Facts About Iceland

A Popular Vegetable Market in the Countryside of Iceland

Don't forget to visit the vegetable market in Mosfellsdalur (near Reykjavik) if you visit Iceland between the months of July and September. You will be able to buy different kinds of vegetables, homegrown and fresh of course. The market is now ten years old and is open on Saturdays. Another attraction is the possibility to buy homemade jams, trout and char from Lake Thingvallavatn and even home-knitted woolen socks!

Slakki - a Small Zoo with Icelandic Domestic Animals in South Iceland

Here is an excellent opportunity for the family to take a look at some domestic animals in Iceland. If you travel a bit outside the Ring Road in South Iceland, in the neighbourhood of Skálholt (church, cultural center and former episcopacy), you will find Slakki zoo and entertainment park for the whole family. This is a distance of only 100 km from Reykjavik and makes for a delightful outing, especially if there are children travelling with you.

Slakki has been around for 14 years now and offers a small zoo consisting of animals such as rabbits, puppies, kittens, foxes, goats, gooses, ducks, chickens, piglets to name a few. It also offers a big area indoors (1000 m2) which means that although the weather might be rough you can enjoy the sun inside :-). There are good facilities for golfing, minigolf, several games etc.

And of course you can buy some refreshments.

From June 1st till September 1st the park will be open from 11-18 hours.

Ghosts in Stokkseyri, Iceland

We take our elves, trolls and ghosts very seriously! You might think that we are joking... but think again. In the very special seaside village of Stokkseyri you will find the Draugasetrid, a museum dedicated to ghosts. You should visit this interesting place and get acquainted with some Icelandic ghost stories and ... maybe - just maybe some real ghosts too.

Photos from Stokkseyri

Nearby there's another museum, Icelandic Wonders, where you can explore the mythical world of elves, trolls and northern lights. Don't miss the troll cave and the wonderful winter world with ice from the famous Vatnajökull glacier.

For your children we recommend the Magical Garden - Töfragarðurinn, an entertainment park for the whole family. Enjoy meeting some Icelandic domestic animals too.

www.draugasetrid.is
www.icelandicwonders.com
www.tofragardurinn.is

A welcoming ghost awaits you in the Ghost Museum (Draugasetrid)!

Seafood in the Red House, Eyrarbakki in South Iceland

The Red House (Rauða húsið) in Eyrarbakki, a small village in the South of Iceland, is well known for its seafood. They offer four big rooms and good facilities to welcome smaller or bigger groups of guests. Their main emphasis is on seafood, although the menu contains also all kinds of other food.

Photos from Eyrarbakki, Iceland.

South Iceland - The Westman Islands

You could literally spend many weeks exploring all the beautiful spots in South Iceland. The landscape of this area is extremely rich and diverse, both soft and rugged, black and white or so rich of colors you cannot choose where to point your camera.

Vestmannaeyjar - The Westman Islands

If you have a day or two to spare, you should go and visit  the beautiful Westman Islands off the south coast and the famous puffins. There are about 15 islands and 20 cliffs.

A flight from Reykjavík to the islands only takes about 20 minutes and you could also take a ferry from the town Þorlákshöfn which takes about 3 hours.

Jokulsarlon Iceland

Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon (Icelandic: Jökulsárlón) is a breathtaking lagoon in South Iceland, only a thin strip of land separates it from the sea.

On the inland side of an otherworldly iceberg-strewn lagoon are very large glaciers, seemingly streatching off and filling the horizon to every side. The most breathtaking sight is seeing the glaciers meet the lagoon where they break off into giant icebergs and fill the lake with bizarre shapes.

This is a place where filmmakers love to come and car companies too, taking photos of their latest models. It was here that James Bond was pursued in a car chase on ice in front of the Jokulsarlon in Die Another Day.

Photo: Jokulsarlon by Kenny Muir from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Jokulsarlon_lake,_Iceland.jpg
This file is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License

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