Reykjavik

Northern lights, geysers, hot springs and dramatic volcanic landscapes.

Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital and one of its smallest, but it occupies an outsized place in the global travel imagination. The Icelandic city is really a village-sized urban centre, but its position as the base for exploring Iceland's extraordinary natural wonders — the Northern Lights, geysers, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and the Midnight Sun — makes it one of the most visited cities relative to its size. The city itself is charming rather than spectacular. The Hallgrímskirkja church, whose concrete spire is visible from everywhere and modelled on Iceland's basalt lava columns, anchors the skyline. The Harpa Concert Hall, a glass-and-steel structure on the waterfront designed by Ólafur Elíasson and Henning Larsen, is architecturally striking. The National Museum of Iceland and the Settlement Exhibition (excavated Viking longhouse beneath the city centre) provide the essential historical context. The real draw is the landscape. The Golden Circle — Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall — is a classic day trip from the city. The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (book ahead) is a global icon. The South Coast, Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Westfjords offer progressively more dramatic and less visited landscapes. September to March offers Northern Lights opportunities; June to August gives the Midnight Sun. Iceland is very expensive; budget accordingly.