Reykjavik

Reykjavík is situated on the southwestern coast of Iceland and although it’s the northernmost capital of the world, it has a mild climate because of its proximity to the Gulf Stream. It only has a population of 117,000 people and is smaller than most major European cities. But Reykjavík is still teeming with activity. The city’s official tourist site keeps track of the city’s upcoming events and gives a taste for what life is like in the north’s nightlife capital. On this site you can view an interactive map (just click on the button on the site’s homepage), take a look through a Web cam, or go to the “360 Degree Tours” area for full views of some of the city’s main attractions.

Hallgrímskirkja is a striking feature in Reykjavik’s skyline. This avant garde building was named after the poet Hallgrímur Pétursson and took almost 40 years to complete. You can read more and see photos of the building on its Wikipedia page.

The University of Iceland used to be housed in the current seat of Iceland’s parliament and less than 50 students were enrolled, but more recently the campus has grown to 8,000 and expanded to a larger location. The current campus is home to the National Library which has an impressive online collection of old maps of Iceland (choose “English” at the upper right corner of the page to read the site in English), turn-of-the-century publications and ancient texts.

Just outside the Reykjavík city limits is the Blue Lagoon, a small lake warmed by a nearby lava field. The site is one of Iceland’s most popular destinations, visited by locals and tourists alike who enjoy the warm, mineral-rich water. You can visit the official Web site of the Blue Lagoon spa to take a virtual tour of the lake and learn more about its selling points.

In the tradition of light festivals held in the north, Reykjavík’s Winter Lights Festival occurs in the dead of winter when the days are short and the nights are long. It anticipates spring and longer daylight and brings everyone out of their houses and into the streets to enjoy performances and lights shows. This link lets you look at a panoramic view of the event and watch a clip of the light show to see the fun.