Reykjavik, Iceland

1. Perlan

Perlan is an elegant revolving restaurant located on the top floor of the Pearl, Reykjavik’s dome-shaped glass building. Designed by Ingimundur Sveinsson, the dome is supported by six massive hot-water tanks and houses the Saga Museum, a winter garden and viewing deck, and the restaurant and bar on the top floor. The restaurant offers guests a unique and luxurious dining experience, in which they gently rotate around the circumference of the dome as the restaurant revolves, offering breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of the city.

Five-star elegance with superlative service to match, the menu provides a variety of local meat and seafood dishes with an international touch, such as smoked trout with wagame salad and wasabi ice cream. An impressive wine list accompanies the outstanding cuisine and spectacular views to make for an unforgettable date night in Iceland. (Perlan, Phone: +354 562 0200)

2. Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center

The Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center is one of the best places in the world to learn about the Northern Lights. The center is divided into a number of sections detailing the history of the Northern Lights, famous legends and stories surrounding the Lights and captivating Northern Lights photography from around the world.

Interactive displays take you on a journey back through time to learn about how the Lights have affected cultures around the world and a specially equipped ‘photo booth’ teaches you how to adjust your camera to capture the best images of the auroras yourself. A modern theater shows a 13-minute HD film that features some of the most magnificent auroral displays seen over Iceland, accompanied by soft music to create a relaxing and serene experience (Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center, Phone: +354 780 4500).

3. The Settlement Exhibition

Reykjavik 871 +/-2 The Settlement Exhibition is a fascinating display about life in Viking times, based on archeological remains that were excavated in Aðalstræti in 2001. The remains were discovered to be the oldest relics of human habitation in Reykjavík, with fragments found dating to before 871 AD, as well as a longhouse dating back to the 10th century.

Reykjavik 871 +/-2 The Settlement Exhibition is one of the best things to do in Reykjavik. Using multimedia and digital technology, the exhibition showcases what life would have been like at the time of the first settlers in Iceland, displaying a variety of interesting artifacts found from archeological excavations in central Reykjavík. Touch screens provide information about the Vikings, and other North Atlantic cultures. (The Settlement Exhibition, Phone: +354 411 6370).

4. Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach

Established to create an outdoor recreational area for people to sunbathe, sail and swim in the sea, Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach has fast become a haven for both summer and winter outdoor fun for locals and visitors alike. The beach has hot-tubs, as well as steam-bath, changing facilities and showers. Sea swimming, which has long been an Icelandic past time, is possible even during the winter months. If you are looking for things to do in Reykjavik with kids, head to this unique beach.

5. Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

The Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is a concert hall and conference center in the heart of the city that hosts a variety of concert performances and events throughout the year. Located by the old harbor and overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean, the new concert hall was designed by renowned visual artist Olafur Eliasson to echo Iceland‘s dramatic and dynamic natural surroundings with a gleaming glass façade that reflects the sea, sky, and city. Home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre has four halls, the largest of which can accommodate up to 1,800 guests. The Center also features a spacious exhibition area, some smaller meeting rooms equipped with state-of–the-art equipment for corporate functions and private events, and catering services.

6. Hallgrimskirkja Church

Standing sentry above Reykjavík, Hallgrimskirkja Church is the city’s principal landmark, whose tower can be seen from everywhere in the city. Designed by Guðjón Samuel in 1937, the church’s most striking feature is the tower, which is an architectural gem that climbs into the sky. Inside, the second most notable feature of the church is the massive pipe organ, which stands 15m tall and weighs 25 tons.

7. Hotel Holt

Located in a quiet street in the heart of Reykjavík, Hotel Holt offers stylish accommodations, award-winning dining, and outstanding service. The hotel is also home to Iceland´s largest privately owned art collection, with works adorning guest rooms and public areas within the hotel. Beautifully appointed guest rooms include single, double and superior rooms, as well as luxury suites. Rooms are elegantly decorated in a European style, enjoy spacious en-suite bathrooms and feature modern amenities, including flat screen televisions, mini bars, coffee machines and complimentary Wi-Fi. The award-winning Gallery Restaurant and Bar are renowned for their superlative cuisine and fine wines served in a luxurious and refined setting. Relax with a drink at the Gamli Bar at Hotel Holt before or after dinner or book a private dining room for a special event. Relax in the beautiful library with a cognac after dinner where an extensive collection of rare and favorite books can be enjoyed, as well as an array of wonderful artwork.

8. The National Museum of Iceland

The National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands) celebrates the history and culture of the Icelandic people with a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions, photographic collections, and interactive displays. The museum’s main permanent exhibition, ‘Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland’ features over 2,000 objects and more than 1,000 photographs dating from the Settlement Age to the present, with one of the main objects being the Valþjófsstaður door, a celebrated Viking carving depicting a version of the Lion-Knight legend. The museum boasts a Museum Café, a shop, and a collection of historic buildings that form part of the museum’s collection. If you are wondering what to do in Reykjavik, Iceland on a rainy day, this is a great place to visit (The National Museum of Iceland, Phone: +354 530 2200).

9. Reykjavik Residence Hotel

Reykjavik Residence Hotel is a luxurious boutique apartment hotel located in the fashionable ‘101’ district of downtown Reykjavik that offers discerning travelers a comfortable home-away-from-home experience. Seventeen elegant apartments are provided in a variety of styles, ranging from neat studio apartments to junior suites, and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for families. Apartments are cozy and inviting with private bathrooms boasting showers and bathtubs, fully equipped kitchenettes with modern essentials, spacious living and dining areas and deluxe amenities, including flat screen televisions and free Wi-Fi. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of the main shopping streets of Laugarvegur and Skolavordustigur, where there are a number of restaurants, cafés, bars and nightclubs for evening entertainment, as well as stores, museums, and art galleries (Reykjavik Residence Hotel, Phone: +354 561 1200).

10. Imagine Peace Tower

The Imagine Peace Tower (Friðarsúlan, meaning "the peace column") is a memorial of light erected by Yoko Ono in honor of her late husband, John Lennon. Located on Viðey Island in Kollafjörður Bay, the memorial consists of vertical shafts of light projected from a white stone monument.

This iconic statue has the words “Imagine Peace” carved into the stone in 24 languages. The base of the Imagine Peace Tower consists of a 10-meter wide wishing well out of which 15 powerful shafts of light shoot vertically up into the air. Ono gathered over one million written wishes from people around the world which are buried under the tower.