which was once the star of the show , has been active for around 800 years and once sent water up to 80m in the air . Now relatively dormant , its neighbour Strokkur steals the show with eruptions every 10 minutes or so . Most Golden Circle tours are also combinable with trips to the Northern Lights , Blue Lagoon or even snowmobiling on a glacier , which brings us nicely on to the next highlight …
Glaciers galore There are some 269 glaciers to be found in Iceland which comprise roughly 11 % of the country ’ s landmass , and a number of those are home to some of the most thrilling experiences you can have in Iceland .
Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe and is popular because of its many hiking trails which can be done alone , or as part of a tour group .
Second place in the size rankings , Langjökull is the most tour-able of Iceland ’ s glaciers with snowmobiling and monster trucks on hand to explore the surface , whilst an 800-metre long tunnel will take you deep inside the glacier .
And if two glaciers aren ’ t enough , Sólheimajökull is prime for glacier walks and ice climbs , whilst Snæfellsjökull has been the inspiration for novelists , painters and artists , including Jules Verne for his sci-fi novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth .
Blue Lagoon If you ’ re not already familiar with it , the Blue Lagoon is an opportunity to quite literally immerse yourself in Iceland ’ s brilliance . This geothermal spa gets its name from its radiant blue , mineral-rich pool , where visitors can soak and relax all day – and even pamper themselves with the complimentary mud mask that ’ s included with the price of admission .
The lagoon is surrounded by a magnificent black-lava field , and its waters – which are maintained at a perfect 38 ° C – are fed by the nearby Svartsengi geothermal plant .
Winter is the best time of year to visit , because when it ’ s cold outside there ’ s no better way of warming up – and staying so – in Iceland .
Aside from the main pool , the Blue Lagoon complex features plenty of amenities such as saunas , steam rooms and the VIP Retreat Spa , with its own wading space , viewing platform and lounge . If you want to level up your Blue Lagoon you could go for a meal at Lava Restaurant , which overlooks the entire setup , or even stay at one of its on-site hotels .
Reykjavik City And , finally , it wouldn ’ t be a trip to Iceland without stopping by its cool capital , Reykjavik .
The world ’ s northernmost capital , Reykjavik isn ’ t just your gateway to Iceland , but a fully-fledged destination in its own right , with fabulous attractions and great places to eat and drink . Make sure to hit up all of its major attractions including Hallgrímskirkja , one of Iceland ’ s tallest buildings and a Reykjavik icon . Approach from Rainbow Street – named after its multicoloured pedestrian zone – for a great photo opportunity , then head up to the viewing deck of this Lutheran church for incredible views across the city .
Perlan is another first-class viewing deck , more suited to panorama enthusiasts , and the capital is also blessed with a plethora of fabulous museums including the National Museum of Iceland and the Icelandic Phallological Museum ( yes , really !).
Take the short ferry across to Videy Island for the city ’ s best scenic views . The island is also home to the Imagine Peace Tower , an artwork created as a memorial to John Lennon by Yoko Ono . It has the words “ Imagine Peace ” carved into it in 24 different languages and beams light into the sky at certain periods throughout the year .
Food is a key component of any stay in Reykjavik . You can try out Dill , the country ’ s only Michelin-star restaurant ; the Steakhouse , which is home to – you guessed it – Reykjavik ’ s finest steaks ; or for something a little more informal try out Hlemmer – Mathöll , a former bus terminal-turned-food hall with stalls serving up a variety of cuisines from Icelandic classics to Mexican tacos .
Reykjavik also has a strong café culture , which is great for city breakers in the winter . A hot drink stop is the perfect way to warm up in the colder months , and recommendations include Reykjavik Roasters and Café Rosenberg .
Europe ’ s ultimate winter wonderland is less than three hours away . So , what are you waiting for ? Round off the year with a trip you ’ ll never forget . Perfect timing ! New Icelandic airline PLAY will commence flights between Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Keflavik Airport – Iceland ’ s international gateway – on 7 October . Icelandair , easyJet , Jet2 , and TUI also operate from Manchester . wirrallife . com 69