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搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办 and its surroundings are a magnificent theme park of adventure and beauty. The city itself offers vibrant culture, fresh flavors, fantastic shopping and nightlife as long as the summer nights. Just outside the capital you'll see geologic wonders found no place else, including hot springs, volcanoes and pristine coastlines. On top of that, you can enjoy soaring mountains, lava fields, brilliant hiking, horseback riding, adventure sports and more 鈥� these are days to savor and remember. 

Embrace the best of Iceland's capital with these top things to do in 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办 and its surroundings.

1. Drink in 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办's cafe culture

Coffee isn't just a means to warm up and/or perk up in 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办, it's the basis for an entire culture. People gather throughout the day at idiosyncratic little cafes to share gossip, conduct business or just enjoy the act of being. There are barely any chains to be found, rather you'll delight in discovering scores of clever cafes such as the artful , the cozy (vinyl cafe) and harborside . Bonus points: pair your coffee with a tasty fresh-baked treat at places like .

2. Shop as you stroll

There's nary an international chain in sight on 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办's top shopping strip, Laugavegur St, where Iceland's best designers display their wares at alluring boutiques. Head to the Frakkasti虂gur and Vitasti虂gur end for top fashion.

Planning tip: Get the Icelandic sweater of your wooly dreams Friday through Sunday at the indoor flea market, where the prices are some of the best in the country.

3. Discover public art, from 贬补濒濒驳谤颈虂尘蝉办颈谤办箩补 to Vi冒ey Island

You'll find magnificent public art across 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办. The largest of which is not only one of the city's top sights but is also an entire building: 贬补濒濒驳谤颈虂尘蝉办颈谤办箩补, the soaring concrete church that's a modern (1945鈥�86) work of art. Another highlight is 贬濒箩贸尘蝉办谩濒补驳补谤冒耻谤颈苍苍, a public park featuring statues by female artists.

Detour: A short ferry ride from 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办, uninhabited is known for historic buildings, sweet silence and modern art, including sculptures by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower.

4. Sail off to see whales

You have a great chance of seeing any of the nearly two dozen whales found right off Iceland's coast on a whale-watching tour from 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办's Old Harbor. Tours are offered year-round, though April to September are the best months, given the longer days and decent temperatures.

Planning tip: Although specific puffin-watching tours are offered, it's not uncommon to see them as part of whale-watching tours.

5. Bathe in the warming waters of a public hot tub

Iceland bubbles over with naturally hot water that's famous worldwide, and you needn't travel far into the countryside to experience its enveloping pleasure. is a whole complex right in the city center. Besides indoor pools and a hot tub, there are saunas and outdoor tubs with fabulous city views. To the east of the center, high-energy, but still public, boasts hot pots plus a huge pool, curling water slide and more 鈥� great for the kids. Regular bus services will take you from 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办 to Iceland's most famous geothermal pool: . It takes about 50 minutes one way but as one of the most visited attractions in the country, it's generally always busy.

Planning tip: All swimmers must shower completely using soap (provided in the changing area) before entering the pools.

6. Explore astonishing geologic beauty on the Reykjanes Peninsula

Flying in and out of Keflavi虂k International Airport, you might get a glimpse of the magnificence of the Reykjanes Peninsula, but to appreciate this , you need to go on a hike. Active volcanoes, hot springs, craggy lava fields, soaring mountains and wild ocean views are just some of the highlights. Many operators can guide you on these adventures.

Planning tip: Before heading out, always check the official source for safety news, . This particularly applies if you'll be going to areas of volcanic activity.

7. Graze on fresh food at Grandi Matho虉ll 

One of the Old Harbor's vintage fish factories is reborn as , a waterfront food hall with an unbeatable selection at over half-a-dozen stalls. Choices range from classic Icelandic fish and chips to spicy Indonesian.

Detour: Feeling a chill? Pick a fish skewer from the cooler and enjoy some warming lobster soup while it's on the grill at  (Seabaron), which is right on the harbor.

8. Be wowed at 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 Art Museum and local galleries

For a small country, Iceland has a lot of fantastic artists. You'll find their work at a score of museums and private galleries across 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办. The 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 Art Museum has three locations, (designed by sculptor 脕smundur Sveinsson),  (contemporary exhibitions near the Old Harbor) and (devoted to local legend J贸hannes S. Kjarval). Among the galleries, don't miss: , and (N媒l贸; The Living Art Museum).

9. Soak in a lagoon just outside 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办

Everyone's heard of , and for very good reasons: white steam rises from sapphire blue water framed by emerald-green moss atop jet-black lava. It's a sprawling pleasure complex where you can get a massage, a cocktail, a fabulous meal or just float your cares away. 

Detour: Hit the , which is only 15 minutes south of 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办 and is much less crowded than the Blue Lagoon.

10. Revel in the rift-valley beauty of the world's first parliament site at 脼ingvellir

In 930 CE, the Vikings held the world's first democratic parliament in the stunning 脼ingvellir (pronounced Thing-vetlir) rift valley northwest of 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办. Now enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 脼ingvellir National Park, the area would be a must-see for its natural splendor even without the history. Follow marked trails to marvel at the geologic drama where the tectonic plates of North America and Europe tear away from each other, then visit the park鈥檚 waterfalls and absorb their power.

11. Ride a horse to a waterfall

The area around Hella, southwest of 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办, is shadowed by volcanoes and laced by rivers. It's also a top region for horse breeding (especially cute Icelandic horses with their delightful bangs and unique gaits), and you can go horseback riding across the countryside with stops that include 脝gisi虂冒ufoss waterfall. Operators include , near 搁别测办箩补惫铆办 or . Nearby Hvolsv枚llur is another good center for riding, especially across lava fields.

12. Delight in Iceland's best nightlife

顿箩补尘尘颈冒 in 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办 means "going out on the town," or you might 辫辞虉产产补谤辞虉濒迟 鈥� take a "pub stroll." Peak hours for partying out are midnight to 5am, which works well in summer, when it's the land of the midnight sun. But people are out in all seasons, and you can hear Iceland's renowned music scene from famous groups like Kaleo and V枚k and up-and-comers at venues large and small.

Planning tip: Time your visit to one of Iceland鈥檚 music festivals, like or , or book tickets at the shimmering concert hall.

13. Taste Iceland's inventive cuisine

You'll find flavors as fresh and pure as the sea breezes in 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办's restaurants. Case in point: , a gastropub-style bistro with an ever-changing menu built around ingredients sourced from local farmers, seafood caught offshore and herbs foraged in the surrounding landscape.

Planning tip: No trip to 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办 is complete without a visit to world-famous hot dog truck . Get one with everything.

14. Take a day trip to the Sn忙fellsnes Peninsula

North of 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办, the Sn忙fellsnes Peninsula arrows out into the Atlantic. Much of the unmissable western tip is the Sn忙fellsj枚kull National Park, an enchanting landscape of lonely beaches (some with seals), waterfalls, moss-ringed ponds, old fishing villages, trails to ancient volcanic craters, horse-riding and even a glacier.

Detour: On the north side of the peninsula, 厂迟测办办颈蝉丑贸濒尘耻谤 is a cute-as-a-button harbor town with buzz and great restaurants.

15. Tackle a gleaming glacier

Langj枚kull Glacier is Iceland's second largest and is an easy drive from 搁别测办箩补惫颈虂办. Plunge deep into the glacier via an or careen across the vast expanse 鈥� its shiny white surface covers over 900 sq km (347 sq miles) 鈥� on monster tour trucks. There are also snowmobiling and other fun diversions for thrill-seekers.