18 Nights New York to Reykjavik

The ‘City that Never Sleeps’ beckons — renowned museums and sites galore by day; the glittering sophistication of clubs, theaters and restaurants by night. Explore Chinatown, Greenwich Village, the United Nations, Central Park’s Museum Mile and Wall Street’s towering steel and glass monuments to commerce, then hop into a cab for an afternoon of world-class shopping along Park and Fifth Avenues.

Welcoming travelers to an innovative and historic cityscape, Nova Scotia’s Halifax offers excellent dining and friendly maritime smiles. Tour Halifax Citadel or take a stroll along the historic waterfront or through the delightful Public Gardens, the oldest Victorian gardens in Canada. Lobster and seafood are local specialties and always tempting to the taste-buds.. The Micmac Indians, called the area ‘Chebuctook’, meaning Great Long Harbor and the city’s ideal location on one of the largest natural harbors in the world made it a strategic asset for convoys in both world wars. Scenic Dartmouth lies on the opposite shore and can be visited by crossing on the oldest saltwater ferry in Canada.

Poised on Cape Breton Island, Sydney is your gateway to the scenic and historic attractions of the Cape Breton Highlands, and the incredible Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, Canada’s largest historical reconstruction. Once known as the “Gibraltar of the New World”, the Fortress of Louisbourg, site of momentous 18th-century battles between the competing empires of France and Great Britain, has been restored to exactly as it looked in 1740. Sydney charms the traveler with harbor views along The Boardwalk and at the nearby summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, now an enlightening museum.

The largest city in Greenland, Nuuk is the cultural and economic center of the country. Explore the picturesque colonial harbor with its quaint old buildings and the newly renovated market where locals sell their daily catch. Greenland’s history comes alive in the National Museum, and its culture thrives in the Nuuk Museum of Art and the Katuaq Cultural Centre. Nuuk’s extensive fjord system is home to many whales, and the area is also populated by seals, reindeer, arctic foxes, arctic hares and ravens.

This colorful fishing village is rich with Inuit culture and a strong connection to the sea. Learn about the town’s history and culture on a guided tour revealing archaeological discoveries that indicate the area was inhabited as far back as 1500 BCE. Explore the stunning coastline on a ferry and perhaps catch a glimpse of the minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales and orcas that swim in pods in the surrounding waters. Bring home handicrafts made from local materials such as oxen wool, mussel shells, soapstone, reindeer antlers and precious stones are available in small souvenir shops.

Nestled within a mountainous landscape of Greenland, Narsaq is home to some of the world’s rarest minerals, which many of you will find fascinating. Among them is the Tugtupite, a rare, semi-precious stone that glows under UV light. Gourmands won’t want to miss toasting with locally brewed Qajaq beer crafted with ice-age water from the surrounding icebergs. As a place less visited, Narsaq has plenty of treasures that are not well-known, such as Norse ruins buried in the valleys.

This charming, colorful town has a pleasant center with a small square featuring Greenland’s oldest fountain. The culture project Stone and Man can be seen as an open invitation to explore the town to find the 30 different motifs that are chiseled into rocks and stones by local and Scandinavian artists. The Church of Our Savior from 1832 and the town’s two museums are also well worth a visit. Try traditional Greenlandic suaasat, an Inuit wild game soup made with rice, onions, and potatoes. Shop for local arts and crafts inspired by legends of the Inuit culture, such as the tupilak, a small carved figure representing powerful mythical magic.

Sitting at the mouth of the impossibly picturesque Tasermiut Fjord, Nanortalik (“place with polar bears”) is Greenland’s southernmost town and popular locale for rock climbers seeking towering granite peaks. Founded in 1797 as a trading depot, it boasts a well-preserved colonial port area, friendly locals and colossal vistas. On a city walk, tour the ten buildings of Nanortalik Museum for authentic insights into the Norse, Danish and Inuit people who settled Greenland, plus the world’s oldest umiak (sealskin boat). Venture to the Qinngua Valley, where the willows and birches of Greenland’s only forest tower above all other vegetation, or the blissfully hot springs of Uunartoq.

Discover the dazzling natural beauty of Isafjordur. With its striking steep mountains on three sides rising dramatically around a gorgeous bay, this is one of the most awe-inspiring places on Earth. Trace the area’s history with a visit to the Maritime Museum in one of the oldest buildings dating back to the 18th century. A delightfully urban atmosphere prevails with major music schools, free concerts and festivals. Bring home fine handmade woolen items, nautical-themed articles, as well as arts and crafts. Feast on fresh baked goods and coffee at one of the many cafés.

Explore the big city amenities and small village charm of Akureyri, on the shores of one of the world’s longest fjords encircled by dramatic snow-capped mountains. As you stroll into town visit the newly built “temple of culture,” HOF, which houses a theater, music hall, restaurant as well as the Tourist Information Center. Marvel at the variety of Arctic plants in the Botanical Garden of Akureyri. Stroll along Arts’ Alley meandering through the museum, galleries and artists’ studios. Enjoy the tax-free shop in the town center. Look for fine woolen knitwear, handmade ceramics, glassware, and silver jewelry.

While the small fishing town of Grundarfjörður is itself a charming place to peruse, it’s perhaps most well-known due its proximity to the most photographed mountain in all of Iceland. Mt. Kirkjufell (Church Mountain) was shaped across millions of years by the force of two glaciers, and today its steeple-like peak casts dramatic shadows at the edge of the sea. A three-pronged waterfall called Kirkjufellsfoss (Church Mountain Falls), often favored as a foreground, completes the epic scene. Visit the town’s information center for exhibits celebrating Grundarfjörður’s importance to Snæfellsnes Peninsula history, as well as photographs by Icelander Bæring Cecilsson (1923-2002).

Just as Iceland is a unique country, rugged and remote, yet modern and enjoying Nordic standards of affluence, so Reykjavik is a beautifully diverse capital city. As Iceland’s capital and its main center of population, the city of Reykjavik offers a fascinating mixture of the traditional and the very technically advanced. In addition, its natural beauty leaves a lasting impression. Visit the remarkable solfatara fields of Krýsuvík where you’ll discover an expanse of steaming volcanic vents and boiling hot springs, framed dramatically by a range of multi-colored hills.