Reykjavik

Cradled by snow-clad mountains and lichen-covered lava fields, the world's most northern capital is an unlikely party venue. Nevertheless Reykjavik makes regular appearances in the style and travel pages for its animated nightlife, vibrant cultural scene (it was crowned European City of Culture in 2000) and sublime surroundings.

Climb to the top of Hallgrímskirkja's church tower and beneath you spreads a colourful mosaic of rooftops painted red, blue and green. As the city is run entirely on geothermal power, the clean air means crystal views that stretch for miles.

Iceland's volcanic underbelly is also responsible for one of the country's more unusual attractions, the Blue Lagoon. A short drive from the capital, the milky-blue waters of the lagoon are heated by the geothermal field under the ground, and if you believe the locals they provide the definitive hangover cure.

The same can't be said of Gullfoss, a deafening waterfall that drops 32m, just one hour north of Reykjavik. Nearby the original Geysir (from which all others took their name) has more or less run out of steam, to be superseded by the 30m-water jet of its neighbour Strokkur.

The vast, stunning landscape around Reykjavik lends itself to plentiful outdoors activities. Anything goes, from hiking, biking and horse riding in summer to skating or skiing in the winter months at nearby Skálafell and Bláfjö.

Weekdays pass relatively quietly in the capital and typically involve café hopping and brushing up on Icelandic culture (at the National Museum), art (at the National Gallery), or spending a cheeky afternoon looking at more intimate aspects of the nation's fauna (at the Icelandic Phallalogical Museum).

Come the weekend, and the city centre erupts. Reykjavik's nightlife is legendary and covers everything from raucous vodka dens to chic designer bars - best (but lethally) sampled on a traditional runtur (pub crawl).