Summer is the best time to discover Iceland, when the daylight lasts from 3 AM or 4 AM until almost midnight the next day, and the median temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If you've always thought of Iceland as a barren lump in the Atlantic, frozen solid throughout the year, you have the wrong idea. Picture instead a dramatic land of both fire and ice, with glaciers, dozens of active volcanoes, and lakes that steam with thermal energy. Settled by Vikings in the 10th century, Iceland boasts the oldest existing parliament in the world and a vibrant European culture. Over half of the Icelandic population lives in and around Reykjavik, the northernmost capital city on earth.
Most visitors base their vacations in Reykjavik, and most tours depart from there.
Most Icelanders speak English, so there won't be huge communication barriers. Even if you spent every hour of the extended daylight seeing the sights of Iceland, you couldn't take in all of its wonders in one vacation. Bathe in the warm Blue Lagoon, which steams with the natural geothermal energy providing much of the country's power. And be sure to visit the lovely waterfall Gulfoss, or Geysir, the spout that gives its name to all the geysers of the world. Plus, ride one of the sturdy, friendly ponies bred from the original Viking steeds through the national parks.