Viking Magazine - January 2017 - 34

Iceland 101
Official Language: Icelandic.
English is widely spoken.
Currency: Icelandic króna.
Debit and credit cards are
accepted almost everywhere, so
there's little need to carry cash.
When to Go: Summers are high
season for travelers, due to
mild weather and the Midnight
Sun, but are accompanied by
higher prices. The off-season
brings colder temperatures
and unpredictable weather,
but is cheaper and offers
many opportunities to see
the Northern Lights and hike
through ice caves among other
winter excursions.
Where to Stay: More than half
of Iceland's population lives in
Reykjavík, and it's a great home
base. There are plenty of trendy,
affordable hostels like Kex
Hostel, but also luxury hotel
options like Hotel Borg and 101
Hotel. kexhostel.is; hotelborg.is;
101hotel.is
Getting Around: Renting a car
is the easiest way to get around
Iceland. Day tour operators
like Reykjavik Excursions make
getting to and from Reykjavík
and other popular tourist spots
easy, too. re.is
REYKJAVÍK
Reykjavík
Blue Lagoon
Vík
Those on a short stopover to Iceland
shouldn't miss the world's northernmost
capital: Reykjavík. This charming
seaside city, characterized by its brightly
colored homes, trendy cafes and literary
prowess is no longer flying under the
European radar. In fact, Reykjavík was
the most Googled city in 2016. See
what the buzz is all about and make
it your home base during your stay.
Start with a trip to Hallgrímskirkja
church, the highest point in the city,
where for $8 you can take the elevator
to the top and take in panoramic views
of Reykjavík and the harbor. Easily
walkable, you can explore the city
from there by foot. Drop by the nearby
Reykjavík Roasters for exceptional
pour-over coffee and indie vinyl tunes,
then stroll down the nearby Laugavegur
Street for some shopping. For quick
eats that are easy on the wallet, grab
a world-famous hot dog at Bæjarins
Beztu Pylsur, a hot dog stand that has
34 VIKING JANUARY 2017
sonsofnorway.com
attracted the likes of former President
Bill Clinton and band members of
Metallica. For finer dining, reserve a
table at the renowned Dill Restaurant,
specializing in modernized Icelandic
cuisine.
THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
Arguably the most famous road trip in
Iceland, the Golden Circle tour is an
easy way to sample the diverse scenery
of the country in just a few hours time,
making it an ideal trip for those in
Iceland for a couple of days. Only 190
miles around, this mini road trek has
three main highlights. A must-see on
the journey is Þingvellir, a word derived
from Old Norse meaning " assembly
fields, " which is the site of Iceland's
first Parliament, established in 930 AD.
Deemed a UNESCO World Heritage
site in 2004, it also sits directly on
the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where you
can snorkel or dive the Silfra fissure,
the crack between the Eurasian and
PHOTO BY MIKAEL AXELSSON
http://www.kexhostel.is http://www.hotelborg.is http://www.101hotel.is http://www.re.is http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - January 2017

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