0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello, and welcome to Getaways.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06- The show where we go... - ..where you want us to go.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12We're on a mission to check out
0:00:12 > 0:00:14some of your most popular holiday destinations.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23You've been sharing your top travel tips,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26- telling us where to go... - ..and what to do when we get there.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34This week, we've flown north-west across the Atlantic
0:00:34 > 0:00:35to the island of Iceland.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37We're here to find out why this
0:00:37 > 0:00:39is the ideal alternative to a sun holiday.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Iceland has long been one of the must-see Nordic destinations.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48It's famous for its natural wonders of northern lights,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50glaciers, geysers,
0:00:50 > 0:00:54national parks, geothermal pools
0:00:54 > 0:00:56and active volcanoes.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00And happily, with direct flights to Reykjavik,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03it's one you can easily tick off your bucket list.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Yes, you can fly direct to Iceland in about two and a half hours.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13And the transfer to Reykjavik takes around 45 minutes.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Reykjavik is the capital city
0:01:18 > 0:01:20and it's where you will most likely base yourself.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23It's small enough for you to get around on foot,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26and one of the first things many of you recommended we do
0:01:26 > 0:01:28was to get an overview of the city
0:01:28 > 0:01:30at one of the main tourist attractions.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Behind me there is the Hallgrimskirkj.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36At 73 metres, it's Iceland's tallest and largest church
0:01:36 > 0:01:38and it took over 40 years to build
0:01:38 > 0:01:42and its design is inspired by Iceland's geological landscape.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46So it's probably why it's one of the country's most photographed sites.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50The tower, which dominates Reykjavik's skyline,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53is designed to resemble the basalt formations
0:01:53 > 0:01:56left behind as lava cooled into thick, upright columns.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Once inside, you can take the elevator
0:02:00 > 0:02:02to the top of the bell tower.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08And up here at the top of the tower is what it's all about.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12You can have a fantastic view of the entire city of Reykjavik,
0:02:12 > 0:02:13from the water, the mountains,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15and it's a great place for you to come
0:02:15 > 0:02:17so you can really get your bearings on the city.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22And before you leave, check out the statue in front of the church.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24This is the Viking Leif Eriksson,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26who discovered North America in the year 1000,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29more than 500 years before Columbus.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Did you know that? I didn't.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice
0:02:37 > 0:02:39and no trip here would be complete
0:02:39 > 0:02:42without the obligatory Golden Circle tour -
0:02:42 > 0:02:44a tourist route in southern Iceland
0:02:44 > 0:02:48which takes in some of the country's most famous attractions.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52And as you'd expect, some stunning scenery.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56About 45 minutes from Reykjavik is Thingvellir National Park,
0:02:56 > 0:03:02a Unesco World Heritage Site about 240 square kilometres in size.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05It's a place of historic and geological interest,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08as it's a meeting point of two continents.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Now, there aren't many places on earth
0:03:11 > 0:03:13where you can see tectonics in action.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15In fact, there are only two.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17There is the Great Rift Valley in East Africa,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Thingvellir National Park,
0:03:20 > 0:03:21which is actually here.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Look! You can see it in action.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29There's not much happening, but it's there.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33You can see the continental drift
0:03:33 > 0:03:35between the North American and Eurasian plates
0:03:35 > 0:03:38in the cracks and faults in the Thingvellir region,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40which are slowly pulling Iceland apart.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46The largest crack between two plates is here, known as Almannagja Gorge.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48To the west, that's the North American tectonic plate.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50To the east, that's the Eurasian one.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52And they are separating from each other
0:03:52 > 0:03:55at a rate of two centimetres per year.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57That is, fact fans,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59the same growth rate as your fingernails annually.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Well, thereabouts.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Many major events in the history of Iceland
0:04:03 > 0:04:05have taken place at Thingvellir.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08It was here that the Althing, Iceland's parliament,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10was established in 930.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12This is the Logberg, or the Law Rock,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14and it's the focal point of the Althing.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17And this is where the chairperson of the assembly
0:04:17 > 0:04:18would convene the meetings.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20This is kind of in the middle of nowhere
0:04:20 > 0:04:21and quite a hike to get up here.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23But I rather like that, because I think
0:04:23 > 0:04:25to come up here and do this would mean
0:04:25 > 0:04:28you really wanted to be in politics and you really loved Iceland.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Because if you looked out over the majestic surroundings,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34it would really inspire you to do the best for your country.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37And I think there's a lesson in there for all of us, isn't there?
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Next stop on our Golden Circle tour,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49and one that rated highly with you lot, is the geyser hot spring area,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51one of the greatest natural attractions in Iceland.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54A geyser is a spring
0:04:54 > 0:04:56from which boiling water and steam spout upwards
0:04:56 > 0:04:58and are mainly found in volcanic areas.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01And the word geyser, meaning to gush,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04comes from the famous great geyser here.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08This is the spot where the great geyser once gushed.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11It's been dormant for years, but back in its heyday
0:05:11 > 0:05:13it would shoot up to 60 metres high.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Now, this entire area is a geothermal park
0:05:15 > 0:05:18resting right on top of a bubbling cauldron.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21According to geological studies,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25the hot springs in this area have existed for over 10,000 years.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30This is Strokkur, the most famous spouting geyser in all of Iceland
0:05:30 > 0:05:34and the reason being is because she goes off every 10 or 15 minutes,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36which is pretty handy for us tourists.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40So we're all just going to stand here and wait.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Nice bit of heat off her, actually. Very welcome right now.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Shame about the eggy smell.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52It's like waiting on the kettle to boil.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Whoa...! There she goes!
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Up 30 metres high.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Boiling hot eggy-smelling water.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06That is brilliant!
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Oh, wow.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11You get a little fright when you see that.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Our final stop on the Golden Circle tour
0:06:17 > 0:06:20is the magnificent Gullfoss waterfalls, or Golden Falls,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24situated on the River Hvita, or White River.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28The falls are made up of two tiers.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31The first is 11 metres high and the second is 22 metres high,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33with the water falling into
0:06:33 > 0:06:36a two-and-a-half kilometre long canyon below.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37It's fed by water that flows
0:06:37 > 0:06:40straight out of Iceland's second largest glacier.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43And I've got to tell you, guys, this is one spectacular sight,
0:06:43 > 0:06:44one you cannot miss.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49In the early 20th century,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53foreign investors wanted to harness the power of the waterfalls
0:06:53 > 0:06:55to produce electricity.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00This plaque here is dedicated to Sigridur Tomasdottir.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02And the story goes that she campaigned heavily
0:07:02 > 0:07:05against plans to build a hydroelectric power plant here.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07And fair play to her,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09because that would have changed this place for ever.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Nice one!
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Gullfoss is now protected by Icelandic law
0:07:16 > 0:07:18and is a national park.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23All three attractions on the Golden Circle
0:07:23 > 0:07:25are within 100 kilometres of the capital
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and you can take an excursion tour or drive yourself.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Tony Oakey, from Kilkenny, recommended we check out the Harpa,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43a cultural and social centre at Reykjavik's harbour.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Since it opened its doors in 2011,
0:07:48 > 0:07:50it has welcomed more than five million visitors
0:07:50 > 0:07:54and is one of the city's most recognisable landmarks.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59The facade of the Harpa is made up of multiple hexagonal glass tubes,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01with coloured and mirrored panes
0:08:01 > 0:08:04designed to reflect and fragment light,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07mimicking basalt crystals which are indigenous to Iceland.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12It's like being inside a man-made iceberg.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16There are three concert halls and two restaurants here,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19so plenty of reason for you to come and visit.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Me, I'm just happy to sit here, dig the architecture
0:08:23 > 0:08:24and enjoy my coffee.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Loads of you mentioned how expensive it is to eat out.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32And in fairness, you are right. It really is.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36But tons of you also suggested a visit to what's now become known
0:08:36 > 0:08:39as Reykjavik's most famous hot dog stand.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41It's called Baejarins Beztu,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45and hot dog master Skuli is showing me the ropes, so to speak.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46- Are you ready?- I'm ready.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- I do the fried onions first.- OK.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50The fresh onions.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52- Ketchup.- Yeah.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Hot dog. Hot dog.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56Mustard.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58And the mayonnaise-based sauce.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01The only rule is that the mustard and the mayonnaise-based sauce
0:09:01 > 0:09:03has to be on top.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06And is that the secret to why these hot dogs are so popular?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- Yeah, the ingredients, how fresh everything is.- Mm-hm.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Dab hand at this. This is no bother to me at all.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Mustard...slide...
0:09:17 > 0:09:19..mayonnaise. I mean, come on.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21So good!
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Skuli, tell me why hot dogs are so popular in Reykjavik,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30because you wouldn't think they are a typical food for here.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32The company has been working since 1937.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35People are kind of raised as kids...
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- To go there...- Dropping by and...
0:09:37 > 0:09:39So they continue and...
0:09:39 > 0:09:42And over the years, have you had any famous customers?
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Yeah. Of course. We had Bill Clinton.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47- I love Bill.- And just recently,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- I had the opportunity to meet Kim Kardashian...- What?!
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- ..and her sister Kourtney. - You met the Kardashians?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- Kourtney and Kim.- Did they eat one?
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Yeah, they all had hot dogs.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- Do you think I could look like Kim when I finish this?- Yeah.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- No doubt about it.- Thanks!
0:10:04 > 0:10:05Great things.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07One of the big attractions in Iceland
0:10:07 > 0:10:10is, of course, the northern lights,
0:10:10 > 0:10:11or aurora borealis,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13a magnificent display
0:10:13 > 0:10:15of bright, colourful, dancing lights in the sky,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19which you can see in the winter months from October to March.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Unfortunately, we have come in May,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25so we're visiting the Aurora Reykjavik Centre,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27which tells you everything you might want to know about them.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32- MAN:- ..an invisible shield, the Earth's magnetic field.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33Now for the science bit.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35The northern lights are a result
0:10:35 > 0:10:37of electronically charged particles from the sun
0:10:37 > 0:10:40colliding with gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43And they are a regular occurrence in the Icelandic sky.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49If you're looking for a break closer to home,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51then check out Mairead's road trip to Donegal.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57I'm taking a drive around the Inishowen Peninsula.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02And my journey starts with a short ferry crossing.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Inishowen is just three hours from Dublin
0:11:05 > 0:11:08and a really cool way to get here is drive up the stunning north coast
0:11:08 > 0:11:11and take the Foyle ferry across.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13And that's exactly what I'm doing today.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21The ferry drops you off in Greencastle in County Donegal,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24a small fishing port with an important history
0:11:24 > 0:11:28that's been preserved here at the Maritime Museum & Planetarium.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33It's got a detailed collection of memorabilia
0:11:33 > 0:11:37that covers every aspect of the maritime history of Inishowen.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42Driving around the peninsula
0:11:42 > 0:11:45takes you through some beautiful rugged Donegal scenery.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50And I'm following the route of the Inishowen 100.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54The Inishowen 100 is perfect for people who love a good road trip
0:11:54 > 0:11:57because it is a 100-mile scenic route
0:11:57 > 0:11:59right the way round the peninsula.
0:11:59 > 0:12:00It's really well signposted.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02You could do it in a day, if you like.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Or you could do what I'm doing - take your time and do it over two.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14There are some surprising stop-offs in the Inishowen 100.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Like here, just outside Buncrana,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20where there's a park dedicated to John Newton,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23the wretched sailor whose slave ship was washed ashore here
0:12:23 > 0:12:24and who has gone down in history
0:12:24 > 0:12:27as the composer of the hymn Amazing Grace.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35One of the highest points on the Inishowen 100 route
0:12:35 > 0:12:36is the Mamore Gap,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39which reveals some spectacular views of the Atlantic
0:12:39 > 0:12:42on the way to Malin Head, the northernmost point in Ireland.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45But before I get there,
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I'm stopping off to learn a bit about the local history.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51During the Irish famine,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55the population of Inishowen and Donegal was decimated.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59And the famine village is the brainchild of Pat Doherty,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01who converted his family home into a museum
0:13:01 > 0:13:04that describes the history of the famine
0:13:04 > 0:13:05and the tradition of the Irish wake.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09One of the questions people ask is,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11"Why would you sit beside a dead person for two nights?"
0:13:11 > 0:13:13So we explain to them how it began.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16A fear went across the world, the fear of being buried alive.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19They sat beside the person in the hope the person would wake up.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21And that's why it's called a wake in Ireland,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- sitting round, hoping for the person to wake up.- OK.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30For the final leg of my journey, I'm going to the top of Ireland
0:13:30 > 0:13:33and I'm staying the night at the country's most northerly hotel,
0:13:33 > 0:13:34the Seaview Tavern in Malin.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38It has only three rooms but, as the name suggests,
0:13:38 > 0:13:40they all have a view of the sea.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- RADIO:- The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office
0:13:44 > 0:13:47on behalf of the Maritime And Coastguard Agency...
0:13:47 > 0:13:49Malin is a name that most people recognise
0:13:49 > 0:13:51from the shipping forecast.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53- RADIO:- Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey...
0:13:53 > 0:13:54And this is why.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57These are the instruments that gather the weather data
0:13:57 > 0:13:59for the coastal area of Malin.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02So when you hear the shipping forecast from Malin,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05it's right here that all the information is gathered.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16So, here I am, the most northerly tip of Ireland, Malin Head.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Malin Head is known as Banba's Crown,
0:14:19 > 0:14:21named after the mythical Irish goddess Banba.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27These markings were put on the headland during the Second World War
0:14:27 > 0:14:31to identify it as Irish territory to the aircraft flying overhead.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35But more recently, this spectacular setting was used
0:14:35 > 0:14:37as the location for the latest Star Wars film,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41so the man who runs the local coffee van must have some stories to tell.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Or has he been sworn to secrecy?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Now, I was told I can get a really good coffee in Malin Head.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I didn't believe it, Dominic, but it's true!
0:14:49 > 0:14:50You have to come to the top of the world
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- to get the best coffee in Ireland. - Oh, it's true, it's lovely!
0:14:53 > 0:14:58And I believe there was a pretty big movie shot somewhere around here.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Was there?
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- Yeah!- I couldn't possibly say. - Really?- Really.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05- You didn't hear anything about that? - I didn't hear a thing.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Right. You must have been living under the rocks, then.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10Hm...
0:15:10 > 0:15:11Hm...
0:15:14 > 0:15:15We're on a getaway in Iceland,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18taking advantage of direct flights from Ireland.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22So far, we've explored the wonders of the Golden Circle.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24From tectonic plates...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26..to shooting geysers...
0:15:26 > 0:15:28and gushing waterfalls.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Bathing in volcanically heated hot springs
0:15:35 > 0:15:38dates right back to Viking times in Iceland.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Outdoor pools can be found across the island,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43used by locals and visitors alike.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45But we were inundated with recommendations
0:15:45 > 0:15:47for one in particular.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Well, feast your eyes on this.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56The Blue Lagoon, a man-made oasis in the centre of a black lava field.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59It uses water from a local geothermal plant,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03and National Geographic named it as one of the 25 wonders of the world.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And lucky me, I'm about to get in.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09The Blue Lagoon is made up of six million litres
0:16:09 > 0:16:11of geothermal seawater,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14which has been pushed up from 2,000 metres beneath the Earth's surface.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Some of this water is used by the plant
0:16:16 > 0:16:20to generate electricity and hot water for nearby households.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22So no immersions in Iceland.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24The water is then fed into the lagoon
0:16:24 > 0:16:27and it's rich in minerals like silica and sulphur.
0:16:29 > 0:16:30These minerals are thought to help
0:16:30 > 0:16:32with skin disorders such as psoriasis.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36But it's worth mentioning that they also play havoc with your hair,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39so you will need a lot of conditioner afterwards.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43You may have seen my teeth chattering earlier on
0:16:43 > 0:16:45because it's five degrees outside.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48But in here, it is 38 degrees
0:16:48 > 0:16:50and pure bliss.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Also on site is a cafe, indoor and outdoor loungers,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00and a swim-up bar so you can enjoy the experience all day.
0:17:03 > 0:17:04You may have noticed some pasty white faces
0:17:04 > 0:17:06bobbing up and down in the lagoon there.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08It's not sunscreen that they're wearing.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It is this silica mud mask.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12They say it rejuvenates the skin
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and gives it lots of vitamins and minerals again.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18And I'm a sucker for anything that's going to make me look 20 again.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23The Blue Lagoon is open every day all year, even Christmas Day,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26and you can come here on an organised tour,
0:17:26 > 0:17:27or if you have a hire car,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29it's under an hour's drive from Reykjavik.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31But a word of warning...
0:17:31 > 0:17:34You'll need to book your tickets online in advance
0:17:34 > 0:17:35or you just might not get in.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50For my visit to Iceland, I don't think I was fully prepared
0:17:50 > 0:17:53for some of the weird but wonderful, attractions here.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54Take the Perlan, for example.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56It has a cafe and a restaurant,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58all that you'd expect from a visitors centre.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00But what really intrigues me about it
0:18:00 > 0:18:02is it sits right on top of the city's reservoir.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08This landmark building combines modern architecture
0:18:08 > 0:18:10with practicality.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13These shiny, curved walls are in fact storage tanks,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16each with a capacity to hold over four million litres
0:18:16 > 0:18:18of hot geothermal water.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22The mirrored dome, which sits on top of the tanks,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25is designed to reflect the sun's rays,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27making it stand out on the landscape.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34The building itself is absolutely ingenious, with the added bonus
0:18:34 > 0:18:37of having this viewing platform on the fourth floor
0:18:37 > 0:18:40where you can take in the entire city.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42And it's absolutely breathtaking.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49And there's another draw here for tourists.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52On the top floor of the Perlan, you will find the restaurant.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55It is fine dining and the prices reflect that.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57But you're on your holidays. Treat yourself!
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I don't know if you've noticed this, but the restaurant rotates,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02so you get to take in the entire vista.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04It takes about two hours.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Plenty of time for a couple of rounds, at least.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Iceland's not all about fine dining, Joe.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16I think it's time you tried some traditional Icelandic food.
0:19:16 > 0:19:17Brace yourself!
0:19:17 > 0:19:20- OK, hello, folks.- Hello.- Hi.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- Here...Icelandic food. - There we go.- OK.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Look at that!
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Thank you.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28We bake rye bread every night.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- It takes 10 or 11 hours to bake the bread.- 11-hour bread?- Yes.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- This better be good, then! - It is, try it!
0:19:34 > 0:19:35And here is mashed fish.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37We call it plokkfiskur.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39It is very Icelandic.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41- And this is the shark.- Shark?
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Don't smell it, just taste.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Brennivin is very good with it. The Black Death, you know?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Hang on, you're recommending food that goes well
0:19:48 > 0:19:50- with a drink called Black Death? - Yes.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- Black Death with the shark. - OK.- OK.
0:19:53 > 0:19:54- Enjoy.- Thank you.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- Thank you.- Thank you.- OK.- OK...
0:19:56 > 0:19:58She's right, you don't smell it.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01You see, now I want to.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Would you recommend it, Joe?
0:20:10 > 0:20:12No!
0:20:12 > 0:20:14It's the only thing I don't like about this place.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17It's not bad.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20Some people like it a lot.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- Can I just take a drink of the Black Death?- Yes.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25All right, OK. Skol!
0:20:26 > 0:20:28With tourism booming in Iceland,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31new hotels are popping up all over Reykjavik.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34We stayed at the CenterHotel Midgardur,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37part of a small family-run chain.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40It's a mid-range hotel with only 43 bedrooms,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42which are compact but bright and modern.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47A three-night break here costs from £502 per person sharing,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49including flights.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Or you could stay at Iceland's largest hotel,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55the recently opened four-star Fosshotel, Reykjavik.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58It's close to the city centre and it has a good restaurant.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Three nights' bed-and-breakfast at the Fosshotel, Reykjavik
0:21:03 > 0:21:06costs from £648 per person sharing.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Another tour that rated really high with you guys
0:21:15 > 0:21:17is a trip out to sea for a spot of whale watching.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21There are several companies who offer tours in Reykjavik,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23which depart from the Old Harbour.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26It's a suitable adventure for all the family,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29with regular sightings of humpback, minke and fin whales.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Hopefully, we'll get lucky today.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35I've grabbed tour guide Marcus to find out
0:21:35 > 0:21:37what our chances of a sighting are.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Our summer success is very high.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42We have 98%, almost close to 100%.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45OK, so from May onwards we have a pretty good chance?
0:21:45 > 0:21:48We have a good chance to see dolphins or whales, yes.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Well, we should also tell people that you are not guaranteed,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53because this is their natural habitat,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55so you're not guaranteed to see anything, either.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57We always mention that, that this is wildlife.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00We are here on their terms, in their territory.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04They are not here to entertain us. They are here on their own terms.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06- And we can't argue with that. - No, exactly.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10With that word of advice firmly planted in my mind,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13I find my place at the railings alongside all the other passengers,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15in search of some wildlife action.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21There was great excitement there just a minute ago,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24sightings of a minke whale just over there to my left.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27But with the choppy waters, we've lost him.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29There's still time, though. There's still time.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32We've got one more hour to go, so fingers crossed.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Whale watching tours generally last about two to three hours.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41They are bit pricey, so you'll need to budget for this.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44If you come whale watching between the months of May and October,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47there is a 98% chance that you will see some whales.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Unfortunately, for me,
0:22:49 > 0:22:53I have fallen into the 2% that have seen nothing today.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56But it's worth mentioning that the tour operator
0:22:56 > 0:22:58has given everybody on board a complimentary ticket,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01which lasts for two years, so...
0:23:01 > 0:23:03I'm just going to have to come back. Happy days!
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Reykjavik is renowned for its wild party nightlife.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Here, that basically means going out on the absolute rip.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16And on our social media, an overwhelming amount of you,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19including Deirdre from Limerick and Stephen from Belfast,
0:23:19 > 0:23:21said there's only one bar in Reykjavik to go to.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23The Lebowski Bar.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25- And, of course, we shall abide. - Absolutely.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35The retro American bar pays homage to the famous Coen brothers'
0:23:35 > 0:23:391998 cult film starring Jeff Bridges
0:23:39 > 0:23:41as the White Russian-drinking, avid bowler Dude.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46This is quite possibly one of the greatest bars I've ever been in,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48- being a massive fan of the movie. - Thanks, mate.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51How did the Lebowski Bar happen?
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Well, I just love the film
0:23:53 > 0:23:56and wanted to do something about this theme.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59I wanted to do some American-theme bar also.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I just decided to combine this together and make the Lebowski Bar.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09White Russians are kind of the big thing within the movie
0:24:09 > 0:24:11and you have a wide variety of White Russians,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13all the beers named after characters.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- You've really put the detail in. - Yes, I have.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18We decided, you know, if we're going to do this,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21we're going to go all the way and have a lot of little things that,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25you know, really, Lebowski fans... "Hey, this is from the movie!"
0:24:25 > 0:24:28AS THE DUDE: I like your style, dude!
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Now, it's fair to say Iceland is not famous as a shopping destination,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41but you did have some suggestions.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Recommended to us by Hugh Yeamen in Bangor, County Down, is this,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49the flea market, or as it is known, Kolaportid.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51It takes place every weekend right down by the harbour.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57How good does that look?
0:25:01 > 0:25:03How much is this one?
0:25:03 > 0:25:05You're not going to be troubling Antiques Roadshow any time soon,
0:25:05 > 0:25:09but what you will find is a great array of books, clothing, records,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11general bric-a-brac
0:25:11 > 0:25:13and it has that feeling of being a neighbourhood market.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24A jumper with a cat on it.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27I really want a jumper with a cat on it.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31You also suggested we visit
0:25:31 > 0:25:33one of the most famous record shops in Iceland.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Your wish is my command.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39I'm going to have a look around your store.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41So you may as well just take my wallet now.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- Yes.- Just, you know... - How much money do you have?
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Just, you know, until the bank call you.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- OK.- I'll just... - Yeah, yeah, I'm used to that!
0:25:52 > 0:25:55The 12 Tonar shop is not only a record shop
0:25:55 > 0:25:58but it's also a local record label,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01reflecting the passion of the Icelandic music scene.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05What is it about this record store particularly you think
0:26:05 > 0:26:07that gives you that great reputation?
0:26:07 > 0:26:10I think it's quite an old-fashioned store
0:26:10 > 0:26:12and we're just in it for music, you know?
0:26:12 > 0:26:14We are just...
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Everybody who works here is involved in the music and that's what we...
0:26:18 > 0:26:22I mean, it's not our job, you know? It's more than that. It's our life.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26I think music is very important for Icelanders.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Whenever they come together, they start singing.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33You know, that's just part of being Icelandic.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38A trip to Iceland will inevitably involve taking in nature,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42and the landscape here is beautiful and it's dramatic.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44So... what better way to appreciate it
0:26:44 > 0:26:47than to drive around it in a high-speed, reckless manner?
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Take your protein pills and put your helmet on.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Buggy Adventures offers off-road,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59off-the-beaten-track tours of Iceland
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and the rugged landscape here lends itself perfectly to thrill-seekers.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10They suit you up in overalls and a helmet and, believe me,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13you need the kit, as these buggies are all about driving through dykes,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15ditches and dirt tracks.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27All you need is a valid driving licence
0:27:27 > 0:27:28to take control of these cages.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Or, like me, you can offer some thrills as a passenger.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Congratulations on passing your test
0:27:45 > 0:27:48and good luck to you in your future career as a school bus driver!
0:27:51 > 0:27:53So, Mairead, how was Iceland for you?
0:27:53 > 0:27:55I loved so many things about it, Joe.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58But my highlight was probably the Blue Lagoon.
0:27:58 > 0:28:03In my current pregnant state, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it
0:28:03 > 0:28:05and I even bought the silicon mud mask on the way out.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07- It's why you look so young! - Thank you!
0:28:07 > 0:28:09I have to say I love pretty much everything about Iceland.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11It's one of the most beautiful, fascinating,
0:28:11 > 0:28:13idiosyncratic countries I've ever visited.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15- Do I have to give it marks out of ten?- Yeah.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16I'm going to go nine out of ten.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Iceland, you lose a point for the fermented shark.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- You need to get over the whole shark thing.- Never.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24It's still repeating on me. See you next time on Getaways.