From the moment you first glimpse Iceland’s snow-capped mountains and glaciers, you’ll spend your time there pinching yourself to check that what you’re seeing is actually real. Whether you choose to go for a few days or a few weeks, you won’t be short on adventure and excitement.

The Golden Circle is a must-see, taking in the explosive Geysir and Strokkur – the latter of which erupts every five to 10 minutes, hurling boiling water high into the air. Then there’s the stunning Gullfoss waterfall that will be in the running for the highlight of any trip and the breathtaking Thingvellir national park, a Unesco world heritage site that marks the place where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are drifting apart.

Downtime

If you’re looking for some downtime after all that sightseeing, the Blue Lagoon should be next on your list. As you make the daring dash from the changing rooms to the outside temperatures of -2oC or more, the lagoon and its geothermal-heated water are very welcome. The hours will slip by quickly here and, if you’re feeling extra indulgent, you can treat yourself to one of the many massages and treatments on offer.

Whether you visit in winter and you’re lucky enough to see a display of the aurora borealis, or in summer when whale season is in full swing, one thing for sure is that – regardless of the season – Iceland will not disappoint.

Reykjavik is a fantastic base from which to explore this beautiful country. If you’d rather not drive, there are an abundance of tours taking place daily that include the aforementioned Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, northern lights and whale watching.

Iceland is a little bigger in area than Ireland but has a population of only 329,000, with almost two-thirds of the population living in Reykjavik.

Elves

Over 50% of the population believe in the existence of elves – or hidden people as they’re often referred to as – so, be warned, this is not something to make fun of. They believe that the elves live under large rocks/boulders dotted across the landscape and proposed developments are regularly redirected to avoid disturbing the elves.

If you have time to spare in the city itself, Reykjavik is an easy place to navigate by foot. Hallgrímskirkja church is stunning and boasts one of the biggest church organs you’ll ever see. It stands 15m tall, weighs 25 tonnes and has 5,275 pipes.

If you’re not traveling during whale season but still want a peek at these magnificent creatures, the Whales of Iceland museum is a must. Featuring 23 life-size models of the different types of species found in Icelandic waters, it is sure to impress both adults and children. From there, take a walk along the old harbour where you can look out across the ocean and the snow-capped mountains as you walk towards the impressive Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre.

And a trip to Iceland wouldn’t be complete without trying some of the locally caught fish – there are loads of fantastic restaurants in the centre that cater for all tastes.

So, if you love good food, the beautiful outdoors and breathtaking scenery, Iceland is the place for you. We’re only back and we’re already planning our return trip. This place is definitely one for the bucket list.

Getting there

WOW Air now fly direct from Dublin to Reykjavik. If you want to take the hassle out of planning, Wallace Travel fly a number of chartered planes direct from Dublin and they’ll organise your airport transfers, accommodation and day trips with pickup from your hotel.

Top tip

Go for at least a week and rent a car to explore more of the country.