Reykjavik

Iceland's largest church and Reykjavik's defining landmark — the expressionist concrete structure rising 74m modelled on the basalt lava columns of Svartifoss waterfall. The tower lift gives the finest panorama of the city.

Iceland's legendary tourist circuit — the Geysir geothermal field (Strokkur erupts every 5–10 min), the thundering Gullfoss double waterfall, and Þingvellir (the world's first parliament site and Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift valley).

The extraordinary glass and steel concert hall on Reykjavik's harbour — designed by Henning Larsen and Olafur Eliasson, the geometric steel honeycomb facade changes colour with the sky and the northern light.

Reykjavik's largest outdoor geothermal pool complex — locals come here daily regardless of weather, soaking in the hot pots (varying temperatures), waterslides and steam room. The most authentic Icelandic social experience.

Reykjavik's most celebrated seafood restaurant — fresh langoustine, Arctic char and skrei (winter cod) cooked with Japanese-Icelandic fusion techniques in a vaulted 18th-century warehouse.

Sister restaurant to the Fish Market — focused on Icelandic land produce. Whole lamb slowly cooked in a geothermal hot spring, reindeer carpaccio and Iceland-bred wagyu beef.

The most famous hot dog stand in the world — a red trailer in the old harbour car park that has served the same lamb hot dog since 1937. Bill Clinton ate here; so does the President of Iceland.

Casual Nordic fish restaurant specialising in pan-fried fish — the daily catch is served in a cast-iron skillet with salted butter, seasonal vegetables and excellent Icelandic rye bread.

The most talked-about new restaurant in Reykjavik — natural wines, Nordic fermented vegetables and small plates of Iceland-foraged ingredients in the old harbour fishing district.

Reykjavik's beloved craft beer bar — Kaldi brewery's own lagers and ales on draught, plus Icelandic craft beers from Borg Brewery and Segull 67.

The Reykjavik outpost of the legendary Danish craft brewery — 20 rotating taps of Mikkeller's experimental beers alongside local Icelandic guest taps.

Reykjavik's most stylish bar in a converted 19th-century pharmacy — original pharmacy fittings, Nordic design, and one of the finest cocktail lists in Iceland.

Iceland's finest specialty coffee roaster — single-origin espresso and filter coffee in a Scandi-minimal shophouse on a quiet street in the old city.

Reykjavik's most beloved bakery — sourdough baked on Icelandic hot spring heat, the finest cinnamon buns in the country, and skyr pastries.

The world's most northerly heated beach — a man-made golden sand cove where geothermal water is pumped into the sea to bring the temperature to a swimmable 15–19°C. A uniquely Icelandic experience.

Iceland's most dramatic coast — Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the waterfall), Skógafoss (82m drop), the black volcanic sand beach at Reynisfjara and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. A 4-hour drive but extraordinary.

Reykjavik is one of the best cities in the world for aurora borealis access — a 30-minute drive from the city and the northern lights fill the sky on clear nights with solar activity.

The world's most famous geothermal spa — the Blue Lagoon's otherworldly milky-blue 38°C water is rich in silica and algae. 50 minutes from Reykjavik and on the route to the airport.

Faxaflói Bay just outside Reykjavik harbour is home to humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises — one of the most accessible whale watching sites in the world.

Snorkelling in Silfra Fissure — the crack between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, filled with glacial meltwater filtered through lava for decades. Visibility is 100m+ in water so clear it appears blue even in open air.