 Located close to the Arctic Circle, in between Great Britain and Greenland, Iceland boasts some of the most magnificent scenery in the world and is a true outdoor enthusiast’s domain. The ground is extremely active, with bubbling pools, geysers and volcanoes all part of daily life here. Iceland also harbours a significant amount of culture and history, evidence of which can be discerned in its fascinating capital, Reykjavík, and many other towns and villages.
 Every region of Iceland has distinct areas including the north, south, east and west. The northern and eastern coasts have some of the starkest coastline of anywhere, while the Westfjords region, north of Reykjavík, is a tourist haven, as is the beautiful southern area, where the largest ice-cap outside the poles resides along with Europe’s largest national park.
 Most people come to Iceland to experience the outdoors and the fantastic array of adventure sports that include skiing, snowboarding, hiking, trekking, horseback riding, glacier touring and fishing. The interior of Iceland is home to the toughest terrain, where there are jagged mountain peaks, monumental glaciers and pristine lakes and rivers.
Iceland is not all about the outdoors however; there are some fabulous towns and cities that are equally worth a visit. Reykjavík is by far the biggest and most modern Icelandic city and it retains many historic wooden buildings and resides on a fine harbour. There are some fascinating attractions in Reykjavík including the lofty Hallgrímskirkja church and the National Museum, while a slew of shops, cafés, restaurants and bars provide alternatives and entertainment, day and night.
 Reykjavík has a plethora of hotels that cover many budgets, although most are in the middle to upper price bracket. Foss Hotel Lind is a hotel chain that has quality hotels all over Iceland including in Reykjavík. Icelandair Hotels is another popular hotel chain that offers high quality service. Hotels elsewhere in Iceland are usually basic yet still expensive.
Icelanders may seem unapproachable, but they are friendly people once you break the barrier. Virtually everyone speaks English including doctors, and travelling about is straightforward. Many popular festivals and events throughout the year bring out the fascinating Icelandic culture, while weather-wise, June to September is the best time to come, when the temperatures are comfortable and daylight seldom ends. Reykjavík is served by major international carriers and flights come in from destinations worldwide.
Weather
 Don’t let the name fool you; Iceland is not as cold as people may think. Summer days in the south of the country can be pleasant and there are long hours of sunshine. The Gulf Stream helps to keep Iceland from freezing year-round, although winters are cold, especially in the north of the island, where Arctic winds keep the mercury low.
The best time to be here for the average tourist is undoubtedly from June to August, when hotels and interior roads open and the temperatures are at their highest; typically around 20°C in the day. The shoulder season months of April, May, September and October see less sun and temperatures between about 5°C and 12°C.
November to March is the low season in Iceland and naturally the coldest, with lots of rain, while temperatures hover around freezing. The winter is also a busy time in Iceland; however, many tourists seek out winter outdoor activities such as skiing, snowmobiling and snow golf as well as basking in the many geothermal outdoor pools.
History
 Iceland dates back to the 9th century, when Norse people started to arrive and settle here. An assembly known as the Althingi was eventually set up by the chiefs in 930 AD and became the world’s first parliament. The Althingi is still in place today and is the oldest parliament in the world, and the greatest national institution in Iceland.
 Iceland held onto its independency for over 300 years before ceding to the Norwegian monarchy under treaty in 1262. In the 14th century, the country was made a Danish dependant and Norway and Denmark were united under the crown of Denmark.
Iceland remained under the flag of Denmark for the next 500 years until Denmark granted Iceland home rule in 1874. The Althingi was abolished in 1799, but was re-established again in 1843 as a consultative assembly. The 1874 constitution was extended in 1904 and a minister for Icelandic affairs in Reykjavik was appointed to the Althingi. Denmark eventually recognised Iceland as a sovereign state under The Act of Union in 1918, and Iceland was united with it under the Danish monarchy. However, Denmark remained responsible for Iceland’s foreign affairs and defense at the request of Iceland.
 After the German occupation of Denmark in 1940, all communications with Iceland were severed and Britain occupied and defended Iceland that same year. The USA took over the defense of Iceland in the summer of 1941 until 1946, when both the US and Icelandic governments agreed to sever defense ties, although the US retained some rights at Keflavik. Iceland voted to become an independent nation on 17 June, 1944.
In 1949, Iceland became a charter member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and owing to its lack of military, it was again agreed that the US would take care of its defense needs at the onset of the Korean War in 1950. As a result, the US retains a military presence on Iceland.
 Tourists started coming to Iceland in the early 20th century for its many outstanding natural attractions and health-giving geothermal properties. Today, tourism is Iceland’s major earner, with more people visiting every year than the entire population of the country.
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