Can I travel to Iceland now in 2021? What are the interesting attractions in Iceland?

Iceland is a very beautiful city. If you want to travel, you are almost ready now. Currently, there are relevant regulations here. Vaccinated tourists can enter the country and there is no need for testing. And isolation. News

Starting from March 26, Iceland will allow tourists who have received the COVID-19 vaccine from countries outside Schengen to enter the country without undergoing COVID-19 testing and quarantine. As long as you hold a "European Economic Area vaccination certificate authorized by the European Medicines Agency" and a "vaccination certificate approved by the World Health Organization (WHO)", you will be exempted from COVID-19 testing and quarantine when entering the country (currently the European Medicines Agency The only recognized vaccine brands are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson).

If tourists present forged documents, they will be subject to the same penalties as tourists from EU countries. The fine is 100,000 Icelandic krona (approximately RMB 5,100). They also announced that they will activate the "Health Assessment Code" from May 1. If tourists come from low-risk areas, they only need to show a negative nucleic acid test certificate to enter the country. Catch the tail of the Northern Lights in April

Everyone is eager to see the Northern Lights. This celestial change turns the long winter nights into natural lava lamps. Auroras form when streams of charged particles from the sun enter the Earth's magnetic field. You'll see an ethereal curtain of light, which may be green, white, purple or red, as the Northern Lights flicker and sway across the sky like silent fireworks.

If you want to see the Northern Lights, you need to be lucky. The official viewing season is from mid-September to mid-April of the following year, but under suitable conditions, it may be longer. The skies are at their darkest in late winter (an important factor for viewing the Northern Lights), but there are also some adverse weather conditions, such as storms and heavy clouds.

We recommend heading to viewpoints outside Reykjavik (these include the Grótta lighthouse in Sertjannes, or the ?skjuhlíe mountain), and you can also book a few at country hotels At night, wait for the Northern Lights at night. Many hotels offer wake-up calls so you can see the Northern Lights in the middle of the night. It’s worth noting that you don’t have to leave the city to see the Northern Lights. When the auroras are strong, they can be seen even from Reykjavik.

Aurora are almost impossible to predict, but there are tools, apps and alerts that can predict related solar activity, so you can infer whether you will see an aurora in the short term. Icelandic

The MetOffice's comprehensive website details aurora activity, cloud cover, daylight and moonlight conditions to provide aurora forecasts (generally one week in advance, from September to the following year) mid-April).

Other wonderful natural experiences

Multi-day hikes to wait for the ice and snow to melt in spring; the best time to hike is from June to mid-September.

The Highland Discovery Trail is sometimes open from mid-June to early July and closes again in late September or early October.

At midnight and around the summer solstice (June 21), the polar day phenomenon occurs (especially in the northern region).

Whale Watching Whales can be seen year-round, but the best time for whale watching is from June to August.

The best time to watch puffins is from mid-May to early or mid-August.

Hot springs

Available year-round, Iceland's unofficial pastime is splashing in the numerous geothermal pools. You'll find "geothermal pools" everywhere, from downtown Reykjavik to the end of the secluded peninsula in the Westfjords. Quick Facts about Iceland

It is no exaggeration to say that Iceland is a country in the making. It's a vast volcanic laboratory of powerful forces that shaped the Earth, with gushing geysers, slimy mire, rumbling frozen volcanoes, and glaciers cutting across mountain paths.

The forces of nature transform an otherwise mundane experience into something breathtaking and unforgettable. A swim in a geothermal lake's pool could turn into a soak; a casual walk could turn into a hike across a crystal-clear glacier; a peaceful camping night could turn into witnessing the bright Northern Lights or a pink midnight sun.

Not only is there countless natural beauty, but it also has a rich cultural life. From medieval heroic legends to modern thrillers that won the Nobel Prize, Iceland has a series of literary heritage. Live music, visual arts, crafts and local cuisine are everywhere.

The world’s northernmost capital embraces egalitarianism, environmental awareness, and the relaxed style that Nordics are famous for, all traits that are embedded in the Icelandic personality. Reykjavik

The world’s northernmost capital is an ever-changing mix of colorful architecture, eccentric and creative people, jaw-dropping design and wild nightlife. Test, endless charm.

Reykjavik is cosmopolitan in many ways beyond its city size. Although it is a small city by international standards, it is packed with excellent museums, fascinating art, rich cuisine, and trendy cafes and bars.

Behind the glamorous appearance of a "tourist resort" (an ideal base for rural tours), you will also find creative designs with a strong sense of aesthetics, as well as local people with simple folk customs and a strong sense of community. Reykjavik is nestled among snow-capped mountains, with rough seas and fresh, pure air. Like many visitors, you can't help but fall in love with this place, and even when you leave, you'll be ready to come back again.

Reykjavik Old Town

Reykjavik Old Town has many landscapes and interesting historical buildings. It is not only the center of Reykjavik, but also many Highlights on the historical walking tour route. Lake Tining in the city center is located here, and to the north is Austurv?llur Park. Situated in between are the City Hall and the Icelandic Parliament.

The National Museum is also worth your time. This excellent museum displays artefacts from the settlement period to modern times. The exhibitions perfectly present Iceland's history and culture, and the audio guide can also provide you with a lot of detailed information.

Hallgrímski Cathedral

Reykjavik’s huge white concrete church (1945-1986) is a postcard star attraction, standing in the center of the city. It stands out in the skyline and can be seen from 20 kilometers away. The 74.5-meter-tall tower offers unmissable views of the city.

Compared with the high-profile exterior, the interior of this Lutheran church is quite plain. The most eye-catching feature is the huge pipe organ built in 1992 with 5,255 pipes. The size of the church and its avant-garde design caused controversy, and its architect, Gwizijon Samuelsson, never saw the completion of his work until his death.

Laugardalur

Laugardalur is located on a green area 4 kilometers east of the city center. It was once Reykjavik's main source of hot water, hence the name "Hot Springs Valley", and in the center of the park you'll find the remains of the old laundry house.

This park is a favorite among locals because of its huge swimming pool Laugardalslaug, which is fed by geothermal springs, as well as a spa, cafes, ice rink, botanical gardens, sports and music. venues, as well as a children's zoo and amusement park.

How to save money: discount card

Reykjavik City Card (www.citycard.is; 24/48/72 hours kr3500/4700/5500) can enter Reykjavik Javik's municipal swimming pool/geothermal pool, as well as most major galleries and museums, are also accessible by the city's Strótó bus and the ferry to Vize Island. This card can be purchased at the General Administration of Tourism, some travel agencies, 10-11 supermarkets, International Youth Hostels and many hotels. Southwest Iceland & the Golden Circle

There are black sand beaches stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, geysers spewing from geothermal fields, waterfalls across the cliffs, and towering mountains rising from the horizon inland. volcanoes and glistening ice caps. Beautiful southwestern Iceland is home to some of the most amazing natural landscapes and is also a relatively crowded and increasingly developed area.

The Golden Circle (a travel route that includes three famous attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Geysers and Gullfoss) is by far the most popular outside Reykjavik A tourist destination, however, visit during off-peak times or explore more remote locations and you'll find even more stunning splendor.

The farther you go, the more beautiful the scenery becomes. Favorite attractions for tourists include the silica-rich Blue Lagoon, the Rift Valley and the ancient parliament site of Thingvellir, located far from Reykjavik. The roaring sea flows into the sea of ??Westmannna Islands. At the far end of the region, towering Hekla volcano and Eyjafjallaj?kull rise, nestle the busy towns of Skoghar and Vik, and hide Tosmok and Landmannna Lauca Valley. West Iceland

West Iceland (Vesturland) is geographically close to Reykjavik, but it feels very different from it. This area is small but has great things: from the sea breeze From whistling sandy beaches to historic villages to soul-stunning natural scenery, you’ll find it all.

Many tourists ignore it, which often leaves you with remote and wonderful corners to yourself. The long Sn?fellsnes peninsula is home to the Sn?fellsj?kull glacier, which is very popular among tourists. The area around Sn?fellsj?kull National Park is also a top destination for bird watching, whale watching, lava field hiking and horse riding. .

In the interior of Reykholt, you can explore lava tubes and desolate plateau glaciers, especially the huge Langj?kull and its unique ice caves. West Iceland also plays an important role in heroic legends. The two famous heroic legends "Laxd?la

Saga" and "The Legend of Egil" took place here. It is a gloomy water town, and related attractions are marked by gloomy stone dams. Lively Borgarnes also has an extraordinary museum introducing Icelandic legends. Westfjords

The Westfjords are the epitome of Iceland’s wonderful and beautiful customs, but they are missed by a large number of tourists - only about 10% of people who travel to Iceland come here.

The southern beach of the Westfjords is vast and wide, with rugged bird cliffs behind it. The colors are changeable and dreamlike.

Driving north along the bumpy dirt road, the scenery of the coastal fjords is breathtaking. After passing through the continuous mountains in the middle of the Westfjords, you will see villages that preserve traditional lifestyles. Small fishing village. The northernmost point of the Westfjords is the Hausstrandir Nature Reserve, which is the most wonderful place in this peaceful world. Hiking trails marked by stone sills extend in all directions. Along the way, you can see birds, Arctic foxes and distant dolphins. sea.

Strandir Beach is still rarely visited by tourists. It has geothermal hot springs and seaside villages, and is full of mystery of the "end of the world". When visiting here, you must have plenty of time, because most of the roads are not paved and go around fjords. The roads over the mountains are bumpy and difficult to navigate, but the scenery is always breathtakingly beautiful. Once you get used to such beautiful scenery, I'm afraid you won't miss it. Northern Iceland

Northern Iceland is a vast territory filled with geological wonders. The lava fields are like the surface of the moon, the geothermal mud pools are bubbling, the waterfalls are unparalleled, the peaks are covered with snow, and there are whales in the bay? The whole world is like a fairyland, showing the most beautiful scenery of Iceland.

Countless wonderful places are waiting for you to discover: Although Akureyri is small, it always exudes the style of a big city, with constant surprises; the pastures next to the fjords are roaring with the sea breeze, and the short-bodied Icelandic horses You can see it everywhere; at the end of a bumpy road, an isolated fishing village is fighting against nature.

On the offshore islands, except for a few local people who are not afraid of hardships, there are only gregarious seabirds, which have a unique style; the peninsulas are lonely and silent, reaching into the Arctic Circle; the rivers are rolling with waves, and the heartbeats are beating during the drifting. It’s endless; the hiking trails in the national parks always bring you unparalleled views; the ski resorts are not fake and there are not many tourists, so you can have fun; the cold underwater world has endless wonders, diving into it is breathtaking, Husavi Denmark is a center for whale watching, and there are many emerging whale watching towns along the western coast of Eyjafjord. Southeastern Iceland

The 200-kilometer road from Kilchubajakloster to Hepburn is really exciting, passing through the vast gray glacial sand delta, passing through dilapidated farms, and surrounding rugged mountain bottoms. Skimming ice tongues and frozen lakes. The only thing it doesn't pass through are towns.

The vast Vatnaj?kull glacier dominates this area, its huge frozen glacier pouring down steep valleys to the sea. The glacier lake is a paradise for photographers. The wind and water have carved the icebergs on this glacier lake into strange shapes. The desolate coastal deserts of glacial sand are the aftermath of the catastrophic collision of ice and fire.

Further inland is the Laki volcano fissure, the most active center of volcanic activity in Iceland. With such a desolate look at first glance, it’s no wonder Skaftafell is so popular. This sheltered enclave between glaciers and sand pulses with life and color and echoes with the footsteps of hikers.

Glacial Lake

The icebergs emitting a faint blue light float quietly like ghosts from the 25-square-kilometer glacial lake and enter the ocean. This dreamy scene (which can be seen everywhere along the ring road) is a natural movie set.

In fact, you may have experienced these scenes in "Batman Begins" and the James Bond film "Die Another Day." Bredamorekulj?kull is derived from the majestic Vatnajokull glacier, and you can see the ice breaking off the glacier. Boat trips among the icebergs are very popular, or you can take a leisurely stroll along the lakeshore, spotting seals, and taking as many photos as you need to use up your camera memory.

Vatnaj?kull National Park

Remember the beautiful but cruel white planet in "Interstellar"? It was filmed here. Vatnaj?kull National Park, which accounts for 12% of Iceland's total area, is simply the source of material for relevant chapters in all geography books and geological history books. The sun that almost never sets in summer makes hikers worry-free, and they can also watch the gurgling waterfalls in the sun at midnight when no one is around.

The entire Vatnajokull glacier is protected and includes numerous glistening estuarine glaciers and glacial rivers. There are incredible rock formations near the Aspigi Gorge, wonderful waterfalls like Dettifoss and Swatifoss, the historic Laki Crater, Askca Crater and other volcanoes in the highlands, as well as The variety is so endless that it makes geography, biology, and history classes all come alive again. The Highlands

As you travel on the Ring Road, you'll wonder how sparse Iceland's towns are; there seem to be more sheep than people; and you might not come across an N1 service station for miles. Ah ha, what you saw is really the tip of the iceberg.

In the inland highlands, there are virtually no services, accommodation, or bridges across rivers. In other words, you have no protection if something goes wrong. Gazing across this vast, uninhabited area, you could imagine you were in the Australian outback, or, as many have commented, on the moon. This is not an overly active imagination in artistic creation - the Apollo astronauts trained here before landing on the moon.

Isolation – that’s why people come here (along with the opportunity to take field geology courses). While some travelers will be disappointed by the endless bleakness of the hinterland, others will fall at the feet of the most pristine natural scenery.

The solitude is thrilling and the scenery is vast, but access is limited, so be prepared.

The best way to visit Iceland: Self-driving on the Ring Road

The best way to explore Iceland is to rent a car and drive along Route 1 (Rte)

1) Self-driving tour, Route 1 is also called the Ring Road. The 1,330-kilometer-long tarmac road circles the island, passing through verdant valleys dotted with waterfalls, past tongues of ice dripping from the ice caps like cake frosting, and across deserts covered with gray ice-water deposits and sand. plains and velvety mossy lava fields. The scenery along the way is spectacular – don’t forget to take the turns while enjoying the scenery. You can use the Ring Road as your main route and follow smaller side roads into the wilderness. Local cuisine

All restaurants worth visiting have fish soup on the menu, try it at Narfeyrarstofa or Gamla

Rif. Icelandic lamb is a locavore’s dream; many restaurants offer deboned lamb, including Fjallakaffi. Fermented shark meat is an indispensable dish in the history of Icelandic dark cuisine. It has a pungent taste. You can try this soggy food in Bjarnarhofen.

Hepburn’s fishing boats would pull countless langoustines from the icy local waters, and local restaurants would simply grill them and then serve them with butter. Icelandic yogurt is a delicious snack that cannot be missed and is sold in all major supermarkets in Iceland. Honey rye bread is a cake-like dark bread baked underground using the geothermal energy surrounding Lake Myvatn.

There are also decent delicacies here, such as hot dogs that can be seen everywhere in the stalls. The sausage inside the hot dog is called "pylsa" or "pul

sa" locally, and is usually made of sheep, pork or beef. The sheep used are raised in the mountains of Iceland, and the farms that raise pigs and cattle have the lowest pollution index in the world. The sausage casings are also "all natural". When you bite them, you will make a "pop" sound, which is very interesting.

Reykjavik residents love cafes very much. In fact, the local social culture is built on these low-key cafes. Once get off work hours arrive, these places get noisy. Don’t forget to check out these local cafes and brewpubs that serve both artisanal coffee and craft beer. About Iceland

Visa

Mainland Chinese citizens traveling to Iceland need to apply for a Schengen visa in advance. Visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are visa-free. Schengen visas for travel purposes are currently not open for processing.

Consumption

Iceland is an almost cashless society, with people mainly using credit cards, even in the most remote villages. A personal password (PIN) is required when purchasing. ATMs are located in all cities and towns, and most of them accept UnionPay cards to withdraw cash.

When to go & how to get there

Tourists flock here from June to August, when there is endless sunshine, abundant festivals, lively activities, and the highest prices. ;Must be booked in advance. In mid or late June, mountain roads in the outback open to four-wheel drive vehicles; walkers are welcome. May and September are the best times to visit if you like smaller crowds, lower prices, and cloudless weather. Mountain roads are closed from October to April; some minor roads are also closed due to weather conditions.

There are a number of winter activities available, including skiing, snow hiking and visiting ice caves. The daylight is fleeting; it is possible to see the Northern Lights during the long nights.

At present, there are still no direct flights in China, and you need to go to Frankfurt or other European cities to transfer. Traveling during the epidemic may involve multiple transfers in multiple countries. You still need to pay attention to protection on the way.