48 hours in… Reykjavik
WHERE TO GO
Iceland is one of the best places to spot the Northern Lights. There is, of course, no guarantee you’ll be able to see them given the region’s unpredictable weather, but when the conditions are right they are spectacular. There is no best month to catch them, but avoid May-August, when the days are very long.
WHERE TO EAT
Mar is one of the restaurants leading Iceland’s culinary revolution. Located on Reykjavic’s bijou Old Harbour, it blends South American and European cuisine with Icelandic delicacies such as lamb and fish (Mar comes from the Icelandic word for fish). mar.is
WHERE TO DRINK
Fans of the Coen brothers movie The Big Lebowski won’t be disappointed by this hip Reykjavik bar. It’s bowling themed (although there is no actual bowling alley), serves great burgers and has a dance floor. And, yes, it serves White Russians. The dude abides. lebowski.is
WHERE TO STAY
Iceland may not be Scandinavian – that’s just Denmark, Norway and Sweden – but this slick design hotel certainly borrows from the Scandi playbook. Its rustic, minimalist aesthetic is both homely and contemporary and the rooms are spacious and well appointed. 101hotel.is