When you first land in Reykjavik, you think you’ve landed on Mars. All you see is a dark, rock-strewn landscape and black lava mountains under angry grey skies. As you drive downtown from the airport, a strong smell of sulphur assaults your nose. What comes to mind is the volcanic eruption of 2010 which disrupted air travel across Western and Northern Europe. But two days into your trip and you begin to see the appeal of Iceland: there aren’t many countries where you can visit thermal springs with a boiling temperature of 100°F and icy glaciers in the same afternoon.
It’s no wonder Iceland’s tourism is booming.