Vacation 2022: Iceland
Iceland is a distant country about which we know relatively little. Situated in the middle of the ocean, the island delights with a wealth of landscapes at any time of the year. We suggest how to organize a trip to Iceland during the summer of 2022.
Iceland - practical tips
Iceland is not a member of the European Union, but is a member of the Schengen Area and therefore no additional permits are required for a stay of less than 3 months. Government authorities have recently lifted restrictions related to the coronavirus, not even a mask in public places. Before arrival, however, you should do a test, and current restrictions are best checked on government websites.
During a short stay, there is no need to activate additional services from mobile operators, and calls to Poland do not involve roaming charges. However, it's a good idea to activate a VPN service, such as ExpressVPN, to maintain full access to websites regardless of region lock.
You can get to Iceland from Poland with the cheap Wizzair airlines, which offer direct connections to the Keflavik airport from several Polish cities. The flight takes approximately four hours.
An alternative is connecting flights, for example with SAS via Copenhagen. The airport is 40 minutes from Reykjavik.
What to visit in Iceland? Reykjavik area
Iceland is beautiful and each part of the island offers a different aesthetic experience. A few days' visit is enough to experience the local attractions in a nutshell. After the trip, it is worth resting in the Blue Lagoon, i.e. geothermal springs available at any time of the year. Especially in winter, it is a special feeling to be in hot water in the fresh air with a drink in your hand.
The capital itself offers many local eateries with Icelandic delicacies. Particularly noteworthy are the fermented shark, whale steak and dried cod, washed down with Brennivín, or unsweetened potato cumin vodka. In the city, it is worth visiting the beautiful opera house Harpa, the Hallgrímskirkja church and the Old Port.
Not far from Reykjavik, there is the so-called Golden Circle - three beautiful places that are a must-see on a trip to Iceland: Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area with the largest active geyser on the island and the cascading waterfall Gullfoss.
Capital of the North: Akureyri
In the case of a longer trip to Iceland, it is worth visiting the second largest city in the country, i.e. Akureyri, located in the far north. The journey from Reykjavik is a five-hour car journey, and along the way, you can admire such beautiful places as Lake Myvatn, Dettifoss Waterfall and Ásbyrgi Canyon.
Although the journey itself is an adventure in itself, it is necessary to book at least a day or two to stay in Akureyri itself. The biggest attractions of the city include the Natural History Museum, which houses a stuffed giant auk, a species of penguin bird that became extinct in the mid-nineteenth century. The sea in the area is full of whales, dolphins, humpback whales and porpoises, and there is also a chance to encounter such specimens as the blue whale and killer whale.
A pleasant end to the trip will be a visit to Spa Bjórböðin, a beer spa that offers a relaxing bath in a tub full of hops. This new place, opened a few years ago, allows you to be in a warm beer at the same time and drink it in a chilled version from a tap located next to each bathtub.