Like the city itself, the Nashville airport is morphing into a heavily trafficked beast that’s drawing in world travelers. But it’s also giving Nashvillians more opportunities to become world travelers. Nashville’s direct flight to Reykjavik, Iceland, launched in April, opening a portal to another world.
The entire country is about the size of Kentucky, but with a much smaller population, estimated at around 400,000 people. It is also one of the youngest landmasses in the world, and continues to grow and shift due to its volcanic and geothermal activity. Volcanoes, geysers, lava fields and waterfalls are all part of what makes this remote island so magical. There are still glaciers to be seen there as well, though you may want to plan that part of your trip ahead of time if seeing a glacier is high on your bucket list. Northern lights can typically be seen from November through April.
Much like Nashville, storms can roll through at any moment. In Iceland’s case, that’s thanks to its oceanic island climate, as the island is surrounded by the frigid Atlantic (think “cold Hawaii”). As Icelanders will tell you, it’s not unusual to experience every weather condition possible in a single day, from warm sun to snow to gusting winds.
For folks looking to get away, it’s a super easy way to reach an amazing European spot known for its incredible nature, lively culture and growing food scene. And it’s not just Reykjavik; Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport is a fantastic hub, offering simple connections to tons of major European cities, with the option to turn a layover into a vacation. And it goes both ways. If we’re lucky, Nashville will welcome many curious Icelanders too. Depending on when you book your tickets, round-trip flights can be secured for, in some cases, as little as $400 before taxes and service fees.
Read on for some of the items Nashvillians should be putting on their Icelandic bucket lists.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Eat
Hot Dog! Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Is Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur the Prince’s Hot Chicken of Reykjavik? Based on its popularity and growing fame, the comparison stands. Since 1937 this iconic downtown stand has been serving its signature hot dogs topped with crispy onions, raw onions, sweet brown mustard, ketchup and remoulade to Icelanders, who reportedly eat more hot dogs per capita than any other population — though it bears repeating that there really aren’t that many Icelanders. The dog itself is lamb-based with a snappy casing that’s a large part of why they’re so craveable. Grabbing one after a late night in Reykjavik is just as important as that late-night dog from Daddy’s Dogs in Printers Alley, though they’re tasty at any time of the day.
Tomato Fest: Friðheimar Tomato Farm
After touring the lunar landscape of Iceland with its frigid waterfalls, charred lava fields and craggy, moss-covered expanses, walking into the Friðheimar Tomato Farm is like stepping into another world. Even though there are only a couple of hours of daylight during certain months of the year in Iceland, the farm is brimming with tomatoes cultivated in giant greenhouses powered by clean and plentiful geothermal energy. Tour the greenhouses and stay for lunch: Bottomless bowls of tomato soup are served with fresh bread and as many tomato-flavored food items as you can think of, from tomato beer to sorbet.
What’s That Smell: Hákarl
While it’s typically frowned upon for foreigners to hate on a country’s beloved delicacies, Iceland’s fermented shark is divisive even within its own population. Anthony Bourdain once called the famously disgusting dish “the single worst thing I’ve ever eaten,” and there are many, many people who agree with him. A tradition tracing back to the ancient Vikings who settled on Iceland’s shores in need of sustenance, hákarl is the meat of a Greenland shark that is buried and fermented for months, then dried. It tastes strongly of ammonia with a distinctly fishy flavor, and is typically consumed with a shot of Brennivín, an Icelandic aquavit that’s also fondly referred to as “black death.” Try it if you dare. (We dare you.)
Stay
Rest Up: Hotel Ranga
After a day of serious exploration, head to Hotel Ranga to soak in hot tubs by the river, and warm up with hot chocolate. The luxury hotel is an ideal home base for exploring the waterfalls and geysers of the Golden Circle — a popular route that begins and ends in Reykjavik — and is renowned for its Northern Lights viewing. It even has its own observatory and in-house astronomer; if the lights show up while guests are sleeping, they can opt-in to receive a call from the front desk before donning parkas and heading outside. Think Smoky Mountain cabin, but with volcanoes instead of ridges.
Horseworld
Do
Ride an Icelandic Horse: Horseworld
Head into the countryside to catch a glimpse of Iceland’s prized horses. Descendents of Norse horses that made the trek across the North Sea in the ninth century, Icelandic horses are fiercely protected, and like the country’s people, exceptionally friendly and even-tempered. They’re also exceptionally strong for their petite size, which is also fiercely defended by Icelanders, who will be deeply offended if you refer to them as “ponies.” No other horses can be imported to the country, and horses who leave to show or breed can never return; as a result there are no spreadable equine diseases in the country. They are known for their smooth fifth gait, called the tölt, which is akin to that of Tennessee’s state horse, the Tennessee Walking Horse. Both breeds are excellent for comfortably traversing rocky landscapes or Tennessee farmland.
Soak in Geothermal Pools: Blue Lagoon
Iceland is known for its amazing use of the sustainable geothermal energy powering the country. That energy is also responsible for the milk-blue pools of silica-rich water that form the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most famous attractions. The water, heated by volcanic energy thousands of feet below the surface of the earth, is believed to have healing properties, and has spawned a spa, restaurants and two hotels. Slap on a mud mask and grab a drink from the swim-up bar, and you won’t miss Percy Priest’s Party Cove one bit.
Blue Lagoon
Yee-Harpa! Harpa Concert Hall
The Grand Ole Opry of Iceland? Not exactly, but Harpa is the musical center of Reykjavik, hosting everything from the Reykjavik Jazz Festival to an upcoming Dolly Parton tribute in its gorgeous spaces. The stunning building is hard to miss, covered in gleaming glass on the edge of the water in the country’s capital.
Go Chasing Waterfalls (and Geysers and Beaches)
In Iceland, waterfalls are frigid and pure enough to drink. Tennessee has no shortage of gorgeous waterfalls to explore, but Iceland’s glacial runoff makes for some of the best sightseeing. Travel the Golden Circle and along the way, you’ll see Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s biggest (200 feet) and most photogenic falls, where rainbows are constant in the spray below. Nearby is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss. Travel even further to encounter the goth version of 30A at Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, where black volcanic sand and beautiful geometric basalt columns formed when ancient lava was cooled by seawater. Never turn your back on the ocean here, as deadly “sneaker waves” are common and very dangerous. Embrace your inner Tennessean and take an ATV tour of the beach and surrounding town of Vík.
Visit a Monument to a Famous Nashvillian
You’ve heard of Joint Base Andrews (née Andrews Air Force Base), but did you know that it’s named after a native son? Major General Frank Maxwell Andrews, also known as one of the founders of the modern Air Force, was born and raised in Nashville. In 1943, Andrews was serving as the commander of Allied Forces in the European theater when he died in a plane crash in Iceland, while on an inspection tour. That plane was Hot Stuff, the first B-24 heavy bomber to complete 25 missions, on its way back to the States to boost morale and sell war bonds. Andrews and the crew of Hot Stuff are commemorated with a stately stone monument on the way from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik, making it an easy stop to remember one of Tennessee’s finest.
