Iceland? In winter?

Ok, before you decide that visiting Iceland in winter is the worst idea you’ve ever heard of and run to the nearest website promising suntan lotion and rum-filled coconuts and paper umbrellas, give me a shot here. Remember Maria’s words in Mighty Ducks :D2

Greenland is covered in ice, Iceland is very pretty

I know, it may not be the deepest thing you’ve ever heard. And, yes, especially in the winter, Iceland will be as ice-covered as Greenland. But even so, the truth remains valid. Iceland is very nice. Even in the dead of winter.

Even without the midnight sun, the skies are still burning Due to the location in the far north of Iceland (along with Alaska, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Greenland), the night presents one of the most amazing light shows in the world: the Northern Lights. , Prayed Northern Lights. Those of us who live further south will have the chance to see them on rare occasions. I have seen them in New Hampshire and southern Canada several times. The further north you go, the more reliable and amazing they become: glowing, dancing curtains of green, yellow and blue light. Sometimes even red.

In the past, people have come up with all sorts of explanations: my personal favorite is that they are the souls of single women who have died. Today we know that they are caused by solar radiation interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. This explanation does not change the fact that the aurora borealis is one of the most

beautiful sights that a person can expect to see.

Every year, countless tourists flock to the northern countries in the hope of seeing the lights. Not a few take advantage of their summer holidays, they head north for a week…

…and realize they forgot something. In the summer, the sun hardly sets, if at all. You can’t see the Northern Lights in Iceland (or anywhere for that matter) unless it gets dark enough for you to have a chance to see them!

Now, you might be thinking that it’s all well and good that you can only see the Northern Lights if it’s the dead of winter, but no light show is worth standing outside in the freezing cold just on the off chance that you might see something. flicker.

That is why Iceland is the best place to go! Iceland is teeming with volcanic activity. The happy result of this is that every city, and even many of the smaller hotels, have their own naturally heated outdoor hot tubs. Get out of Reykjavík (perhaps head for the northern capital of Akureyri) and get away from the city lights. Share a bottle of liquor with your travel companion, and as the steam swirls around you, keep an eye out for the Northern Lights, shooting stars, and whatever else may be in the sky.

Will I be able to enjoy anything else in Iceland?

It is true that many of Iceland’s museums and other attractions will be closed or have greatly reduced hours during the winter. But, don’t let that stop you. Natural resources never give up. The golden circle becomes even more impressive in winter. Gulfoss Waterfall is stunning at any time of the year, but when the waterfall is made up of frozen falls, a still waterfall, it will fill you with awe.

Geysir (the erupting plume of water that gives its name to all the others) bursts out of the frozen ground, reaching a height of 65 meters. The contrast is impossible not to appreciate.

Þingvellir is amazing in winter, and you will have a once in a lifetime opportunity if you come in winter. Dive or snorkel in the gulf between Europe and North America in a dry suit. The water is one of the clearest in the world, with visibility of hundreds of meters. special visits

They’re easily fixed and you’ll have a story to tell your friends back home to assuage any doubt that you’re the most adventurous person they’ve ever met.

Iceland is notoriously expensive. Despite recent economic problems, Iceland is still not a cheap destination. That being said, you can really get the most out of visiting Iceland in winter. Many hotels reduce rates by up to 50%. That means more money in your pocket to stay a few more days, or really splurge on a nice meal. Also, if you go out of season, you will have Iceland to yourself. Therefore, you will have more money, less other tourists. Sounds like a win to me.

Let your inner viking run wild

From January 22 to February 22 is when Icelanders return to their Viking roots and celebrate the winter festival of Þorrablót. The party originated as a celebration that winter was halfway over and that

the people had survived. Traditionally, people saved the finest foods (most of which had been set aside to ferment the previous year) and began to eat them at the festival. Delicacies include rotten shark, jellied sheep’s head, dried fish. These foods are practically only consumed during the holidays.

This is your only chance to really taste these traditional foods. Sure, they’re not likely to top any international menus any time soon, but as far as unique dining opportunities go, this is pretty high up.

If the taste gets you down, the good news is that there’s plenty of brennivín (an Icelandic schnapps) to go with it. The common nickname is Black Death, and it is especially powerful. You can be sure that after a few drinks, you’ll be ready to join everyone in the rest of the nightly song and dance celebrations.

If it’s sun, sand, and an amazing tan you’re after, Iceland won’t be the place to go in January. But if you really feel like going off the beaten track and having experiences most people will only ever read about, why not explore this northern country? Treat yourself to an experience that you will truly remember for years to come.