Iceland’s landscape is unmatched — miles of farmland and rough but flat volcanic terrain, punctuated by spectacular mountains resting along the horizon. One look at this European country will tell you why it was chosen as a backdrop for everything from “Game of Thrones” to “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”
The colder months bring short daylight hours to Iceland (only about 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in November), but what you’ll see in the light (and the dark, for that matter) will astound you: waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, hot springs, plenty of farm animals and, if you’re lucky, the Northern Lights. Even better? You can fly from the East Coast of the U.S. to Iceland (the country’s main airport is Keflavik International Airport located outside Reykjavik) in about five or six hours depending on your departure city.
South Iceland features a series of popular tourist destinations situated along a 190-mile route often called The Golden Circle. The sights here are beloved for a reason: From the black-sand beaches of Vík to aerial views of Reykjavik — the most northern capital in the world — this area of the country serves up some of the best travel eye candy around. Enjoy!
(All images by Melisse Hinkle)
