Top Ten Attractions
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Geothermal Swimming Pools
Several of them dotted throughout Reykjavik, are great fun for the entire family. The Largest is Laugardalslaug with a 50 meter pool and an 85 meter waterslide. Sundhollin Hafnarjarðar offers saunas, solariums and an indoor and outdoor pool, while Árbæjarlaug offers year round swimming in its indoor pool.
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Perlan (The Pearl)
This is one of Reykjavik’s most famous landmarks. This unique multifunctional glass dome building, which sits on top of four gigantic geothermal water tanks, has a top rated rotating gourmet restaurant and an observatory that offer beautiful panoramic views. www.perlan.is. The building is also home to the Saga Museum with exhibits depicting key moments in Icelandic History. http://www.sagamuseum.is/
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Hallgrímskirkja (The Church of Hallgrímur)
This is probably the most recognizable and controversial building in the whole of Iceland. The 74 meter steeple makes this a landmark that can be seen throughout all Reykjavik. Finished in 1974 and taking more than 34 years to complete, the building has the ability to seat over 1000 worshippers comfortably. www.hallgrimskirkja.is (Icelandic only website)
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Viðey Island
Formed from volcanic activity, it is located a few minutes from the centre of Reykjavik by boat. Along with the large variety of bird species, the island is occupied by the oldest stone building in Iceland that dates back to 1752.
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Whale Watching
Running from spring to autumn (fall), this is a great way to see the wildlife near the Arctic Circle, including Puffins on Lundy, seals, dolphins and the Mink Whale. (The whale-watching companies and many Icelanders are strongly opposed to the Icelandic government’s decision to restart commercial whaling). www.whalewatching.is and www.elding.is.
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National Museum of Iceland
Newly renovated in 2004, it contains artifacts that date back over 1000 years. The museum houses archaeological and historical exhibits from the entire nation. http://www.natmus.is/english/
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Árbæjarsafn
Located in the Árbær district, an open-air museum that was once a farm from several hundred years back. It contains artifacts depicting everyday life in Reykjavik over the centuries. http://www.arbaejarsafn.is/
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Reykjavik’s Old Town and Harbour
Makes for a wonderful afternoon stroll. A location with great restaurants, clubs and bars.
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Kolaportið Flea Market
An interesting event that happens every weekend. Thousands of locals congregate in a huge indoor warehouse to seek out bargains. Several stands sell authentic Icelandic food.
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Tjörnin (The Pond)
With over 40 species of migratory birds, this is a great spot for bird watching in early spring. Located in the centre of town.
Eating and Drinking
Eating and drinking out in Reykjavik can be quite expensive, that’s the bad news. Now for the good news – with the growth in tourism the Reykjavik restaurant scene is flourishing - much to everyone’s gastronomical delight. A staple in Icelandic diets is fish that includes cod, haddock, halibut, skate, plaice, wild salmon, herring, lobsters, shrimp and catfish. Served in some fine restaurants, another Icelandic fish dish is putrefied shark meat, which has a somewhat unusual taste and strictly for those with strong constitutions. Icelandic lamb and beef is hard to beat, but can be more expensive. Two fowl choices include lundi (puffin), a cute black and white sea bird, and rjíper (ptarmigan), Iceland’s version of a grouse. There are three fairly good lager beers that originate from Iceland, Egils, Thule and Viking. The wine is imported and the traditional Icelandic spirit is Brennivin, a strong elixir made from potatoes.
Most of Reykjavik’s good cafés and restaurants are located in the centre of town along or near Laugavegur and Hverfisgata. Some notable favorites include Einar Ben (www.einarben.is) with its wild game selections including puffin, Siggi Hall (www.siggihall.is) for its organic lamb and cod dishes, Perlan (www.perlan.is) with its famous master chefs, Ápotek (www.veitingar.is) bar and grill with its fusion of Western and Eastern cuisines in an impressive settings, and VOX (www.voxrestaurant.com) in the Nordica Hotel, a meat, seafood and wild game lovers’ delight.
As well as restaurants and cafés, Reykjavik has a trendy bar scene that attracts a sophisticated crowd. Frequented by local celebrities, including Björk, is Kaffibarinn. Like the restauranst, most of the good drinking establishments are concentrated along or near Laugavegur and Hverfisgata.
Shopping
Shopping tip – look for uniquely Icelandic products that are not found anywhere else. Items found in other parts of Europe and in the US are generally quite a bit more expensive than in Reykjavik. Items to look for include, ceramics, house-wares, jewelry, books and clothing from local designers. Most stores selling Icelandic designs are located in the city centre around Laugavegur, Skólavörðustígur, and Vesturgata.
For bargain hunting, pay a visit to Kolaportið Flea Market located on Geirsgata. Hosted every weekend with stalls selling an assortment of bric-a-brac, food and authentic Icelandic wares.
Night Life
The Reykjavik nightlife is famous with pubs, bars and clubs open until the early hours of the morning. At weekends, the partying doesn’t get going until after midnight. Finding the hot spots is usually easy, they’re the ones with the longest queues at the door.
The Runter, the famous Icelandic pub-crawl is mostly good-natured fun and an excuse to make up for lost time as beer was prohibited in Iceland until 1989. On the other hand, bars that cater for a more affluent hip crowd will require patrons to dress-up a little.
Reykjavik has an eclectic music scene from rock, pop and hip-hop to jazz and chamber music. Venues for live music are located throughout the city centre.
The main gay café/bar is Café Cozy, although most venues tend to be mixed in this regard. A good source of information is www.gayice.is.
The “Reykjavik Nightlife Friend” offers a guided tour though Reykjavik’s nightlife, taking you to the places that are “in” and showing you which ones to miss. This service will help you skip the long queues to get you into the hottest clubs. www.nightlifefriend.is
