and spend hours scouting for whales.
Back on the mainland, the Hrisey ferry docks by Kaldi Brewery in Árkógssandur, which has a restaurant, hotpots and ‘beer baths’. Drive 5km south and you'll reach Hauganes, where Baccalá Bar serves fab fish and chips. Whale-watching boats depart from here and a row of yet more hotpots sits invitingly on the fjord's shore.
Egill Bjarnason is an Icelandic journalist who loves to hike among trees and petrified trolls far away from Reykjavík.
Follow the weather forecast in Iceland for long enough and those double-digit temperatures that hover over Ásbyrgi will eventually draw you in. This lush, horseshoe-shaped canyon is practically one giant sun patio thanks to the 100m-high cliffs that keep out the wind.
Sunny weekend ahead? When they are open between May and October, the campsites in Ásbyrgi are hot property.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
travelweekly.com
20.11.2023 / 15:38
Could a volcanic eruption in Iceland disrupt travel?
AccuWeather meteorologists warned Nov. 13 that flight disruptions could be a possibility in the coming weeks if a volcano in Iceland showing increased signs of seismic activity erupts.
travelweekly.com
20.11.2023 / 15:38
Black Friday strategies reveal a transition moment for travel
Black Friday, the rallying cry of the holiday shopping season, returns next week with travel deals that some industry experts say are more robust than usual, addressing financial concerns among a growing number of consumers and the normalization of travel trends.
forbes.com
19.11.2023 / 22:32
The 15 Safest Countries To Travel To In 2024—According To A New Report
Safety is a top concern for many when choosing where to travel — a consideration that carries even more importance given the current landscape in the Middle East with the Israel-Hamas war and the U.S. State Department’s worldwide caution travel advisory. To help pinpoint safe countries for travel in 2024, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has published its “Safest Destinations” report for the ninth year in a row. The report ranks both the top safety countries and the top safest cities globally.
euronews.com
18.11.2023 / 00:57
Iceland volcano 2023: Is it safe to travel and will an eruption affect flights?
Icelandic authorities have declared a state of emergency after hundreds of small earthquakes have rocked the Reykjanes Peninsula - the island nation’s most populated region - for more than two weeks.
travelandleisure.com
17.11.2023 / 17:03
Iceland's Blue Lagoon Extends Closure Due to 'Significant' Likelihood of Volcanic Eruption
The iconic Blue Lagoon has extended its closure through the end of the month as Iceland continues to prepare for a likely volcanic eruption following an increase in seismic activity.
forbes.com
17.11.2023 / 14:11
How Iceland’s Imminent Volcanic Eruption Could Disrupt Travel In Europe
Over several weeks, thousands of small earthquakes have shaken Iceland, splitting pavements, spurring evacuations and even shutting down the country’s most popular tourist attraction, as the country braces for the eruption of a volcano within 20 miles of the country’s main international airport.
insider.com
16.11.2023 / 21:41
Tourists in Iceland standing too close to the ocean almost got swept away by dangerous 'sneaker waves'
A group of tourists have learned the hard way why you shouldn't always get too close to the ocean.
forbes.com
16.11.2023 / 11:09
Travel Trends 2024 (Part 2): Black Tomato On Capturing Shared Moments
Having witnessed a surge in demand for group travel over the past couple of years, Black Tomato–renowned for its imaginative and boundary-pushing experiential travel–has taken this as inspiration for its latest offering. It’s in step with a rising trend of travelers wanting to travel together and reconnect–particularly post-pandemic–with family members and groups of friends.
insider.com
15.11.2023 / 19:05
Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Here are 8 ways I saved money during my trip.
On my first day in Iceland, I paid 2,690 ISK, or about $20, for a piece of avocado toast at the Blue Lagoon.
cntraveler.com
15.11.2023 / 01:16
A Volcano in Iceland Could Erupt Soon—Should You Still Travel There?
Is it still safe to visit Iceland? That’s the question on the minds of many tourists after a section of the island nation was placed under a state of emergency following a spike in seismic activity. The recent uptick in occurrences of small earthquakes began on October 24 and has reached as many as 1,000 quakes in 24 hours—and scientists are predicting an imminent volcanic eruption.
skift.com
13.11.2023 / 23:53
Iceland Readies for Volcanic Eruption: Latest Tourism Updates
Tourists won’t be allowed to relax in Iceland’s iconic Blue Lagoon for the next few days. A volcano near the geothermal spa is very likely to erupt soon, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.