Land of Lights

Iceland is actually about 90% ice-free – and 100% charming

The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik, lies on an island of waterfalls, glaciers and lava fields, so it’s hard to do justice to what the region has to offer in terms of its sheer vastness, breathtaking landscapes and astonishing experiences. But I decided to give it my best shot and zero in on a 72-hour itinerary of Iceland’s highlights.

When I got off the plane, I had no expectations – all I know is that Iceland, a region just below the Arctic Circle, is a country of charming towns and spectacular natural landscapes including The Northern Lights. Right away, I discovered it took me very little time to fall in love with Iceland. Few places in the world conjure up the mystical isolation of the North Pole, where the summer sees no darkness and the winter no light. I even discovered that Iceland is, in fact, about 90 percent ice-free.

Of the five Scandinavian capital cities – the others are Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen – Reykjavik is the most intimate of all. It has quietly grown to become an essential Scandinavian detour for business travelers, just a couple of hours’ flight from any of Europe’s major capitals.

With its emergence as a bucket-list destination for business and leisure travelers alike, what there is to see and do is completely determined by the time of year. Reykjavik certainly qualifies as north Europe’s most relaxed and easy-going capital city, and in the surrounding area, visitors find Myvatn, a supremely photogenic lake surrounded by several tiny villages.