24 Hours in Reykjavik

Unfortunately you can't listen to live music 24/7, so ReykjavikMag would like to help you pass the time. As there are 24 hours in the avarage day, we offer 24 suggestions of fun things to do during Airwaves.

1. Hung-over? You should really try out the spa at Hotel Nordica (Suðurlandsbraut 2). The soothing waters and myriad of treatments will set you right for the rest of the day. They also have an excellent fitness centre. Not that theres much chance youll be excited by that particular prospect.

2. Eat some breakfast. Prikið (Bankastræti 12) do a spot-on fry-up for less than the price of the average house. Whats more, they offer the choice of a British fry-up or an American one so no more arguing over scrambled or fried eggs and whether to have tomato ketchup or maple syrup. Who in their right mind puts syrup on bacon though, I mean, really?

3. Take the lift up to the top of Hallgrímskirkja (that big cathedral you can see from everywhere). The view is amazing and you can also play the bells game: the loser is the first person to drop to the floor or run for their life when the bells strike. Its harder than it sounds especially on a hangover.

4. The late Einar Jónsson is one of Icelands most celebrated sculptors. You can find out why by visiting the sculpture garden and gallery at his old house (access from Freyjugata, near Hallgrímskirkja).

5. Feeding the ducks on the city pond sounds a bit childish but there are so many ducks, swans and geese that its more like feeding the lions. This activity is best suited to those who have no first-hand experience of feeding lions.

6. Go for a walk would be such a copout of a suggestion, were it not for the opportunity to cross-promote. This issue contains ReykjavíkMags first Walk of the Month see page 8 for the route and a summary of some of the sights to be seen en route.

7. Go to Bónus supermarket on the main shopping street, Laugavegur and revel in the garish colour scheme and the fact that they have a separate room for meat. Maybe buy yourself a can of Egils Malt and ponder how a drink that is essentially sweetened Marmite can taste so darn good.

8. Laugardalur is Reykjavíks version of Central Park. But the best thing is that theres an ice rink there. All your friends back home will think youve gone native when you tell them how you got your skates on with the locals. Just dont tell them that the rink is actually surprisingly underused by Icelanders.

9. Take some time to do something cultural. Some suggestions might include the city art gallery (Tryggvagata 17), the national museum (Suðurgata 41) the natural history museum (Hlemmur 5) or the pub.

10. Why not paint some ceramics to take home with you? Ceramics for All (Keramik fyrir Alla) (Laugavegur 48b) really want to help get your artistic juices flowing. If you cant be bothered to take your creations home, why not try to sell them to drunken festival-goers? Theyll buy anything apparently.

11. Taking an air tour seems extravagant at first glance but starting at just 5000 krónur, it could be an unforgettable experience. Then again, it could be cloud soup up there. This is Iceland after all. www.ernir.is

12. Alþingi is the worlds oldest parliament and is now situated in the city centre, for your convenience. Housed in the grand old stone building on Austurvöllur square, visitors are welcome to go inside and have a snoop around the halls of power.

13. Sticking to a vaguely political theme, you should make your way to the city hall (Ráðhúsið Reykjavíkur), which straddles the pond. Inside, there is a giant model of Iceland that takes up an entire room. So big in fact, that you can actually see yourself looking at the model on the model. Well, that may not be true, but it really is rather large.

14. Þjóðmenningarhúsið. Go on, say it out loud, I dare you. It actually means the national culture house and its where the Viking sagas are kept. You can go and see them at Hverfisgata 15.

15. If youre hungry again, you might like a snack. Bæjarins Bestu hotdog stand is the countrys best-loved pylsur (hotdog) dispensary, located down by the harbour near Kolaportið (see 17). Alternatively, if youve a bigger hole to fill, try out Hlöllabátar at Ingólfstorg. Their generous and adventurous subs are crazy good.

16. Go shopping of course! You have probably heard that designer gear is comparatively cheap here in Iceland, so feel free to stock up on your Gucci and Dolce, and even your Gabana if youre so inclined. But you should really try out the local labels. Watch out for Dogma, Dead and Ósoma. Iceland does good t-shirts. Especially for a cold country.

17. On Saturdays and Sundays, the citys flea market, Kolaportið opens up its doors. Located in the huge building by the harbour, youll be sure to find a bargain. They also sell a lot of local foods. When you leave, be sure to notice Icelands only train, over the road on the waterfront.

18. The settlement museum underneath Hotel Centrum at Ingólfstorg is an accidental hit being the archaeological site uncovered during the construction of the hotel. You dont have to be a history buff to find this interesting.

19. In good weather, the bookshop at Klapparstígur 27 has a chess board and chairs outside for passers by to challenge one another to a game. Who knows, you might attract a bit of a crowd…if youre any good.

20. Right next door, you will see Gallery Lobster or Fame. In addition to all the weird and wonderful exhibits, this is also the home store of Bad Taste records so you can pick up a few CDs while youre at it.

21. If the weather is clear, you should really book yourself onto a Northern Lights tour. No trip to the Nordic countries is complete without having seen the aurora. Its like visiting Kenya and not going on safari.

22. Bellys bar on Hafnarstræti is much bigger than it looks

from the outside and serves the cheapest beer in town. For but for 350 krónur, you too could be the proud owner of a half -litre of frothy loveliness. I am not referring to the latest Hugh Grant movie.

23. You need to check out Sirkus bar on Klapparstígur. At night time it gets ram packed full of seriously cool people who go there to revel in its crazy, shabby, misfit atmosphere.

24. At the other end of the spectrum, you might like to go for a drink at Rex, Austurstræti, you know just to see how the other half live. This swanky bar will surely leave you all schmoozed out.