The sagas of the Vikings were written in Iceland, a land of glaciers, geysers, and erupting volcanoes, where nature’s geological processes play out before your eyes. Its capital, Reykjavik, is pollution-free and buildings and swimming pools are heated by geothermal water. Take the Golden Circle tour to see Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir geothermal area, and walk on the Continental Divide at Thingvellir National Park.
The Kingdom of Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland and an archipelago of 474 islands. Home to one of the oldest monarchies in the world, its history is rooted in the Viking Age. The capital is Copenhagen—Denmark’s cultural center—with cobblestone streets and royal palaces as a backdrop to daily life in this small modern city.