The capital and largest city of Iceland is Reykjavik, which may be found along the shore. As well as being a major tourist attraction, it serves as the heart of Icelandic culture and daily life. It houses the National and Saga museums, which document the Viking era in Iceland. The sea and adjacent hills can be seen in their entirety from the church’s rotating glass dome, Perlan. Close to the town of Grindavik, the geothermal Blue Lagoon spa is a prime example of the island’s volcanic activity.
Being able to explore Reykjavik on foot is a major plus. Visitors to the city have their pick of numerous museums, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. The city’s thermal baths and pools provide the ultimate in relaxation, so shopping is a must as well. Taking a tour outside of the capital will show you the wide variety of Iceland’s natural landscapes, from verdant valleys to arid highlands, roaring waterfalls to silent, mysterious glaciers, rocky coastlines to smooth sand dunes, and steaming hot springs to soothing geothermal baths.
Days with clear skies in Reykjavk have the feel of last-minute vacations. Austurvöllur, the green space in front of Parliament, is teeming with sunbathers and picnickers; locals and visitors alike meander up and down Laugavegur, the main street, shopping, stopping for coffee, and people watching. When happy hour arrives, the thirsty crowd lines up outside for the few available seats. Buskers serenading pedestrians, impromptu performances by visual artists, and even a magically materializing marching band are just some of the possibilities.
