Þjóðbraut

Grótta lighthouse stands at the far tip of the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, on a small island linked to the mainland by a narrow tidal causeway. The orange-and-white tower is surrounded by grass, rocks and seabirds, with the sea on every side and a wide sweep of coastline toward the mountains across the bay.

Mount Esja rises across the bay from Reykjavík, its long ridge changing colour with the light and the seasons. Several marked trails climb its slopes from a car park at the foot, and the views back across the bay to the capital, the sea and the mountains get better with every step.

Whales of Iceland is an indoor exhibition in the Grandi harbour district, where more than twenty life-sized whale models hang and stand through a darkened hall. Walking between them, you can appreciate just how enormous creatures like blue whales and sperm whales really are. An audio guide explains the species that visit Icelandic waters.