Once one of the most expensive travel destinations in Europe, Iceland has become a lot more affordable for vacationers or travellers looking for a great deal – and a little adventure, oh with an active volcano spewing ash and lava into the atmosphere, and all.
Here’s what you need to know about travelling to Iceland, brought to you by tripatlas.com/new.
What you need to know about travelling to Iceland
Volcanic activity in South Iceland: In March 2010, the Fimmvorduhals passage between the Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers in South Iceland erupted, producing an active volcano. A rare event to see up close, the Icelandic government is taking all precautions to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors. Affected areas have been evacuated but visitors can still watch the spectacle from afar as long as the volcano continues to erupt – that is, as long as you can get to Iceland, barring any grounded flights (Icelandair and Iceland Express fly to/from major destinations, including Halifax, Nova Scotia). The safest way to travel to Iceland is by boat with Smyril Line cruising from Denmark.
Penis Museum: It doesn’t get more bizarre and offbeat than the Icelandic Phallological Museum in Northern Iceland’s city of Husavik – also known as the Iceland Penis Museum. The museum was founded in 1974 and now contains more than 250 penises and penile parts from over 90 species of land and sea mammals from around the world – like a 1.7 meter-long penis from a sperm whale or a 2mm-long penis from a hamster. For more, read: Visiting the Iceland Penis Museum.
Affordability: The sticky financial situation of Iceland has brought its prices down, offering great deals on airfare, accommodations, cruises, tours, entertaining, and dining in Iceland. As recently as 4-5 years ago, a beer would cost you 6 EUR while today you’ll be able to afford a pint for around 3.50 EUR.
One of the Safest Countries in the World: Aside from the potential threat of an active volcano spewing hot lava, Iceland is ranked as the 4th safest country in the world, based on the Global Peace Index. Renowned for its first-rate social welfare system, low levels of violent crime, and high respect for human rights, Iceland’s financial struggle has contributed to a lower ranking, but otherwise, is still pretty safe. Read the whole article on the 10 Safest Countries in the World.
Fjords and Glaciers: There’s a reason the country is called Iceland – 10% of the country is covered with glaciers and ice. One of the biggest attractions to Iceland is its remote landscapes: mountains, glaciers, fjords, bubbling geothermal waters and more. In fact, scenes of Batman Begins feature Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne) and Liam Neeson (Ra al Ghul) fighting on Iceland’s Vatnajokull glacier, although the scene is set in Bhutan. From Transformers to Batman and Harry Potter movies, our Movie Locations Travel Guide will take you to the unforgettable film set locations.
World’s Best Whale Watching: Iceland is also known to be one of the world’s top places to whale watch, with its proximity to arctic waters. Aside from its Penis Museum, Husavik is attractions thousands of visitors each year for whale watching on the shores of the Skjalfandi Bay. Whale species that can be viewed include Minke whales, humpbacks, fin whales, sei whales, orcas, dolphins, and harbour porpoises. Find out more about Whale Watching in Husavik, Northern Iceland.
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