Reykjavík
has sometimes been called “The biggest little
city in the world.” The reason? It has many
of the benefits enjoyed by small cities, for example
short travel distances, a safe environment, and a
multilingual population with English as a second language.
At the same time, it offers a diversity of leisure
and entertainment possibilities most often only associated
with large cities. Reykjavík has a rich cultural
life along with excellent restaurants, coffeehouses
and clubs.
An ideal start to your Reykjavík visit would
be to stop by The Centre - The Official Reykjavík
Tourist Information Center located on Adalstræti
2 - and invest in the Reykjavík Tourist
Card. This is your key to the capital, and great value
for money. The card gives you admission to public
busses, museums and the city’s seven Thermal
Pools and Baths. You can choose between cards valid
for 24, 48 or 72 hours. For great information about
city life, visit www.visitreykjavik.is and
www.
icetourist.is
The city’s slogan is Reykjavík Pure
Energy, which refers to the closeness of magnificent,
pristine nature, more natural energy (thermal and
hydro) than most have ever experienced, and huge quantities
of diverse, cultural energy.
After arriving in Reykjavík, we recommend
that you don’t let the following experiences
pass you by:
1. Drink Pure Icelandic Water!
This should be first on your todo list: a drink of
fine sub-Arctic water right out of the tap. This high-quality
drinking water was rain about 1000 years ago. The
water trickled down into the earth where it collected
in underground reservoirs. When exports of Reykjavík’s
water began, it was analyzed by a research center
in New York. The results turned out to be purely
amazing, so much so that the lab technicians
thought they had equipment failure. Water in Reykjavík
is sometimes called, Champagne of the North.
2. Take the elevator to the Top of Hallgrímskirkja
Church!
The church is the highest point in Reykjavík
and a visual feast of an incredibly fine view over
the city to the mountains and glaciers beyond. The
church is situated at the top of Skólavörðustígur,
a cozy street that over the years has become a center
for gallery-workshops, handicraft shops, gold and
silversmiths, delicatessens, coffeehouses and health
food stores.
3. Visit a Thermal Pool and Bath in Reykjavík!
Are you tired? Suffering from stress? Did you stay
out too late last night? Are your muscles sore? If
you answer “yes” to any of these questions,
then visit one of Reykjavík’s seven pools.
They are conveniently located throughout the city.
They are great places
to meet city residents, enjoy life, and just relax.
The most popular activity at the pools is relaxing
in the small hotpots. Each pool facility has several
hotpots, which range in temperature from 37°C
- 42°C (98°F - 111°F). People sit
in the pots for varying lengths of time, and simply
experience the heat flowing around and through their
body as it limbers up muscles
and joints, while at the same time tiredness
and stress ooze out. After a while, you go into the
swimming pool to cool off, and then it’s back
into the hotpot, this time one that is slightly hotter.
This goes on for as long as you like. Many enjoy going
into the steam bath or sauna as well. Surveys have
shown that 94% of foreign visitors to the Thermal
Pools and Baths in Reykjavík reported that
the experience had “…a positive effect
on their health and wellbeing.” For more information,
visit www.spacity.is
4. Experience art in the works of Iceland’s
masters!
Icelandic nature has been the nation’s heaven-sent
subject matter. For nature lovers, there are three
museums featuring works by muchadmired artists who
have uniquely interpreted Iceland’s countryside:
Kjarvalsstaðir, with works by one of the nation’s
most beloved painters, Ásgrímur Jónsson
Museum on Bergstaðastræti 44, and Einar
Jónsson Museum on Njarðargata,
and all are within a very short walk of each
other. These artists are Icelandic masters, each with
a personal view into the soul of a nation. For more
information, visit www.listasafnreykjavikur.is, www.listasafn.is.,
and www.skulptur.is
5. Taste skyr!
Skyr is one of the oldest types of food in Iceland,
and has been part of the Icelandic diet since the
time of Settlement over 1100 years ago. Skyr is a
low-fat dairy product that resembles thick yoghurt.
It has very few calories, and contains healthy bacteria
and protein. Today, various products are made from
skyr, including drinks, deserts and light meals. Skyr
is probably Iceland´s only indigenous fast food,
and is a treat that everyone visiting the country
should most definitely taste.
6. Walk up Mt. Esja!
The lovely mountain that faces Reykjavík from
across the bay is Mt. Esja, and walking to the top,
about 900m above sea level (2,700 ft.), will energize
you senses. It is a relatively easy walk, taking from
1 - 3 hours to the top depending on pace. You can
reach the foot of Esja by using the Reykjavík
Tourist Card and taking the city bus: Hlemmur City
Center no. 15 to Mosfellsbær (a small community
northeast of Reykjavík), and then transfer
to no. 27 to Mt. Esja.
The trail up the mountain is particularly interesting,
and the view from Mt. Esja is fantastic.
In addition to these six possibilities, there are
a vast number of other things to do in Reykjavík.
One of the city’s main features
is its closeness to pristine nature. Another
is the ease with which visitors can enjoy all there
is to experience - assuming that one has enough
time, that is. Most everyone speaks English, as well
as other languages, and navigating around the city
is no problem. In addition, the breadth of new and
exciting cultural activities is really quite surprising.
In Reykjavík you will find numerous events
such as Winter Festival and Food and Fun in February,
Festival of the Sea in June, Culture Night and Gay
Pride in August, Iceland Airwaves in Octover, the
Reykjavík Jazz Festival í November and
many others, along with the jewel in the crown of
all cultural activities, the annual international
Reykjavík Arts Festival in May www.artfest.is.
