Facts About Iceland

Hot spots in Reykjavik - Ellidaar valley (Elliðaárdalur)

Did you know that salmon can be caught in Reykjavík? Not exactly in the center but still in the city, in the river Elliðaá. The river's valley, Elliðaárdalur,is an extremely popular area for fishing (permit costs), walking, jogging, biking and even horseback riding. Another one of my personal favorites and most precious hot spot in Iceland.

If you have a car, you can take the direction for getting out of Reykjavík. After you’ve crossed the Elliðaábridge and are driving up the slope called Ártúnsbrekka, you turn to the right.

Next you take a left turn and follow a road called Rafstöðvarvegur. But only for a few meters.  You will soon see walking paths and small parking spaces where people park their cars while walking.

Hot spots in Reykjavik - Heidmork (Heiðmörk)

You don't have to go far from Reykjavík to find wonderful areas for walking among trees (well... WE call it trees!) and wild flowers to the music of birds. Heiðmörk is such a place and one of my own favorite places for walking.

It can be approached from different directions but the most direct way is to take the main road from Reykjavík, Suðurlandsvegur (Road 1), as if you were going to Hveragerði or Selfoss.

After you have passed a small lake, Rauðavatn, in front of the last buildings to be seen in Reykjavík, look out for a sign on your right, Heiðmerkurvegur nr. 408. Turn there, drive on, passing the "red hills" called Rauðhólar until you find an area you like. There are many walking trails. Just take care not to get lost...

You could also make a stop near Rauðhólar (lava hills) and walk there.

South Iceland - Þakgil (Thakgil)

Þakgil is a wonderful “secret spot” located between what is called Höfðabrekkuafréttir and Mýrdalssandur. “Þak” means roof and “gil” means canyon – so you can almost be certain of a good weather there.

This is a great camping site and there are a lot of beautiful hiking routes all around. Bathrooms and showers are available.  There is even a “dining room” which is a naturally formed cave with a grill and a fireplace. Sounds good?

To get there you turn to the left from Road nr. 1 by Höfðabrekka, ca. 5 km east of Vík. Just follow that road and you will find a sign that points to Þakgil.

Photo of Thakgil

South Iceland - Seljalandsfoss and Skogarfoss

If you like waterfalls this is something for you. Follow Road nr. 1 from Reykjavík to the south.

Before you arrive at Vík, you come to this beautiful waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, where you can see 130ft  of glacial melt water dropping off the edge of the highlands to the plain below. For the adventure minded traveler there is a footpath that runs to a hollow behind the fall, where it is possible to huddle against the spray and look out through the water. It makes for some great photos.

Drive on, and half an hour later you reach Skógarfoss, another waterfall.  (Yes... there are a lot of them!) It is perhaps Iceland’s most impressive waterfall, although by no means the biggest. It is 200ft high and about 30ft wide (depending of course on rainfall and the melting of the icecap).

Photo: Seljalandsfoss - photo taken by Simone Marchi, August 2005 - Wikipedia commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Seljalandsfoss_front.jpg

South Iceland - Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar is an oasis in the interior of Iceland. People love this place because of the wonderful colors of the landscape and also because there are many hot and cold springs that create a warm brook where they can bathe. Soap is forbidden in the brook.

Hiking possibilities are many - some even choose to walk from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk which takes about three days. This hiking path is called Laugarvegurinn (Hot spring road...). It is not easy to camp in Landmannalaugar because the ground is difficult for the pegs, but there is a tourist hut which can accommodate over 100 people.

During the summer the scheduled busses of Austurleið - Kynnisferðir stop in Landmannalaugar every day.

Photo: Landmannalaugar, picture taken by Andreas Tille, 2001 - see Wikipedia commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Landmannalaugar.jpeg

South Iceland - Thorsmork (Þórsmörk)

Icelanders love Thorsmork (Icelandic: Þórsmörk) and visit this exquisite and charming hot spot in south Iceland the whole year round. Some even prefer to spend New Year's Eve there.

Thorsmork is a pearl amidst glacial rivers, rugged mountains and glaciers and partly covered with small birch woods. Two - three days are perfect for visiting this extraordinary place where you can take lots of interesting walks.

You should bear in mind that quite many streams and rivers have to be crossed to get there. It should only be done with the right type of cars in the company of experienced people. Otherwise it can be very dangerous.

There are frequent bus trips to Thorsmork from Reykjavík. Bring your swimwear with you since the latest attraction is a hot pool, Þórslaug. There are mountain lodges there offering sleeping bag accommodation and also camping grounds.

Photo by Ólöf Björnsdóttir, 2006. Wikipedia commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:%C3%9E%C3%B3rsm%C3%B6rk_055.jpg

South Iceland - Laugarvatnsvellir

Between Laugarvatn and Þingvellir (5-6 km west of Laugarvatn) you'll find a large grassy area, Laugarvatnsvellir, which is a former lake bottom. This is one of the more special hot spots in south Iceland. In former times our ancestors rested their horses in this place or spent the night during their travels.

Above the flatlands are caves which were occupied only one century ago. A married couple stayed there and even had a child in the caves! - You will probably notice that the caves are a good shelter for sheep and in fact they were used as such by sheep and shepherds during the centuries. Be careful... some believe the caves are haunted...

South Iceland - Laugarvatn

Laugarvatn is a small hamlet by the Lake Laugarvatn north east of Þingvellir and the seat of many schools. Distance from Reykjavík is only 93 km.

The area is quite beautiful with lots of holiday houses and abundant thermal activity which you can enjoy in a steam bath which was built on top of one of the hot springs by the lake.

There is also a relatively new swimming pool in Laugarvatn which you should definitely try. There is a good camping site in Laugarvatn and the boarding schools function as summer hotels.

Photo: Laugarvatn by Christian Bickel 17.06.2004. Wikipedia commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Laugarvatn01.jpg

South Iceland - Skogarkot

Skógarkot is an abandoned farm in the middle of the lava fields in the National Park of Þingvellir.

When driving from Reykjavík to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) you take road #36. When you are approaching Þingvellir you'll find crossroads where you turn to the right and follow road #361 for several hundred meters. Keep an eye out for a sign on your left where it says Skógarkot. There you can park your car and walk for ca. 20 min along a well worn path until you reach the ruins of the farm which stand on the top of the mound called Sjónarhóll.

Reykjavik - Videy Island

How about a little sailing adventure? - Videy island is the largest island in Faxafloi bay and a part of the city of Reykjavik. There are regular boat trips to the island from the 1st of May - 30th September.

This is one of the most "hidden" hot spots in Iceland. The island is there in front of you in Faxafloi bay, but you don't "see" it... While in Viðey, keep in mind that the island has probably been inhabited since about the time when the first explorers came to Iceland.

Try to imagine the different activities through the ages. There was a monastery in Videy for centuries, a hospital for the leprous, farmland, printing house etc. You can also find the oldest house in Reykjavík on the island, Viðeyjarstofa, built in 1753-1755 which now houses one of the most interesting restaurants of Reykjavík.