Reykjavik
The Capital of Cool - Reykjavik and its neighboring communities have a population of around 170,000 and offers an interesting mix of cosmopolitan culture and local village roots. Throbbing with life day and night, all year round, Reykjavik has something for everyone. The salmon river, wild parks and outdoor areas provide beautiful scenery but there are also plenty of city entertainments here: art museums, theaters, opera house, a symphony orchestra and live concerts.
Walking distances are short downtown and anything worth seeing outside the city center can be reached quickly and cheaply on bus.
Akureyri
At first sight, Iceland's second largest city appears like it was transplanted from the Swiss Alps. It sits on the southwestern shores of the North coast's Eyjafjordur Fjord, one of the most breathtaking fjords in all of Iceland. The mountains are capped by snow all year round and are great for skiing and snowboarding.
One of the most extraordinary aspects of Akureyri is the warm climate. Although it sits only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, it has some of the best weather in Iceland. Summer temperatures can rise to the high 20's (60°C), making the city a popular destination for weekend breaks.
Akureyki also has its fair share of museums, including a folk museum, Natural History museum and museums set in the homes of Matthias Jochumsson and Jon Sveinsen - two of Iceland's most famous literary figures.
Westmann Isles
The Westmann Isles are Iceland's newest and most important group of islands. About 5000 years ago, the Westmann Isles were bubbling and blasting their way to the surface. Because of their youth, they are among the most ruggedly beautiful islands in the world, known for their sheer cliffs and huge bird populations (there are 10 million puffins alone).
Surtsey, the world's youngest island, is part of the Westmann Isles. Heimey is the largest of the Westmann Isles and is home to the only populated town of the same name. Heimey was almost destroyed when a nearby volcano erupted in 1973. Luckily, the island was spared as Heimey is the country's most important fishing center.
The best way to see the islands is by boat (tours can be arranged from Heimey). The surrounding waters are filled with Orcas and whales and there are huge echoing caves that the boats can actually enter. Surtsey is unfortunately off limits because of its value as a living laboratory illustrating how life develops on new land.
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