This article originally appeared in Travel+Leisure.
Iceland has quickly become one of the top travel destinations in the world, but it still feels like a well-kept secret. Perhaps that's because of its stunning natural beauty, or the swaths of open land with nothing but Icelandic horses and occasional waterfalls to remind you that you aren't completely alone. It is a country of not only natural wonder, but also thriving local culture, known for hospitality and a strong national pride in its history and mythology.
From the Blue Lagoon to the iconic Skogafoss waterfall, Iceland's scenery is the stuff of legend — sometimes quite literally, as many of its most well-known destinations have been referenced in Viking mythology and classic literature. When you visit, prepare to be awash in natural beauty; around every bend in the road is another vista so gorgeous it doesn't seem quite real.