Experience Skálholt’s 1000-year history. Skálholt is Iceland’s first episcopal established in 1056. Skálholt served as the country’s capital for 750 years. It was a centre of administrative power, higher education and culture. Around the year 1200, over 100 people lived in Skálholt, making it the country’s first population centre.  In the cathedral basement is an exhibition on Skálholt’s history by the National Museum of Iceland.

The country’s largest church once stood there; however, the present and smaller Skálholt Cathedral from 1963 is well worth visiting. It’s known for its beautiful artwork, such as stoned windows and an altarpiece by renowned Icelandic women artists Gerður Helgadóttir and Nína Tryggvadóttir.  Concerts are often held at the cathedral, including the annual Summer Music Festival.

Hotel Skálholt and Restaurant Hvönn are located in Skálholt. A variety of accommodation is available and the menu has a modern twist to local ingredients. Open from 10am – 8pm all year round.

Ten ideas for recreation on and around the Golden Circle:

1. Þingvellir is on the Golden Circle route where you can also discover other natural treasures such as Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot spring and Kerið crater lake.
2. Get wet! Apart from the area’s many swimming pools, it includes famous dive site Silfra, Laugarvatn Fontana Spa and the Secret Lagoon.
3. Hike or bike Reykjadalur, the hot river valley trail off Hveragerði, bathe in the hot river (where it’s safe), boil an egg in a hot spring and taste bread baked in the warm ground.
4. Visit a greenhouse! Learn about the eco-village Sólheimar, the production of tomatoes at Friðheimar, mushrooms at Flúðir and taste their curious culinary creations.
5. The region is known for its geothermal energy and its seismic activity. We recommend trying the earthquake simulator in Hveragerði.
6. Imagine what it was like living in a cave!. At Laugarvatnshellar you can take a guided tour of humanmade caves where an ordinary Icelandic family (the Cave People) lived in the last century.
7. Learn all about the Icelandic horse at shows at Friðheimar, through stable visits at Sólvangur, and riding tours with one of the horse farms in the area, like Eldhestar near Hveragerði.
8. History comes to life in the charming old houses in Eyrarbakki and in the new Selfoss Centre. At Árnesinga Folk Museum, it’s easy to picture village life in the past.
9. Have delicious Icelandic lobster (or langoustine, as it’s called) for lunch or dinner in one of the region’s coastal towns, Stokkseyri or Eyrarbakki.
10. Do a culinary tour of the region, taste traditional skyr at Skyrland in Selfoss or the Skyr factory in Hveragerði, visit micro-breweries, delight in handmade chocolates and – surprise, surprise – Ethiopian food!

For more information and travel tips, go to www.south.is