A savvy traveller’s guide to Iceland – from Game of Thrones to the northern lights

Iceland has become an increasingly popular tourist destination for travellers thanks to its stark natural beauty and Nordic culture. It’s one of the few places you can witness the Aurora borealis (northern lights) and the dramatic landscape has been glorified on shows like Game of Thrones. From volcanoes and glaciers, to geysers, hot springs and lava fields, and of course its fascinating Viking history – it’s little wonder tourists are flocking here in droves.

With so much to see and do in the one place, it can be overwhelming to work out where to start. That’s why we’ve put this guide together to help you find the best food to try, drinks to sample, location savvy places to stay and the top attractions.

Eat: Test your taste buds

Iceland – home to weird and wonderful cuisine. With options like horse jerky and pickled shark, travellers with iron stomachs can put their taste buds to the ultimate test on an Icelandic gastronomic adventure.

Hákarl

One of Iceland’s most famous dishes, Hákarl is preserved shark meat that is buried underground before being hung out to dry for four to five months. The process removes the acid from the shark flesh, making it safe for human consumption. While the dish is no longer part of the day-to-day diet of locals, it is a significant part of Iceland’s heritage and worth trying if you’re brave (you’ll find it at the Kolaportid flea market on weekends). Hákarl is usually served with a shot of Brennivín which is also known as ‘Black Death’.

Hot spring rye bread

Here’s a dish that can be enjoyed by all palates. This dark bread has a slightly sweet taste and is commonly served with lashings of thick butter, but the locals also enjoy it with fish or smoked lamb. What makes this bread more exciting than your regular bakery staple is the cooking process. Dough is put into special wooden casks that are submerged in the ground close to a hot spring and left to cook overnight.

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