Welcome to Iceland

We visited Iceland twice, first in early September of 2016 on our own at the end of a European vacation that included a train trip through Switzerland and a Rhine River Cruise.    We flew from Amsterdam and spent 4 days in Iceland.  We stayed in Reykjavik and traveled out from there.  The majority of the sights we saw was around the area of Reykjavik so I have included them in the Reykjavik city info.

We rented a car for the time we were there and it is actually the only time we have done this outside of the US and the Caribbean.  One day we drove down to the southern most town of Vik for the waterfalls and island views.  

The second time was in August of 2023 on an NCL cruise from Tromso Norway to Reykjavik.  We stopped at an additional five ports, all with unique things to see.

This is an incredible country and we would go back again in a heartbeat.

We tried to see the Northern Lights in 2016, but it was really early in the season and we only got to see a whiff of them.  You have to go more into the winter time to see them.

  • Population 364,134
  • Founded 874 AD
  • Nordic Island Country in N Atlantic
  • Capital is Reykjavik where  two thirds of the population lives
  • Has President and Prime Minister
  • Union with Norway in 1262
  • Got Sovereignty in 1918
  • By size to people it is the most sparely populated county in Europe
  • Geothermal and Hydro power account for almost 100 % of Electricity
  • 90% of buildings heated by Geothermal heating
  • Major viewing country for the Northern Lights
  • Official Language is Icelandic:  Virtually everyone speaks English
  • Currency is the Krona ( ISK)
  • Drive on the right
  • 5 hours ahead of east Coast

Just click on a city to see the Info, Photos, & Videos

Cities Visited

Reykjavik

Vik

Djupivogur

Seydisfjordur

Isafjordur

Grundarfjordur

Akureyri