Step out of the urban landscape and briefly return to nature in Elliðaárdalur, a valley smack dab in the middle of the city. Though not a full-sized forest, this place instils a feeling of the sublime with its natural beauty. Climb the waterfall and watch the sunlight create a menagerie of colours on the water. Walk upon the paths and you feel like you’re taking a stroll through a fairytale land. Host a picnic and keep an eye out for foxes smacking their lips for a bite of your sandwich. It will be hard to step out of the trees and back into the concrete jungle, but know that you will always be able to go back to it.

2013: Tjörnin
2012: Öskjuhlíð
2011: Húsdýragarðurinn
2010: Alþingi
2009: Reykjavík Botanical Gardens

Photo by Axel Sigurðarson