1.
Next door to Nature
While
in Reykjavik you’ll live next door to nature. There aren’t many places in the
city where nature feels removed or non-present. Neighborhoods are either
nestled by mountains, the sea or both, and many surrounded by vast lava fields.
It doesn’t matter where you are in the city; Icelandic nature is never more
than minutes away.
2.
Capturing the Day
Let
your imagination go wild with daytime activities and it will most likely become
a reality in Iceland, whether it’s soaking in the fountain of youth, also known
as Blue Lagoon, or helicoptering over vast lands of lava and ice. Go on glacier
hikes and snowmobiles, explore inside mystic cliffs and behind waterfalls,
visit black beaches and hot springs.
3.
The Local Community
Icelanders
are generally hard working and positive people. We’re not afraid of big
challenges, including beating England in the Euro Cup and qualifying for the
World Cup. We believe that we can do anything and there’s a charming
credibility with that kind of attitude. Families
live close to each other, manifesting in a high quality of life and we’re among
the first in global measures of happiness.
4.
A Safe Place
We do pride ourselves on our peacefulness; we’re military
free and the only NATO member without a standing army. The only war we’ve ever
partaken in was The Cod War. We sure do care about our fish. Our crime rate is
low, the police force doesn’t carry guns, gay marriages are, legal, and our
babies sleep outside.
5.
Green Genes
Being blessed
with magical nature, sustainability is rooted in our DNA. We’re endlessly proud
of our landscape and we’d like to maintain its beauty. Before much talk of
limiting footprints, Icelanders approached certain eco-friendly practices
simply because of love for our nature. The annual update of the Global
Destination Sustainability Index (GDS) in 2017 measured sustainability in 38
cities from 5 continents. Reykjavík shares third place on the list with
Copenhagen.
6. Vibrant Cuisine
With all the modernized culinary affairs we offer in Iceland today,
we still hold on to certain traditions; we love our rye bread cooked in geysers
and our dried fish paired with butter. Today’s fare is an elevated heritage
with numerous farm-fresh eateries, serving a juxtaposition
of traditional comfort food and new delicate flavors showcasing playful
techniques, including infusions of arctic herbs and other wild flowers.
Our flavors are fresh and vibrant from farm to fork.
7. Friendly Distance: Reykjavik is a friendly and accessible city and compact with minimal
traffic. Venues and hotels in Reykjavik are anywhere between a walking distance
and up to a 15 minute drive from each other. Smaller towns and villages can
easily be reached by domestic planes in less than 1 hour. Iceland being
located in the smack middle of Europe and North America, Reykjavik has twice
the number of flights between the US and other Scandinavian cities. We’re a
hop, skip, and a jump from mainland Europe the American East Coast.
8.
E-nation
A whopping 90% of the entire Icelandic population has access
to Internet at work, at home, or both, allowing us to be a leading E-nation -
named as number one on the 2017 ICT Development Index, published by the United
Nations). The list’s criteria are based on international information and
communication technologies, including state of the art infrastructure and
internet usage.
9.The
Nightlife:
The
music talent in Iceland is a creative crowd with international acclaim.
Reykjavik is a buzzing cultural hub with art galleries, theatre and nightlife.
The vibrant culture and party scene have wide attraction and a substantial
following. Reykjavík’s legendary nightlife is
legendary and stands up to its reputation as being one of the hottest places to
party in the world today. Weekends are vibrant in both dark winter evenings as
well as bright summer nights.
10.Only
in Iceland:
Do
you run into a former female president at a coffee shop and, do you light
candles in the morning (during winter), and see babies sleeping outside all
year around? Only in Iceland do you need an App to see if you’re related before
you act on a romantic interest, and swim in outdoor pools during a snowstorm.
Only in Iceland is the capital surrounded by lava. Only in Reykjavik do they
turn off all city lights to allow everyone to enjoy the Northern Lights. And
only in Iceland will there be an end to the gender pay gap in 2020. And it also
might be the only place on earth where an “elf whisperer” is an actual
profession.