Text: visitreykjavik.com
Photography - Ivan Andrejić WWW.SECRETSEDITION.COM
Reykjavik Reykjavik is perfect base for discovering natural beauties of Iceland. But Reykjavik itself is interesting destination full of sightseeing where you can enjoy adventure tourism or just rest in numerous thermal bats in and around city. The Reykjavík Capital Area is the country’s largest and most populated city and currently home to 234.910 people, that’s two-thirds of the entire Icelandic population. Not a lot of foreign travelers are aware that the capital area is combined by 6 different municipalities. These municipalities are Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, Mosfellsbær, and Seltjarnarnes. Although each town has its own administration, they co-operate on things like transport and that keeps them all well connected. Reykjavík is a city that is recognized for its devotion to the arts and culture. Festivals like Reykjavík Arts Festival, Reykjavik Fringe and Culture Night make their mark on the city‘s cultural platform. Visitors can experience the history of Reykjavík in an engaging way at Reykjavík City Museums and Reykjavík Art Museums, Iceland’s largest network of museums.
Summer or winter, it does not matter; if you are feeling adventurous, you can easily action-pack your stay in Reykjavík. The Reykjavík Ski areas of Bláfjöll Mountains and Skálafell Mountains are both about a 30-minute drive from the Reykjavík city center. Both areas have great slopes for downhill skiing and snowboarding as well as tracks for cross-country skiing. The area is also excellent for hiking and mountain biking during the summer. Skálafell Bike Park operates racetracks for all levels. Mountain Esja also provides grate view over Reykjavík City. A great number of horse farms are located only a few minutes drive away from Reykjavík city center. An exciting way to explore nature in the capital area is to jump on a quad bike. Reykjavík ´s backyard has proven to be an alluring natural playground for ATVs and buggies. Playing golf under the midnight sun in Reykjavík is an adventure you will remember for a lifetime.
The old harbour The old harbour is the heart of Reykjavík and the catalyst to its formation. The city grew up around the harbour and in the early 20th century it became one of the centres of the Icelandic trawling industry. The harbour area has been transformed in the past decades. It is still one of the most important harbours in Iceland, but in recent years tourism and whale watching have gradually replaced fishing vessels while shops and restaurants have occupied warehouses. The excellent natural harbour was no doubt one of the reasons the first settler of Iceland, Ingólfur Arnarson, chose to settle in Reykjavík. Nature provided Reykjavík with an excellent harbour. The islands of Engey and Örfirisey, which is connected to the mainland by the Grandi isthmus, protected the harbour from the waves of the open sea. The modern harbour area is the creation of extensive landfills, and the original shoreline lies roughly where the street Hafnarstræti is today. A great way to spend the morning or afternoon, visiting stores, cafés, and museums which provide a glimpse into Icelandic history and culture, and an opportunity to sample some of the best Icelandic culinary cultures.
Harpa Harpa is one of Reykjavik‘s greatest and most distinguished landmarks. It is a cultural and social centre in the heart of the city and features stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the North Atlantic Ocean. Harpa is an enchanting destination for intrigued travellers and its grand-scale award-winning architecture has attracted 10 million guests since its opening, May 4, 2011. Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre offers one of the best facilities for concerts and conferences in Northern Europe. Harpa has received numerous awards and prizes.
Hallgrímskirkja church Hallgrímskirkja stands guard over Reykjavík. The church is both a parish church and a national sanctuary in Iceland. Its stepped concrete facade is an ode to modernism and a reminder of the Icelandic landscape. The church is named after the 17th-century clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson, author of Hymns of the Passion. Hallgrímskirkja is an Evangelical -Lutheran church and is a part of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Iceland. Hallgrímskirkja is one of the most visited places by tourists in Iceland. Every day thousands of people visit the church. Admission to the church is free. Admission to the tower is ISK 1000 - ISK 100 for the children (7-16). Hallgrímskirkja is an active church, so due to activities and concerts it needs to close the church and tower without notice.
City Hall is the home of a huge 3D printed map of Iceland on the ground floor. The building itself as the architects conceived Reykjavík City Hall primarily as an interface where the contrasts of nature and city intertwine into a complex, three-dimensional whole. The City Hall is located on the northern bank of the lake ‘Tjörnin’ in the historic centre of Reykjavík. The design is symbolic of its double function: To the north the City Council Building, housing the political functions, is massive and orthogonal, influenced by the manmade regularity of the buildings in the Kvos district. To the south, the Office Building, the forum of administration and officials, has a different and lighter appearance. Workspaces and conference rooms open to the south towards the lake.
Few open areas in Reykjavik occupy a more solid place in the hearts of the city’s inhabitants than Tjörnin and its immediate surroundings, Hljómskálagarðurinn and Vatnsmýrin, where nature and human life meet in the middle of a metropolis in a unique way. At the northern end of the Pond, urbanization began in Reykjavík in the 18th century and since then the Pond has been a centrepiece in Reykjavik and an important area for outdoor activities and games. For a capital that is mostly surrounded by sea, it is unique to have such a large freshwater lake in the centre of the city. The rich lakeside ecosystem, especially the multifaceted birdlife, is a major attraction for the city’s population. Efforts have been made to foster the welfare of birdlife with the protection of the wetland in Vatnsmýri south of Hringbraut, where there is now a nature reserve for birds that the city of Reykjavik stands in collaboration with the University of Iceland and the Nordic House. The orchard park at Suðurtjörn has larger public parks in Reykjavik. It owes its name to the Sound Theater, which was founded in 1923 and has long been the practice site of smoke-drumming trumpets. A number of smaller public parks are in the vicinity of the pond e.g. Hallargarðurinn park, Mæðragarðurinn park and Austurvöllur. There are many interesting buildings nearby including The Reykjavik City Hall, the Ministerial Residence at Tjarnargata, Idnó, Fríkirkjan church and the National Gallery of Iceland (Listasafn Íslands).
Perlan resembles a pearl sitting on top of Reykjavík. It is surrounded by the charming woodland of Öskjuhlíð hill, with 360° views all over the capital area. There is something for everyone to do and enjoy in any weather condition. Perlan houses a modern nature exhibition, a real indoor ice cave, a 4K planetarium, a 360° viewing platform, an ice cream shop, a lovely café, bouncy castles with fun trials, and more. Perlan’s nature exhibition brings the wonders of Iceland alive for anyone to experience and learn about. It features cutting-edge technology, spectacular photography, and fun activities for everyone. You experience the forces of volcanoes and Iceland’s geological history, explore the life in a realistic replica of Europe’s largest bird cliff, see the oceanic wonders of Iceland, and more. There is even a 100m long real ice cave where you get a magical glacier experience. The National Museum of Icelandic Nature has a fun exhibition at Perlan, called Water in Icelandic nature. There, you discover the mysteries and nature of water through activities, technology, texts, and imagery.
Snorri’s Guesthouse - your base for exploring Iceland Snorri’s Guesthouse – a charming 1930’s villa conveniently located in the Reykjavík city center near Hallgrímskirkja church. Rich in history, by older generation locals, it has been described as the heart of the local neighborhood for many decades since the thirties. Originally built for local retail 85 years ago. Offering through the decades a wide selection grocery store, textile store, a local bakery and the fresh fish shop, all located in the house under the same roof. Since 1992, a warm and cosy guesthouse.
The old textile shop today has transformed into a welcoming living area travelling back in time. The fish shop now acts as the kitchen and breakfast area for guests to enjoy the beginning of their day. On sunny days the doors are open into the beautiful old back garden, surrounded by mature trees and flowers in its garden. Snorri’s Guesthouse is an ambitious and friendly family-owned 12 room guesthouse. After a cup of coffee in the morning, you are well located within walking distance to most city center activities and conveniently well located close to airport transport and day tour bus pickups. Parking is free and available around the house.