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I’ve been to some incredible places around the world – I’ve scuba dived in Bermuda and jumped from a plane over Far North Queensland, ridden camels in the Dubai desert and explored the bone-lined catacombs of Paris, but Iceland holds an extra special place in my heart.

This small Nordic country, a stepping stone between Norway and Greenland, was the last place I travelled before the world was plunged into lockdown, but what a swan song it was. From snow-dusted black sand beaches and majestic waterfalls to the dancing glow of the Northern Lights and the unfailingly cheerful Icelandic people, this geothermal island, first settled by Norwegian vikings, reveals delight after quirky delight.

So much so, time-pressed travellers may find it hard to narrow down their itinerary, so here’s my pick of 5 things to love about Iceland.

5 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT ICELAND

THE LEGENDARY BLUE LAGOON:

Arguably the most famous island attraction is the Blue Lagoon. Many (including me) are surprised to discover this network of baby-blue bathing pools is not a natural phenomenon. Rather, it’s a clever gimmick to use excess water that has been warmed to a toasty 37-39 degrees at the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant.

The lagoon itself may be man made, but the water is rich in silica and sulphur and bathers swear by its moisturising and rejuvenating effects. There’s a swim-up bar for drinks, and a kiosk where they’ll give you a dollop of mud mask to spread over your face.

While a definite ‘must-see’, the Blue Lagoon is, not surprisingly, a tourist hot spot (no pun intended). If you prefer something more secluded, look at booking a day at the Retreat Spa, which has a more private lagoon for guests to use. Or – if you really want to indulge yourself – look at booking the luxury suite Lava Cove near Blue Lagoon.

A DARK & BROODING BEACH:

Iceland was pushed up from the ocean by the clashing of the tectonic plates beneath it, giving it an endless wealth of geothermal energy (Reykjavik translates to smoky bay, so named after Viking explorers noticed rising plumes of steam coming from the island). This geothermal underbelly is also what gives Iceland its 33 active volcanoes and distinctive alien-like landscape.

The starkly beautiful Reynisfjara black sand beach is in Vik, around an hour and 40 minutes south of Reykjavik. On any given day it feels like you’ve stepped into a black and white photograph, but on the day I visited it was also snowing to boot. Fluffy white clumps were settling on the ground, leaving the famous volcanic black sands with a surreal ‘salt-and-pepper’ effect.

CHASING WATERFALLS:

It’s impossible to capture the true majesty of a waterfall in a photo, which is why seeing the Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls in real life is a must. Standing at their base, the mist coating your skin and creating colourful rainbows, you can’t help but marvel at their sheer power.

At Seljalandsfoss you can even walk behind the waterfall. Queues can be lengthy and the path slippery though, so make sure you’ve got good walking shoes, waterproof clothing and plenty of time.

ADMIRE THE RIVERS OF ICE

There aren’t many places where you can take a stroll alongside a slow-moving river of snow and ice, but the magnificent Sólheimajökull glacier is one. It’s a short walk along a snowy path and past a frozen lagoon to reach Sólheimajökull, which is the tail end of the larger Mýrdalsjökull icecap and passes between not one, but two volcanoes – Eyjafjallajökull (the one that famously erupted in 2010, creating an ash cloud that wreaked havoc with international flights) and Katla.

Sadly, every day there’s less of the glacier to see, as climate change means it’s shrinking more than 200 feet a year.

EMBRACE THE QUIRKY LOCAL CULTURE:

Reykjavik is fun and contemporary, but still retains its charming village feel. First settled by Norwegian Vikings and later built up by Danish traders, there’s a mix of postcard-pretty Scandinavian cottages and practical corrugated iron homes.

In summer the temperatures top out around 12 degrees, but only sink to a reasonable -1 in winter. Without the lush green parks and tree-lined streets many towns use to soften their urban edges, Reykjavik uses loops of fairy lights to create magically twinkly views throughout the city centre.

Locals have learned to embrace the long winters with low lighting, plush textiles and darkly-painted walls. The relative isolation of Iceland and its sometimes gruelling weather conditions encourages the community to pull together and focus on the ‘simple pleasures’; food, family and having fun.

There are loads of fun and funky restaurants and cafés to try. If you’re feeling daring, find a traditional Icelandic restaurant who’ll prepare their famous national dish of Kæstur hákarl – shark flesh left to ferment, then hung out to dry and carved into yellow cubes. Yummy!

Afterwards, turn your eyes upwards and try to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights twisting and dancing through the night sky. The perfect finale to your incredible Icelandic day.

• if you enjoyed ‘5 Things to Love About Iceland’, read Waterlogged London

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5 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT ICELAND