Bláfjöll

Iceland’s premier ski slopes are at 84-sq-km Bláfjöll, which has 14 lifts and downhill, cross-country and snowboarding facilities – and gets swamped by eager city dwellers when the snow begins to fall. Passes cost Ikr2000/550 per adult/child six to 16 years, and you can hire skis, poles, boots and other gear at reasonable rates. The resort is located about 25km southeast of Reykjavík on Rte 417, just off Rte 1. A shuttle bus leaves from the Mjódd bus stand southeast of town once per day in season – check with Skíðasvæði ([tel] 530 3000; www.skidasvaedi.is; Pósthússtræti 3-5, IS-101 Reykjavík) for departure times.