Reykjavik

A dense and fascinating display (on 2 floors). — Michelin Guide

The permanent exhibit shares many features with local maritime museums across the country, such as well-crafted ship models and dummies in very uncomfortable-looking raincoats. — Frommer's

The endearingly bloodthirsty Saga Museum is where Icelandic history is brought to life by eerie silicon models and a multi-language soundtrack with thudding axes and hair-raising screams. — Lonely Planet

Learn more about Iceland's history by exploring Árbær, a onetime working farm turned faithfully re-created village, complete with farm animals, simple wooden houses, a town square. — Condé Nast Traveler

This futuristic glass dome, built in 1991, sits atop five enormous cylindrical tanks storing 24,000 tons of the city's geothermally heated water. — Frommer's

The museum focuses almost entirely on his work, influenced by Henry Moore and the cubists. — Frommer's

The park is a favourite with locals for its huge swimming complex, fed by the geothermal spring. — Lonely Planet

Blue whales, fin whales, humpbacks, and belugas are just some of the 23 different species featured in this great pod of life-size models at the Whales of Iceland exhibition. — Fodor's

Reykjavík’s waterside Ráðhús is a beautifully positioned postmodern construction of concrete stilts, tinted windows and mossy walls rising from Tjörnin. — Lonely Planet

Learn about the classical tales explaining the Northern Lights, and the scientific explanation, then watch a 35-minute surround-sound panoramic HD recreation of Icelandic auroras. — Lonely Planet

This gallery room above Reykjavík City Library is worth a visit for its top-notch exhibitions of regional photographers. — Lonely Planet

The sculpture garden behind the Einar Jónsson Museum contains 26 bronzes, in the shadow of Hallgrímskirkja. — Lonely Planet

This childrens' park in Laugardalur gets packed with happy local families on sunny days. — Lonely Planet

Oh, the jokes are endless here, but though this unique museum houses a huge collection of penises, it's actually very well done. — Lonely Planet

Despite being so close to the harbor and the ocean, Reykjavik’s city lake (Tjörnin) has a charm and atmosphere all of its own. — Afar Magazine

This tiny museum's sizable collection is jammed into a former underground public toilet.  — Atlas Obscura

Go for the facade, but stay for the events: the Iceland Airwaves festival starts October 31; last year’s lineup featured Bjork and Yoko Ono, among others. — Afar Magazine