17 Great Reasons to Visit Iceland and Stay There Forever

Iceland is an amazing country that will remain in your memory forever after just one visit. Its unique picturesque nature, national cuisine, and the hospitality of its people will make you fall in love with this Nordic country. It has everything you need if you like an active vacation or a peaceful rest on the beach.

We at Bright Side gathered 17 different types of activities and places that you should definitely have on your list if you’re going to Iceland.

The warm water of the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular places in Iceland. This geothermal lake rich in minerals attracts many tourists who love to bathe in its milky-blue healing waters.

Icelandic sweaters

A wool sweater, or “lopapeysa,” is dear to Icelanders and visitors alike. If you really want to feel the atmosphere of this country, you might want to buy one for yourself.

The mesmerizing Northern Lights

The best way to see this unique natural phenomenon is to visit the country during the cold winter months — from mid-September to mid-April. However, even then there’s no guarantee that you’ll see them. It’s a good way to check if you’re lucky!

Icelandic horses

Icelandic horses seem to be the most stylish and friendly horses on the planet. Plus, they have the prettiest manes of all the breeds.

Rúntur — Reykjavík pub parties

The Rúntur is a well-known Icelandic event that usually starts late at night and ends early in the morning. The main point of it is to drink as many alcoholic drinks as you possibly can. The Icelanders really love to drink.

Puffins

It’s pretty hard to see these beautiful little birds in the wild. But if you’re lucky enough to spy them, don’t miss your chance! Spend some time bird-watching.

Volcanoes

If you’re brave and love adventures, you can go down into the dormant Icelandic volcano Thrihnukagigur. Don’t be scared! Everything is going to be OK — the last eruption happened more than 4,000 years ago.

The Ring Road tour

The Ring Road connects almost all the towns and villages in Iceland. If you decide to drive this road, you can later say that you’ve seen the whole country.

Music festivals

People really love to attend different music festivals in Iceland, and they do it really well! Go there yourself to see them live.

Waterfall rainbows

You can go to Skógafoss ― one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Due to the large number of water sprays that Skógafoss produces, you can see a rainbow or even a double rainbow during warm sunny days.

Brennivin

Brennivin is Iceland’s signature alcoholic beverage. The term “brennivin” means “burned wine” and comes from the same word root. Brennivin is a distilled beverage made from potatoes and caraway seeds.

Big glaciers

In Iceland, you can see a lot of ice glaciers in different places. These huge glaciers have their own surreal mesmerizing beauty.

Movie locations

Iceland is one of the places that famous directors choose to film different scenes for their movies. For example, several episodes of Game of Thrones were filmed in the Dimmuborgir area. Some scenes for Prometheus and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider were also shot in Iceland.

Shark meat

Yes, you read that right — shark meat! Kæstur hákarl is a national dish of Iceland consisting of the dry fermented meat of a Greenland shark or other sleeper sharks.

A place where 2 continents part

Silfra is a narrow crack between the North American and Eurasian continents. It is situated in Thingvellir National Park, and the waters here are crystal clear. You can actually drink right from the crack.

Football

People in Iceland are really proud of their cool football team. And they proved how cool they are during UEFA Euro 2016.

Happy children

Family is the most important thing in the life of every Icelander. The country has created good conditions for a happy and safe childhood: cozy schools with different learning programs, educational centers, and libraries. However, the most inspiring fact is that there are no orphanages in Iceland. Instead, they have special shelters that provide temporary accommodation for children while they wait for a new family to adopt them. It doesn’t take long since there are a lot of loving families who are ready to adopt. The first retirement homes appeared recently. Many people believe that children should move in with their elderly parents to take care of them.

What attracts you in this country the most? Sahre in the comments!