Iceland

Iceland is an island of glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, black-sand beaches and waterfalls in the North Atlantic, just below the Arctic Circle, with geothermal lagoons warm all year. Reykjavík is a compact, colourful capital: Hallgrímskirkja crowns the centre, the glass-clad Harpa concert hall glitters by the Old Harbour, and design shops line the streets. Local cooking celebrates lamb, Arctic char, langoustine and skyr.

Near Keflavík airport, the Reykjanes Peninsula, a UNESCO Global Geopark, is a land of moss-covered lava and the Blue Lagoon. The Golden Circle links Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where a rift opens between two tectonic plates, the Geysir geothermal area with the Strokkur geyser and the Gullfoss waterfall. Along the South Coast lie Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the black sands of Reynisfjara and the village of Vík; further east, Vatnajökull National Park, also UNESCO-listed, holds the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Days bring glacier hikes, ice caves in winter, super-jeep and snowmobile trips, rides on Icelandic horses and whale watching in season. Around midsummer the nights stay bright and temperatures are usually mild; in the darker months, clear nights may bring the northern lights. The weather is changeable all year. Iceland suits couples, nature and adventure lovers, photographers and spa lovers, and pairs a Reykjavík break well with the Golden Circle and the South Coast.