Reykjavik is the furthest north of any capital city in the world, and is only just outside the arctic circle. Staying there are any time of year can be a slightly strange experience for those who are used to more temperate climes. In the middle of winter, Reykjavic gets about four hours of sunlight per day. In the middle of summer, the nights are almost as bright as the days, which can take some getting used to.
But it’s worth it. There are a number of unique sites to see, and a lot of them are connected (directly or indirectly) with the climate and the ways that the locals have learned to cope with it! One of Iceland’s most popular destinations is the Blue Lagoon spa. An unusual nearby lava formation provides superheated water that drives a geothermal power plant, and the after that the warm but cooling waters are pumped into the lagoon, making it one of the biggest and best bathing pools in the world.
The same use of hot water has created the Nauthólsvík, a rather balmy beach that is distinct from Iceland’s other beaches because it won’t freeze you solid in ten seconds flat. Then there’s the Pearl, a large public exhibition centre and market built around the base of a cluster of huge hot-water tanks. The Pearl also commands spectacular panoramic views of the city, and one of the smaller water-tanks has recently been emptied and turned into the Saga Museum of Icelandic history. If it’s history your after, you won’t ever feel much closer to it than by visiting the Reykjavic Museum’s excavated Viking longhouse right in the heart of the city.
On the plus side, the city isn’t actually as cold as you might expect – it’s pretty chilly, but the average low of about 2.7 Celsius (37 Fahrenheit) isn’t anywhere near as extreme as the latitude suggests, mainly because the city is right in the path of the Gulf Stream. Reykjavik’s climate is part of its attraction, and if you’re after a great time, but are sick of melting ice cream and sunburn, it might be the place for you! It’s a great place to see in the New Year, because a celebratory provision in Icelandic law makes it legal for just about anyone to buy fireworks and set them off on New Year’s Eve. A large percentage of the population is delighted at the oppurtunity, and the city traditionally goes a little bit firework-mad, leading to one of the biggest and most anarchic firework displays in the world.