No matter when you visit Iceland, bring a sturdy jacket

Word to the wise: Many visitors travel to Iceland to experience the northern lights ghosting translucently across the night sky. If the aurora borealis is your main priority, take note that sometimes the clouds hover over Iceland for weeks at a time, and you might not find what you're looking for.

There’s much to love about this beguiling country. Lava landscapes, exploding volcanoes, a glacial lagoon, mysterious highlands and black-sand beaches. Of course, during winter the harsh northern wind can force visitors indoors. Winter in Reykjavik is for hardy travellers, or those eager to only explore Reykjavik’s epic nightlife.

The summer, however, offers visitors endless daylight to be spent discovering Reykjavik and the surrounding countryside. There’s no rush to leave early in the morning or get somewhere before dark because in summer darkness does not exist. The weather, though, remains variable. So even during the height of summer, bring a reliable jacket that repels wind and rain.

Whatever the season, to truly feel like part of the crowd, pick up a copy of 'The Reykjavik Grapevine', now the premiere English-language publication in Iceland. You can find it pretty much anywhere, and after reading it you’ll know what’s going on so you can join in on the local conversation.

On the weekends don’t hit the pubs until midnight, because that’s when the locals come out in force. Before the clock strikes 12 midnight, Icelanders stay at home pre-partying to save money. If you show up to the bars too early you’ll think the night is dead, go to your hotel to sleep, and miss out on all the fun.