Reykjavik travel guide

Hot parties on cool nights

Reykjavik is a city full of energy -- quite literally: boiling thermal springs supply the city's needs in a natural and environmentally friendly manner. Thanks to Iceland's volcanic origin, many of Reykjavik's streets were equipped with natural floor heating. The thermal springs also provide central heating to a number of buildings. Even above the ground, Reykjavik has a lively culture and a hot nightlife. And since the city is almost inside the Arctic Circle, the inhabitants are in dire need of it. Almost two-thirds of all Icelanders live in the vicinity of Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital. It offers a surprising urban atmosphere on an island that has largely been left to its natural state. Reykjavik itself lies on a peninsula, which has an astonishing view over not only the surrounding mountains but also the Atlantic Ocean. Especially in the winter, the colorful houses provide an amazing contrast to the white-gray landscape. The nightlife is especially good in the summer months, when the bright midnight sun heats up many a party.