On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
MissWimsey
I spent seven glorious days chasing waterfalls in Iceland, a country that has been on my bucket list for a while. I’ve spent the pandemic hiking every forest preserve within a couple of hours of Chicago with my doggos. So the minute I got my second shot in April, I booked the trip. Originally it was going to be four days, but there was just so much I wanted to do that I tacked in an extra three days. Since this was a solo trip, I didn’t do anything too dangerous, like hike 12 miles up a mountain. I also mixed it up: some guided tours/activities and some self-driving activities.
During my vacation, I visited the Golden Circle, the closest to Reikjavik; the glaciers in east Iceland; and Snaefellsness Peninsula in west Iceland. I hiked to an ice cave; took a boat ride on a glacier lagoon; tried to hike up to the volcano that erupted in March (it’s no longer active although the guides say that the area has had a lot of earthquakes in recent days); and generally just explored this country that has so much natural beauty.
Thingvellir is a historic park and one of the main stops on the Golden Circle, a route that features many tourist sites recommended for travelers with very little time to explore the country. The park was the site of the country’s first parliament, an open air venue, from the 10th to the 18th century. The valley sits on the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which you can see in nearby Silfra.
This is Þingvellir Church.
The natural lighting in this country just kept making my jaw drop. This photo was taken closer to noon, but lighting just adds so much drama to the landscape.
Another stop on the Golden Circle is Gulfoss, aka Golden Waterfall. In Icelandic, foss means waterfall. So all the names for waterfalls will include “foss” at the end. That little rainbow was a perfect capstone to a gorgeous — if windy — day of exploring.
This is Hallgrímskirkja in Reikjavik.
I called the little shop in the corner the Christmas house. It made me smile every time I saw it.
Double, double toil and trouble. Fire burn and caldron bubble. :)
I was browsing the shops in the evening when I saw this fur ball move. I said, “It’s a cat!” The guy next to me laughed. It startled me. I thought it was a plush. He was definitely enjoying his nap on the wool blanket. :)
raven
Awesome!!!
Wag
Iceland is an amazing country. I loved every minute of our trip there.
Leslie
Out of curiosity, I notice you spelled “thing” with the thorn in your photo of Thingvellir church, but not elsewhere. Is that the case in Iceland as well? I’m also curious about the symbols on the asphalt in front of the Hallgrimskirkja. As for the scenery, absolutely gorgeous; thanks for sharing!
JeanneT
Nice photo tour. I can see why Iceland is worth the trip!
HinTN
The low sun color on the distant mountain range across the geothermal cauldron is beautiful. Thanks for all the photos. Iceland goes on the bucket list!
Dorothy A. Winsor
What a gorgeous landscape
tom
I visited Iceland for a few days in 2015 and loved every minute. I can’t wait to go back!
Gorgeous pictures, thanks for sharing.
Mike in Oly
Beautiful photos. Love that kitty.
WaterGirl
There’s so much to love in all of these photos. The landscape, the light, the colors, the cat. Just extraordinarily lovely, all of it.
MelissaM
You didn’t say what time of year you visited. Was this in the fall? That noon sun doesn’t seem very high in the sky for summer.
Love Iceland, and want to get back to see much, much more.
eclare
What an amazing landscape! Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous At Work
My father trained me well, too well…All I can think is “What’s the fishing like on all the river pics except (maybe) the hot springs…?”
currants
Love love love those photos–I’ve only ever been in the airport there (multiple times, you’d think I’d have arranged extra time for touristing, but there was never extra time –or $$–available). One day soon, though.
cope
Thank you for showing us such beautiful pictures of a magical place. Iceland is one of the few destinations I still feel I may be able to visit someday. Your images reinforce my desire to do so.
Jerzy Russian
Apparently there are several “shop cats” in Reykjavik that go from shop to shop as they please. We saw several of them on a recent trip. There is also a “cat cafe” where you can order coffee and pastries and pet the kitties.
Steve from Mendocino
Lovely pictures. Thank you.
stinger
Thank you for sharing these photos!
way2blue
Great photos. Especially the waterfall one—love the way it steps down. And would like to peek over the edge… Thanks
MissWimsey
@MelissaM: I was in Iceland Oct. 2-9. It was maybe late fall/early winter?
MissWimsey
@currants: there are one-day tours that pick you up/drop you off at the airport for travelers on layovers. If all you have is 12 hours, you can do the Golden Circle tour. It’s a nice introduction.
MissWimsey
@cope: the best part of most of the popular sites (waterfalls, beaches, lava fields) is that they are really accessible. You don’t have to be a triathlete to see natural beauty; so much of it was just there :) I had a hard time driving because my eyes kept wandering everywhere!
dm
Thanks.
I’ve never noticed the pattern in the plaza in front of Hallgrimskirkja (I’m always looking up at the church when I visit).
Goodness — that was a lot to squeeze into so few days.
Next time you go, try to get to the northeast to Asbyrgi. It’s out of the way, but it is an utterly magical place (said to be the hoof print of Odin’s horse, it was carved out of the landscape when an ice dam gave way and a glacial lake emptied across the landscape). It is said that the elves live in the walls of the valley, and you can feel them watching you while you are there.
Kayla Rudbek
I loved Iceland and I want to go back! Mr. Rudbek and I went with the stopover on IcelandAir when we did our bike tour in Ireland. I note that the cheapest thing you can buy in Iceland is the yarn at the duty-free store at the airport.
CaseyL
Beautiful photos,beautiful country!
I’m planning/hoping to visit my brother in Norway next year, and am thinking about adding a few days in Iceland to the trip. Less than a week, probably – so thank you very much for the information about the Golden Circle!
MissWimsey
@Kayla Rudbek: I’ve encouraged my sister to do this the next time she goes to Europe. I’m figuring out how best to get there for a few days during the summer (probably not next year) because I really want to see the midnight sun and explore other parts of the country.
MissWimsey
@dm: ooh I’ll make a note. The day trip out to Snaefellsness certainly had that aura of magic. Between the troll rocks, the elves and the one “dragon” I saw, it was a magical place. Hands down it was #1 on my top 10 list of sites visited on this trip.
Kalakal
Gorgeous!
GaryfromWY
Was there in September. Weather was horrible but trip was incredible! did similar itinerary to you but we were lucky – volcano was active and we were able to hike right up to lava flows and bubbling lava vents. Maybe the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Had a tough weather day in Snaefelsness but found some “hidden” natural hot springs to soothe our bones. Also, went to see Viking ruins Stong and then continued on to hike into nearby valley of Gjain where they did some Game of Thrones filming. Definite trip highlight.
MissWimsey
@GaryfromWY: you have to plow through the bad weather. I didn’t even think twice. I had some beautiful days, but I also hiked in the rain and against some really strong winds. But I wouldn’t change a minute of the whole experience! Lucky you!
GaryfromWY
@MissWimsey: Same. We live in Wyoming so are used to it. Just brought rain gear and did our thing. Most nights our hotel room was littered with clothes draped everywhere to dry out for the next day ;>) The wind was pretty amazing some days but alos kinda fun.
JanieM
Late to the party, but these are wonderful. I have been away from home, so I saw them this morning only on my very tiny, very cheap, reconditioned laptop’s screen. Now I’m at home, looking at them on my good monitor, and … wow!
I was in the Iceland airport once … it would have been twice (coming and going to London), but IcelandAir went on strike just in time for my trip over. That was a travel glitch and a half, involving my luggage going without me, American Airlines lying to me about my luggage, the IRA planting bomb threats all around London just in time for my plane to land, etc. etc. (Spring 1997, in the runup to Blair’s first election IIRC.) I should have gotten myself out of the airport in Reykjavik, but like other, I hadn’t budgeted time nor $$ for it. These pics make me regret that.