Reykjavík

Iceland's capital has about 140,000 people in the city proper (230,000 in the greater area), and you can walk the entire downtown in an hour. Hallgrímskirkja church is the landmark — the tower observation deck (1,000 ISK) gives you the best city overview. Laugavegur is the main shopping and nightlife street.

The restaurant scene is strong for a city this size. Grillið, Dill (Iceland's only Michelin-starred restaurant), and Grillmarkaðurinn are at the top end. For something cheaper, Bæjarins Beztu pylsur hot dog stand is a rite of passage, and the Hlemmur Mathöll food hall has good variety. The Old Harbour area has whale watching operators (3-hour tours from about 12,000 ISK) and several seafood restaurants.

Most people use Reykjavík as a base for day trips to the Golden Circle, south coast, and Snæfellsnes. The city itself deserves at least a full day — the National Museum, Harpa concert hall, Sun Voyager sculpture, and the swimming pools (Vesturbæjarlaug and Sundhöllin are the most central) are all worth your time. The nightlife on weekends is famously lively, especially on Laugavegur after midnight.