Reykjavik, Iceland

SET against a vista of sea and mountains, the city's modern concert hall and convention centre, with its kaleidoscopic facade of multi-coloured glass, averages more than 140,000 visitors each month.

The thriving complex, which hosts fans of Björk and enthusiasts of yo-yoing, is a symbol of how the country has recovered from the economic crisis, aided by tourists, whose appreciation for Iceland and whose influx of cash are further helping to spur development.