Maccabi Tel Aviv will visit Reykjavik, Iceland this Thursday for the 2nd leg of the Europa League Second Round. Let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful places around the globe and what the northern country has to offer.
The Northern most city
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and also happens to be the biggest city in Iceland as well as being the northern most city in the world. Reykjavik is close to the arctic circle and only has 4 hours of sunlight in the winter while the days in the summer never quite end. The average yearly temperature is 5 degrees celsius with the average in January being 0.4 and 11.2 in July. The recorded population in 2016 was 122K which is 40% of Iceland’s total population.
The tourism market is developing in Iceland and especially in Reykjavik. In the past, tourists would spend a night in Reykjavik after touring around the country but today, the city is one of the biggest attraction the country has to offer. There are many new accommodations that are opening up each year from camping sites to luxurious hotels. Most of the city’s hotels are in a prime location while also featuring high speed internet access. Even though the country may be cold, the people are warm and welcoming helping you feel like you are at home. They have a good sense of humor and are very friendly to those who visit. On the weekends, the city is packed with people enjoying the themselves into the wee hours of the night with plenty of bars and dance clubs at their disposal.
Recommended attractions in Reykjavik
Despite the Iceland’s cold weather and the long winter nights, the residents are some of the happiest in the world. The secret is the public swimming pools which are also used as the community centers plus the holy places which are seen as a right for the people and a way to escape the cold air.
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa: The temperature may be 0 outside as snow descends on the city. But your body is in the water. Put your swimsuit on and dip right into the water from inside the building while there is a door in the water to let you out.
Ski aficionados can visit the Blafjoll Ski Center that is not far out from the city and happens to be the biggest one in Iceland. The center is split up into 5 sections for all types of skiers while a bus from the city center heads to Blafjoll every day.
Whale watching is another attraction that can’t be missed in and around Reykjavik. You can see the whales at Dalvik or Husavik as well as from boating companies that specialize in watching the whales in the water.
Just 40 minutes away from Reykjavik you will find the Thingvellir National Park which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites where you can see seismic wave above ground, the black mountains, lakes with crystal clear water, glaciers and more.
You’ll find the Gullfoss Waterfall an hour away from Reykjavik which is one of the nicest in the world along as the water falls from the height of 32 meters.
A trip to the Haukadalur valley will bring you to a geyser park where you will see boiling water bursting from the ground. The Strokkur Geyser erupts between every 5-10 minutes.
If you’re visiting with children you’ll definitely want to stop by the Sports Center just a short walk from the city’s business center. The Sports Center is very popular with kids and features a football stadium, an olympic sized swimming pool, an additional pool with a jacuzzi, a botanical garden and a zoo. The center is very organized, neat and clean and is a fun place for the whole family.
