In recent years, Iceland has been breaking popularity records among tourists. From a virtually unknown country, it has become a place visited by hundreds of thousands of people looking for unspoiled nature, wild, volcanic landscapes and focused on active recreation.
The capital, Reykjavik is the largest city on the island and 1/3 of the country's population lives in it. Its symbol is the powerful, stone Hallgrímskirkja church and the modern Perlan building, which houses a planetarium and a revolving restaurant. The city buildings are made of low, colorful houses, but in the Old Town you can see several buildings in the Art Deco style.
However, cities are not what attract tourists to Iceland. They are just a starting point to admire the unusual, volcanic landscapes. The interior of the island is a paradise for lovers of this type of places. The most famous areas where the effects of volcanoes can be admired include the Landmannalaugar mountains, with beautiful rock forms formed from frozen lava and the richness of the colors of the rocks that make them up.
The most wild and at the same time considered to be the most beautiful region of Iceland are the Western Fjords. It is a land of bays, cliffs protruding alone from the sea of rocks. There are almost no towns here and those planning trips must reckon with accommodation in tents.
Iceland has huge resources of thermal waters due to volcanic activity. They can be found almost anywhere in the island, and wild bathing areas are gladly used by tourists. There are also more organized places, and the Blue Lagoon located nearby Reykjavik is one of the best known.
Wild nature, a small number of towns, a developed coastline and a wealth of beautiful views make Iceland very popular among active tourism enthusiasts. Coastal cruises during which whale watching and sea birds are also very popular.
You can explore the island on foot or off-road vehicles. Trekking routes are from a few hours to several days and can be selected depending on the amount of time, preparation and skills. In winter, in turn, it is a great place to watch the northern lights, although it should be remembered that due to snowfall only the areas in the south of the island are available at that time.
