When Icelandair flies to the US, they stop at Keflavík Airport in Iceland. We took this route when we were going to Nashville – flights from London, Paris, Copenhagen and Stockholm converged before traveling together to our American destination. On the way home, we chose to get off to experience Reykjavik for two days.

THE LOGISTICS ARE IMPRESSIVE, BECAUSE DESPITE THERE MAY BE MANY VISITORS, IT NEVER FEELS THAT. THE WATER SMOKES AND THERE ARE MANY PLACES WHERE YOU CAN BE ALMOST COMPLETELY ALONE

GETTING TRAVELERS stopping and getting curious about the countryside is something Icleandair has been working on for a long time. I personally remember all these stops when a swim in the Blue Lagoon was a given. Today, lagoon swimming is so popular that several pools have opened – we head to Sky Lagoon directly from the airport. Here, a geothermal lagoon awaits you right on the edge of the North Atlantic.

SKY LAGOON
The logistics are impressive, because even though there can be a lot of visitors, it never feels like it. The water is steaming and there are many places where you can be almost completely alone. We are booked for a Ritual in seven steps. Huge saunas, ice-wax baths, drizzle from an open roof, a place for salt scrub, a steam bath and showers on it. So lovely! We're ready for Reykjavik.

Iceland is about a quarter the size of Sweden. The country has a population of 390,000, of which over half live in the Reykjavik metropolitan area. The country is Europe's most sparsely populated and is known for its fairy tales, volcanoes and glaciers. Its location between two continental plates leads to high volcanic activity here.

UP IN THE CHURCH TOWER
We are staying at the Parliament Hotel, centrally located in the city and within walking distance of everything. The city's landmark is Hallgrímskirkia, which can be used as a reference point when we orient ourselves around. The church was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, the country's most famous architect. The source of inspiration was nature and Viking mythology.
I personally like the baptismal font, which is inspired by a block of ice. Inside the church itself, the style is modernist.
and simple, the light is natural and the decoration is minimalist – the organ is impressive. Church services are held here, but not very often. It is mainly tourists who come in. Taking the elevator up the 74.5-meter-high church tower is popular – the view is fantastic.

FINE FISH
The two biggest industries in Iceland are fishing and tourism – a nice combination for all of us who love to eat fish. We eat our absolutely tastiest dinner at the restaurant Matur og Drykkur.. The food is prepared in an open kitchen, the staff is knowledgeable and committed, tasty non-alcoholic drinks and selected drinks are served with the finest of fish. So good. The Gulf Stream means that it is not as cold as you might think. But it does not rule out the darkness that falls early here. We end the evening with a cruise out to sea to get closer to the northern lights that play across the sky tonight. They come and go. We also see Yoko Ono's illuminated sculpture – Imagine Peace Tower.

IMAGINE PEACE
The base of the sculpture is a wishing well – a wish for peace. The words ”IMAGINE PEACE” are inscribed in the foundation in 24 different languages. From this font, a candle is then lit – a tower of light – which is directed straight up towards the sky. The sculpture was inaugurated on October 9, 2007. Since then, it has been lit every evening between October 9 and December 8 – these dates mark John Lennon’s birthday and the date he died. It is beautiful and thought-provoking. As a party city, Reykjavik is well-known and popular. We'll get by. Language and Culture, a venue that is a bookstore during the day and transforms into a live stage at night. The night is young.

Before our paths diverge, we have time to go to the Lava Show – a unique close-up with the hot element. Here the lava is heated up to 1,100 degrees between performances. and then let it flow down in front of an audience. A guide teaches us more about volcanic eruptions, and lifts and turns the lava flows. It's time to head to the airport – where we now board flights to our respective home destinations.

ICELAND WITH ICELANDAIR
Experience Iceland as a main destination or as part of your journey across the Atlantic.
You can find tips and inspiration here:
www.icelandair.com/vacations