Iceland – the West

The West, basically the area around Reykjavik, has a lot to offer for every taste. The international airport is there too, so it is also the most known and crowded area since almost everybody will spend some time there. Apart from the capital itself, that is worth a quick visit, my recommendations are: Snaefellsnes peninsula, Husafell, Hvalfjordur fjord and the “golden circle” which will be the topic of my next post. It should not be a surprise that I do not include the Blue Lagoon in the list considering how I prefer to avoid overrated crowded places.

Of the mentioned destinations, my favorite is without a doubt Snaefellsnes peninsula. It is said one can experience all Iceland on a small scale wandering this peninsula and the national park on its tip; it is true in a way, but it has also its own unique charms that makes it an unforgettable experience, still not so crowded since a lot of people just drive along the ring road without stopping. An entire day should be dedicated exploring Snaefellsnes peninsula to see it all, but the best light in most places is during the afternoon or at sunset, when Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall are at their best. It is also worth mentioning that Snaefellsnes peninsula is famous because Jules Verne placed here the entrace to the passage leading to the centre of the Earth in his 1864 novel.

While I was there I got also to experience the real Icelandic weather with constant changes during the day. To give an example I’ve added twice the same picture taken at Kirkjufell with just 30 minutes between the first and second shot (yes I enjoyed it so much that I stayed the whole evening freezing behind my camera on the tripod). Enjoy the gallery.