Explore geothermal fields,
What you must see and do during a two-day visit to beautiful Iceland
Icelandair offers a free stopover on all Atlantic flights and there’s plenty to see in a short visit. Travel writers Elle Barka and Denise Dias give us their top picks during a short Icelandic tour.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon was my first glimpse of the sparse, ever-changing landscape the island is so famous for. It was bleak, but in its own way beautiful. Because it’s close to the airport, the Blue Lagoon spa offers storage for luggage, where we checked our bags before soaking in the warm, cloudy blue waters of the Lagoon. The natural pools are filled with five million litres of geothermal seawater and rich deposits of silica, blue green algae and natural minerals — known for having great healing properties for the skin. bluelagoon.com Elle Barka
Harpa Concert Hall
The stunning Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre is one of Reykjavik’s greatest landmarks and a cultural and social centre. It is home to concerts of all kinds, dance, theatre and meetings and has attracted five million guests since opening in 2011.
Looking for gifts to bring home, check out its three shops — 12 Tónar, Epal and Be Inspired — which sell a range of music, Nordic design, books, flowers and home decor items. en.harpa.is Denise Dias
Gullfoss
The grandeur of Iceland’s most famous waterfall — Gullfoss glacial waterfall — was a reminder of the powerful forces that flow under and across the volcanic island, shaping its rugged, almost lunar terrain. The water falls 32 metres in two stages into a canyon with walls as high as 70 metres. Plans to harness Gullfoss for hydroelectric power in the early 20th century failed and since 1979 it has been protected as a nature reserve. gullfoss.is Elle Barka
Geysir geothermal area
We ended our first afternoon in Iceland at the Geysir geothermal area. Colourful mudpots and hot springs boiled and bubbled around the two main geysers, Great Geysir and Strokkur. While the Great Geysir’s eruptions are infrequent, Strokkur’s 15-to 40-metre bursts could be seen every eight to 10 minutes. extremeiceland.is/en/information/abouticeland/geysir-geothermal-field Elle Barka
Grillmarkadurinn
Dinner at this dimly lit, moody restaurant, known in English as the Grillmarket, has a menu inspired by local farmers and seasonal ingredients. It prides itself on a fusion of traditional and modern cuisine. Some of the local products featured are lamb, beef, trout, quail, skyr (a cultured dairy product) and honey. The owners have a strict no advertising policy, relying on reputation and word of mouth to gain customers. grillmarkadurinn.is Denise Dias
Hallgrimskirkja
The Hallgrimskirkja church was a 10-minute walk from our hotel. After bending our necks in the pews to absorb the majesty of the church’s vaulted ceiling, we took an elevator ride to the top of the bell tower. From there we could see the city sprawling out into the surrounding land, outlined by mountains and the sea. visitreykjavik.is/ hallgrimskirkjachurch Elle Barka
Thingvellir
National Park Agreat afternoon spent is to take the Golden Circle tour of Thingvellir National Park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing the world’s oldest parliament, first set up by Viking founders in 930 AD. Resting on the divide between the North American and Eurasia tectonic plates, the park hosts an array of geological wonders. thingvellir.is Elle Barka
Geysir
Don’t leave without picking up a traditional Icelandic wool sweater or blanket at another famous Geysir — but this is a store. Geysir designs and develops clothing from its studio in downtown Reykjavik, drawing inspiration from the country’s history of craft and knitwear. It mixes local textiles and yarns with material from around the world. Once considered a tourist store it has become more designer-oriented. geysir.com Denise Dias
Perlan Restaurant
For dinner, I made reservations at Iceland’s famous Perlan (the Pearl) restaurant, situated in a revolving glass dome that caps the Perlan building. Diners have a 360-degree view of Reykjavik, which makes a full rotation every two hours. While my travelling companions enjoyed the set four-course menu of fine local fare, including smoked fish and lamb, the chef (notified beforehand) was accommodating in preparing a delicious vegetarian alternative. perlan.is Elle Barka