Vacations with your loved one are always a nice break far away from the stresses of the world. Unfortunately equality is not yet in place so sometimes a vacation can be more stressful for your everyday life. Thankfully, we found some of the top gay friendly vacation spots in the world and so for the next ten weeks we’ll let you in on our vacation secrets.
This week we are featuring Reykjavík the capital city of Iceland. They have one of Europe’s oldest gay pride parades- this year they will be celebrating their 17th gay pride parade. They have also allowed same sex couples the same freedoms and rights as hetero sexual couples since 2006. Can we also mention all of the beautiful things to do there? From hot springs to northern lights to exploring volcanoes. This is definitely a place that you need to see.
Where to stay:
You’ll definitely want to stay at the 101 Hotel. It’s right in the heart of the city so you don’t have to worry about needing to find a way back to the real centre as some do when they travel and get hotels on the outskirts. You’ll really get that North European minimalist yet luxurious feel with it. They offer just about everything you need in the hotel as well. When you’re done sleeping you can walk out and enjoy the sights.
Where to eat:
Kaloportid flea market is hands down the place to go if you’re looking for authentic Icelandic food. It’s full of Scandinavian music and lots of fun. When travelling and looking for a place to eat your first thought may be to go to a restaurant but to really immerse yourself in the culture this is where you’ll want to go.
If you aren’t into walking around the market then I’m sure you’ve heard about Icelandic Fish and Chips. Located right by the harbor and family owned it’s a great place to go for the best fish, chips, beers, juices and even champagne. Iceland knows how to do it right.
One more option if you plan on making it a fancy dinner is to go to Dill which is a world renowned restaurant operated by a world renowned chef. You’ll get the higher end delicacies that Iceland has to offer.
Where to drink:
In Iceland, just about anywhere. All of the restaurants offer their renowned beer and huge selections of schnapps, wine and champagne. For something special however check out Slippbarinn for custom made cocktails every night. It’s located at the Reykjavik Hotel Marina but the ratio of locals to hotel guests is equal because it’s one of those places you want to be.
What to do:
Where do we begin? Whale watching, geysers, volcanoes, ice caves, the blue lagoon and the Northern Lights are all things you’ll definitely want to do. Find a local or a tour guide and make sure you get everything in. You don’t want to miss out on that.
Or if you go in September you can attend Bears on Ice a gay get together that happens as you get to explore what Icelandic culture is all about.
