Reykjavik is a very easy city to negotiate on foot so the best initial advice is to head for the Tourist Information Centre and stock up on some maps and recommended walking routes.

Reykjavik has two landmarks that offer views over the city to aid orientation: Perlan (the Pearl), on Öskjuhlíd Hill, and the 75m-high (230ft) Hallgrímskirkja church in the centre of town. A visit to the top of either of these is the best way for visitors to become acquainted with the city's layout.

The very heart of Reykjavik lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the pleasant Tjörnin Lake to the north. In-between lies the centre of the city with flat, wide streets housing bars, cafes, hotels, museums and art galleries. The modern Icelandic National Gallery lies right on the edge of the lake, while the National Museum sits just to the south.

Just north of Tjörnin is Austurvollur, an attractive square popular with sunworshippers in the warmer months and also home to the Althing, the Icelandic parliament. Also in the city centre are the three branches of the Reykjavik Art Museum: the Harbour House, Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum and Kjarvalsstadethir.

Heading east and uphill on Laugavegur, the city's main thoroughfare, are many of the city's best shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.

Outside the city centre but easily accessible by bus are the Árbaer Open-Air Folk Museum and the Sigurjon Olafsson Museum. Dotted around the city are six geothermal swimming baths that come complete with hot pots, which make the perfect venue to relax in after a hard day's sightseeing at any time of year.

Tourist Information Centre
Adalstraeti 2
Tel: 590 1550.
Website: www.visitreykjavik.is
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1900 (summer); Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat-Sun 1000-1400 (winter).

Available for one, two or three days, the Reykjavik Card offers unlimited transport on city buses, as well as admission to seven geothermal swimming pools and most museums and galleries. It can be purchased from the Tourist Information Centre, the BSI central bus station, hotels, guest houses, museums and pools.