What's On in Reykjavík - March 2020 by MD Reykjavik

March 2020

in Reykjavík

Reykjavík’s leading guide to information, events, museums and galleries since 1982

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CONTENT LIST What’s On Reykjavík City Map

FROM THE EDITOR 6-49 50-51

Events 54-76 Art & Culture

77-81

Shopping & Style

82-85

Pubs & Nightlife

86-89

Wining & Dining

90-95

Practical Info

96-97

If it’s one thing that gets Icelanders though long winters where sunlight is scarce, it’s their creative spirit and abundant innovative energy. Never is that more apparent than during March, when Icelandic designers host their annual harvest festival, Design March. From graphic design to fashion, product design to architecture, Icelandic designers use this opportunity to display the best they have to offer. If you’re lucky enough to be in the city during the festival, we recommend checking out some exhibitions and events but even if you’re here during an ordinary day in March, checking out Icelandic design is a great idea for any traveller. In fact, it’d be hard to avoid it if you mean to spend any time engaging with the local culture. Trying on a woollen sweater, tasting Icelandic skyr, and stopping at little boutiques in the city centre – it’s all a testament to Icelandic creativity. For many designers and artists, inspiration comes from nature. You don’t have to drive far from the city to discover breath-taking views and natural phenomena that are the creative force behind much of Icelandic culture. So, don’t forget to go out of town while you’re here and spend some time looking at mountains, waterfalls and the northern lights, you just might find your own inspiration!

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WHAT’S ON — VOLUME 38 — ISSUE 3

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Publisher: Kjartan Þorbjörnsson

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WHAT‘S ON IN REYKJAVÍK is published monthly, covering events and happenings in and around Reykjavík. Opinions expressed in WHAT‘S ON IN ReykjavÍk are those of the individual authors. While every effort has been made to ensure the information presented is accurate, prices, times, dates and other information may be subject to change.

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THE WHAT’S ON CHECKLIST March is a great month to visit Iceland. Even though it’s still cold, the days are gradually getting brighter! Plus, there are plenty of cool events happening. Here are some ideas on how to spend this March in Iceland.

Check out some of the events on DesignMarch, Iceland’s biggest design festival.

Go snowmobiling on the Sólheimajökull glacier! Go swimming! Reykjavík has some amazing thermal pools, most of Find more articles like this at www.whatson.is

which also feature hot tubs and steam baths.

Try some local craft beers. Enjoy the view from the top of the Hallgrímskirkja church tower. Knit a lopapeysa sweater from Icelandic wool. (Or buy one readymade.)

Go skiing at the Bláfjöll ski resort. Taste some of Iceland’s local cuisine! March 20 is the equinox, and the following week, Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower is lit and visible in the night sky!

While you’re checking things off the list, we encourage you to take photos, and tag them with #whatsonrvk, of course!

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So youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in Iceland, enjoying life, seeing the sights and taking in everything our magnificent country has to offer. Why not share it with the world? Tag your photos using #whatsonrvk and your photo might be featured in our magazine next month! On www.whatson.is, you can watch out for every issue published.

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Nr. 1 Attraction in Reykjavik

Perlan is a Must-Visit Landmark and Nature Exploratorium Perlan – Wonders of Iceland is an exploratorium in Reykjavik. Experience a real Ice Cave, Icelandic Glaciers Exhibition, Guaranteed Northern Lights Planetarium Show and more.

THE REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE BEST MUSEUM 2019

Perlan – Wonders of Iceland is an enchanting interactive journey through Iceland’s nature, on five floors.

Perlan Café

Perlan Restaurant

Rammagerðin Gift Store

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WHAT’S ON Photo by Antonía Lárusdóttir

Food and Fun is an annual culinary festival in downtown Reykjavík, celebrated for the 19th time from March 4 to March 8. The festival assembles chefs from all over the world for a long weekend in Reykjavík, where they get the chance to work with local restaurants and Icelandic ingredients. During the festival, Reykjavík is the place to be for foodies and food lovers! HISTORY

Eighteen years ago, when February and March were still off-season months in Iceland, the idea was born to organise a competition between Icelandic and foreign chefs to brighten up Icelandic winter. In this competition, culinary professionals from all over the world work together with Icelandic restaurants to develop exciting menus based on surprising combinations and flavour experiments. The original goal to bring more people to Iceland in the dark winter months with a fun food festival has been accomplished, with thousands of visitors each year since 2002! ICELANDIC INGREDIENTS

The festival focuses on Icelandic ingredients, like fresh fish, free-range lamb and organic dairy products. The best Icelandic basics are mixed with exotic ingredients, resulting in exciting new creations. Culinary professionals from all over the world have shown great enthusiasm for working

with Icelandic produce. Because of the festival, Icelandic skyr is now also used as an ingredient in several savoury recipes, where it was initially only viewed as a sweet dessert or breakfast item. New viewpoints, angles, and outlooks bring professional cooking to a higher level. THE FOOD AND FUN CHEF OF THE YEAR AWARD

During the festival, famous chefs are invited to rate recipes and food that has been specially designed for the festival. From all the finalists, three are chosen to compete for the Food and Fun Chef of the Year Award. Restaurants that join in 2020 are Apótek Restaurant, Fiskmarkaðurinn, 101 Kitchen and Wine, Eiríksson Brasserie, Fjallkonan, Grand Brasserie, Mímir, Kopar, La Primavera, Mathús Garðarbæjar, Makake, Reykjavík Meat, Sumac, Vox, Kore, Sushi Social, and more!

For more information on Icelandic volcanoes, check out www.volcanohouse.is

Food and Fun Reykjavík 2020

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BEER DAY! Find more articles like this at www.whatson.is

March 1 is an unofficial holiday – Beer Day! Icelanders celebrate beer once a year because, for the longest time, they couldn’t have any. For the better part of the 20th century, beer was illegal. For some strange reason, alcoholic beverages like vodka, wine, and gin were fine – but beer was off the table. Why? We’re glad you asked.

A quick historical recap: Icelanders voted for (yes, really) a complete prohibition, beginning in 1915. As in other parts of the world, this caused an upswing in bootlegging, moonshining, and business for doctors; doctors could prescribe “dog doses” (medicinal alcohol), under the pretext of curing patients’ dogs, or other pets, of worms. A downside of the prohibition, however, was that it angered Spain. Why was Spain angry, you ask? Well, Iceland was selling a lot of bacalao (salted fish, but it sounds better in Spanish) to Spain and they didn’t like it when Icelanders stopped buying wine from them in a convenient quid pro quo. So, after a few years of angry Spaniards, wine was legalised in 1922. In 1935, as moonshining was rampant anyway, the prohibition on hard liquor was lifted. As there was no pressure to allow beer (with over 2.25% alcohol content), however, it just sort of stayed prohibited. Flash forward to the seventies, beer was considered a fancy luxury item. People going

abroad tended to drink nothing but beer for the duration of their vacation (usually starting as soon as they entered the plane) and an actual popular drink was “imitation beer,” an alcoholfree beer mixed with vodka or even Brennivín. Towards the end of the eighties, things were changing. The Cold War was coming to an end, walls were coming down, and in the spirit of radical changes, the Icelandic Parliament began debating whether to start quenching the beer-thirsty Icelandic nation. With the benefit of hindsight, the discussion in Parliament seems pretty ludicrous; some MPs believed that allowing beer would cause young people to start drinking earlier and that people would be drinking beer at all hours of the day (resulting in them getting drunk at work). One MP even raised her concerns that beer would replace coffee as the nation’s drink of choice. Despite their concerns, on March 1, 1989, the prohibition on beer was lifted. Needless to say, most Icelanders still drink more coffee than beer and the age when people start drinking has actually gone up since the eighties, not down. Iceland has built an impressive tradition of beer brewing in the years since 1989 and craft breweries all over the country are making quality brews of all types. March 1 has become an unofficial holiday known as Beer Day, which, it should come as no surprise, is celebrated by drinking lots of beer.

Riding with Eldhestar

Would you like to experience something different? HORSES & HOT SPRINGS Experience a variety of scenery and excellent riding trails. Tour 3C

SOFT RIVER BANKS This is a tour for the experienced rider! Who would not like to ride in an extraordinary environment? Tour 3B

ICELANDIC DIVERSITY Get in touch with Icelandic nature on horseback and taste the treasures of the nearby sea. Tour 2G

GREAT VARIETY OF HORSE RIDING TOURS JUST OUTSIDE REYKJAVIK Get further information at www.eldhestar.is

Eldhestar, Vellir, 816 Ã&#x2013;lfus, Iceland Email: info@eldhestar.is Tel: +354 480 4800

GlAcIeR IcE CaVe & SnOwMoBiLe

Come with us inside the Glacier Experience a snowmobile tour from Gullfoss Café to our new Glacier Ice Cave in Langjökull. Daily departures: 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 www.mountaineers.is ice@mountaineers.is +354 580 9900

THE L AXNESS MUSEUM Gljúfrasteinn was the home of writer Halldór Laxness (the winner of The Nobel Prize in Literature 1955) and his family for more than half a century. The house is now a museum, where the author’s home is preserved just as it was when he lived and worked there.

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GLJÚFRASTEINN

A number of events are hosted throughout the year. Every Sunday during the summertime there are concerts in the living room at 16:00. The museum is open on Tuesdays to Fridays from 10:00–16:00. Audio guides of the house are available in Icelandic, English, German, Swedish, and Danish, as well as an illustrated guide in French. Gljúfrasteinn-Laxness museum is located in the valley of Mosfellsdalur on the way to Þingvellir National Park, only a 20-minute drive from Reykjavík. For more information, go to www.gljufrasteinn.is.

Evening tours from Reykjavík old harbour on the award-winning electric sailboat Opal

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SAILS LIGHTS & WINTER NIGHTS

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Five Weird Things to Do in Reykjavík For more information on skyr, visit www.iseyskyr.com

Being normal is boring! Although that’s something you usually hear on the heels of some stupendously idiotic deed, we can all agree that too much normalcy doesn’t make for good stories. And what are you doing on vacation in Iceland if you’re not looking for chances to make good stories when you get back. It’s okay to shake things up a bit every once in a while!

As it turns out, there are plenty of weird things to do in Reykjavík. What’s On cobbled together a list of five peculiar Reykjavík activities. ICE CREAM IN WINTER

The Icelanders have an unseasonable obsession with ice cream, which is to say that the frozen dessert is just as popular in winter as it is in summer.

Whatever the case, we do encourage you to try it! FEET FIRST INTO FRIGID WATERS

The Icelanders – fearing that their reputation for hardiness was under threat– recently took it upon themselves to revive the national stereotype of the Icelander who doesn’t let subzero temperature stop them.

“Why,” you ask, “would a phenomenon conceived of by the Persians in the 5th century BCE – for the purposes of providing a nice “summertime treat” for royalty – be consumed in such large quantities in wintertime by an island nation skirting the Arctic Circle?”

As there are no germaphobes in Germany, they reasoned, so, too, there can be no ice-fearing Icelanders. Looking to human icicle Wim Hof (famous for his resistant to cold) for inspiration, the locals began introducing fish-tubs to every public pool on the island, piping glacial water into them as if refilling a baptismal font.

There are many theories, ranging from ice cream being a comfort food to the activity serving as a welcome distraction from miserable weather.

We personally recommend the “cold pots” in Suðurbæjarlaug (Hafnarfjörður) and in Vesturbæjarlaug (West Reykjavík).

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PAY A VISIT TO THE PENIS MUSEUM

“Actually, they’re not funny. They’re art,” that personable, if problematic, guy from Love Actually said, after having his artistic sensibilities offended by a roomful of prude children. The curators of the Penis Museum in Reykjavík don’t mind if you laugh, however. They’re used to it. Billed as, “probably the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic specimens belonging to all the various types of mammal found in a single country,” the Icelandic Phallological Museum opened its doors in 1997. Initially, the museum displayed 62 specimens (penises). Today, they’re almost 300 – from 93 different species of animals. Among those animals is the human animal; in July 2011, the museum obtained its first human penis, one of four promised by would-be donors. SUP ON SINGED SHEEP’S HEAD

Svið are sheep’s heads, cut in half, singed, and boiled. In the olden times, when food was scarce, there were no allowances made for squeamishness; every part of the animal was consumed – even the head. These days, the thought of eating a whole sheep’s head may make some uncomfortable. While we’re not necessarily recommending it, it certainly falls under the category of “weird.”

The restaurant Rétturinn in the Reykjanes peninsula (the Greater Reykjavík Area) recently began offering deep-fried Svið, which certainly sounds interesting. GET BLITZED ON BRENNIVÍN (BLACK DEATH)

Brennivín, also known as Black Death, is a distilled brand of schnapps that is considered Iceland’s signature liquor. Brennivín is made from fermented potatoes, flavoured with caraway seeds, and is best served ice cold. Some will try to sell you the idea that Brennivín was the liquor of choice among the Vikings, but in reality, it was actually created by a team of opportunists employed by the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland, following the lifting of prohibition in Iceland in 1975. In the words of historian Stefán Pálsson: “After the ban was lifted and state liquor stores opened in 1975, the government needed to create a drink that could overtake the alcohol market and compete with homemade spirits so the next time you pick up a brochure touting how Vikings used to drink Brennivín, keep in mind that this newly popular drink was actually invented by a group of bureaucrats trying to break into the recently opened alcohol market following the alcohol prohibition.”

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WHAT TO DO IN ICELAND

IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE DAY If you only have one day in Iceland, the first advice I will give you is to change your flight and stay for at least a week more. If that’s not an option, my next suggestion would be to use the time you have to the fullest, since Iceland is a unique destination. IF YOU JUST WANT TO SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS

IF ICELANDIC GEOLOGY INTERESTS YOU

No country does volcanoes like Iceland, there’s a reason it’s called the land of Ice and Fire. The Reykjavík Erupts! volcano hike takes you to a geothermally active area where the effects of the extreme heat underground are clearly visible on the surface. The colours of the earth are akin to a rainbow and there are bubbling cauldrons of mud everywhere. Lava Tunnel tour, on the other hand, allows you to visit a cave that was formed during a volcanic eruption. The rock formations alone make this tour worth the trip.

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It’s no coincidence that The Golden Circle is the most popular day tour from Reykjavík. There are three stops on the way that just happen to be three of the most captivating destinations in Iceland, and as an added bonus, the tour doesn’t take up more than half of your day. The stops are Þingvellir, the national park where the Icelandic Parliament congregated since Viking times, Gullfoss, the awe-inspiring waterfall which lends its name to the Golden Circle, and Geysir, an erupting hot spring, guaranteed to wow visitors.

WHAT’S ON IF YOU WANT TO SEE A GLACIER

Since you’re visiting ICE-land, you might want to check out some icy tours and it doesn’t get any icier than hiking on a glacier. Glacier hikes are relatively easy and professional gear is provided so the tour should be accessible for most people. You get to walk on a glacier, with guides who know everything there is to know about glaciers and Iceland in general, what more could you ask for?

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IF YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR A LITTLE LUXURY

What’s better than having a spa day? Krauma is a natural geothermal spa in West Iceland, next to Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring. The water of the natural hot spring is mixed with cool glacial water for perfect temperatures. It has five hot tubs and one cold bath, a relaxation room and two steam baths. If you’re in South Iceland, then head to the Secret Lagoon. It’s situated in a geothermal area with plenty of hot water streaming naturally from the ground and steam rising into the air around you. The beautiful location really lets you feel at one with the Icelandic nature. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN ADRENALINE RUSH

Looking for a thrill? Then go on a buggy ride. A buggy is a fast, sturdy and stable ATV, perfect for everybody who loves the outdoors. When going

on a buggy tour, you better be ready to get dirty, with water splashing up on the side of the tires and dust being blown around your head. Driving a buggy through rough Icelandic terrain, with mud pools, dusty roads and sometimes snow, offers an exciting adventure! IF YOU READ MOBY DICK AND LIKED IT

Marine life abounds in the ocean around Iceland. Of all the creatures that live in these waters, the most spectacular ones have to be the whales. If you’re interested in seeing these immense creatures for yourself, take a whale watching cruise. Even the smallest Icelandic whale you could spot is still the size of a full-grown man, and the largest can reach up to 30 metres in length! If you have a few hours to spare before or after the cruise (or if you get seasick and a cruise is out of the question), check out the Whales of Iceland exhibition for some extra information on these gentle giants.

Whether you are going on tours or staying within city limits, you can be sure of one thing: you won’t have seen enough of what Iceland. The next time you’re in Iceland (we’re pretty sure you’ll be back) stop by the What’s On information centre, or send us an email, info@ whatson.is, and ask the staff to help you plan an unforgettable vacation.

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Only 35 min. from Reykjavík

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What to Do in Reykjavík with Kids Although the birth rate in Iceland is steadily declining, it remains higher than the European average. What this means, we don’t know. What we do know, however, is that Icelandic society is rather familyoriented, which is good news for those travelling with kids and teenagers. There is plenty to keep them entertained year-round. Here are a few kid-friendly activities that you can enjoy in and around Reykjavík, all of which are accessible by foot, public transportation, private vehicle, or pickup service. None take longer than four hours total and driving time is minimal. SWIMMING

watching vessels offer heated indoor areas for chilly days, while also providing warm overalls and blankets.

Most of Reykjavík’s thermal pools are outdoors. The water temperature in the pools and hot tubs range from 27 to 42°C, which will keep you warm even on the coldest days. Visiting public pools is a popular activity among local families. They are fun, healthy, and affordable. The locker rooms offer kiddie bathtubs and child seats that make washing the littlest members of your family easy. There are floaties for kids learning to swim, and pool toys for the young (and the young at heart). Most pools also feature shallow kiddie pools and water slides.

HORSEBACK RIDING

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Age range: 0-99 Season: year-round

WHALE-WATCHING CRUISES

Age range: 0-99 Season: year-round

No matter your age, viewing wildlife from the ocean is exciting. While summer is high season for whale watching (and the only season to see the famous puffins), you can see whales off the coast of Iceland all year-round. Most of the whale-

Age range: 6-99 Season: year-round

The Icelandic horse may be small, but don’t call it a pony! These friendly purebreds are a national treasure and love to meet people. Most horse rentals offers riding tours for families that is short enough for the young ones and yet suitable for all levels of experience.

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CAVING

A DAY IN LAUGARDALUR

Explore a 2000-year-old cave that formed during a volcanic eruption. The lava is no longer active, but you and the kids will be as you venture in to experience the unique and colourful stone formations firsthand. Kids must be able to walk on their own and keep pace with the group.

The Laugardalur Valley offers several activities for the whole family. The Family Park and Zoo house specimens of most of Iceland’s animals, such as sheep, cows, horses, reindeer, and seals. In the summer, there are several rides open, while the play areas are open year-round. Laugardalur also houses ice-skating and rollerskating rinks, the largest thermal pool in the city, and the Ásmundarsafn sculpture collection, which includes an outdoor sculpture garden (for those who can’t bear the stiffness of an indoor museum - no matter their age).

Age range: 5-99 Season: year-round

GO TO THE REYKJAVÍK FAMILY PARK & ZOO

Age range: 0-99 Season: year-round

DUCK WATCHING

Age range: 0-99 Season: year-round Almost every Icelander has fond memories of childhood trips to the downtown pond to feed the ducks with breadcrumbs. Nowadays feeding the ducks is frowned upon (as it turns out, bread is not good for them), but you can still drop by and say hello! Although ducks are the main attraction, you’ll also see swans, geese, and seagulls. When you start to get cold, you can step into the City Hall to check out the sizeable topographical model of Iceland built to scale.

MUSEUMS

Age range: 0-99 Season: year-round There are many child-friendly museums in Reykjavík, furnished with activity rooms and interactive exhibits. The National Museum of Iceland, for example, boasts a special children’s area on the second floor where kids can dress up in Viking attire and try out swords, shields, chain mail, and helmets. There are historical objects and models they can play with and a reading section where they can browse through books and listen to stories (in English and Icelandic). At the Maritime Museum, kids can also board a National Guard ship from the fifties. The Árbær Open Air Museum, a collection of old Icelandic farmhouses and buildings, is always popular among the kids, too. If you’re spending a day or two exploring Reykjavík’s museums and swimming pools, consider the Reykjavík City Card. Available for 24hr, 48hr, and 72hr periods for kids and adults, it gives you access to museums, swimming pools, public transport, and more, at one low price.

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Located in Laugardalur in central Reykjavík, Reykjavík’s Family Park & Zoo is open in wintertime between 10 AM and 5 PM. The zoo features Icelandic farm animals and mammals from the country’s wildlife, as well as a small collection of exotic animals. The Reykjavík City Council decided to build the zoo in Laugardalur Valley on April 22, 1986. The aim was to educate the general public on Icelandic farm animals, give them a closer look at Icelandic farming practices, and strengthen the bond between people and animals. Then-mayor Davíð Oddson opened the zoo on May 19, 1990.

Age range: 0-99 Season: year-round

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Five Things You Didn’t Know About the Icelandic Horse

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The Icelandic horse is beloved the world over for its qualities, skills, and intelligence. When driving through the Icelandic countryside, you just might get a glimpse of these beautiful creatures. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see a foal. If you’re keen to learn more, here are some facts about the Icelandic horse that might surprise you.

1. IT’S NOT A PONY!

The Icelandic horse is smaller than many other breeds so some people assume that they’re a pony-breed. They’re not, though, based on their sturdy build and strong personalities, Icelanders never call their horses ponies. They come in many coat colours, including chestnut, bay, black, grey, white, palomino, pinto, and roan, making them very photogenic! 2. WALK THIS WAY

The Icelandic horse can perform five gaits (ways of walking). The common gaits are called walk, trot, and canter, but many Icelandic horses can also do a flying pace and tölt. Tölt is a sped-up version of walking, but much more impressive as the horses lift their front legs up high, and only one foot touches the ground at any time.

It’s a comfortable gait on the uneven ground of Iceland’s wilderness. Not all Icelandic horses can do the tölt, and those who have the ability usually need to be trained to do it properly. 3. YOU WON’T FIND ANY OTHER KIND OF HORSES HERE

Importing horses to Iceland has been forbidden since as far back as 982AD, to prevent the degeneration of the stock. This is the kind of thing you can do when you live on an island. The isolation makes the breed vulnerable for communicable horse disease so exported horses can never return to the island. Luckily, the Icelandic horse is prized for its intelligence and good nature so it’s bred all over the world. 4. HISTORY & CULTURE

Historically, a quality Icelandic horse was a highly-desired prize, both for practical purposes and as a status symbol. They have a place in Norse mythology, most notably in the form of Sleipnir, Óðinn’s eight-legged horse. They follow us from our very earliest history, for instance in the Book of Settlement, where the chieftain Sela-Þórir set up his settlement at the

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5. YOU CAN RIDE ONE!

There are many tours you can choose from to ride an Icelandic horse in its natural habitat when you visit Iceland, even if you’ve never sat on a horse before. Not only are the Icelandic horses renowned for their pleasant temperament, they’re also much shorter than other horses – if you fall off, it won’t be far. If you’re a more experienced rider, we recommend taking a whole day tour, or even some longer trips if you’ve got the time. The Icelandic highlands are stunning and really, exploring them on horseback just like the original settlers did, is the only way to go.

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place where his mare Skálm decided to rest. In the Icelandic sagas, e.g. in Hrafnkel’s Saga, Njál’s Saga, and Grettir’s Saga, horses play important roles, for instance in horse fights, as status symbols, and not least as plot devices. For instance, the epic hero Gunnar á Hlíðarenda is about to leave for his exile when his horse trips. As Gunnar gets up, he looks at his beautiful country, and decides to stay rather than be outlawed, which ultimately leads to his death.

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Hallgrímskirkja The Hallgrímskirkja church is probably the best-known landmark in Reykjavík, along with Perlan. It’s architect Guðjón Samúelsson’s final project (Guðjón was one of Iceland’s most prolific architects). His work usually drew inspiration from Icelandic nature, and Hallgrímskirkja is no exception, conjuring the mountains and glaciers of Iceland along with the iconic columnar igneous rock. Guðjón started sketching the church in 1937, and construction commenced in 1945. It wasn’t finished until 1986, although sections of the church had been ready for a long time (it had even ben consecrated so the church could be put to use). In addition to being a real gem of Reykjavík, Hallgrímskirkja also regularly hosts cultural events and ambitious concerts. On March 4, Bach’s St. John Passion will be performed by three exceptional musicians and with audience participation. This unique performance style of the St John Passion has been a massive hit in Germany and the Netherlands. Benedikt Kristjánsson tenor will sing the passion from beginning to end accompanied by organ, harpsichord and a diverse percussion set. The audience is encouraged to participate in singing the chorals.

On March 29, Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine will be performed. The Nordic Culture Fund funds the project. Performers include the Schola Cantorum chamber choir, Elmar Gilbertsson, Herdís Anna Jónasdóttir, and Tumo Suni. Conductor is Hörður Áskelsson, Music Director of Hallgrimskirkja.

MONTEVERDI’S VESPRO DELLA BEATA VERGINE CONCERT IN HALLGRIMSKIRKJA MARCH 29 AT 8 PM The Mary Vespers (1610) by Italian renaissance/early baroque composer Claudio Monteverdi, is a particularly enchanting and marvellous version of the traditional vesper singing form, which concludes with an appraisal of the Virgin Mary. An excellent composition for choirs, soloists, and orchestra, Vespro della Beata Vergine will later be performed by the same musicians in the German Church in Stockholm (Apr 4) and Frederiksborg Castle Church in Copenhagen (Apr 5). Performers: Herdís Anna Jónasdóttir soprano, Thelma Hrönn Sigurdórsdóttir soprano, Anders Dahlin tenor, Elmar Gilbertsson tenor, Þorsteinn Sigurðsson tenor, Hafsteinn Þórólfsson bass, Philip Barkhudarov bass, Schola cantorum, Cantores Islandiae, Scandinavian Cornetts and Sackbuts - led by Lene Langballe, The Hallgrímskirkja International Baroque Orchestra Concertmaster: Tuomo Suni Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson Admission: ISK 9.900/ 6.900 Ticket sale at Hallgrímskirkja open daily 9am-5 pm and online on www.tix.is

T H E H A L L G R I M S K I R K J A F R I E N D S O F T H E A RT S O C I E T Y 2 0 2 0 - 3 8 T H S E A S O N

J. S. BACH’S

ST JOHN PASSION

BWV 245

for tenor-soloist, harpsichord, organ and percussion March 4th

Wednesday

 8pm

Bach’s St John Passion will be performed by three exceptional musicians and with audience participation. This unique performance style of the St John Passion has been a huge hit in Germany and the Netherlands. Benedikt Kristjánsson tenor will sing the passion from beginning to end accompanied by organ, harpsichord and a diverse percussion set.This project received the prestigious Opus Klassik prize recently, in the category Most Innovative Concert. Audience is encouraged to participate in singing the chorals.

P ERFORMERS:

Benedikt Kristjánsson Elina Albach tenor harpsichord and organ

Admission: 6.900 ISK Ticket sale at Hallgrímskirkja open daily 9am-5 pm and online on www.tix.is

listvinafelag.is

Philipp Lamprecht percussion

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Iceland Explained LOPAPEYSA WHAT IS IT?

Lopapeysa is a sweater made from the wool of Icelandic sheep. The Icelandic lopapeysa is knit in the round, so it doesn’t have any seams, and it has a circular-patterned border around the shoulders. Other than that, you can let your imagination run wild, as the colours and patterns can vary. WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT IT?

The most interesting thing about lopapeysa is that everybody has one. The sweaters don’t have a particularly long history, as they were first made in the 1950s. Still, they were an instant hit with Icelanders and have been extremely popular ever since. Lopapeysas are light and pretty but warm and waterproof at the same time. HOW DO I MAKE ONE?

For a wool sweater to qualify as a proper lopapeysa, you need lopi, a type of yarn spun from

the wool of Icelandic sheep. Knitting recipes are readily available, most notably at the Handknitting Association of Iceland, which was founded in 1977. Patterns around the waist and wrists are optional. One of the reasons the lopapeysa became so popular is that it’s easy and fast to knit.

HALLDÓR LAXNESS

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WHAT DID HE DO?

Halldór Laxness is Iceland’s most famous 20thcentury writer, the author of such books as Independent People, Iceland’s Bell, and World Light. He is best known for his social realism novels. As a young author, Laxness stirred up controversy not only because of his incendiary prose and his refusal to follow standard rules of spelling but also because of his left-leaning politics. WHY IS HE FAMOUS?

According to the Nobel prize committee of 1955, Laxness’ “vivid epic power renewed the great narrative art of Iceland.” He is the only Icelander in history to receive the Nobel prize (although Gunnar Gunnarsson also came close, reportedly). Awards aside, his work has fundamentally influenced Icelandic culture, and many of his characters are household names in the country. HOW CAN I READ HIS WORK?

Most of his novels are available in translations. His most famous novel is Independent People, the saga of a woefully proud Icelandic farmer and

his family. For the uninitiated, we recommend The Fish Can Sing, a coming-of-age story set in early20th-century Reykjavík. If you want to learn more about Laxness, we suggest visiting Gljúfrasteinn, the author’s long-time home that was turned into a museum after his death. Everything from the arrangement of the furniture to the works of art on the walls has remained unchanged.

Harpa Concert Hall sinfonia.is harpa.is (+354) 528 50 50

Main sponsor:

@icelandsymphony / #sinfo

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THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY Umbrellas often feel rather useless in Iceland. Rain often comes with wind, which means that the raindrops seem to fly in from every direction. It’s for this reason that rainy days in Iceland are usually best spent inside. If you’re not sure what to do with yourself, here’s a short list of activities.

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VISIT A MUSEUM

Reykjavík is a veritable feast of cultural treats. Whether it’s art, history, or science you’re after, the museums in this small northern city offer an array of exciting and diverse exhibitions year-round, guaranteed to pique your interest. When it starts to drizzle, pay a visit to the Reykjavík Art Museum. It has three locations – Hafnarhúsið, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn – and purchasing admission to any one of these museums grants you automatic access to the other two. TAKE IT EASY AT A COFFEEHOUSE

It’s hard to explain why Icelanders have such a deep love for coffee, considering that the plant doesn’t grow anywhere near the island. Maybe it has something to do with those long, dark winter mornings. Whatever the reason, the sheer quantity of cafés in downtown Reykjavík is proof of the Icelanders’ affection for what some refer to as a “jolt of black lightning.” The cafés range from small holes-in-the-wall offering takeaway coffee to places with plush couches where you can sit comfortably for several hours.

CRUISE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

The Icelandic landscape is impressive, whatever the weather. Hiking in the rain, however, is a recipe for cold toes and grumpy moods. This is why zooming past the dramatic views of the Icelandic countryside from the comfort and warmth of a bus or a car can be both extremely enjoyable and practical. Be sure to blast some great Icelandic music on your drive; it can only enhance the experience. GO SWIMMING

It may sound like a strange suggestion: going for a swim in the rain. Most Icelanders agree, however, that swimming in Iceland is particularly enjoyable in lousy weather. This is thanks to the geothermal heat that keeps you nice and toasty in the hot tubs. Chatting with the locals in the warm swirl offers a welcome contrast to the chilly rain. The relatively inexpensive admission doesn’t hurt either. WATCH A MOVIE AT BÍÓ PARADÍS

Bíó Paradís keeps up an ambitious schedule of internationally-acclaimed films from all over the world. It hosts several film festivals and airs Icelandic films with English subtitles all year round. It’s also the only cinema in downtown Reykjavík and a great place to keep dry in the rain. Not only is it a great place to watch movies, it is also furnished with a cosy sitting area where visitors can order some coffee or a beer, before or after the movie.

SEE ICELAND LIKE NEVER BEFORE

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE FLYING RIDE

Experience Iceland's most awe-inspiring landscapes at this all-weather activity in the heart of Reykjavik. As you hang suspended, feet dangling in front of a 20-metre spherical screen, special effects including wind, mist and scents help you see and feel our natural wonders like never before. Book your tickets at FlyOverIceland.com

REYKJAVÍK’S

NEWEST ATTRACTION!

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Impressive Waterfalls to Visit in Winter

According to some estimates, there are over 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland. If you’re visiting in winter some of them may prove more accessible than others. Wherever you go, stick to the beaten path and review the weather forecast (before heading out, we suggest consulting Safetravel.is for updates on road closures and weather conditions). Whether you’re travelling in a rental car or with a certified tour operator, below you will find a few visit-worthy waterfalls that are relatively close to the Greater Reykjavík Area, and, therefore, comparatively convenient as far as wintertime travelling goes. GULLFOSS

Gullfoss – the Golden Waterfall – is the most famous waterfall in Iceland. Contributing the “Gold” in Golden Circle (the most popular day tour in Iceland), Gullfoss is a two-tiered

waterfall and one of the oldest tourist routes in the country. It’s just under a two-hour drive from downtown Reykjavík in Southwest Iceland and is, to engage in a bit of patriotic hyperbole, photogenic in the extreme (the waterfall appears briefly in the TV series Vikings). SELJALANDSFOSS

Originating in the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, the Seljalands river plunges some 60 m (ca. 200 ft) to form the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Travellers can reach Seljalandsfoss via Route One. It’ll take you roughly an hour and a half by car. Seljalandsfoss is one of the few waterfalls in Iceland that visitors can observe from behind (no sexual innuendo intended) by way of a small cave – just like Justin Bieber in the video to I’ll Show You. In winter you’ll have to be extra careful though, as the ground behind the waterfall freezes over

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and gets exceedingly slippery. No one wants to conclude a fun day of exploring at the hospital. GLJÚFRABÚI

Gljúfrafoss, or Gljúfrabúi, is a small waterfall situated a stone’s throw away from Seljalandsfoss (less than one km). Although the falls are partially obscured by a cliff rock, travellers can take a narrow path into a canyon where the water plunges into a small pool. It’s quite picturesque. If you don’t want to be wet and cold for the rest of the day, consider wearing a waterproof jacket and pants, good shoes and crampons, because the rocks inside the canyon are especially slippery. SKÓGAFOSS

Less than a 30-minute drive from Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi, you will find Skógafoss on the Skógá River. Skógafoss ranks among the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a width of over 15 metres and a drop similar to Seljalandsfoss. The waterfall has made a cameo in at least one high-profile popular culture moment, i.e. it served as the backdrop for Jon Snow and Daenerys’ kiss in season eight of Game of Thrones. Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss are two of the main attractions on the south coast.

Skógafoss

ÖXARÁRFOSS

There are few waterfalls as close to the city of Reykjaík as Öxarárfoss, located in the Þingvellir National Park, little less than an hour away from town. The waterfall flows from Öxará river over the Almannagjá gorge. Öxarárfoss is one of the main attractions of the Þingvellir National Park. It’s roughly six metres wide and 13 metres high. During winter, the waterfall sometimes freezes over.

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How to Travel Safely in Iceland

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With a subarctic climate and a tiny population, Iceland might be a tad different from other popular destinations. Desolate landscapes, mountains, waterfalls, geothermal areas, and the ocean are all beautiful natural wonders that can catch you off-guard if you’re unprepared. Keep the following six safety guidelines in mind when planning your trip to Iceland.

1. FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH ICELAND’S EMERGENCY NUMBERS

The emergency number in Iceland is 112. You can dial it free of charge to reach emergency services like ambulances, rescue teams, and the police. 2. FOLLOW UPDATES ON SAFETRAVEL

Icelandic weather is famously fickle and extreme weather is not uncommon. In wintertime, high wind speeds and snow frequently limit visibility. Safetravel, which aims to reduce the risk of travel-related accidents in Iceland, introduced a new map last year. The new map combines what once were three maps (vedur.is, vegagerdin. is, and safetravel.is) into one, displaying travel conditions in real-time: the weather, road conditions, conditions at tourist attractions, wind gusts on roads, avalanche warnings, and more.

3. BE EXTRA CAREFUL WHEN VISITING GEOTHERMAL AREAS

The water in geothermal areas can reach a temperature of up to 100°C. Falling in or slipping may result in severe burns. Luckily, safe paths are clearly marked, so make sure to stay on them. 4. KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE OCEAN

Sneaker waves – disproportionally large waves that encroach further onto shore than regular waves – are frequent occurrences at the Reynisfjara and Kirkufjara beaches in South Iceland. Sneaker waves are more powerful than people expect. Accidents have proven fatal in the past. Keep a safe distance from the water and observe nearby signs. 5. STAY ON THE PATH

Whether visiting a waterfall, a geothermal area, or taking a hike on a mountain, staying on the footpath is imperative. If you see a closed path, do not step over the line. It’s closed for a reason. 6. LET SOMEONE KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING

If you’re planning on hiking, camping, or hitchhiking, let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. You can also leave your travel plan on www.safetravel.is. You can visit SafeTravel at What’s On, Laugavegur 54.

The Settlement Exhibition

Step into the Viking Age Open daily 09:00–18:00 Aðalstræti 16 101 Reykjavík www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is

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DesignMarch 2020

Iceland’s Biggest Design Festival The twelfth annual DesignMarch (HönnunarMars in Icelandic) festival will take place from March 25-29 in Reykjavík. During DesignMarch, the capital of Iceland is transformed into one big showcase for innovative creations and designs. The festival aims to connect local and international designers at more than one hundred events and exhibitions. All kinds of designers are part of the programme, from fashion designers to architects, and from furniture designers to product designers.

DESIGNTALKS

On March 26, the seminar DesignTalks takes place at Harpa Concert Hall, a day filled with lectures from international professionals on the importance of design. This year’s overall theme is New World, New Ways. The event is curated, as in previous years, by Hlín Helga Guðlaugsdóttir. This year she will be joined by Robert Thiemann, founder and editor-in-chief of FRAME magazine, to moderate the event.

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DON’T MISS THESE EVENTS! During the festival, hundreds of events are organised. Confirmed events include: 2050

2050 is a space where BA and MA students, academic staff, and alumni of the Iceland University of the Arts participate in an exhibition where they collectively attempt to live the year 2050. CIRCLE

Circle is a collection of new homewares by Reykjavík Trading Co. in collaboration with select restaurants and local ceramicist in Hafnarfjörður. The couple behind Circle gathers, designs, and creates original pieces utilizing food waste, giving it a new lease on life and bringing it back into the home. CLEANING STRATEGIES

Employing the design of cleaning products and tools, Cleaning Strategies is a playful investigation into the potential of undeveloped natural resources and industrial waste. Cleaning Strategies explores the possibility of using local raw materials to create sustainable cleaning products and tools. DESIGNWALKS

DesignWalks are informative, yet informal, walking tours of downtown Reykjavik focusing

on design, architecture, and the general history of the city and its settlement. Participants will visit DesignMarch-related spaces and people, depending on the events of the day. MAKING WAVES WITH GENKI INSTRUMENTS

An interactive exhibition of Wave by Genki Instruments, the recipients of the 2019 Icelandic Design Awards. Observe the process from back-of-hand duct tape wires, countless sketches, and 3D prints to a premium hardware product being mass-produced and shipped to artists all over the world. ERRORVISION

A fashion-show-cum-art-installation inspired by last year’s Eurovision, ERRORVISION aims to reveal the darkness behind the synthetic rainbows. The project also hopes to promote Middle Eastern fashion in Iceland while simultaneously breaking down stereotypes and cultural barriers. For the installation, the team behind the Palestinian fashion collective tRASHY CLOTHING will collaborate with several Icelandic creatives including this year’s Icelandic Eurovision entry HATARI. Most events are open to the public, for more information visit www.designmarch.is. 37

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Skiing in Iceland Northern lights. Snow. Frozen waterfalls. There are many reasons to enjoy Iceland in wintertime. For locals, one reason stands out – skiing. People sometimes ask, “can you ski in Iceland?” and the answer is “yes.” Even though Iceland lacks Switzerland’s high mountains, it is a ski paradise – if you know where to go. Don’t worry, we will tell you! And good news for beginners, there are almost no trees. Happy skiing!

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BLÁFJÖLL

Bláfjöll is a popular ski area, conveniently situated just half an hour outside of Reykjavík. It’s the largest ski resort in Iceland, with runs of varying difficulty levels covering a total of 15km. The slopes are wide and well-maintained (the longest being 2.5 kilometres with an elevation of 240 metres, and the most difficult being 700 metres with an elevation difference of 200 metres). A ski rental and a ski school are located on-site. Depending on the weather and snow conditions, the season runs from January through May. Keep an eye on Bláfjöll’s website to follow regular updates about opening times! Opening hours (subject to change due to weather and snow conditions): weekdays from 14:00 till 21:00 and weekends from 10:00 till 17:00. Visit their website for information regarding entrance fees and weather updates.

HLÍÐARFJALL

You can go skiing outside of the Reykjavík area as well!Located in North Iceland, Hlíðarfjall is Akureyri’s top-notch ski resort. It’s located just a few kilometres outside of town, with breathtaking views over the Eyjafjörður fjord. Combining natural snow with artificial powder from snow machines, Hlíðarfjall boasts floodlit slopes to guarantee skiing in the dark winter months. Ski and snowboard lessons are offered on-site. Hlíðarfjall has 30 hills in total, and elevation levels differ between 500 and 1000 metres above sea level. It’s open from December to April, making it the most popular destination for winter getaways. Opening hours are variable over the season and depend heavily on the weather. Visit their website for current opening times and entrance fees.

THE NATURAL CHOICE ICELANDIC LAMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BEYOND COMPARE True to our tradition of 1,100 years, pure-bred Icelandic Lamb grazes freely, acquiring delicate seasonings of berries and herbs. Its premium quality, texture, and delicious flavour make it the natural choice of leading chefs. Look for the Icelandic Lamb Shield, a guarantee of excellence awarded to Icelandic restaurants. www.icelandiclamb.is 39

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Notable Events in the History of Iceland 16-18 MILLION BC: The Formation of Iceland. Volcanic eruptions form the landmass known as Iceland. 871 AD: The Settlement of Iceland. Ingólfur Arnarson killed a man in Norway and fled to Iceland. 930 AD: Alþingi (the Icelandic Parliament) established. Alþingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world that is still extant.

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1000 AD: Conversion to Christianity, discovery of America. Parliament decided everyone would be Christian or at least pretend to be. Leif “the Lucky” Eiriksson got lost and found America, didn’t like it and went home.

1262 AD: Iceland submits to Norway. Civil war between powerful clans was finally resolved by forfeiting independence and submitting to Norwegian rule. This eventually led to Iceland winding up under Danish rule.

THE 1750S: The Enlightenment and the birth of Reykjavík. Industrialisation and modernisation started when “Sheriff” Skúli Magnússon started wool manufacturing at Aðalstræti 10.

1550 AD: Reformation. A violent conflict between Catholics and Lutherans ended with the beheading of Catholic bishop Jón Arason.

1944 AD: Independence. Iceland declared independence while Denmark was too busy being invaded by Germany to protest.

1602: Monopoly (not the fun kind). The king of Denmark decided Icelanders could only trade with particular Danes, resulting in economic stagnation until the monopoly was abolished in 1786.

20TH CENTURY: The World Wars and modernisation. The turn of the century saw the first motorboat and car. The World Wars and American occupation resulted in the first serious urbanisation and foreign cultural influence. 1955 AD: Nobel Prize. Halldór Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. 1980 AD: First female president. The world’s first democratically elected female head of state, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, took office. 2008 AD: Crash and miraculous recovery. Iceland’s banking system went spectacularly bankrupt. Since then, things have picked up surprisingly well. 2009 AD: First openly gay prime minister. The world’s first openly lesbian head of government, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, took office.

WHAT’S ON

THE

NORTHERN

LIGHTS

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ARE HERE!

The days are slowly growing longer, and in a few weeks,the midnight sun will overshadow the northern lights. The lights are still visible in March, however, so go out there and happy northern lights hunting! Seeing the lights is a magical experience and we recommend seeking them out while you’re in Iceland. However, there are

a few things every northern lights hunter should keep in mind. The northern lights aren’t a reliable attraction and seeing them can be a matter of being in the right spot at the right time. It’s not all down to luck, however, as there are a few things you can do to maximise your chances of seeing the ethereal lights.

Different ways to see the Northern Lights: Going by coach:

Cheap and effective. A northern lights tour by bus or minibus is a good way to see the lights if you’re not too concerned about being surrounded a lot of people and simply travelling by bus. Perhaps not the best time if you don’t see anything – but it’s the cheapest option to see the lights, and it gets the job done.

Going by boat:

A great experience regardless of lights. Going by boat and seeing the city from the sea at night, is in itself a great experience. The boat ride is a very good choice for those who want to ensure they get something out of their tour even if no lights are found.superjeep

1 GET OUT OF TOWN

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TO P 8 TI PS FO R TH E NO RT HE RN LI GH TS The city lights block the northern lights!

2 MAKE SURE IT’S DARK

Daylight and northern lights don’t go hand in hand!

3 MAKE SURE THE SKY IS CLEAR The northern lights appear way above the clouds!

4 GIVE IT TIME AND BE PATIENT!

The northern lights don’t come out by order – be patient and you might get lucky!

5 SIGHTINGS CAN NEVER BE GUARANTEED

So we’d recommend a tour that includes some great activity as well as northern lights hunt – so you won’t feel disappointed!

6 WEAR SOMETHING WARM

It can get seriously cold, especially when the sky is clear and you’re waiting for a long time.

7 KNOW YOUR CAMERA!

Taking photos with a flash won’t work. Ever. A tripod and long exposure are your friends!

Lie down on the ground. Look up. Enjoy!

Book your northern lights tour now online or at the What’s On tourist information centre, at Laugavegur 5.

Going by super-jeep:

Exclusive and thrilling. Going on a hunt for the lights with a specially modified superjeep is a thrilling experience that’s fun and exciting. Sights can of course never be guaranteed, but the off-road action of a superjeep makes for a great adventure, the lights are just an added bonus.

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8 ENJOY IT!

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NORTHERN LIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY

DOs AND DON'Ts

DO have a relatively good camera with you that allows for easy and quick change of settings. DON’T rule out taking a photo on your phone’s camera. DO have your ISO set to at least 800 and your aperture as low as it goes. DON’T forget your tripod. However little you think you move while waiting for your camera to take your picture, believe me, you always move and it’s enough to make your photos blurry.

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DO keep your shutter speed anywhere between 5 to 30 seconds, although the optimal would be between 5 and 20 seconds (30 seconds is only for very faint lights, basically).

DON’T go by boat – if you’re intent on getting photos, at least. The movement of the boat makes taking good photos nearly impossible. DO consider using continuous shooting, so that while shooting the lights, you don’t have to keep staring at them through your camera. DON’T focus solely on your photographs and forget to be in the moment. You don’t see the northern lights every day! If you need any more information, check out www.whatson.is or stop by the What’s On information office at Laugavegur 5 and Laugavegur 54.

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How To Read the Northern Lights Forecast The northern lights forecast can be found on en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/, but it is a little hard to decipher if you’ve never seen it before. Our handy-dandy guide should make things a little bit easier.

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THE COLORS WHITE means NO CLOUDS, while DARK GREEN means VERY CLOUDY. The different shades of green then mean more, or less, cloudy.

THE NUMBERS The numbers are a combination of how likely it is for the lights to be active and how active they will be. Don’t be discouraged if the number is low, it’s actually very rare for the number to be higher than five. Also, take the scale with a grain of salt; a low number doesn’t mean that they won’t come out or won’t be impressive, and a high number isn’t a guarantee that they will be glorious all through the night. GOING ON A TOUR? There are many tours taking you far from the bright city lights for a better chance of seeing the aurora. These tours will be cancelled if there is no chance of seeing the lights. All major operators can be trusted to

do this, first of all, because there is a high standard of professionalism in Iceland, but more importantly, because they lose money if they take you out needlessly – most of them promise to take you out again for free if you don’t see anything.

Looking for more? The Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On Iceland tourist information and booking centres are located in downtown ReykjavĂk. Visit us at the start of your journey or contact us throughout it. www.whatson.is

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R E Y K J AV Í K SIGHTS TO SEE Reykjavík sightseeing has something for everyone! The city is filled with things to do, places to go, and stuff to see, but some things are just a little bit more important than others. Check out the map in the centre of the magazine to find the exact location of these Reykjavík sights. 1 | HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA Hallgrímskirkja church is one of Reykjavík’s most iconic buildings and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. It’s the largest church and the sixth tallest architectural structure in Iceland. The church tower offers a fantastic view of the city. It’s named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Petursson, author of the Passion Hymns. The architect, Guðjón Samúelsson, designed it to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland’s landscape. Construction started in 1945 and was finished in 1984.

Check out our centerfold map for the locations of these sights

2 | PERLAN Standing at 25m, Perlan is one of Reykjavík’s most striking

buildings. Built on top of the city’s hot water tanks, Perlan is known for its unique architecture. Inside Perlan, you can visit Wonders of Iceland, an exhibition spread over multiple levels. A visit to a real ice cave, planetarium shows, exhibitions on Iceland’s history, glaciers, volcanoes, and water, and a spectacular 360° viewing platform are all included in a ticket. On the top floor, a restaurant and coffeehouse for guests in need of refreshment. Surrounding Perlan is the Öskjuhlíð area, one of the many green spaces in Reykjavík, perfect for a walk on a sunny day.

3 | TJÖRNIN Tjörnin (The Pond) is the heart of the city centre and offers some of the most amazing views in Reykjavík. There is no better place in the city to enjoy a beautiful sunset and you can watch or feed a huge variety of birdlife that calls the lake home, while you’re at it. When the lake freezes over in winter, geothermal water is pumped in to defrost an area for the birds and feeding them is a popular family pastime all year round. Those who can handle the cold take to the lake on ice skates.

4 | AUSTURVÖLLUR When the sun is shining, Austurvöllur is the place to be. Surrounded by cafés and restaurants, this public square is a popular spot for locals to dine outside, soak up some sunshine or recline on the grass with picnics. In fact, whatever the season, Austurvöllur is the place to be. It’s used for celebrations on holidays and in December, the city’s biggest Christmas tree is located there. Due to its proximity to The House of Parliament, Austurvöllur is also a popular gathering spot for political protesters. At the centre of it all stands a statue of Jón Sigurðsson, the renowned figure who is credited with leading Iceland to independence.

shark, purchase a bag of Icelandic candy or browse through thrifted clothing, Kolaportið, an indoor flea market, open on the weekends between 11:00-17:00, is your best bet. The atmosphere is unique, and the old industrial building is usually filled with people hunting for books or antiques, grocery shopping at the food court, selling their old garments, buying music and DVDs, or digging through piles of stuff in search of hidden treasures. We recommend bringing cash, or visiting the ATM at one of the entrances, as the majority of stalls don’t accept cards.

WHAT’S ON

5 | KOLAPORTIÐ Whether you want to sample dried fish and fermented

6 | HARPA The whole 28,000m2 of Harpa stand at the edge of Reykjavík Harbour. It houses Iceland’s biggest concert hall, suitable for a broad range of concerts and cultural events, a conference centre with meeting facilities and in-house catering, as well as a couple of fine restaurants. Harpa also hosts promotions, plays, and public events. It’s open to everyone, and you should definitely visit Harpa, whether it’s to take in a show, buy souvenirs, go to a concert or have a lovely dinner in one of the fabulous restaurants. Harpa was designed by a Danish firm in cooperation with Ólafur Elíasson, an Icelandic artist, and opened to the public in 2011.

7 | THE OLD HARBOUR It’s the first lasting harbour in Reykjavík, although it’s no longer the city’s busiest one. The most-visited area is the eastern pier where you’ll find a community of shops, galleries, electric bike and scooter rentals, and guided tour operators. You will also find numerous whale watching companies willing to take you out to sea on unforgettable excursions. The area is filled with excellent restaurants (pizza, seafood, burgers, etc.) and cafés. The atmosphere at the old harbour is friendly, the air is fresh and salty and there are plenty of interesting activities to check out.

8 | THE SUN VOYAGER A beautiful sculpture of a Viking ship located by

9 | HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT Founded in 950 AD, Iceland’s Parliament, Alþingi, is the oldest extant parliament in the world! For centuries, the Parliament gathered in the open air (on the aptly named Þingvellir, Parliament Fields) but in recent years, they’ve met in Reykjavík. The House of Parliament is a modest classical building of hewn Icelandic dolerite, and it gives Austurvöllur square a dignified look. The Parliament garden behind the building is small but lovely in the summertime.

10 | LAUGARDALSLAUG Every country has traditions when it comes to leisure. Icelanders’ favourite pastime is going swimming. Laugardalslaug is the city’s largest pool with extensive facilities, located in Laugardalur valley. Its facilities include a 50m outdoor pool, an outdoor children’s pool and a paddling pool, two waterslides, numerous hot tubs, a steam bath, gym, and a mini golf course. There really is no better place to be on a sunny day, or a cold one for that matter. Right outside you will find a hot dog stand where you can buy traditional Icelandic hot dogs.

Check out our centerfold map for the locations of these sights

the ocean on a small peninsula by Sæbraut, close to downtown Reykjavík. The sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason symbolises the Viking past of the Icelanders and is an ode to the sun. It serves as reminder of our history and heritage when the first Viking settlers came sailing to Iceland. The Sun Voyager looks its best when the sun is setting, at whatever time that may be. The unforgettable view of the sculpture with a backdrop of the ocean and Mt. Esja is every photographer’s dream.

4 6 3

1 2

BSĂ?

Check out the article The Reykjavik Sight Experience on pages 48-49 for more information about the places numbered here.

REYKJAVÍK CIT Y MAP i

What’s On Tourist Information and Booking Centre Locations Main areas

Sights

Tour Pick Ups

10 12 10 13

WHAT’S ON

Museums in Downtown Reykjavík Reykjavík’s history reaches more than a thousand years into the past, and the city has a rich cultural heritage. What better way to learn more about Icelandic culture than visiting the museums scattered throughout the city centre? 1 THE REYKJAVÍK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The Museum of Photography’s main objective is to present both historical and contemporary photography in an artistic, social, and cultural context, as well as to nurture public and scholarly interest in photography. The collection’s themes are diverse. You can find family photographs, photos from portrait studios, industrial and advertising photography, press photography, landscape photography, and more. 2 THE REYKJAVÍK ART MUSEUM

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The Reykjavík Art Museum is a combination of three museums: Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, and Ásmundarsafn. Hafnarhús is located downtown and serves as the museum’s institute of contemporary art, where new developments in art are explored through diverse exhibitions of Icelandic and international artists. An exhibition of paintings by well-known pop artist Erró is a permanent feature. Kjarvalsstaðir is devoted to one of Iceland’s most influential painters, Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, and Ásmundarsafn is the former home and workshop of sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson.

3 THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION

In 2001, archaeological remains of a settlementera hall were excavated. The Settlement Exhibition is constructed around this discovery. The hall was inhabited from 930-1000. North of the hall, two pieces of a turf wall were found, which were built before 871. These findings are the oldest relics of human habitation found in Reykjavík. The exhibition provides insight into the construction of settlement-era buildings, with computer technology being used to give an impression of what life was like in the hall. Objects from the age of settlement found in central Reykjavík and on Viðey island are also on display. 4 THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

The nation’s most precious treasures are kept and displayed at the National Museum of Iceland. The museum was established on February 24, 1863, and it aims to expand and transmit Iceland’s cultural heritage from the time of the settlement up to modern times. In the museum, visitors will find a permanent exhibition of objects that provide insight into Icelandic history and culture, as well as temporary exhibitions highlighting specific eras or aspects of Iceland’s cultural heritage.

Turf Houses focuses on turf houses in Reykjavík from the settlement age until the early 1900s. Admission for this museum is also valid for The Settlement Exhibition a little further down the street.

WHAT’S ON

5 THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

Established in 1884, the National Gallery boasts an art collection that mainly comprises 19th and 20th-century artworks. The Gallery possesses many of the keystones of Icelandic art history, as well as a growing collection of works from other countries. The National Gallery’s primary role is to collect, preserve, research, and exhibit Icelandic art. There is also a considerable emphasis placed on contextualising Icelandic art internationally.

6 THE MARITIME MUSEUM

Located inside a former fish-freezing plant, the Maritime Museum was founded in 2004 and currently showcases two exhibitions. The permanent Fish & Folk – 150 years of Fisheries, which spotlights the historical importance of fishing for the Icelandic nation, and Milckmeyt 1659, an exhibition about an underwater archaeological survey conducted near Flatey Island (offering a fascinating insight into trade in Iceland in the 17th century). In 2008, former Coast Guard vessel Óðinn was incorporated into the museum. The ship functions as a floating exhibition, accessible via guided tours.

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7 AÐALSTRÆTI 10

Today, Aðalstræti 10, the oldest house in the city centre, functions a museum and exhibition space, as part of the Reykjavík City Museum. Currently, it houses two exhibitions: Reykjavík 1918 and A Town of Turf Houses. Reykjavík 1918 is about Iceland’s 100th anniversary as a free and sovereign state and the changes in the past 100 years. A Town of

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WHAT’S ON

NE W IN TOWN RAUS

Raus Reykjavik is an Icelandic jewellery company founded in 2016 by three women, Auður Hinriksdottir, Rut Ragnarsdottir, and Svana Berglind Karlsdottir. Formerly situated on Njálsgata, Raus recently moved to the corner of Skólavörðustígur and Baldursgata (where Kormákur and Skjöldur was formerly located). Offering a selection of custom-made hoops, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more, Raus Reykjavik emphasises purity and beauty in every line. BIOEFFECT

offers hamburgers, chicken wings, and other sports bar staples. On weekdays and Sundays, the kitchen is open until 10pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the kitchen is top until 11pm. Mosfellsbær is situated just outside of Reykjavík (it’s a 15-minute drive from the downtown area). Barion will also host various events, such as jazz nights, bingo nights, and pub quizzes. HANINN

Similar to Nando’s, the fast-food restaurant Haninn offers grilled chicken (breasts, wings, salads) and tasty sides. As noted on the restaurant’s website, the menu is simple and convenient. For years, Haninn has been greeting customers in Reykjavík’s Skeifan neighbourhood, but this March, Haninn will be opening a new restaurant in Grandi (situated near the old harbour in downtown Reykjavík).

BARION

The new neighbourhood bar in Mosfellsbær, Barion is a play on the words “bar” and “Arion Bank” (the bar is situated in the same building as a former branch of the Arion bank). Branding itself as a kind of “community centre for adults,” Barion

BioEffect

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BIOEFFECT skincare products are now available in the city centre. The company was founded by three Icelandic scientists when they discovered, after over a decade of research, a way to bioengineer a plant-based human replica of EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) in barley plants. In February, BIOEFFECT fulfilled a long-time dream by opening its first specialty store on Hafnarstræti 19 in downtown Reykajvík (formerly Rammagerðin). In addition to selling BIOEFFECT products, sales representatives will also offer skin evaluations and skincare advice.

Raus

EVENTS NOTABLE EVENTS IN REYKJAVÍK FInd more information and events on www.whatson.is/ec 56

7 0TH ANNI V ER S AR Y C ONCER T – ICEL AND SYMPHONY

X JA Z Z RE YK JAV ÍK 2020

MARCH 5

Each year, Berlin’s biggest jazz festival (XJAZZ) chooses a partner country to host a similar festival, serving as a kind of musical bridge between the two countries. This year, Iceland was chosen as XJAZZ’S partner. Taking place between March 20 and 22, the XJAZZ Reykjavík 2020 will be in Mengi and the Fríkirkjan Reykjavík church. Performers include Studnitzky, Johanna Summer, Okuma, and Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra’s first concert. To celebrate the occasion, the Iceland Symphony will hold a gala concert of significant works by Sibelius and Mahler, coupled with a seldom-heard composition by Páll Ísolfsson, a pioneer in Icelandic musical life and one of the catalysts of the Orchestra’s founding. The concert will be held in the Eldborg auditorium of the Harpa Music and Conference Hall.

BEER DAY MARCH 1 Iceland has an unofficial holiday called Beer Day dedicated to delicious beer because, for the longest time, they couldn’t have any! For the better part of the 20th century, beer was illegal in Iceland. People feared that allowing beer would cause young people to start drinking and that people would be drinking throughout the day. Despite these concerns, the prohibition on beer was lifted on March 1, 1989. Since then, March 1 has become the unofficial holiday known as Beer Day, which, it should come as no surprise, is celebrated by drinking lots of beer.

MARCH 20-22

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EVENTS

THE ICEL ANDIC MUSIC E X PERIMEN T S

The twelfth annual DesignMarch (HönnunarMars in Icelandic) festival will take place from March 2529 in Reykjavík. During DesignMarch, the capital of Iceland is transformed into one big showcase for innovative creations and designs. The festival aims to connect local and international designers at more than one hundred events and exhibitions. All kinds of designers are part of the programme, from fashion designers to architects, and from furniture designers to product designers.

The Icelandic Music Experiments is a five-day music festival, aiming to make way for young and upcoming musicians (prizes include recording sessions and musical instruments). Bands like Mammút, Vök, Samaris, and Of Monsters and Men have all jumpstarted their careers at the I.M.E. This year, the festival will be held in the Norðurljós auditorium in the Harpa Music and Conference Hall.

F O OD & F UN F E STI VAL MARCH 4-8 Food and Fun is an annual culinary festival in downtown Reykjavík, celebrated for the 19th time in 2020. The festival assembles chefs from all over the world for a long weekend, where they serve specially prepared menus at some of the city’s top restaurants. The festival focuses on Icelandic ingredients, like fresh fish, free-range lamb, and organic dairy products. Visiting chefs are required to use Icelandic ingredients in the centrepieces of their dishes. During the festival, Reykjavík is the place to be for professional chefs, hobby cooks, foodies, and everybody who enjoys good food.

MARCH 21-28

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MARCH 25-29

NOTABLE EVENTS OUTSIDE OF REYKJAVÍK

DE SIGNMAR CH

EVENTS MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS

SIGURJÓN ÓLAFSSON MUSEUM A Story Unfolds

A variety of sculptures by Sigurjón Ólafsson, from his student years at the Royal Academy of the Arts in Copenhagen, till the year he died, 1982. Also to be seen are the sketches for some of his key works that have been enlarged and installed in public areas, e.g. Footballers (LSÓ 247) erected in Akranes, Mask (LSÓ 011) at the Reykjavík City Theater and the Viking (LSÓ 162) which Sigurjón also carved in dolerite and stands in the front of the National Gallery of Iceland.

R E Y K JAV I K A R T M U S EU M Á S M U N DA R S A FN

A Story Unfolds

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Ásmundur Sveinsson: Under the Same Sky

The sculpture garden at Sigtún is dedicated to the works by Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982). It is also the point where the exhibition Under the Same Sky extends its view to some of the numerous outdoor pieces that the late sculptor has created and installed in places around and outside Iceland. The works in the exhibition are more meditative in comparison to the outdoor sculptures: smaller in scale, made of different materials, and three-dimensional studies to the enlarged works that Ásmundur realised in the end.

AURORA REYKJAVÍK Catch the Aurora Borealis All Year Round

There is perhaps nothing more magical than witnessing the beauty of a Northern Lights display. However, those unpredictable, ever dancing lights don’t always show up on cue – and fade away during the summer months. So, it is with great joy that we welcome Aurora Reykjavík – The Northern Lights Center, where the Northern Lights are always on display.

Aurora Reykjavík

Aurora Reykjavík’s pull and ace up its sleeve is its fantastic 4k time-lapse film of the Aurora Borealis. Aurora Reykjavík’s latest addition are virtual reality goggles featuring the world’s first 360°movie of aurora displays entirely shot in Iceland. If you can’t catch the Northern Lights yourself, this utterly realistic experience is definitely the next best option to witness the beauty of this truly amazing phenomenon.

Capturing the Northern Lights with your own camera can be challenging, but, at Aurora Reykjavík, you get taught by the experts: bring your camera and try the right settings at the Northern Lights Photo Simulator. In the exhibition you will find an entertaining selfie booth – have fun looking all fabulous under the Northern Lights! For more information, see www.aurorareykjavik.is.

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EVENTS MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS Can’t Draw a Harabell

REYKJAVIK ART MUSEUM KJARVALSSTAÐIR Jóhannes S. Kjarval: Can’t Draw a Harebell

From February 22.

Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval (1885-1972) is one of Iceland’s most revered artists, his paintings and interpretations of Icelandic nature are pivotal in the history of culture and art in the country. Lava, moss, rivers and mountains around the country were a constant source of inspiration for him to create new work, he is said to have drawn people’s attention to new aspects of Icelandic nature. In spite of Kjarval’s unswerving connection to the landscape in Iceland, he also travelled widely and painted abroad. He studied in Denmark and spent time in London, Italy and France. He was very interested in getting to know key works in international cultural history first-hand and learning latest trends in contemporary art.

Ásgerður Búadóttir: Facets of Life

Ásgerður Búadóttir (1920-2014) was a pioneer of woven art in Iceland, her work combines ancient craft techniques and the independent creation of modern art. Ásgerður mainly worked with Icelandic wool and during the 1970s her magnificent tapestries drew well-deserved attention for their original use of material, where wool and horsehair create a whole, with a rich materiality. Ásgerður studied at the Icelandic College of Art and Crafts, under the tutelage of Kurt Zier, among others, and later at the Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen, in Wilhelm Lundstrøm’s painting department. Ásgerður was a self-taught weaver, apart from one short evening course. After studying in Copenhagen, she bought a weaving loom and brought it with her to Iceland, thus marking a definite path in her artistic career.

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The artist Eggert Pétursson (b. 1956) has assembled an exhibition of the floral works of Jóhannes S. Kjarval. Upon taking on this project for Reykjavík Art Museum, Eggert decided to examine the floral factor in Kjarval’s work and approach it from an artistic viewpoint. According to Eggert, Kjarval’s flower works are more extensive than his own, Kjarval traverses all over. He does not limit himself to botany but paints and sketches flowers around him, be it ornamental plants, potted plants or wildflowers, and last but not least he paints the flora of the mind. Eggert resolved to categorise the works by their elements and figurative connection and display them as he would his own work. His selection is intended to create a coherent exhibition rather than as a historical overview of Kjarval’s floral works.

Jóhannes S. Kjarval: Abroad

EVENTS MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS FInd more information and events on www.whatson.is/ec 64

R E Y K JAV I K A R T M U S EU M H A FN A R H Ú S Erró: Cyborg

The acclaimed artist Erró (b. 1932) is considered one of the leading figures in European Pop-Art. During his long and successful career he has delved into diverse subjects in his paintings, often using an overflow of images to reflect on contemporary society of consumption, in addition to references to various political current issues. From early on Erró was inspired by technology and science, creating works where the human and the mechanic are combined. In particular he examined how technology invades the body and how the human body adapts to the machine. The images offer questions concerning the borderlines between human beings and technology. Are these borderlines perhaps no longer there when human existence is tied to the mechanic and the very identity a collage of various technological creations, an hyperreal presence in social media, drugs cooked up in laboratories, smart-gadgets assembled in factories, the trace of chips in credit cards. The human being has become a cyborg, whether we like it or not.

D40 Una Björg Magnúsdóttir: Vanishing Crowd

Una Björg Magnúsdóttir is the 40. artist to exhibit in Reykjavík Art Museum’s exhibition series in D-Gallery. Born in 1990, Magnúsdóttir studied at the Icelandic Univeristy of the Arts and completed her MFA from ÉCLAN in Switzerland in 2018. Magnúsdóttir lives and works in Reykjavík. Magnúsdóttir works mainly in sculpture. She channels her works into various objects and arrangements, which are in fact staging for the works themselves. Her works are often kinetic and/or emit sound, making them familiar to the viewer, while at the same time challenging their assumtions.

Erró: Cyborg

Magnúsdóttir has participated in exhibitions abroad and in Iceland.

Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir / Shoplifter: Chromo Sapiens

Chromo Sapiens is the work of Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir / Shoplifter (b. 1969) and was the contribution of Iceland to the Venice Biennale in 2019. Icelandic band HAM creates a soundscape for the installation. Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir / Shoplifter’s practice overlaps many different creative fields. From fashion to fiction to furry action to tactile friction, her oeuvre encompasses ways of making that belong to the visual arts and to design.

Sol LeWitt

Reykjavík Art Museum is pleased to present Sol LeWitt, the first historical survey of the work of American conceptual artist Sol LeWitt (Hartford, 1928 – New York, 2007) in Iceland, and the first in Scandinavia in over a decade. Spanning 30 years of LeWitt’s career, the exhibition includes important early wall drawings and ephemera, as well as later examples, including several works that illustrate important transitions in LeWitt’s career in the 1980s and 1990s.

THE STEAK HOUSE

Steikhúsið simply means “The Steak House” and that underlines our goal, to focus solely on steaks. Steikhúsið is in the middle of Reykjavík, opposite the old harbor, which has recently formed into a lively neighborhood of restaurants, cafes, artisan stores and work shops. When you visit us, remember to try our “28-day” tendered meat. The heart of the place is a coal oven from Mibrasa, Spain. It is only fitting that we use coal for grilling and baking, since the building housed a blacksmith and metal works in years gone by. THE KITCHEN IS OPEN FROM 17:00 ‘TILL LATE — VISIT WWW.STEIK.IS

Booking: +354 561 1111 & steik@steik.is

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EVENTS

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND WATER AND BLOOD

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS

Water and Blood is a new video work by the Icelandic Love Corporation which seeks inspiration in the life and art of painter Ásgrímur Jónsson (1876-1958). In the work past meets present, as creativity, intuition and nature play an important role in an enigmatic world.

INSTALLATION FROM THE COLLECTION: KATRÍN SIGURÐARDÓTTIR HIGH PLANE VI

MATS GUSTAFSON

Swedish artist Mats Gustafson has a special feeling for the transient nature of watercolour. In the late 1970s he embarked on a career as an international fashion illustrator, and eventually made his breakthrough on the art scene. Gustafson moves deftly back and forth between fashion, nature and life studies. His subject matter may seem simple: conifers and rocks in landscapes, deer, lined faces, couture fashion and nudes. It is all about capturing beauty in its many forms. Gustafson’s art is both elegant and subtle. His brushstrokes are precise, leaving

Treasures of a Nation

no room for error. Light and shadow are rhythmically distributed on the paper. Colours meld to form volume.

press, reviewers expressed delight that the folktale heritage was being addressed, for the first time, by an Icelandic artist.

ÁSGRÍMUR JÓNSSON COLLECTION

The exhibition Korriró og Dillidó offers an ideal opportunity for the entire family to experience the unique supernatural world of elves in their finery, and terrifying trolls, as depicted with passionate sincerity by Ásgrímur Jónsson. The emphasis is on the visitor’s own imagination – offering the opportunity to enjoy this aspect of the cultural heritage, which can throw light upon the fears, dreams and desires of former generations – and their relationship with awe-inspiring Icelandic nature.

KORRIRÓ OG DILLIDÓ PICTURES OF FOLKLORE AND FAIRY TALES BY ÁSGRÍMUR JÓNSSON Step into magic! The visual world of Icelandic folklore and fairy tales created by Ásgrímur Jónsson in his art is a truly enchanted realm. Elves, trolls and ghosts were given a clear form in Ásgrímur’s art. He first exhibited such pieces in Iceland in 1905. Ásgrímur’s works on folklore themes were well received; in the

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7.2.2020 - 3.1.2021, Listasafn Íslands Katrín Sigurðardóttir has for some years been exploring the effects of perception in her installations and works. High Plane (2001) evokes the bonds between people and with nature itself. The relativity of dimensions and environment is an important element of Katrín’s work, and in this installation she addresses a classic theme of Icelandic painting: mountains and the blue of distant vistas, as well as the constant proximity of the artist to Icelandic nature – even when that artist is far away, perhaps in another country. The work evokes the pure and unblemished, while also alluding to the diverse perspectives and views of individuals, reflecting differences in our lives.

EVENTS MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS

EINAR JÓNSSON M U S EU M This is a museum in the heart of Reykjavík that houses the work of Iceland’s first sculptor Einar Jónsson. The museum contains close to 300 artworks spanning a 60-year career: carvings from the artist’s youth, sculpture, paintings and drawings. A beautiful treeclad garden adorned with 26 bronze casts of the artist’s works is located behind the museum. The task of the museum is to collect, preserve and display the work of Einar as well as to conduct research on his life and art. Einar Jónsson Museum

M U S EU M O F D E S I G N A N D A PPL I E D A R T SVEINN KJARVAL

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Exhibition of works by Sveinn Kjarval (1919-1981) opens at the Icelandic Design Museum on Saturday, November 2 at 16.

The exhibition focuses on Sveinn’s important pioneering work in Iceland in the field of furniture and interior design for two decades (1950-1970). Then there were prevailing notions of modern and sensible housing, where furniture was, above all, simple, light and convenient and made from the materials that could be enjoyed without any decoration. Sveinn was a prolific designer of modern-style interiors for shops, restaurants and public spaces, which has largely eradicated fashion swings and new requirements over time. However, they are presented in the exhibition in contemporary photographs and preserved drawings. He was a popular interior designer and came up with designs for another hundred homes, but also drew furniture on order. Sveinn Kjarval’s furniture has withstood the test of time,

Sveinn Kjarval

but his policy has always been to maintain it “for a long time to come” and it is clear that his furniture from that time is still hidden in Icelandic homes and has contemporary appeal. Sveinn’s furniture from the Museum of the Icelandic Design Museum is the main building block of the exhibition, while the museum also enjoys the goodwill of individuals who

lend works and the National Archives of Iceland on loan drawings. Sveinn usually devoted himself to the Icelandic material that existed - used almost exclusively Icelandic wool upholstery and fur on chairs and was probably one of the first to use Icelandic rock types in interior design in this country.

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The place to meet locals

Admission Adults 1000 isk. Children 160 isk. Thermal pools and baths in Reykjavik are a source of health, relaxation and pureness. All of the city´s swimming pools have several hot tubs with temperatures ranging from 37˚ to 42˚C (98˚–111˚F). The pools are kept at an average temperature of 29˚ C (84˚ F)

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Admission Feb. 2019. Price is subject to change

Reykjavík´s Thermal Pools

EVENTS

THE SET TLEMENT E XHIBITION The Settlement Exhibition

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS

An open excavation where Viking ruins meet multimedia technology. Just below ground in downtown Reykjavík, this open excavation uncovers the city’s Viking Age history. Discovered during building work in 2001, these archaeological remains turned out to be the earliest evidence of human settlement in the city, with some dating to before AD 872. Careful excavation revealed a 10thcentury hall or longhouse, which is now preserved in its original location as the focal point of the exhibition. Interactive technology immerses you in the world of the Reykjavík farm at the time of the first settlers, including information on how Viking Age buildings were constructed and what life was like in the hall. The Settlement Exhibition is part of Reykjavík City Museum.

Settlemen Exhibition

R E Y K JAV I K M U S EU M O F PH OTO G R A PH Y Valdimar Thorlacius / ...

Valdimar Thorlacius

Á R B Æ R O PE N A I R M U S EU M

museum with more than 20 buildings which form a town square, a village and a farm. Most of the buildings have been relocated from central Reykjavik.

Árbær was an established farm well into the 20th century, and the museum opened there in 1957. Árbær is now an open air

Árbær Open Air Museum tries to give a sense of the architecture and way of life and lifestyles of the past in Reykjavík and

during summer visitors can see domestic animals. There are many exhibitions and events held at the Museum which highlight specific periods in Reykjavik’s history. These include craft days, vintage car displays, Christmas exhibitions and much more. There is something for everyone at Árbær Open Air Museum.

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The exhibition “...” is a visual interpretation of Valdimar’s perception of small towns, weather and wide-open spaces in Iceland, and at the same time a documentation of village life. When working on this project, he travelled between places which fulfilled certain criteria, based on Statistics Iceland’s definition of the size and composition of urban communities with up to 500 inhabitants.

EVENTS MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS

T H E N AT I O N A L M U S EU M O F ICEL AND Looking Back

Jessica Auer sets out to explore Iceland’s sightseeing destinations, and records tourists’ surroundings through her photographic lens. In her pictures, travellers and their material world blend together with the natural surroundings. Tourism is manifested as a transformative force within the Icelandic landscape, and is depicted with visual clarity. Jessica Auer stands apart from her subject, observing from afar like a visitor in an unfamiliar world. Altered landscapes have been addressed through contemporary photography for quite some time, and here, the tourism sector plays a significant role.

The Making of a Nation Heritage and History in Iceland

FInd more information and events on www.whatson.is/ec

The National Museum of Iceland’s permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation – Heritage and History in Iceland, is intended to provide insight

into the history of the Icelandic nation from the settlement to the present day. The aim is to cast light on the Icelanders’ past by placing the cultural heritage preserved by the National Museum in a historical context, guided by the question: what makes a nation? The exhibition includes about 2,000 objects, dating from the Settlement Age to the present, as well as about 1,000 photographs from the 20th century. The exhibition is conceived as a journey through time: it begins with the ship in which medieval settlers crossed the ocean to their new home, it ends in a modern airport, the Icelanders’ gateway to the world..

In the Light

Gunnar Pétursson, an amateur photographer from Reykjavík, had a long and remarkable career. Whether he photographed nature,

Making of a Nation

the city or its people, all his work was characterised by his subjective view of his surroundings. He saw surfaces, shapes and textures, and strove to capture light and motion in his pictures. He was an active participant in the wave of amateur photography in Iceland in the years after World War II, when new perspectives and trends arrived, and photographic art came into being.

HAPPY HOUR HOUR HAPPY 4-7PM PM every every day day 4-7

BEER PONG BEER PONG EVERY MONDAY EVERY MONDAY

COCKTAIL COCKTAIL

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LIVE MUSIC LIVE MUSIC every night every night

Ingólfsstræti 3, 101 Reykjavík | Tel: 552-0070 | danski.is Ingólfsstræti 3, 101 Reykjavík | Tel: 552-0070 | danski.is

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OPEN: WEEKDAYS 11-19 THURSDAY 11-21 SATURDAY 11-18 SUNDAY 13-18 SMARALIND.IS

Punk Museum

C U LT U R E H O U S E Points of view

This exhibition gives visitors the chance to delve into the collections of six different cultural institutions. A unique journey through Iceland’s visual legacy, offering an innovative guide to a nation’s cultural history.

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS

The Icelandic Punk Museum is located at Bankastræti 0, an underground location that served as public toilets from 1930 to 2006. The museum honours the music and the spirit that has shaped musicians and bands to this day; people who dared to be different. Objects, photographs, videos, posters, etc. from roughly 1978 to 1992 are on display with texts in Icelandic and English, and the main music from the period is available to guests.

EVENTS

THE ICEL ANDIC P U N K M U S EU M

Points of View

Open every day 11:00 - 22:00 | Lækjargata 4 | 101 Reykjavík | jomfruin.is

FInd more information and events on www.whatson.is/ec

Welcome to Jómfrúin, the home of Danish smørrebrød in Reykjavik. It all began in 1888 with Oscars Davidsen’s highly praised smørrebrød restaurant in Copenhagen. An unbroken tradition of quality and Danish culinary culture for the past 100 years. Enjoy!

ART & CULTURE

ÁRBÆR OPEN AIR MUSEUM

THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION

REYKJAVIK MARITIME MUSEUM

REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM Reykjavík’s only open air museum, where you can stroll through the past and experience the way we lived Fun, fascinating and full of surprises, this living museum takes you on a journey through time. Guided tours at 13:00 all year round.

REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM An open excavation where Viking ruins meet digital technology Just below ground in downtown Reykjavík, this open excavation uncovers the city’s Viking Age history. Guided tours on weekdays in February at 11:00.

REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM A harbour museum exploring Iceland’s dramatic relationship with the sea. The survival of a nation depended on generations of brave fishermen heading into the unknown. Exhibitions and artefacts bring our ocean history to life. Guided tours of Óðinn Coast Guard Vessel: 13:00, 14:00 & 15:00.

Kistuhylur, Reykjavík 411-6304 | reykjavikcitymuseum.is Hours: Daily 13-17

EINAR JÓNSSON MUSEUM

HAFNARBORG FREE ENTRY Hafnarborg has a collection of Icelandic art and regular exhibitions presenting leading Icelandic and international artists. Collection exhibitions are a regular part of the program. Around exhibitions are workshops and guided tours.

Hallgrímstorg 3, Reykjavík 551-3797 | www.lej.is Hours: Tue-Sun 10-17

Strandgata 34, Hafnarfjörður 585-5790 | www.hafnarborg.is Hours: Wed-Mon 12-17

VIÐEY ISLAND

WHALES OF ICELAND

REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM An island, where art, history and nature lie just beyond the city shore The combination of stunning views, historical ruins and contemporary art pieces make Viðey island something special. Just a short boat-ride takes you to another world. Ferry Schedule: Weekends only.

An exhibition in Reykjavík consisting of 23 life-size whale models - fun to touch and explore. Learn more about whales with in-depth multimedia and interactive information displays, videos and audio guide in several languages mixed with soothing whale sounds and underwater ambient lighting.

REYKJAVIK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Viðey Reykjavik 411-6356. www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is

Fiskislóð 23-25 , Reykjavík 571-0077 | www.whalesoficeland.is Hours: Daily 10-17

FREE ENTRY Looking for a place to hang out, browse the internet, get access to Wi-Fi or meet the Reykjavik locals? Then Reykjavik City Library is the perfect place to visit. Have a seat and dip into the latest magazine or relax while checking out their great selection of books. Tryggvagata 15, Reykjavík 411-6100 | borgarbokasafn.is Hours: Mon-Thu 10-19, Fri 11-18, Sat & Sun 13-17

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

Grandagarður 8, Reykjavík | 411-6340 www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is

A museum with indoor and outdoor exhibitions dedicated to the work of Einar Jónsson, Iceland’s first modern sculptor (1874-1954). The museum was built in the early 1900’s when Einar Jónsson offered all of his works as a gift to the Icelandic nation.

REYKJAVIK CITY LIBRARY

Aðalstræti 16, Reykjavík | 411-6370 www.reykjavikcitymuseum.is Hours: Daily 9-18

REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM Reflecting the contemporary, while archiving the past – this is Reykjavík’s home of photography. Reykjavík’s main photography museum offers an ongoing programme of contemporary and historical exhibitions, and an onscreen archive of thousands of images from the past. Tryggvagata 15, Reykjavík | 411-6390 reykjavikcitymuseum.is | Hours: MonThu 10-18, Fri 11-18, Sat & Sun 13-17

Check online for special offers Over 100 tours & activities on re.is BSÍ Bus Terminal - City Centre •101 Reykjavík

NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR A sight not to be missed!

If you don’t see any lights on the RE62 tour ...you can re-book again for free.

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Airport Transfers The Flybus operates in connection with all arriving & departing flights at Keflavík International Airport.

All flights Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík City and/or vice versa

45 min

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2.999 ISK

For our flexible Flybus schedule, please visit www.flybus.is

Prices & availability are subject to change without notice.

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Iceland's leading art museum, established in 1884. Its collection consists mainly of 19th, 20th and 21st century art. The National Gallery possesses a coherent array of Icelandic works and a fine collection of international art. Together they constitute around 11.000 items.

Offers a state-of-the-art exhibitions on the cultural history of Iceland. The permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation - Heritage and History of Iceland, gives a comprehensive picture of Iceland’s cultural history through the ages to the present day.

A museum that Icelandic sculptor Sigurjón Ólafsson’s wife founded as a tribute to his life and work in 1984. She had his studio in Laugarnes converted to an exhibition space to house his collection of works, including sculptures, sketches, drawings and biographical material.

Suðurgata 41, Reykjavík 530-2200 | www.nationalmuseum.is Hours: Tue-Sun: 10-17

Laugarnestangi 70 553-2906 | www.lso.is Hours: Tue-Sun 13-17

ÁSGRÍMUR JÓNSSON COLLECTION

THE ICELANDIC PHALLOLOGICAL MUSEUM

AURORA REYKJAVIK

One of the pioneers of Icelandic art and the first Icelander to take up painting professionally. Having died in 1958, he bequeathed all his works, as well as his studio home to the Icelandic nation.

Probably the most unique museum you’ll visit on your trip, the Icelandic Phallological Museum is a one of a kind. Here you’ll find a collection of more than two hundred penises and penile part belonging to almost all land and sea mammals that can be found in Iceland.

The Northern Lights Center, Aurora Reykjavik, allows you to experience the Northern Lights in a completely different way, both if you saw them, but as well if they escaped you while in Iceland. The centre features information, education and of course stunning visuals of the elusive lights that’ll get your heart racing.

Laugavegur 116, Reykjavík 561-6663 | www.phallus.is Hours: Daily 10-18

Grandagarður 2, Reykjavík 780-4500 | www.aurorareykjavik.is Hours: Daily 9-21

PERLAN

NUMISMATIC MUSEUM

This peculiar building, built on top of six water tanks on a hill overlooking the city, houses two exhibitions, The Wonders of Iceland and Water in Icelandic Nature. In addition, Perlan has a recently-opened planetarium, a great restaurant, and an observation deck with a 360°view of the city and its surrounding nature.

A collection of Icelandic notes and coins housed in the main building of the Central Bank of Iceland. The collection comprises almost twenty thousand coins, as well as almost five thousand types of notes. As well as domestic notes, the collection also contains foreign notes from ages past, as well as more recent currencies from Iceland’s trade partners.

MUSEUM OF DESIGN AND APPLIER ART

Varmahlíð 1, Reykjavík 566-9000 | www.perlan.is Hours: 9-19

Kalkofnsvegur 1, Reykjavík. 5699962. www.sedlabanki.is Hours: Mon-Fri, 13:00-16:00.

Fríkirkjuvegur 7, Reykjavík 515-9600 | www.listasafn.is Hours: Tue-Sun: 11-17

Bergstaðastræti 74, Reykjavík 515-9625 www.listasafn.is Hours: Tue-Sun 13-17

SIGURJÓN ÓLAFSSON MUSEUM

Its objective is to collect, study and present Icelandic design and crafts from 1900 to the present day. This young museum, the only one of its kind in Iceland, holds regular exhibitions of Icelandic and international design during the year. Exhibitions from the museum‘s own collection are regularly held. Garðatorg 1, Garðabær 512-1525 | www.honnunarsafn.is Hours: Tue-Sun 12-17

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

ART & CULTURE

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

ART & CULTURE

KJARVALSSTAÐIR

ÁSMUNDARSAFN

HAFNARHÚS

Mainly devoted to paintings and sculpture by well established Icelandic and international artists. Kjarvalsstaðir offers a permanent exhibition of key works by one of Iceland’s most beloved landscape painters, Jóhannes S. Kjarval, as well as changing exhibitions that explore various thematic and historical aspects of Icelandic art.

Opened in 1983, the collection is housed in a unique building designed and constructed mostly by the artist himself from 1942-1950. The original building served Sveinsson as studio and home; behind it he built a crescent-shaped structure as a workand exhibition space.

The old harbour warehouse, Hafnarhús, offers a progressive exhibition program with local and international contemporary artists. The work of current notables, art canons and newcomers are presented in six galleries. Hafnarhús is also home to the works of Erró (b. 1932), a significant player in the international pop art scene.

Sigtún, Reykjavík 411-6430 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 13-17

Tryggvagata 17, Reykjavík 411-6400 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17, Thu 10-22

AÐALSTRÆTI 10

THE LIVING ART MUSEUM

Aðalstræti 10 is one of the oldest houses in Reykjavík, built in 1762. Situated right in downtown Reykjavík, it now houses two exhibitions. A photography exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Iceland’s sovereignty is on the ground floor, while the top floor houses an exhibition on the history of turf houses in Reykjavík.

An active exhibition space that has organized many exciting exhibitions throughout the years. They put an emphasis on introducing young Icelandic artists, as well as showcasing work by better-known Icelandic and foreign modern and contemporary artists.

Flókagata 24, Reykjavík 411-6420 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17

GLJÚFRASTEINN LAXNESS MUSEUM Halldór Laxness is arguably the most famous Icelandic writer of all time, and the only Icelander to have won a Nobel Prize, which he received for literature in 1955. Gljúfrasteinn was his home until his death, and today it is a museum dedicated to his life and work.

Aðalstræti 10, 101 Reykjavík 411 6300 | www.borgarsogusafn.is

The Marshall House Grandagarður 20, Reykjavík 551-4350 | www.nylo.is Hours: Tue-Sun 12-18, Thu 12-21

GERÐARSAFN

THE CULTURE HOUSE

THE NORDIC HOUSE

A progressive modern art museum in Kópavogur, dedicated to sculptor Gerður Helgadóttir; the only museum in Iceland dedicated to a woman. Its collection consists of more than 1400 works by Gerður, as well as the works of the most celebrated Icelandic artists of the 20th and 21st century.

Artifacts and works of art from the varied collections of six institutions provide a reflection of Iceland’s visual art history and cultural heritage in the exhibition Points of View, a journey through the Icelandic visual world of past and present.

Iceland maintains strong ties to other Nordic countries, and the center of this cooperation is the Nordic House, designed by acclaimed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1968. The Nordic House is the venue if you want to enjoy the best of Icelandic culture as well as experiencing rich culture of the Nordic countries.

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

Gljúfrasteinn, Mosfellsbær 586-8066 | www.gljufrasteinn.is Hours: Tue-Fri 10-16

Hamraborg 4, Kópavogur 441-7600 | www.gerdarsafn.is Hours: Tue-Sun 11-17

Hverfisgata 15, Reykjavík 530-2210 | www.culturehouse.is Hours: Daily 10-17

Sturlugata 5, Reykjavík 551-7030 | www.nordice.is Hours: Sun-Tue 10-16, Wed-Sat 9-21

SHRED ICELAND Hit the slopes at Bláfjöll, Iceland’s largest skiing area, close to Reykjavík. Don’t have a car? The city bus will drop you at Bláfjöll’s front door. Need equipment? You bring the adrenaline, we’ll take care of the rest.

OPENING HOURS ARE SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS

MON–FRI 14–21 WEEKENDS 10–17

Adult prices start at ISK 2050. Downhill, boarding, cross-country and some fine après-ski refreshments.

A 25 LY DRIV MIN. DOW E FROM N REYK TOWN JAVI K

skidasvaedi.is tel. +354 530 3000

/skidasvaedin #bláfjöll

MICHELSEN

12 TÓNAR

MJÚK means SOFT in Icelandic. SOFT TEXTURES, MODERN DESIGN, ICELANDIC SPIRIT... Local family, who design, produce and sell stylish blankets, hats and scarves from the purest country in the world. Get special shopping experience and meet the designers at:

Inside their spacious shop in downtown Reykjavik, Michelsen Watchmakers offer you to browse one of Iceland’s best selection of watches. Along with their own design they also have a wide selection of well-known brands including Rolex, Tag Heuer, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Movado, Swiss Military and more.

Skólavörðustígur 8 and Laugavegur 23 (our new shop) 832-0567 | www.mjukiceland.com

Hafnartorg, Reykjavík 511-1900 | www.michelsen.is

The Icelandic music scene is extraordinarily vibrant, considering the size of the nation. Is there a better souvenir to take home than music from your new favourite Icelandic musician? This shop is a friendly place where you can sit down, listen to a selection of music, enjoy a free espresso, read magazines, or browse their juicy collection of rock literature.

GEYSIR HOME

FLÓ OG FRANSÍ

GEYSIR

The Geysir stores have been selling beautifully designed clothes for years but the recently opened Geysir Home focuses on quality design items for the home, everything from candles and linens to ceramics and posters by Icelandic artists. Don’t miss the downstairs art & design gallery, Kjallarinn.

Fló og fransí is a cosy shoestore right off Laugavegur main street. It has quickly become a go-to store for shoe addicts in Reykjavík. The store has one of the best children’s shoe selection in the country, along with shoes in all shapes and size for adults.

Rustic, vintage interior, intertwined with the latest fashion in outdoor and woolen clothing. Add some puffin, reindeers and other iconic animals and you‘ve got one of the coolest shops in town. This is one place you‘ll have to visit, if only for the experience.

Skólavörðustíg 15, Reykjavík 511-5656 | www.12tonar.is

Skólavörðustíg 7, Reykjavík Skólavörðustíg 16, Reykjavík 519-6000 | www.geysir.com

EPAL

KRINGLAN

Renowned for its excellent products and quality. Offering the widest selection of traditional hand knitted Icelandic sweaters, the range of products also includes special designs and a variety of woolen products from leading Icelandic manufacturers.

Epal’s goal is increase Icelanders interest and respect for fine design by introducing and providing top quality design products from all over the world, particularly Scandinavia. Epal has always been very supportive of Icelandic designers and done what they can to help them promote their design around the world.

Kringlan Shopping Centre is conveniently located close to downtown Reykjavik. Standing at 50.000 sq.m. and equipped with 150 shops and services, including a multiplex cinema, a seven-outlet food court and three themed restaurants, it has something to suit every need.

Borgartún 31, Reykjavík Skólavörðustígur 19, Reykjavík 552-1890 | www.handknit.is

Laugavegur 70, Skeifan 6, Kringlan & Harpa Reykjavik, Keflavík Airport 568-7740 | www.epal.is

Kringlan 4-12, Reykjavík 517-9000 www.kringlan.is

THE HANDKNITTING ASSOCIATION OF ICELAND

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

Klapparstíg 44, Reykjavík

Skólavörðustígur 12, Reykjavík 519-6033 | geysir.com

SHOPPING & STYLE

MJÚK ICELAND

SHOPPING & STYLE

ANNA MARÍA DESIGN

HRÍM

LITTLE CHRISTMAS SHOP

For over twenty years, jewelry designer Anna Maria has created her things of gold and silver, a design that is both pure and timeless. Exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship create the elegant simplicity that shines through Anna Maria’s products.

Icelanders are known for being a stylish people, whether you judge from their clothes, their homes, or just their lifestyles. At the heart of their stylishness is Scandinavian design, whether it‘s Icelandic or from our neighbouring countries. The Hrím stores offer you the chance to decorate your home (or even yourself) with the classic style of the Scandinavians!

On Laugavegur, in the heart of Reykjavík, you’ll find the very unique Little Christmas Shop—which is dedicated to the spirit of Christmas, all year round. There you’ll find Icelandic decorations and everything needed for that festive spirit. Should not be missed as it is definitely one of the most special and fun stores to visit.

Skólavörðustígur 3, Reykjavík 551-0036 www.annamariadesign.is

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

Laugavegur 8, Reykjavík 552-2412

LISTVINAHÚSIÐ

FARMERS MARKET

METAL DESIGN

The oldest ceramic workshop in Iceland established 1927. Three generations of artistic potters. Unique handmade ceramics, Viking masks and various ceramic potteries decorated with lava, made by Gudmundur Einarsson. Located right next to Hallgrímskirkja and the statue of “Leif the Lucky”.

An Icelandic design company and clothing brand, founded in 2005 by a young artist couple, designer Bergthora Gudnadottir and musician Jóel Pálsson. With strong ties to the vibrant Icelandic music and design scene, the Farmers Market design concept and inspiration draws from Icelandic roots, combining classic Nordic design elements with chic modernity.

The jewellery forms which Metal design is known for are inspired by the Icelandic flora. But what stands out the most is the shape “The Coast” that is inspired by the waves of the Icelandic coast.”The coast silver jewellery line is for ladies and gentlemen.

Skólavörðustígur 43, Reykjavík 551-2850 | www.listvinahusid.is

Laugavegur 25, Reykjavík 553-3003 | www.hrim.is

Laugavegur 37, Reykjavík 552-1965 | www.farmersmarket.is

Skólavörðustígur 2. Reykjavik 552-5445 www.MetalDesignReykjavik.is

JÖKLA

SMÁRALIND

HYALIN

If you‘er interested in getting some Icelandic design to take back home , be sure to stop by Jökla on your way down the Laugavegur shopping street. You can get Icelandic design for you, your children, or your home and the best thing is that you‘re buying straight from the designers

With over 90 shops and businesses spread over three floors, Smáralind is Iceland’s largest shopping centre. Located only a 15-minute drive from downtown Reykjavík, there’s a great selection of famous brands at the mall, as well as local labels. With plenty of food options available, from restaurants to bakeries, coffee shops to ice cream parlours, you will not go hungry while shopping.

The delicatessen Hyalin offers gourmet wares inspired by French cuisine. The France-born duo of Arnaud and Didier welcome you in their cozy and welldesigned corner store. The shelves are stacked with everything from luxury olive oils to gourmet French pâté - foodies are guaranteed to find something to their liking.

Laugavegur 90, Reykjavík 696-6604

Hagasmári 1, Kópavogur 528-8000 | www.smaralind.is

Hverfisgata 35, 101 Reykjavík 5197171 www.hyalin.is

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY FROM 4-7PM

LIVE MUSIC FROM 10PM

IF YOU ARE VISITING REYKJAVÍK FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU MUST TRY OUR FAMOUS ICELANDIC BEER PLATTER!

SPORT EVENTS LIVE ON 6 HD SCREENS

OUTDOOR AREA DART BOARD

Austurstræti 12 | 101 Reykjavík | Tel: 578-0400 | enskibarinn.is | info@enskibarinn.is

LEBOWSKI BAR

MICROBAR

A sports bar named in honour of commentator Gummi Ben; internet famous for his commentating on Iceland’s 2-1 victory over England in EURO 2016. The décor is fancy, while you’ll find a beer specially brewed for the place as well as a selection of sports bar grub.

If you are visiting Iceland for the first time then you must stop by the Lebowski Bar. Open every day from 11AM, happy hour from 4-7PM, food served until 10PM, Quiz every Thursday (free entry), live sport events on 5 HD screens and Reykjavik nightlife every Friday & Saturday.

Tryggvagata 22, Reykjavík

Laugavegur 20a, Reykjavík 552-2300 www.lebowski.is

Beer enthusiasts look no further! In a cellar underneath Restaurant Reykjavík, just off Ingólfstorg square, you will find Micro Bar. This ambitious bar serves only beer from microbreweries! Carrying an impressive 140 different kinds of beers from all over the world, this is definitely the go-to place for beer fans.

DRUNK RABBIT

PORT 9

VEÐUR

Every city needs to have a friendly neighbourhood Irish pub and in Reykjavík, that bar is the Drunk Rabbit. It doesn’t matter if you’re going in for a snack, to enjoy the live music they have every night, people-watching in the lively bar, or just enjoying a beer or five in good company, the Drunk rabbit has got everything you need.

Port 9 wine bar is a hidden gem just off the main shopping street. Serving selected wines and a unique blend of appetizers made with the freshest seasonal ingredients, Port 9 is one of the best spots in the city to stop by for a glass of quality wine in a relaxed atmosphere.

This cozy little bar is named after the Icelandic word for weather, Icelanders’ conversation topic of choice in most situations. Offering a selection of wine, beer, and cocktails, Veður is a great spot for hanging out with friends, and the large windows make it ideal for people-watching over a drink.

Austurstræti 3, Reykjavík 553-1041

Veghúsastígur 9, Reykjavík 897-8212 www.port9.is

Klapparstígur 33, Reykjavík www.vedurbarinn.is

LOFT HOSTEL

KIKI - QUEER BAR

PABLO DISCOBAR

This hostel café/bar is bright and spacious; the perfect place to start the night. The hall hosts events most nights and on summer afternoons, the balcony is the best place in town for a beer in the sun. Last but not least, Loft has the best foosball table of all the bars in the city centre.

Kiki is the only queer bar in town these days but it is also the best one! If you’re worried you won’t find the place, don’t be. The rainbow coloured street entrance, stream of people in a dancing mood, and the far off sound of dance-heavy beats should lead you where you want to go!

Cocktails, dancing, and a tropical atmosphere, what more can you ask for? Climb up a flight or two of stairs from the central Ingólfstorg square and you’ll find Pablo Discobar, one of the best places in town to get a cocktail and dance the night away.

Bankastræti 7, Reykjavík 553-8140

Laugavegur 22 www.kiki.is

PUBS & NIGHTLIFE

GUMMI BEN BAR

Vesturgata 2, Reykjavík

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

Veltusund 1, Reykjavík 55-7333 www.discobar.is

PUBS & NIGHTLIFE

THE IRISHMAN PUB

KALDI BAR

AMERICAN BAR

A new addition to the thriving pub & bar culture in Reykjavík. Happy hour every day from 12PM to 7PM! Guests can enjoy a game of darts, listen to live music Thursday to Sunday evenings, spin the wheel of fortune and you can even book a private karaoke room! Sláinte.

One of the coolest bars in Reykjavik these days is Kaldi Bar. In close cooperation with north-Icelandic micro-brewery of the same name, Kaldi offers you a selection of craft-brewed beers on tap. Great happy hour and great fun, Kaldi is a place not-to-bemissed!

American Bar is named appropriately since it’s an American Bar in Reykjavík, of the kind you’re probably familiar with from other countries: there are dudes, chicks and random university students partying to the latest MTV tunes. They specialize in American culture and entertainment.

Klapparstígur 27, Reykjavík 581-2020 www..irishman.is

Laugavegur 20b, Reykjavík 581-2200

Austurstræti 8, Reykjavík 571-9999

PETERSEN SVÍTAN

MIAMI

DEN DANSKE KRO

Built in 1926 as an apartment, the Petersen Suite is one of Reykjavík’s hidden gems. Take the elevator up to the third floor above the historic Gamla Bíó concert hall to reveal an elegant bar with one of Reykjavík’s best views. On sunny days, you need to get there early, the sunny patio fills up quickly!

The 80s style cocktail bar Miami is colourfully decorated on Hverfisgata. Downstairs, you’ll find a ping pong stadium where punters can take on challengers. Miami comes alive at night when the colours pop out, such as the neon-lit bar. There are G&T and Cuba Libre on tap and try to find the Möet switch for all your champagne needs.

This homey pub with a Danish theme is popular among locals. Happy hour every day from 4-7pm and live music with talented Icelandic musicians every night. Beer bingo every month and other fun events! Located in the heart of the city centre.

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

Ingólfsstræti 2a 3rd floor, Reykjavík 563-4000 | www.ktf.is

Hverfisgata 33, Reykjavík 699-1250

Ingólfsstræti 3, Reykjavík 552-0070 www.danski.is

KAFFIBARINN

CLUB SÓLON

THE ENGLISH PUB

Best known as Damon Albarn’s hangout place back in the days, this most famous bar in Iceland is a popular destination for the artsy crowd. During the week it‘s more of a café, but on the weekend the volume rises and KB becomes one of the hottest bars in Reykjavik.

Every Friday and Saturday night the newly established Club Sólon is booming with music, dancing, cocktails and drinks on two floors until 4AM in the morning. Start your evening on the cozy 1st floor lounge area with 2-for-1 cocktails and then dance the night away with the local crowd.

A popular pub in city centre. The English Pub offers happy hour every day from 4-7pm, live music every night, wheel of fortune and all major sport events are shown on 6 HD screens. Special events: Open Mic Tuesday, Guinness Thursday and Whisky Sunday.

Bergstaðastræti 1, Reykjavík 551-1588 www.kaffibarinn.is

Bankastræti 7a, Reykjavík 562-3232

Austurstræti 12, Reykjavík 578-0400 facebook.com/enskibarinn

Tasty Local Cuisine by the old harbour NÝLENDUGATA 14, 101 REYKJAVIK

3 COURSE FESTIVE MENU F R O M N OV E M B E R 15 T H

6.950 kr. FESTIVE PLATTER salmon gravlax, marinated herring, wild goose breast, smoked lamb carpaccio DUCK LEG CONFIT

——— 2018 ———

I C E L A N D I C R E S TA U R A N T & B A R Table Reservations: +354 517-1800 - www.forrettabarinn.is

DESSERT À LA CARTE

W E L C O M E

O N

B O A R D !

Elevate your encounter with Iceland! Amazing helicopter tours around Iceland for individuals or groups. You can choose from a 20 minutes city sightseeing tour up to a whole day journey and everything in between. Our service team is on duty 24/7 and will happily assist you at any time. Check out our tours and prices on our website.

www.rh.is Âˇ (+345) 589 1000 Âˇ info@rh.is

NAUTHÓLL

GRANDI MATHÖLL

A restaurant opposite the old harbour that offers traditional steak dishes along with some exciting and fairly unorthodox choices. The pride and joy of The Steakhouse is the Mibrasa charcoal oven, a rare oven that is designed to cook the perfect steak by mixing modern technology with ancient tradition.

Looking out over the Nauthólsvík beach, this charming Scandinavianinspired bistro is the perfect oasis from the stress of the everyday. Whether you’re there for a light lunch, a glass of wine on a sunny afternoon, a cup of hot coffee on a cold one, or a lovely dinner with a loved one, Nauthóll is the place to go.

Grandi Mathöll is a must visit for foodies. Situated in the hip Grandi area, the European style food hall has everything from fresh salmon ceviche to Vietnamese spring rolls and Korean tacos. Right next door is one of Iceland’s busiest harbours, and visitors can see a feed of live ship arrivals.

Tryggvagata 4-6, Reykjavík 561-1111 | www.steik.is

Nauthólsvegi 106, 101 Reykjavík 599-6660 | www.nautholl.is

JOE & THE JUICE

THE ICELANDIC BAR

THE LAUNDROMAT CAFE

Joe & The Juice is an on-trend coffee shop / juice bar. The concept answers today’s busy people’s needs for a quick pick-me-up in the form of great espresso drinks, freshly pressed juices, and variety of sandwiches prepared on the spot.

The Icelandic Bar is very aptly named: it is an Icelandic bar. But more than that, it is a bar that aims to preserve the essence of being Icelandic by combining the historical and cultural heritage of this ancient land with the very hip and cutting edge culture of modern times.

Situated right downtown in Austurstræti, Laundromat houses laundry facilities and a family-friendly environment. A spacious recreational room downstairs will keep your children busy while you’re chomping on the bistro menu. Whether it’s brunch, board games or beer you’re looking for, Laundromat should have you covered.

Laugavegur 10, Reykjavík; Smáralind, Kringlan, World Class Laugum, Keflavík Airport www.joeandthejuice.is

Ingólfsstræti 1a, Reykjavík 517-6767 www.islenskibarinn.is

Grandagarður 16, Reykjavík 577-6200 | www.grandimatholl.is

Austurstræti 9, Reykjavík

PERLAN RESTAURANT

SPÁNSKI BARINN

Italian restaurant Hornið is a Reykjavík restaurant institution at this point, having opened in 1979. Situated in downtown Reykjavík, it was the first Italian restaurant in town and is as strong as ever. Expect fresh pizza, made right in front of the guests in the open kitchen. The cozy place is also a decent spot for people watching, with its large windows.

Perlan Restaurant is a unique revolving restaurant. The focus is on seasonal ingredients where Icelandic culinary traditions meet classic European cuisine. The floor makes a 360° rotation every evening, ensuring an ever-changing backdrop of Reykjavík city against guests’ tasteful dinner.

Situated just off Laugavegur, the Spanish style bodega Spánski barinn offers fresh tapas and a quality wine selection. In a dim and cosy basement, guests can enjoy a quality happy hour chock full of wines from Tempranillo to Rioja, as well as a house red on tap.

Hafnarstræti 15, Reykjavík 551-3340 www.hornid.is

Ingólfsstræti 8, Reykjavík 832-8881

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

HORNIÐ

Perlan, Öskjuhlíð, 105 Reykjavík 566 9000 www.perlan.is

WINING & DINING

THE STEAK HOUSE

WINING & DINING

FORRÉTTABARINN

TE OG KAFFI

JÓMFRÚIN

Tasty tapas with an Icelandic twist. With a new spin on traditional Icelandic cuisine and an extensive selection of local beer, Forréttabarinn – “The Starters Bar” – is worth seeking out when you need a bite to eat or a place to start your night out in Reykjavík. Whatever you choose from the refreshingly creative menu, you’re in for a treat!

Passion, expertise and craftsmanship are the main characteristics of Te & Kaffi, a family owned chain of coffee houses and speciality coffee roasters. Highly skilled and amicable baristas, exciting and tasty drinks in beautifully designed coffee houses makes Te & Kaffi a must visit.

An open-sandwich restaurant in the Danish tradition offering authentic Danish smørrebrød along with a selection of hot dishes. The restaurant is located in the heart of the city centre and seats 80 guests. It is a popular lunch venue, especially with people from the business sector.

Laugavegur 27, Reykjavík 527-2880 www.teogkaffi.is

Lækjargata 4, Reykjavík 551-0100 www.jomfruin.is

KRYDD RESTAURANT

SÓLON BISTRO & BAR

EARLY IN THE MORNING

KRYDD is an à la carte restaurant that offers a dinner and lunch menu, along with appetizers and a state of the art cocktailbar. On sundays, it offers a brunch buffet between 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Sólon offers seafood, lamb, salmon, salads, hamburgers and juicy steaks, as well as a delicious fish of the day. Sólon resides in a beautiful old building on the main shopping street with high & wide windows, perfect for people watching! Local beer, wine, coffee, cocktails, and Black Death are served at Sólon Bistro & Bar.

BREAKFAST Early in the Morning is the perfect start to your day, whether you're going hiking on a volcano or just strolling around Reykjavík. This breakfast/brunch spot is hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, so stop by for a tasty breakfast in a relaxing atmosphere!

Nýlendugata 14, Reykjavík 517-1800 | www.forrettabarinn.is

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

Hafnarborg, Strandgötu 34, Hafnarfjörður www.kryddveitingahus.is Open: M-T 11-23, F-S, 11-01, S 11-23

Bankastræti 7a, Reykjavík 562-3232 | www.solon.is

Veghúsastígur 7-9, Reykjavík 695-1021 Open daily 07:00-10:00

HLEMMUR MATHÖLL

REYKJAVÍK MEAT STEAKHOUSE

BÆJARINS BEZTU

Hlemmur Mathöll is a European style food hall featuring global delicacies alongside tasty Icelandic dishes. A former bus station, Hlemmur is now the new home for gourmands and fast food lovers alike in Reykjavík. Hlemmur brims with life on both weekends and weekdays alike, so head on down to see what the fuzz is about.

As the name suggests, Reykjavík Meat is the city’s newest new steakhouse. The food is cooked over coals giving it a delicious flavour, and crowning their menu is the award-winning sashi marbled beef. They also offer seafood, lamb and vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as delicious cocktails!

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur literally means The Town’s Best Hot Dogs. A must try while visiting, it is the perfect on-the-go food. We dare you to time the hot dog artists at Bæjarins Beztu after you order ‘ein með öllu’ (one with everything). They are incredibly quick to make a concoction of raw onions, fried onions, ketchup, remoulade, Icelandic mustard and the dog itself.

Laugavegur, Reykjavík 787-6200 | www.hlemmurmatholl.is

Frakkastígur 8, Reykjavík 557-7665 | www.rvkmeat.is

Tryggvagata 1, 101 Reykjavík 511-1566 | www.bbp.is

Experience the amazing LangjĂśkull glacier from the inside A rare, once in a lifetime opportunity

ykjavĂk e R d n a r te n e c ll fe m HĂşsa Daily departures fro

Find us:

#intotheglacier www.intotheglacier.is

WHERE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON DISPLAY

MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITION

TOUR BOOKING Grandagarður 2 | 101 Reykjavík Tel: +354 780 4500

MOVIE THEATER

GIFT SHOP AND GALLERY

open daily 09:00 - 21:00

www.aurorareykjavik.is

SKÓLAVÖRÐUSTÍGUR 14 - 101 REYKJAVÍK - TEL: +354 571 1100

LÆKJARBREKKA

THE LOBSTER HOUSE

One of Iceland’s most treasured restaurants has made a comeback. The Italian delicacies of La Primavera are here to stay. Situated in the Marshall building, a former fishing warehouse, the building is also home to an art gallery, an art studio and the Living Art Museum.

This elegant Icelandic bistro in the heart of the city centre serves delicious food from Icelandic ingredients in a historic environment. A light lunch or a delicious dinner is perfectly accompanied by people watching in this lovely old building, part of the oldest street façade in Reykjavík.

If you want to enjoy gourmet French cuisine with a nordic twist, then The Lobsterhouse is the right place for you. Our langoustine, “the Icelandic lobster“, is widely know for it’s great taste and one of our most favourable dishes. Dining at The Lobsterhouse is an experience full of warmth and history.

Grandagarður 20, Reykjavík 519-7766 www.laprimavera.is

Bankastræti 2, Reykjavík 551-4430 www.laekjarbrekka.is

Amtmannsstígur 1, Reykjavík 561-3303 | www.thelobsterhouse.is

KOPAR

GRILLHÚSIÐ

BREWDOG

Kopar is a restaurant by the old harbour in Reykjavik which has an emphasis on adventure and experience in a brasserie setting. Their menu is composed of various locally sourced ingredients from sea and land, and aims to give you a taste of Iceland in a single evening.

A fun restaurant, with the look and feel of an American Diner. Reasonably priced, offering delicious food and a very good service, you‘ll definitely get great value for your money here. They put a special emphasis on using only high quality ingredients, making for a terrific meal.

Hop lovers, rejoice! UK’s Craft Beer Phenomenon just opened a bar and restaurant in downtown Reykjavik, located at the corner of Hverfisgata and Frakkastigur. Featuring 20 taps including BrewDog’s headliners, seasonals and one off brews as well as great local Icelandic craft beers. Highly impressive food menu and a very cosy atmosphere.

Geirsgata 3, Reykjavík 567-2700 www.koparrestaurant.is

Tryggvagata 20, Reykjavík 527-5000 www.grillhusid.is

Frakkastígur 8, Reykjavík www.brewdog.com

FISH COMPANY

BRAUÐ & CO

Bryggjan Brugghús is lively restaurant/ brewery, featuring fresh Icelandic brews and an ambitious menu. Whether you are looking for seafood or some quality pub grub, Bryggjan has something for you. If you are a beer enthusiast, you can also hop on a brewery tour.

Quality, fusion and fun are the Fish Company’s main characteristics. The interior is stylish and the quirky tableware fits in wonderfully. The menu is a world of adventures from starters to deserts. It’s designed to take you on a seafood journey and not only a journey of the Icelandic culinary waters but a trip around the world.

Head out to Brauð & Co. to get your hands on the scrumptious sourdough bread and tasty cinnamon buns. The early bird gets the worm, so don't be late! Keep in mind that the queue can get quite long, but it's well worth it.

Vesturgata 2a, Reykjavík 552-5300 | www.fiskfelagid.is

Opens early, closes at 18:00. Frakkastígur 16, Reykjavík Hlemmur Mathöll, Reykjavík Fákafen 11, Reykjavík www.braudogco.is

Find more recommendations on www.whatson.is

BRYGGJAN BRUGGHÚS

Grandagarður 8, Reykjavík 456-4040 | www.bryggjanbrugghus.is

WINING & DINING

LA PRIMAVERA

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

IF YOU NEED MORE INFO, CONTACT INFO@WHATSON.IS

HOW TO ... GET TO THE AIRPORT

Iceland’s international airport is located in Keflavík, about 50km from Reykjavík. If you rent a car or take a cab, it will take about 45 minutes to get to Reykjavík. A cheaper but just as reliable option is taking a bus to and from the airport. They connect to flights and will drop you off or pick you up at bus stops close to your accommodation in Reykjavík.

Find more information on www.whatson.is

GET MONEY

Iceland has its own currency, the Icelandic króna (ISK). It’s best to get króna at any bank (open monday to friday, 9-4), including the one at the Keflavík International Airport (open 24/7). You can either exchange money or go to an ATM to get cash. Credit card and debit card payments are widely accepted in Iceland. FX Iceland, Open Mon-Sat 10-7pm and Sun 1-6pm PARK IN THE CITY CENTRE

There are different parking zones which charge different rates. Look for a parking sign (the familiar big P) indicating zones 1-4 and parking garages. Look for the nearest black terminal to pay, with cash or card, and type in your car’s number plate, no ticket necessary!

MAKE CALLS

Getting an Icelandic SIM card is easy, you can get them at the airport, phone companies, and of course the What’s On tourist information centre at Laugavegur 5. TAKE THE BUS

Strætó is the Icelandic bus company, and their yellow buses are easy to spot around the city. You can only buy a ticket on the bus if you have the exact amount in cash. Tickets can also be bought in 10-11 supermarkets, What’s On and by using the free Strætó app, which also has the latest bus schedules. GO SWIMMING

There are 18 swimming pools in the capital area and if you have the time, you should try them all. Swimming is great, but don’t miss relaxing in the hot tubs – this is where the community gathers and socialises. If you haven’t packed a bathing suit, you can rent one at the pool. Visit What’s On at Laugavegur 5 or contact us at info@whatson.is.

VOLCANO & EARTHQUAKE EXHIBITION The Gateway to Iceland’s Most Active Volcanic Area

The Lava Centre

The creation of Iceland

Earthquake simulator

A world class exhibition on volcanoes and earthquakes surrounded by active volcanoes.

Learn how and why Iceland hosts so many volcanic eruptions.

Feel what it’s like when the ground starts to shake and rumble.

MORE INFO AND TICKETS AT

Open every day

www.lavacentre.is

9:00 - 19:00

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Iceland Volcano & Earthquake Centre Austurvegur 14, Hvolsvöllur · South Iceland

Meet some of Icelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest designers Epal Harpa / Epal Skeifan 6 / Epal Design Kringlan / Epal Icelandic Design Laugavegi 70

www.epal.is

THE ORIGINAL

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+354-560-8800

GOLD-CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL UMHVERFISFLOKKUN

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info@specialtours.is

Skólavörðustígur & Kringlan, Reykjavík. Hafnarstræti, Akureyri. Haukadalur. Geysir.com.