Top Reasons To Go To Iceland Right Now

Iceland has been on my radar for the longest time.  A lot of it harkens back to my time living in Sweden and being able to see the northern lights from above the Arctic Circle.  Ever since then, I’ve been itching to get another chance to watch the majestic aurora borealis dance in the sky.

Here’s my take on reasons to go to Iceland. Like I discovered in Peru, there’s so much more to Iceland than meets the eye.

Top reasons to go to Iceland right now

Flights are at an all time low

I have to say that the Iceland tourism board has done an incredible job these past few years building up marketing and press for the country.  For myself here in Toronto, we’ve been bombarded with ads all over and I’ve found that it’s made a huge difference.  

Iceland is now top of mind for a lot of us though it’s not like a lot of convincing is needed What’s really pushed Iceland over the top is the ridiculously low fare that keep coming out.  

Sure, WOW Airlines is no longer around but there are still a lot of airlines that fly into Iceland including Air Canada.

Icelandair also runs a ton of promotions from major cities all over North America that make it affordable to get there.  Standard deals to Iceland can be had for less than $600.

Make sure to use Skyscanner to see what the best deal is for Iceland right now.

Landscapes to make your jaw drop

With a country defined by thundering waterfalls, dramatic volcanic landscapes, black-sand beaches and behemoth glaciers, everything you see is guaranteed to be epic.  For such a small country, everything is larger than life and unbelievably otherworldly.  

Here are 5 photos that will have you hooked right away.

Adrenaline available for all

The adventurous side of you is going to jump for joy in Iceland because there is so much to do.  Snowmobiling, ice climbing, glacier hiking, and dogsledding won’t surprise too many people but take a deeper look and you’ll realize that there’s even more than what you’d expect in a nordic country.

As the temperatures become more mild, you can hop on a saddle and do a little horseback riding or if you’re more comfortable in the water, you can snorkel the Silfra fissure, one of Iceland’s best-kept secrets.  Adrenaline seekers can also do things like river rafting.

Thermal spas are everywhere

When you get tired from your action-packed day, there are of course opportunities to sit back in Iceland as well.  

The island is rife with geothermal activity which means that there are a lot of hot springs including the famed Blue Lagoon but you also have to go to some of the more off-the-beaten-path hot springs, Secret Lagoon and Seljavallalaug Pool.

Up until this point we also haven’t even talked about the capital city of Reykjavik which has much to explore.  There are museums to browse through and a surprisingly fantastic culinary scene to eat through.

Read next: Whether you’re at Blue Lagoon or shopping around Reykjavik, don’t forget these Icelandic souvenirs before you fly home.

Easy to plan a road trip

The best way to explore Iceland is to rent a 4×4 and hit the road.  With a total length of 1,332 kilometres (828 miles), there’s one ring road that takes you all around the island.  

Navigation is a cinch as there’s practically no way to get lost.  There’s something to see and do along the way so all you have to do is do a little research on a guide to Iceland to figure out what you want to see and do and literally start driving.

For more inspiration, make sure to read our 8 day Iceland itinerary which is full of tips, and useful recommendations.

Iceland is a gateway to Europe

Beyond a standalone vacation destination, Iceland is a great pick because it is the perfect layover on your way to Europe.  

Airlines such as Iceland Air and WOW Air offer flight packages that take you from cities like Toronto to Amsterdam with time in Iceland in between.  With fares as cheap as they are, it’s a win-win for travellers because for the same price you’d pay for a direct flight to Europe, you get to spend bonus time in Iceland.

In our case, we used WOW Air to first fly into Iceland and then we tacked on another 5 days in Alicante which ended up being the perfect balance of ice and sun.

What To Pack For Iceland

Depending on when you decide to make you trip to the wonderous Iceland, you will most likely still need to pack on the warmer clothes side. Weather in Iceland is a tricky thing to navigate, so it’s best to be prepared and pack layers. It may be cold one minute and warm the next, sunny in the morning and pouring rain or snow that evening. Here’s a few suggestions on packing after our travels here:

• Waterproof everything – Waterproof all the things.  I highly recommend Columbia’s OutDry collection including their pants and jacket that I wore all trip. Another great option is the Beta Jacket and the Arc’teryx Beta AR shell pants. Featuring Gore-Tex, you’ll be waterproof top the bottom.
• Gloves – These are necessary to keep your hands warm.  Experiencing as much rain as we did, I wish I had more than just my thin fabric gloves.  If I were to do it again, I’d definitely bring waterproof gloves. We suggest The Heat Company for these. The magic of The Heat Company comes with these shell mittens that open up to reveal the liner gloves so you have full access to your fingers which makes operating your smartphone, drone, and camera possible.
• Layer layer layer – Weather is dynamic out here so have layers to stay warm when you need to and strip down when it gets too hot.  Layers also allow you to pack more efficiently.  I recommend a thermal base layer + t-shirt + zip-up + fleece + jacket to complete all your layers.
• Good hiking shoes – This goes without saying.  My Keen Aphlex hikers were amazing at keeping my feet warm, provided grip even in slippery conditions and were also completely waterproof which is a mandatory feature in my opinion for a trip like this.
• Swimsuit – This one’s easy to forget but remember there’ll be all those hot springs in Iceland. Also a towel like this one as well.
• Flip flops/sandals – In the same vain as the towel, you’ll want flip flops if you’re going to any lagoons to avoid having to walk around bare feet.  Also, if you’re staying anywhere other than a hotel, you’ll want flip flops to act as your slippers and also something to wear to the communal bathrooms. Read our full review of our favorite flip flops.

I don’t know about you, but I need to get my butt over to Iceland!  Here’s to hoping it happens sooner rather than later.