It’s no secret by now that Iceland’s laid-back, diminutive capital punches way above its weight on pretty much every level. It’s ostensibly a cosmopolitan and highly progressive fishing village, home to more than half of the country’s 300,000 citizens, as well as a slew of expats and a constant stream of visitors all year round.
Its tiny downtown area can be walked in less than a day and yet a surprisingly diverse array of cultural treats — first-class museums featuring mediaeval sagas and thrilling Viking history, edgy art galleries and particularly peppy music and nightlife scenes — mean you can easily spend weeks here without getting bored. The gastronomic scene offers a truly global range of cuisines, people are friendly and worldly, and there are geothermal pools to bathe in. An increasingly well-developed harbour area with an eye-catching concert hall, plus a range of day-trip options to lunar lava fields, majestic waterfalls and spouting geysers add to Reykjavik’s undeniable charm.
For more Reykjavik inspiration, see our guides to the best hotels, restaurants, bars and things to do.
