1: Landmannauka (Fjallabak Nature Reserve)
Landmannalaugar (Dreamtime)
I have been to Landmannalaugar twice and it is a very special place for me. The scenery is very beautiful.
You can only visit in summer as it is difficult to drive there in winter. Surrounded by mountains, there are many natural hot water pools.where people camp, use the pool, and go hiking.
The last time I was there was a decade ago with my ex-girlfriend’s family for a local sporting event. It was summer and I had never seen anything like it. The landscape is so colorful, the light brown and black mountains covered in moss. This is the most beautiful place when the weather is good.
2: Varmastangi
Polar Bears on an Ice Floe (Dreamtime)
My hometown, Hvammstangi, is very special to me. This is a small coastal town in northwest Iceland where only about 500 people live.
This is where I grew up and formed my first band. All of my fondest memories are when I played with my friends in my parents’ garage. This is also the town I first fell in love with.
Hvammstangi attracts tourists for its seal population. There are cruise ships crossing the fjord and seals come very close to town.Occasionally you can also see owls and eagles polar bear.Bears floating on ice floe Greenland. Sometimes they surprise local farmers.
3: Grabrook Crater
Grabrook Crater (Dreamtime)
This is the first volcano I have ever seen.i used to drive past it reykjavik Back to my hometown Hwamstangi.
I walked to the top of the hill and found that I could look directly into it. It’s special.
I went there with my family when I was about eight years old and I still remember it very well. I thought my father was dying because he was out of breath. I remember trying to help him.
4: Reykjavik
Downtown Reykjavik (Dreamtime)
I love spending time in my studio in Reykjavik. The music vibe here is amazing, especially downtown on weekends. There is a large concert hall called Harp that was built about six years ago for the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. It’s a beautiful place with lots of big bands playing there.
The Grillemarket in downtown Reykjavik is also spectacular. It has the best eggs and a very homely setting. Although it’s usually packed, you always feel like you have your own space there.
Located on the outskirts of the city, Glow serves a delicious vegetarian menu, but also has a good selection of meat options. It’s a very clean place and one of my go-to restaurants in the capital. In Iceland at the moment, everyone is becoming vegan.
5: Budhadalur
Fjords in Northwest Iceland (Dreamtime)
Búðardalur is an interesting town in northwestern Iceland and a great place to experience nature.
Like most of the country, it is surrounded by mountains, but there are also towns nearby.
I love hiking, so I visit as often as possible with relatives. The colors are truly stunning there and I recommend it for the impressive scenery.
6: Forest
Skogarfoss (Dreamstime)
Skogar is located in the south of Iceland and literally means “forest”. It’s a fairly inhospitable area with a few farms scattered around.
The falls are very impressive and easily accessible by car. A friend of mine used to play guitar by a waterfall in the summer. People would gather around him and listen to him.
7: Akureyri
Akureyri Hof Cultural Center (Dreamstime)
Akureyri is Iceland’s second largest city and is home to around 25,000 people. I played four or five times in an intimate place called Graeni Hatturinn (green hat). The venue itself has an amazing vibe. On the walls are pictures of all the famous bands that played here.
The venue is close to all the major bars, as well as many music stores and shopping centers in the city. It’s also known for good skiing, and some of its most famous residents are snowboarders.
Main image: Ásgeir Trausti
