Calling out to prospective participants, the airline’s advertising campaign declares: “We want to prove that even the worst photographer can take great photos of Iceland. Is that you?” To apply, candidates must have no professional photography background, no special interest in learning photography, and be “comfortable using a phone or basic camera without overthinking it.”

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Leaning into the “world’s worst” concept as well as trends for authenticity that reject overly curated destinations, the rules also state that would-be applicants must be “frequently disappointed with your own photos,” and “occasionally surprised when a photo turns out okay.” What’s more, in a tongue-in-cheek twist, the hapless winner will need to be “ready to be internationally recognized for your unique photography style.”

The national flag carrier’s campaign appears to share DNA with the approach adopted by award-winning Comedy Roundtable podcaster, Greipur Hjaltason, whose content about his homeland takes a dry, comedic angle, exploring the peculiarities of Icelandic life, weather, and parenting, with a deadpan, almost melancholic style.

A “Spirit of Iceland” video explains that the country’s citizens combine a sense of hubris that makes them believe they can “do anything and do it tomorrow” as well as an “inferiority complex” and that this dual attitude “can either kill you or make you famous.”

To apply for the IcelandAir challenge that brings this contradictory personality together, participants are invited to answer six multiple-choice questions online, including: “How would you describe your photography skills? Truly awful; Quite bad; Bad but I’m enthusiastic; Occasionally okay; Above average.”

As well as being asked to rate their English skills, the application also requires candidates to upload a 60-second audition tape, explaining in one minute why their lack of skill makes them ideal for the task at hand. The winner will receive a 10-day trip to Iceland, including flights, accommodation, transportation, and a whopping fixed fee payment of US$50,000 for their photographs, content, and participation.

Any hopefuls will need to be 21 years of age or older, in possession of a valid passport and legally able to travel to Iceland, the UK and the USA, physically capable of the planned activities, and have no disqualifying criminal or legal issues.

L’article IcelandAir seeks “world’s worst photographer” for global marketing campaign est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Iceland has never been as popular as it is in 2025, and the so-called Golden Circle might well be the island nation’s most popular region. The tourist route – making a loop of 300 kilometres – is located in southwest Iceland and includes some of the country’s most visited hotspots: the Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and the Gullfoss Waterfall.

@beyondthemoments One of the most popular drives in Iceland #goldencircle #goldencircleiceland #goldencircleitinerary #goldencircleattractions ♬ Sunshine – WIRA

Laugarás Lagoon

Water-based activities are very popular in the region, and recently, the Golden Circle has welcomed yet another wellness destination. The Laugarás Lagoon is located at a one-hour drive from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, overlooking the Hvítá River and the surrounding mountains. The two-storey lagoon sits on top of hot geothermal springs and describes itself as the “first cascading waterfall lagoon opening on The Golden Circle”.

Aside from the double lagoon, the newly opened wellness centre also boasts two saunas, two swim-up bars, a cold pool, an on-site spa, and multiple lounging areas. The on-site restaurant, Ylja, is managed by Icelandic chef Gísli Matt and offers a farm-to-table menu. Ingredients for the dishes found at the restaurants were either bought at local farms or foraged in the wild.

“This is cooking rooted in tradition but shaped by modern techniques, with many dishes prepared over open fire. Every element focuses on sustainability: fermentation and preservation minimise waste while supporting nearby farmers and producers in a circular food system that respects the land”, Laugarás Lagoon shared in a press release.

At the moment, three different packages are offered to visitors by the lagoon.

• The Birki package costs 6,900 Icelandic krónur (€49) and includes unlimited access to the entire outdoor wellness areas, as well as access to the changing room with a personal locker and vanity station, and toiletries.
• The Lerki package costs 9,400 Icelandic krónur (€66), which gives visitors all the perks of the Birki package, plus the use of a towel and one drink at the swim-up bar.
• The Ösp package costs 15,900 Icelandic krónur (€112). Aside from everything included in the Lerki, visitors also get to enjoy a two-course menu of the day at Ylja Restaurant.

During Summer (June-September), the wellness resort will be open daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, while Ylja Restaurant will welcome diners from 11:00 am until 10:30 pm. During Winter (October-May), the Lagoon is open daily from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm and the restaurant from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm.

While Laugarás Lagoon is Iceland’s newest addition to the wellness centre scene, many others have already managed to steal visitors’ hearts. One of the most famous ones is without a doubt the Blue Lagoon spa, known for its crystal-blue waters and regularly evacuated due to imminent eruptions.

L’article Iceland’s Golden Circle welcomes new lagoon est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Iceland has been on the tourism radar for quite a while now. The country is especially renowned for its unspoiled nature, geothermal activity, and breathtaking Northern lights. Both during summer and winter, international visitors flock to the island nation in order to be able to strike the destination from their travel bucket list.

According to Statistics Iceland, 1.792 million international visitors have visited the country between January and September 2025. An increase compared to 2024, which saw 1.743 million visitors, and an even bigger boom compared to 2019, with 1.597 million visitors. While recent events such as the closure of budget airline Play and the eruption at the Sundhnúksgígar fissure might have negatively impacted the decision of some potential tourists, many have not let those events change their plans.

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How to prepare for the future?

According to Jóhann Viðar Ívarsson, an analyst at the Ferðamálastofa Icelandic Tourist Board, Iceland’s positive tourist numbers are partly due to the boom of cross-border tourism on an international scale. However, the country’s nature and rural landscapes offer something extra, according to the analyst, as does the fact that influencers have played an important role in making Iceland a fashionable destination amongst wealthier tourists.

The increase in tourist numbers does, however, also ask for some changes, especially as far as the nation’s infrastructure is concerned. Iceland’s KEF international airport is currently undergoing an expansion, allowing the hub to be better connected to the country’s overall transport network and facilitating the internal flow for travellers. The addition of a new 4-star hotel close to the airport will make travelling to and from it easier and more comfortable than ever before.

Since 1 January 2024, Iceland has reintroduced a tourist tax, allowing the country to reduce the environmental impact of the tourism boom and to partially fund the needed infrastructure adaptations. That fee amounts to ISK 600 (€4.23) for hotels and guesthouses and to half of that for campsites and mobile homes. Cruise passengers calling at Icelandic ports are charged  ISK 1,000 (€7.04). 

In an interview with EuroNews, Jóhann Viðar Ívarsson states that the Icelandic government is planning to introduce a considerably higher tourist tax in order to increase that revenu stream, allowing to better prepare Iceland for a sustainable tourism future. It is yet unclear however what the amount of the new tourist tax will be.

L’article Iceland considers raising tourist tax to offset visitor boom est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Grindavik sits accessibly just 50 km away from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, and 24 km from Keflavík International Airport. However, it is also just minutes from the volcanic fissures of the Sundhnuksgígar crater row in the Reykjanes Peninsula. After lying dormant for 783 years, the system erupted there in December 2023, threatening local infrastructure, closing roads, and causing the majority of the town’s 3,800 inhabitants to evacuate multiple times. 

@northskyvisions A little sky tour of Grindavík #grindavík #iceland #droneview #ghosttown #sologirl ♬ levitation – Aaron Hibell & Felsmann + Tiley

Many of those residents have sold their homes to the government and fled for good, as have numbers of tourists, meaning that making a living out of any business, but especially tourism, is a challenge that even the tough and pragmatic Icelanders are finding hard.

Vignir Kristinsson, a woodworker in his sixties with a gift shop in the town, has repeatedly told reporters about the impact of the eruptions and lava flows on his economic activity, which he questions how to pursue “when people are told they should not come,” Kristinsson said, reported by The Independent. “How is that possible?”

He now lives in Hafnarfjordur, 42 km away, and returns when permitted to open up shop, like local baker Sigurður Enoksson, owner of the three-decade-strong Herastubbur Bakari, who travels in 47 km from Kopavogur to open for three mornings a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) and has had to make 10 staff redundant.

At the time of writing, the nearby Blue Lagoon spa remains open for bookings, according to its website, though it did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its future. Other hotels and guesthouses are also still going. According to Google and Expedia reviews, some visitors only focus on the spa, neglecting the rest of the area that certain reports say increasingly feels like a ghost town.

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“Abandoned town yet beautiful,” one review from July 2025 reads, adding: “CONs: Located in an abandoned town due to an active volcano. Town smells like lava, which is tolerable though. Becomes really quiet and lonesome at night, which could appear scary and eerie to tourists.”

It must be noted that the majority of comments praise both the location and the friendliness of locals who have remained, but some complain about a lack of staff and say the place feels “unsafe” and “desolate.”

Still others, instead of immersing themselves in thermal waters, prefer to fly photo drones over the lava beds – a metaphor for keeping a safe distance that could represent a death sentence for Grindavik.

L’article What future for Iceland’s abandoned volcano town? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Described as a ‘global celebration of the solar eclipse with music, art, science, and tech’, the Iceland Eclipse Festival will take place from 12 to 15 August 2026 in Hellissandur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in north-west Iceland. Located beneath the Snæfellsjökull volcano, the region is celebrated for its stunning lava fields, volcanic beaches, glaciers and black sand shores.

The eclipse is expected to begin at around 5:45 p.m. and last for two minutes and 18 seconds. Though this may sound brief, it will be one of the longest durations of totality visible on land during this eclipse. The last total eclipse visible in Iceland occurred in 1954, and the next one will not be until 2196, making this a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. The festival will open with the celestial event rather than building up to it.

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The event is hosted by IMXP, an immersive experiences platform, and Secret Solstice, an Icelandic music and culture festival renowned for its events held under the midnight sun. The organisers aim to unite Icelanders with the global community under the mantra: ‘Dance, learn, connect and explore through music, ceremony, storytelling and inspiring experiences’.

Fred Ólafsson, the founder of Secret Solstice, said that ‘as someone who calls this land home it is incredibly meaningful to return with a project as rare and special as Iceland Eclipse’, adding that ‘this partnership is a chance to co-create something truly memorable for both Icelanders and the global community during one of the most extraordinary celestial events of our time’.

In other words, you may go for the music, but you could leave with a newfound interest in astronomy, space science or even pyrotechnics. Adding to the spectacle, the eclipse coincides with the Perseids meteor shower, which will be especially visible in the area thanks to its low light pollution.

More than a hundred acts and performances have been confirmed so far. International headliners include MEDUZA³, Booka Shade, Nightmares on Wax, and Cici. Fire ceremonies will be held at night, while days will be filled with wellness activities under the ‘Walk, Breathe, Sweat, and Listen’ programme.

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The Learn track will feature discussions on topics ranging from space exploration to AI ethics, digital futures, and indigenous knowledge, hosted by speakers from NASA, ESA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin.

Local speakers will include Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir, who oversees the conservation of Snæfellsjökull National Park, and Kári Viðarsson, who will share stories from the local art scene in Hellissandur.

Hellissandur, a small village of 450 people known as Iceland’s street art capital for its high density of murals, has planned accommodation options. Participants can choose to stay with the locals in homestays, to camp or to glamp. There are no hotels in the neighbourhood.

These three lesser-known aspects add depth to the event. Firstly, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is considered in spiritual traditions to be one of the planet’s ‘energy centres’. Secondly, the festival is planned as a ‘leave no trace’ event in support of climate initiatives. Thirdly, the festival doubles as an innovation residency, where up to 500 artists, scientists and tech pioneers will collaborate on purpose-driven projects. Together, these dimensions promise not only a festival but also a potentially transformative experience.

L’article Iceland to host a four-day festival for the 2026 solar eclipse est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The volcano near Grandavík, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, became active in 2023 after lying dormant for 800 years. After damage to the town in January 2024, most residents left their homes and have not returned since. However, when the protective barrier near Grindavík was breached by the eruption around 10:00 am on Tuesday morning, approximately 40 homes were still inhabited and therefore had to be evacuated. A red alert has been issued for the town.

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According to Runólfur Þórhallsson, Iceland’s Director of Civil Protection, the fissure eruption – characterised by lava flowing from long cracks in the earth’s crust – is larger than usual as the magma tunnel is more extensive, with greater magma build-up.

“Emergency responders in Grindavík have reported that earthquakes can be felt in the town, and signs of deformation are also visible there, suggesting that fault movements could occur within the town (Grandavík) itself,” Iceland’s Met Office said in a statement.

Given the potential severity of the eruption, tourists staying at the Blue Lagoon Spa and its surrounding hotels have also been evacuated. The geothermal spa is one of the country’s main tourist attractions and remains temporarily closed.

“Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnúksgígar on 1 April, Blue Lagoon will be closed until 3:00 pm on Wednesday 2 April at which time the situation will be reassessed,” the organisation says on its website. All those who have bookings during the temporary closure have been or will be contacted.

Iceland’s unique volcanic activity

Sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are pulling apart, Iceland has long been characterised by significant seismic and volcanic activity. In ‘normal’ times, it sees one eruption every four to five years on average.

However, the island nation has now experienced 11 eruptions south of Reykjavik since 2021, when a new eruptive period began. According to experts, fissure eruptions could continue to repeat for decades, and it is difficult to predict how many volcanic events will occur in the country over the coming years.

L’article Volcanic eruption forces evacuation of Blue Lagoon tourists in Iceland est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

From brutal threat to “resource for a global emergency”

Turning a “local threat” into a positive, the project looks at “how the brutal force of lava can be turned into a valuable resource, capable of lowering atmospheric emissions through its future use as a sustainable building material,” Pálmadóttir says. 

Having observed the way recent volcanic lava eruptions were contained and diverted away from vital infrastructure facilities in the Fagradalsfjall region just 32 km from Reykjavík, the Icelandic architect became inspired by the way protective trenches were used to channel the flow.

She devised a plan that would see gravity-powered trenches or pump systems dug in response to predictive seismic activity data from scientists. Channelling the lava purposefully and allowing it to harden would form igneous rock that could be used in the construction industry for foundations, residential and municipal buildings, or even entire streets and cities.

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The architect has described the potential product as “a resource that addresses a global emergency” noting that “a lava flow can contain enough building material for the foundations of an entire city to rise in a matter of weeks without harmful mining and non-renewable energy generation.”

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Current methods “obsolete or harmful” in long term

Her vision has earned a nomination for the 2024 Nordic Council’s Environmental Award, recognising her interdisciplinarity and focus on recyclable materials.

“The main goal of Lavaforming is to show that architecture can be the force that rethinks and shapes a new future with sustainability, innovation and creative thinking,” Pálmadóttir said. “The theme is both a proposal and a metaphor – architecture is in a paradigm shift, and many of our current methods have been deemed obsolete or harmful in the long term.  In our current predicament we need to be bold, think in new ways, look at challenges, and find the right resources.”

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The Earth is a builder

There will be regulatory and legislative issues to resolve to take Lavaforming forward, including essential question marks over ownership, exploitation rights, and privatisation of a substance that has never been mined before.

But in the meantime, the younger generation seems to approve the idea. Arnar Skarphéðinsson, who is Pálmadóttir’s son, and grad student at Southern California’s Institute of Architecture, is going to work on the next phase of the ground-breaking project and notes it could make history: “Nobody has ever built from lava except for the Earth itself.”

L’article Houses could soon be built from sustainable volcanic lava, says Icelandic architect est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

One of Logan Moffit’s latest cucumber recipes seems to have the Icelanders running to the stores. The salad, which apart from the summery green also contains sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili oil, cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, salad dressing, capers, lemon juice, bagel seasoning and flavour-enhancing MSG, has been a hit on TikTok since he released the video. According to the TikToker, “you won’t get enough of it” and his followers are clearly eager to find out what makes him so enthusiastic. 

In Iceland, the recipe has been such a hit that many stores and supermarkets are now reporting cucumber shortages. In a statement to the BBC, Iceland’s Horticulturists’ Sales Company (SFG) said it is not able to keep up with the demand. However, they don’t expect the shortage to go on for a very long time and hope everything will be back to normal in about a week. Kristín Linda Sveinsdóttir, director of the SFG, said the demand for other ingredients used in the video – such as sesame oil – had gone up as well.

Even though one supermarket chain in Iceland, Hagkaup, questioned the link between the video and the shortage, it also indicated that the demand had doubled over the last few days – which may indicate that there is indeed a connection. The company’s food product manager, Vignir Þór Birgisson, however, commented that there are other factors at play. A theory backed by Sveinsdóttir. 

“Everything is happening at the same time,” Sveinsdóttir told the BBC, not denying social media did indeed play its role. “This is the first time we have experienced something like this.”

Other than the video, one of the reasons why a cucumber shortage might be happening is the beginning of the new school year, as people are eating and shopping differently than during the summer. Moreover, many farmers are currently replacing their plants, resulting in a drop in produce. If a surge of demand had happened during peak cucumber season, there wouldn’t have been any shortages, according to Sveinsdóttir. With a population of only 393,600, Iceland produces about six million cucumbers a year.

L’article How a TikTok recipe caused a cucumber shortage in Iceland est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In the early 20^th century, there were actually several projects concerning the development of a public railway system in Iceland. The first wanted to connect Reykjavík to Selfoss via Þingvallavatn, the second thought of going from Reykjavík to Selfoss through Þrengsli. However, by 1931, all plans were abandoned and the idea of an Icelandic railway was off the table. Other than the Reykjavík harbour railway and the Korpúlfsstaðir farm railway, both small-scale and temporary, Iceland never saw a locomotive or wagon.

First run of Reykjavík Harbour Railway ‘Minør’ in 1913.
The locomotive is now an open-air static exhibit in Reykjavík. pic.twitter.com/fCdFklk5kB

— Coen Krom (@CoenKrom) January 26, 2024

Recently, multiple projects were brought up, looking into developing a small railway system in Iceland after all. The Lava Express would run from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík in order to make the connection easier and quicker for tourists, as this journey would only take 15 minutes. Due to a lack of funding, however, the project is still waiting for its moment of fame.

Municipalities around the capital are now looking at the possibility of a light rail system in the Capital Region. The first phase of the plan began in 2023. Set for completion in 2026, it will run from Reykjavík city centre to Hamraborg, in Kópavogur. The second phase should be completed by 2027 and will connect the city centre to Ártúnshöfði, in eastern Reykjavík.

The main reasons for this lack of a public railway system remain logistics and demand, or rather a lack thereof. Iceland has a small population, making a train project very expensive per capita. Moreover, only a handful of cities have a population worth considering a station. The fact that most cities are quite remote means the car plays an important role in people’s lives and almost everyone has one, thus there is a lack of demand for public transportation. Finally, the harsh weather conditions would make the logistics of a railway system quite complicated.

As a tourist, the best way of getting around Iceland at the moment seems to be renting a car or camper van. This allows you to be as flexible as you want. Alternatively, you could also look into booking an organised tour or making use of Strætó’s yellow public bus network, which is well-developed and can take you almost anywhere on the island.

L’article Why Iceland doesn’t have a railway system est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“The first assessment of scientists is that the beginning of this eruption is more powerful than in previous eruptions,” Iceland’s Met Office said in a statement.

Evacuation and resort closures

Prior to the eruption on Wednesday afternoon, authorities monitoring the area had already detected the build-up of magma, and civil defence units were on alert. Only a handful of the 3,800 inhabitants had returned since eruptions in December, February, and March, but an evacuation order was issued for the coastal town, where some homes have been destroyed and heating and water cut off by the incidents.

The nearby Blue Lagoon thermal spa resort and its pools have also been closed and police have warned people to “think four times” before deciding to attempt any “volcano tourism”.

Will airspace close?

Although at one point a towering plume of ash could be seen, this was put down to magma hitting groundwater and it is thought unlikely there will be a repeat of the vast atmospheric ash cloud caused by 2010’s Eyjafjallajokull eruption, which closed airspace over Europe.

At the time of writing, flights are still operating at Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport, whose website notes: “An eruption has started on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Information about the eruption can be found on the Civil Protection and Emergency Managements website and on the Icelandic Meteorological Offices website. Keflavík Airport is open and operating in the usual way. People are encouraged to monitor flight information.”

Why is there so much activity there?

Prior to the last three years of activity, the Reykjanes region had been relatively peaceful, its volcanic systems dormant for almost 6000 years during which a community of 30,000 people grew. But then a magma stream found an underground pathway through a 14.5-km dyke that runs beneath the peninsula. It is this magma that occasionally erupts at the surface.

Scientists say the systems could remain restless and active for a long time. “Most volcanologists seem to agree that this period of volcanic activity is going to go on for many years, if not decades,” Dr Robin Andrews, a volcanologist told National Geographic, adding, “it’s difficult to study the systems where there’s no central volcano.” 

L’article Iceland erupts again in most powerful volcanic activity in three years est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.