Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik has been voted as a top destination to spend Christmas 2010 by the U.S. cable news channel, CNN. The Reykjavik recommendation appears on CNN’s travel website, CNNGO, describing it as a family location and a “real treat for the tots”.
According to CNN, due to the cities local folklore of not only one Santa but 13 Santas or Jolasveinar (Yule Lads) as they are known in Reykjavik. The 13 Santas come to the city one by one, day by day starting on December 12th, bearing gifts and goodie bags given out at Christmas parties.
The U.S. news channel also recommends the Christmas Village in the small town of Hafnarfjordur just a short drive from Reykjavik. The Christmas Village is open every weekend from November 24th until Christmas day. According to Icelandic folklore, Hafnarfjordur is known as the home of elves and the small fishing town also offers walking tours around the town to visit the elf homes.
Additionally, most restaurants in Reykjavik serve their own unique Christmas menu in late November and throughout December. Perlan (The Pearl), which sits on top of Oskjuhlid hill over looking Reykjavik, serves an ‘all you can eat’ Christmas buffet offering turkey, game soup, marinated scallops and fresh Icelandic salmon.
Iceland’s glorious landscape provides the ideal Christmas surroundings – from the snow-covered mountains to the beautiful sunsets in the Highlands – all the more reason to visit Iceland this Christmas.
Further information about Christmas holidays in Iceland can be found at www.icelandair.com
