Suðurver

Perlan sits on top of Öskjuhlíð hill, crowned with a shimmering glass dome built on six giant hot water tanks. Inside, the museum explores Iceland's natural wonders with interactive exhibits, a planetarium and a real indoor ice cave. A viewing deck wraps around the dome, giving wide views over Reykjavík, the sea and the mountains.

The beach is busiest in summer, but the hot tubs are also used by hardy locals in cooler months, and there is a café on site. Bring a towel and swimsuit, and use the changing rooms. It is easily combined with a walk or cycle along the coastal path or a visit to Perlan, a short distance away.

Rising above the rooftops of central Reykjavík, Hallgrímskirkja is the city's most recognisable building. Its stepped concrete tower is shaped to echo the basalt columns found across Iceland, and the white façade is visible from almost every corner of the capital. Inside, the church is plain and airy, with a huge organ dominating the hall.