What's On in Reykjavik - November 2013 by MD Reykjavik

What’s On

NOVEMBER 2013 IN REYKJAVIK

REYKJAVIK’S LEADING GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT, EATING OUT, MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES.

Reykjavík Art Museum

Open daily One admission to three museums

HafnarHúS Tryggvagata 17 Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

KjarvalSStaðir Flókagata Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

14.9. 2013 – 5.1. 2014 Zilvinas Kempinas: fountains 14.9. 2013 – 19.1. 2014 icelandic video art 1975–1990 14.9. 2013 – 12.1. 2014 tomas martišauskis: Creature 12.10. 2013 – 28.9. 2014 Erró: the World today

5.10. 2013 – 12.1. 2014 alexander rodchenko: revolution in Photography 5.10.2013 – 26.1. 2014 Kjarval Complete 2 – the Banks’ Collections ÁSmundarSafn Sigtún Open daily 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. 21.9. 2013 – 5.1. 2014 anna Hallin: interplay 11.5. 2013 – 30.12. 2013 tales from the vault – Sculptures inspired by literature www.artmuseum.is artmuseum@reykjavik.is +354 590 1200

Alexander Rodchenko, Lily Brik, 1924, © A. Rodchenko – V. Stepanova Archive © Moscow House of Photography Museum

Kjarval, Pentecost/Hvítasunnudagur, 1917

Erró, Storm/Óveður, 2011

Steina Vasulka, Allvision, 1976

WHAT’S ON

CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2013

ON THE COVER: IT’S DARK, COLD AND DREARY…BUT AT LEAST WE’VE GOT BEER. EXPERIENCE 6-19 MUSEUM WALK

20-21

EVENT CALENDAR

22-35

REYKJAVIK CITY MAP 36-37 WHATSON.IS 40-47 ART & CULTURE

48-53

NIGHTLIFE 54-55 SHOPPING & STYLE 56-59 FOOD & DRINK

60-63

PRACTICAL INFO

64-66

November is usually a month we don’t like much in Iceland. It’s still pretty far until Christmas, so you can’t really allow yourself to get psyched about that yet, while at the same time it’s getting all dark and cold and you can most likely count on a blizzard or two as well. In between you can expect rain or storms and stuff. The sun is awkwardly low in the sky, so it’s in your eyes at all times, but nonetheless it provides no heat at all. It’s truly a bleak month all in all. But we have stuff to look forward to nonetheless. Pretty awesome stuff actually, so don’t let me bring you down! This particular month sees Iceland Airwaves during its first weekend. That’s a super awesome music festival that we at What’s On are very excited about. If you’re reading this late in the month and missed Airwaves, trust me, it was great! Another major event of the month is the release of Christmas beer. That’s becoming a bigger and bigger tradition each year, with the ever so lovely Tuborg Julebryg leading the pack, coming out on the first Friday of November each year. You can read all about the lovely brew on pages 38-39 Lastly – this November is the first chance we’ve got to tell you guys about our brand new website! We just opened up our whatson.is and we’re super proud of it. There you can read all our magazines and get further information on almost everything we publish in this magazine. I truly hope you like it and if you don’t – let us know! We’d love the feedback. Enjoy your stay in Iceland!

www.whatson.is

Volume 31 – Issue 11. Published by MD Reykjavik ehf. Skógarhlíð 22, 105 Reykjavik. Tel.: 899-2255. E-mail: whatson@whatson.is

Editor: Hjörtur Atli Guðmunds. Geirdal, hjortur@whatson.is, Tel.:847-4153. Layout & design: Stefán Birgir Stefáns, sbs@sbs.is Journalist: Hekla Elísabet Aðalsteinsdóttir, hekla.elisabet@mydestination.com Cover Photo: Courtesy of Mountaineers of Iceland Printing House: Ásprent-Stíll ehf. Akureyri WHAT‘S ON IN REYKJAVIK is published monthly covering events and happenings in and around Reykjavik. Opinions expressed in WHAT‘S ON IN Reykjavik 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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FIVE THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY

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BY MARISSA PINAL

EXPERIENCE

Even though it’s November doesn’t mean it’s snowing all the time. In fact, Icelandic November can be rainy, cloudy, misty and loads of other annoying weather phenomena - even at the same time. Granted, it would be a bit more pleasant if the weather was nice and the sun was shining on us all, but let‘s face it. You‘re in Iceland, so you can‘t really complain. However, as the old saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Also, it doesn’t hurt that Iceland is the land of cozy indoor places that make you feel perfectly fine about being inside. The following is a short list of some places you could visit and things you could do on a rainy day in our lovely country, enjoy!

MUSEUMS

SWIMMING

Reykjavík provides its residents and visitors with 1 many cultural treats. The museums of this small Nordic city make a point of being versatile and offer an array of interesting exhibitions year round. The city museums include Hafnarhúsið, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn. Purchasing admission to any one of these automatically grants you access to the other two, making this the perfect rainy day choice. Check out the Event Calendar on page 23 for information on current exhibitions and opening hours!

You may think that it sounds strange to go for a swim in the rain, but contrary to popular belief swimming in Iceland is particularly enjoyable in bad weather. This is thanks to the naturally heated water that comes straight from the ground beneath us and feels oh so good to be surrounded by in the hot tub. The inexpensive admission doesn’t hurt either. These publicly run swimming pools are in most neighborhoods and serve as a hub for the residents who go frequently for the exercise, social interaction and relaxing quality of hot water.

COFFEEHOUSE Nordic coffee culture is vibrant and generally speaking the coffee is of the highest quality. The quantity of coffeehouses in the downtown area of Reykjavík are surprising in number, ranging from small holes-in-the-wall with take away coffee to places with plush couches on which you could stay sitting comfortably for several hours. Because of the cozy environment and free Internet access many Icelanders spend an endless amount of time sipping on the best coffee and working on school work or even programming a new website!

DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY SIDE Zooming past the dramatic landscapes of the Icelandic countryside from the comfort and warmth of your car can be extremely enjoyable. Be sure to blast some native music, it can only enhance the experience.

MOVIE AT BÍÓ PARADÍS The only movie theater in downtown Reykjavík was saved a few years ago by the city council. It was once known as Regnboginn (the rainbow) and was going out of business, but now goes by the name Bíó Paradís. Many changes were made to it, which created a more comfortable space than your average movie theater. The front entrance is quite large and has several big windows facing the street of Hverfisgata. This space resembles a nice coffeehouse and is often used for small concerts and get together by all kinds of people and different groups. One of the main attractions is the alternative selection of movies available to watch. They seldom show the newest Hollywood blockbusters, and tend to be unafraid of offering up European films in languages other than English. Consider this place on a rainy day, they even offer beer, and you can take the bottle in with you to watch the film!

â&#x20AC;Ś for outdoor enthusiasts

Michelsen Arctic Explorer Designed for Icelandic weather, by Icelanders

Laugavegur 15 - 101 ReykjavĂk - Tel. 354 511 1900 - www.michelsenwatch.com

EXPERIENCE

THE TASTE OF ICELAND If you’re coming to Iceland, you will be blown away by the vibrant and unique food culture. Between the world-class restaurants with pristine ingredients and master chefs, the quaint little local flavours and the unique and unusual traditional cuisine, there is no shortage of flavourful experiences for both the adventurous explorer and the demanding connoisseur. MODERN ICELANDIC CUISINE Modern day Iceland offers every kind of food you can imagine, and many that you probably can’t. With world-class chefs working with pristine ingredients, Icelandic Restaurants are sure to be a thrill. Most restaurants will offer some traditional Icelandic dishes, such as smoked lamb, or some twist on tradition, such as a reindeer burger. Reykjavik offers any kind of international food you can imagine, sushi, thai, mexican, you name it. It offers steak houses and seafood restaurants. You can go from very high end to fast food in one block. Because icelandic farms are relatively traditional and the icelandic nature is very pure and unspoiled, the ingredients of the food will be absolute first rate. We particularly recommend you try the lamb, which is in a league of its own. THE ICELANDIC HOT DOG – AN UNUSUAL INSTITUTION You don’t get more authentically Icelandic than the hot dog. Whereas some of the more traditional food are only really eaten during the Þorri festival, Icelanders actually eat hot dogs all the time.

ICE (CREAM) LAND Icelanders, somewhat appropriately, love ice cream. They love it at any time, in fact, you can sometimes see a line at the ice cream parlour in a snowstorm. There is a long-standing debate in Reykjavík of which is better, Ísbúð Vesturbæjar or the one in Skeifan. Unless of course you’re from the north, and the obvious winner is Brynjuís. Because, well, obviously. TRADITIONAL ICELANDIC FOOD Finally, don’t miss out on the traditional Icelandic food! These dishes, prepared the same way they have for centuries, are steeped in history and... other things. There are some flavours everyone can enjoy such as the smoked lamb, flat bread, and liverwurst and some more unusual delicacies such as blood pudding and dried fish. At the far end of the spectrum you find curiosities of acquired taste such as fermented shark, singed sheep’s head and pickled ram’s testicles. These are otherwise known as “things you only eat so you can tell your friends at home you did it”. With a shot of Brennivin, an Icelandic Schnapps lovingly nicknamed “Black Death”, you can wash down your meal, along with washing away any memory you might have had of the whole affair.

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The Icelandic hot dog is unique in that it contains lamb in addition to the international pork and beef, and it is supposed to be eaten “með öllu” (with everything): raw chopped onions, roasted onions, ketchup, mustard and remoulade. If you order

one “with everything” up north, it will also include “cocktail sauce,” a mixture of ketchup and mayo.

The Wonders of Volcanoes Volcano House Cinema – Dramatic and Informative Striking documentaries on eruptions in Iceland in amazing Emmy nominated footages. Shows every hour on the hour in English, from 09.00 – 22.00. German and French version upon request.

Volcano House Café – Healthy and Volcanic The Volcano House Café presents the only volcanic menu in Iceland. Breakfast Lunch Meal of the day Light meals Happy Hour Deserts Volcanic Coffee.

DYNAMO REYKJAVÍK

Geological Exhibition, free entrance Tourist information and Booking Service Volcano House Boutique Open from 9.00 – 22/23,00 Films are shown every hour on the hour!

Volcano House I Tryggvagata 11 I Tel. 555 1900 www.volcanohouse.is I info@volcanohouse.is

EXPERIENCE

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EXPERIENCE

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WE’RE OPEN! FÍTON / SÍA

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EXPERIENCE

THE REYKJAVIK Reykjavík is filled with things to do, places to go and stuff to see but some are just a little bit more important than others.

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA Hallgrímskirkja church is one of Reykjavík’s most iconic buildings and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The tower of the church is among the city’s highest buildings and offers a fantastic view of the city for the small price of 700ISK for adults, 100ISK for children. Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church- and the sixth tallest architectural structure in Iceland. It’s named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Petursson, author of the Passion Hymns. The architect who designed it, Guðjón Samúelsson is said to have designed it to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland’s landscape.

PERLAN Standing at 25 metres high, Perlan is one of Reykjavík’s most striking buildings and although it was opened to the public in 1991 it still makes a stand out piece of architecture for its modern construction. Up on the fourth level there is a 360 degree viewing platform where you can get the best panoramic views of Reykjavík and when the sun sets it’s a spectacular spot for the northern lights. You can also dine at the Perlan restaurant that slowly rotates so you get to see the whole city without even having to turn your head. We strongly recommend a visit to The Saga Museum while you’re there.

TJÖRNIN

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People go to the pond to feed the birds and enjoy one of the most amazing views that Reykjavík has to offer. There isn’t a 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, hot geothermal waters are pumped in to defrost an area for the birds while those who can handle the cold keep warm from the romantic atmosphere and take to the ice on skates.

AUSTURVÖLLUR When the sun is shining and the air is hot, Austurvöllur is the place to be no matter who you are. Surrounded by cafés and restaurants on Vallarstræti and Pósthússtræti, this public square is a wildly popular spot for locals to dine outside, soak up some sunshine or recline in the grass with picnics. With its close proximity to the Parliament of Iceland building, Austurvöllur has contrastingly also been the gathering place for political protests. At the center of it all stands a statue of Jón Sigurðsson, the renowned figure who led Iceland to independence.

KOLAPORTIÐ

Whether you want to sample dried fish and fermented shark, purchase a bag of Icelandic candy or browse through thrifted clothing, Kolaportið should be the destination of your choice. Kolaportið is an indoor flea market that is open during the weekend between 11am-5pm. The atmosphere is very 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 DVD’s or digging through piles of stuff in search of hidden treasures. We recommend bringing cash, as the majority of stalls don‘t accept cards.

HARPA

The whole 28.000 square meters of Harpa stand at the edge of the Reykjavik Harbour with Iceland‘s biggest concert hall suitable for a broad range of concerts and cultural events, conference centre with meeting facilities and in-house catering and fine restaurants. Harpa also occasionally hosts promotions, plays, and public events. It‘s open to everyone, always, and you should definitely visit Harpa, whether it‘s for a show, to buy souvenirs, a concert or a lovely dinner in one of the fabulous restaurants. Harpa was designed by a Danish firm in co-operation with Ólafur Elíasson, an Icelandic artist, and opened to the public on May 4th 2011.

THE OLD HARBOR The descriptive name comes from the fact that it‘s the first lasting harbor in Reykjavik. The most visited area is the eastern pier where you’ll find a community of shops, galleries, electric bike and scooter rentals and guided tours in Reykjavík. You will find numerous whale watching companies willing to take you out to sea on unforgettable excursions. The area is filled with excellent restaurants (sushi and other seafood, tapas, burgers, etc.) and coffee houses. The atmosphere at the old harbour is friendly, the air is fresh and salty and there’s plenty of interesting activities to check out.

EXPERIENCE

SIGHT EXPERIENCE

THE SUN VOYAGER A beautiful sculpture of a Viking ship located by the ocean on a small peninsula by Sæbraut, close to the Reykjavík center. The sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason symbolises the Viking past of the Icelanders and an ode to the sun. It serves as reminder of our history and heritage when the first Viking settlers came sailing to Iceland. An ideal opportunity to see Sólfarið at its best is when the sun is setting, at whatever time that may be. It should be every photographer’s dream to capture the amazing view.

Reykjavik's Thermal Pools

. It’s not only offices for the mayor and city’s shore of i Lake skTjörnin. 50ULofficials, but is also open to visitors, providing internet access, 5excutive S T D an A information desk, exhibition halls and a cafe. Café Öndin boasts huge glass windowsk and admire the water, bird life, nature isENso.youGocantositthebackgalleries 0Dsurrounds. and to admire one of the steady 13city R

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streams CHILof new and exciting exhibitions always coming through. The three dimensional map of Iceland is always a favourite with visitors to the country.

LAUGARDALSLAUG Every country has traditions when it comes to leisure. Iceland’s big thing is swimming pools.. Laugardalslaug is the city’s largest pool with extensive facilities, located in Laugardalur Valley. Its facilities include a 50m outdoor pool, outdoor children’s pool and paddling pool, two waterslides, numerous hot tubs, steam bath, gym and 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 dog.

Head over to page 20 for the Reykjavik Museum Walk.

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*Admission January 2013. Price is subject to change e

* CITY O N LY HALL With an impressive, modern design, the building sits right on the northern

EXPERIENCE

A VERY BRIEF 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: PARLIAMENT ESTABLISHED. Iceland is arguably the oldest still extant democracy in the world. 1000 AD: CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY, DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. Parliament decided everyone would be christian or at least pretend to be. Leif “the Lucky” Ericson got lost and found America, didn’t like it and went home. 1262 AD: ICELAND SUBMITS TO NORWAY. Civil war between powerful clans resulted in making peace by submitting to Norway. Later, Iceland somehow wound up under Danish rule. We are more than a little confused about it.

1550 AD: CIVIL WAR AND LUTHERANISM. The violent conflict between Catholics and Lutherans ended with the beheading of bishop Jón Arason. 1602: MONOPOLY (NOT THE FUN KIND). The king of Denmark decided Icelanders would only trade with particular Danes, resulting in abject poverty until the monopoly was abolished in 1786. THE 1750S: THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND THE BIRTH OF REYKJAVÍK. Industrialisation and modernisation started when “Sheriff” Skúli Magnússon started wool manufacturing in Aðalstræti 10. 1944 AD: INDEPENDENCE. Iceland declared independence while Denmark was too busy being invaded by Germany to protest.

20TH CENTURY: THE WORLD WARS AND MODERNIZATION. The turn of the century saw the first motor boat 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 are picking up surprisingly well, but they’re still tough. 2009 AD: FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MINISTER. The world’s first openly lesbian head of government, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, took office.

This is Solla, the winner of Best Gourmet Raw Chef and Best Simple Raw Chef in the 2011 and 2012 “Best of Raw” Awards. Come and try out one of her great dishes at her restaurant Gló, Iceland’s most popular health food restaurant operating at three different locations in the great Reykjavik area.

16 Reykjavík: Engjateigur 19 and Laugavegur 20b · Hafnarfjörður: Strandgata 34 · www.glo.is

Going places? Experience Iceland in a whole new way

Tel. +354 562 6060 www.budget.is Budget locations: Reykjavík, Keflavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir

EXPERIENCE

THE ICELANDIC Although beer and ale have been brewed in Iceland for a long time, the growth in recent years has been amazing. In just a few years, we‘ve seen many great breweries emerge, filled with ambition and ingenuity. There is one thing they all have in common though, the Icelandic water; renowned for its purity and quality. Here you can read up on some of our favorite beers, all of whom you‘ll find in Reykjaviks pubs and bars.

VÍKING CLASSIC Víking Classic is a Vienna style beer with golden amber colour and taste of roasted malt. It has a good body and medium bitterness with balancing sweetness and a hint of caramel. This Classic type of beer has become one of the best sellers on draught in Iceland in one year. Víking Classic is available in draught, bottles and cans and is part of the Víking beer family which is the most popular beer brand in Iceland.

BRÍÓ The first beer produced by Borg Brugghús, Bríó is a pilsner, however unlike what most people might think, being a pilsner doesn‘t mean it‘s any less of a beer. The name comes from the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic. This style of brewing first emerged in the middle of the 19th century and immediately became so popular that the majority of beer drunk today is in some way derived from the original pilsner. Brío uses German hops, giving a very distinctive taste and a sweet aroma. Along with the hops, it uses Pilsen malt and under-fermentation yeast. Brío, which has won many awards and prizes over the years, was originally brewed as the House Beer for Ölstofan (see pg. 12) and is available in liquor stores around the country as well as most bars in town.

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KALDI

The Brewery on Árskógssandur was the first microbrewery that opened in Iceland, back in 2006. Their first product, Kaldi, definitely paved the way for the rest of them. The regular Kaldi is a pure pilsner, with all the ingredients, except the Icelandic water, coming from the Czech Republic. Even their Brewmaster is Czech! Kaldi is a very mild and comfortable pilsner, with 5% ABV. You can detect a hint of sweetness in it. Kaldi is the most sold bottled beer in Iceland today and has been tremendously well received. You can get Kaldi in the liquor stores in bottles, as well as on draught at MicroBar.

KALDI DARK Most Icelanders are a bit afraid of dark beers, at least until they taste Kaldi Dark. A dark pilsner, it‘s not that much different from the regular Kaldi, as the main difference is the use of burnt malt, which provides the beautiful, distinctive dark color. Kaldi Dark is unpasteurized with no added sugar or preservatives. As mentioned – the Kaldi beers are brewed by Czech traditions, dated from 1842. Kaldi Dark is brewed using 3 different types of Czech hops. You can get Kaldi Dark in all liquor stores as well as in MicroBar on draught.

EINSTÖK TOASTED PORTER With clear notes of toffee and dark chocolate, this Porter is roasty and rich, offering a medium body that is robust, yet smooth on the palate. Toasted and chocolate malts give it a sinister black color, but its easy-to-drink taste will have you believing that there’s no need to be afraid of the dark anymore.

EXPERIENCE

BEER EXPERIENCE

ÚLFUR The first Icelandic IPA (India Pale Ale) on the market. Úlfur IPA is in the same caliber as the best produced on the West Coast of the Unites States and probably comes to many Icelanders as a surprise regarding flavor and aroma. The aroma is of fresh citrus fruits, especially grapefruit, which can also be found in the flavor and a strong bitterness makes you crave another sip. Only American hops are used in the beer and hops are added when boiled and after fermentation, a so called “dry hopping” technique. Icelanders took to the beer immediately and it helped clear the way for smaller breweries to try new things.

LAVA

GÆÐINGUR PALE ALE The Pale Ale from Gæðingur is a mixture of American and British Pale Ale. It’s ABV is quite low, at 4,5%, but it has the body of a much bigger beer. Bitterness and hops describe it aptly. Gæðingur is the latest addition to the Icelandic Microbrewery scene, founded in 2010. Gæðingur Pale Ale is unfiltered, so it has some residue at the bottom of the bottle. The Pale Ale is the beer that cemented Gæðingur as a quality Microbrewery and is available at most liquor stores, and as with many of the other beers mentioned, on draught in MicroBar

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This beer is unique in the Icelandic beer scene and quite possibly globally as well. Lava is a pitch black Ale, with its colour coming from dark-roasted mat, burnt in a similar way as coffee beans. The Brewmasters goal was to create a distinctive beer. Lava is described as being like a good wine – improving with age, reaching optimal quality after 3 years of storage in a cold place. Lava is a very smoked Imperial Stout, and considered by beer connoisseurs as one of the best Icelandic beers. It has received many international awards, including a gold medal at the “United States Open Beer Championship” – where it competed against over 1650 beers. Lava is available at the bigger liquor stores as well as exclusively on draught at MicroBar.

WHAT’S ON

THE REYKJAVIK MUSEUM WALK Reykjavik is rich with culture and history which can be experienced in the many museums that our city has to offer. To make life easier for you, here is a proposed Museum Walk that covers the best bits of downtown Reykjavik, while within a walking distance. 1

VOLCANO HOUSE

The museum gives visitors an idea of the real life in Iceland, where volcanoes and earthquakes are a constant threat. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur daily and Icelandic nature is in a state of constant flux. Volcano House lets you experience the world of Icelanders by coming as close as possible to experiencing an eruption or earthquake for yourself. They also have an in-house cinema where they offer two back-to-back documentaries on historical volcanic eruptions.

THE REYKJAVÍK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The museum’s main objective is to present both historical and contemporary photography in an artistic, social and cultural context, as well as nurture public and scholarly interest in photography and its culture.The collection’s themes are diverse, you can find family photograpshs, photos from portrait studios, industrial- and advertising photographs, press photography, landscape photographs and more.

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THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

The nation’s most precious treasures are kept and displayed at The National Museum of Iceland that was established on the 24th of February in 1863. The aim of the museum is to increase and relay knowledge of Icelandic cultural heritage from the beginning until now. At the museum you will find objects that provide insight into Icelandic cultural history and displays from different eras.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

The principal art museum of Iceland, established in 1884. Its art collection consists mainly of 19th and 20th century art works. In its possession are many of the keystones of Icelandic art history, as well as a growing collection of works from other countries. The National Gallery’s main role is to collect, preserve, research and exhibit Icelandic art and offer education about it, as well as there is a considerable emphasis laid on showing Icelandic art in context with international art.

REYKJAVÍK ART MUSEUM

Hafnarhús 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. You’ll really like the restaurant inside that has a beautiful view over the harbour. Don’t forget to stop by the Hafnarhús shop for postcards, art posters and books published by the museum.

THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION

Archaeological remains were excavated in Aðalstræti in 2001, which turned out to be the oldest relics of human habitation in Reykjavík.The relics are now preserved at their original location as the focal point of the Settlement Exhibition. The construction of Viking Age buildings is explained using multimedia technology and computer technology is used to give an impression of what life was like in the hall.

Enjoy Reykjavík with one easy to use card

The Reykjavík Welcome Card offers great value for money by giving you FREE ADMISSION to all of Reykjavík’s thermal pools and museums, with unlimited travel on Reykjavík buses, free ferry rides to Videy Island and DISCOUNTS at selected shops and restaurants. The card is available for 24, 48 and 72 hours. For more information about the Reykjavík Welcome Card visit www.visitreykjavik.is. Connect with culture!

Enjoy the nature! Take a dip in our thermal pools!

See the Sights!

The Official Tourist Information Centre in Reykjavík Adalstraeti 2 101 Reykjavík Tel +354 590 1550 info@visitreykjavik.is www.visitreykjavik.is

OPENING HOURS: 12 A.M. - 7 P.M. FRIDAYS 12 A.M. - 6 P.M. WEEKENDS 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.

CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE Most of the photographs in the exhibition illustrate changing ideas. Weather, perceptions of time and space, and man in nature are the starting points, in combination with more traditional approaches, creating a fresh and diverse vision. The photographers turn their lenses on anything between heaven and earth – literally: the space between something and nothing in the landscape; memories and sensations; tourists in Icelandic nature; the feminine in the landscape; urban nature; landscape viewed through a car window, on a tour around Iceland. These factors and others feature in Contemporary Landscape; interwoven in such a way that man and nature are not opposites in landscape photography, as they once were. Man is no longer a visitor in the landscape: he is invited in. Man is part of nature, and his works are an extension of nature, as British artist Andy Goldsworthy has observed:

and fiction. The conversations are recorded on videotape and written as manuscripts which are installed in the ground floor of the museum. During the exhibition works in the property of the museum made by chosen women artists will be presented and they invited to take part in the assembly along with guests playing roles from comtemporary time and history. The outcome of that assembly is thus added to the poll of conversations about the feminine and the bestial in a wide context. The work is a long-term task where every installment entails addition characterized by place and history.

CREATIONS - KRISTÍN GUNNLAUGSDÓTTIR

OPENING HOURS: 11 A.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

ASSEMBLY OF THE HOLY In the exhibition Assembly of the Holy is directed to the role of feminity in the ideology of the Western World. The artists Bryndís Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir and Gunnhildur Hauksdóttir have in that purpose invited to assemblies or improvised conversations where the theme is discussed as it appears on the merging limits of reality, poetry

From November 8th. The striking aspect of Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir’s art is its daring, erotic feature represented in a mediaeval,

religious way with the help of textile and gilded support, related to sacred art of the Gothic era. Her consummate draughtsmanship and exquisite handling of materials is in stark contrast to the bold, even shocking way in which she presents her works.

TREASURES

From November 8th. The National Gallery of Iceland continues to present the richness of its collection. Both its legacy from the nineteenth century and its more recent acquisitions are displayed in various rooms of the museum. These treasures give a good insight into the variety of Icelandic art in modern and contemporary periods and bear witness to its thriving and dynamic practice at every level of visual arts. In addition a glimpse of NGI’s collection of works by foreign artists will be presented, particularly prints by Edvard Munch, whose 150th anniversary will be celebrated on December 12th 2013.

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NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE

EVENT CALENDAR

REYKJAVIK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

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THE CULTURE HOUSE OPENING HOURS: 11 A.M. - 5 P.M.

THE LIBRARY ROOM The Library Room, the old reading room of the National Library, features an exhibit selected and arranged by the National and University Library. On display are many of the landmark books of Icelandic cultural history, dating from the introduction of printing in the sixteenth century to the present day. These include the oldest published versions of the Sagas of Icelanders, Sagas of the Kings of Norway and Eddic poems, Hallgrímur Pétursson’s Psalms of Christ’s Passion and Vidalín’s Homilies, popular educational works from the Enlightenment, law codices and land registers, cultural journals and folktale collections from the nineteenth century, the works of Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness and other writers, selected books of poetry and much more.

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CHILD OF HOPE - YOUTH AND JÓN SIGURÐSSON

The exhibition Child of Hope marks the bicentenary of the birth of Icelandic national hero Jón Sigurðsson (181179). It explores his childhood and youth in Arnarfjörður and Reykjavik, and his later life in Copenhagen, where he was engaged in scholarly and political work. Jón and his wife Ingibjörg were childless, but brought up Jón’s nephew Sigurður from the age of eight. This is a colourful portrayal of the life of a country lad from the West Fjords who went on to work in a shop in Reykjavik, before pursuing his education and becoming one of Iceland’s great political leaders, accompanied by his loyal wife who had waited so many years to marry him, and their little foster-son. Their personal story is recounted in the context of the Icelanders’ campaign for independence from Danish rule in the 19th century, and the broader European political movements of the time.

MILLENIUM

MILLENNIUM - PHASE ONE In this first phase of the exhibition Millennium, a variety of pieces from the collection of the National Gallery, from the 19th century to the present, are displayed. Selected landscape paintings by the pioneers of Icelandic visual arts, abstract paintings and sculptures from the mid-20th century, and contemporary art in all its diversity are presented. Landscape and national heritage are pronounced in Icelandic art, while international trends set their mark on the artwork. This exhibition, mounted by the National Gallery in the loft and staircase, is the first step taken towards utilizing the exhibition spaces in the Culture House for Icelandic art through the ages. When the exhibit is complete it will cover art from medieval to contemporary times and will then

incorporate works in the custody of the National Museum of Iceland and the Árni Magnússon Institute of Icelandic Studies.

ASÍ ART MUSEUM OPENING HOURS: 1 P.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

VANISHED SUMMER KATRÍN ELVARSDÓTTIR The photographs presented in the exhibition were not made as accompaniments to Gyrðir Elíasson’s work; rather the spirit of his work has been a companion to Katrín Elvarsdóttir in her travels around the countryside, like a feast moveable in space as well as time. Katrín‘s work has been shown in numerous group exhibitions around the world, including Germany, France, Finland, Sweden and Russia.

EVENT CALENDAR

REYKJAVIK ART MUSEUM HAFNARHÚS OPENING HOURS: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. THURSDAYS 10 A.M. - 9 P.M.

ZILVINAS KEMPINAS: FOUNTAINS Fountains is a large site-specific installation. It is a landscape ofsort with pools of magnetic tape waves that are driven by heavyduty industrial fans. Zilvinas Kempinas (b. 1969, Lithuania) has been using magnetic tapes from VHS cassettes to create works that apparently deny the original functions of the medium, but his works continue to stir up various levels of nostalgias in cultures that are familiar with the tape format, toward a replaced technology. Sleek and shiny, the black tape has been removed from its casing to become an object to be experienced in a physical space. The exhibition is a part of the Cultural Program of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and supported by The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

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ERRÓ: THE WORLD TODAY

This exhibition shows Erró´s gifts to Reykjavík Art Museum in recent years. The works add to the huge collection he has presented to the Museum over the years. His latest gift comprises a multitude of works – collages, oils, watercolours and enamels – which he has made over the past twelve years. The works represent a new period in

FOUNTAINS

the artist’s career, during which he has created his own visual world using new approaches and themes. These latest works bear witness to the artist’s joiede-vivre and creativity in juxtaposing images from around the world.

TOMAS MARTIŠAUSKIS: CREATURE Creature is a site specific installation by Lithuanian artist Tomas Martišauskis (b. 1977), which is a postmodern take on the relationship between sculptural matter and the space. Using advanced technologies he translates a specific sculptural object into various mediums thus expanding the notion of traditional sculpture. Even though the primary object will not be exhibited, its 3D, video and audio renditions become what the artist describes as “authentic copies”. Paradoxical relationship between authenticity and a copy

enables to see different aspects of the object: its interior and exterior, its sound, plasticity in animation and in the structural drawing.

ICELANDIC VIDEO ART FROM 1975 – 1990 A renowned show by Korean artist Nam June Paik in 1963 at a gallery in Wuppertal, Germany, is generally regarded as heralding the birth of video art. On TV screens he displayed distorted TV images; the exhibition was a first, because the artist turned his attention to the electronic signal that makes up a TV image. The aim of the exhibition is to focus on the 1980s, and the crucial place of that decade in the history of Icelandic video art. The exhibition also explores the circumstances of the artists, and asks questions about the preservation of works of video art, and how works of that period should be shown.

OPENING HOURS: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.

TALES FROM THE VAULT

This exhibition of works from the museum’s collection explores the literary motifs that inspired Ásmundur Sveinsson in creating his sculpture. Based on myth, poetry, biblical stories, and Icelandic folklore, these works vaunt Sveinsson’s heroic stance as an artist representing his generation.Through Sveinsson’s varied artistic approaches and the lens of his own storyteller’s imagination, these works become ambassadors of the tales.

ANNA HALLIN: INTERPLAY

REYKJAVIK ART MUSEUM – KJARVALSSTAÐIR OPENING HOURS: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.

ALEXANDER RODCHENKO: REVOLUTION IN PHOTOGRAPHY A retrospective of the photographs of Rodchenko, one of the leading Russian artists of the first half of the 20th century. The exhibition is from the collection of Moscow House of Photography. The art of Rodchenko and other avant-garde Russian artists of the time is indissolubly connected with the rapidly-changing society of the time, industrialisation and the Russian Revolution. Rodchenko was one of the key figures in a group of radical artists in Moscow, who called

ALEXANDER RODCHENKO

themselves Constructivists, and saw art as a tool to serve the interests of society and progress.

KJARVAL COMPLETE 2 – THE BANKS‘ COLLECTIONS Over the years Icelandic banks have purchased and conserved many works by Icelandic artists, and they own large collections of art works by Jóhannes S. Kjarval, one of Iceland’s leading artists of the 20th century. The paintings normally hang in meeting rooms and public halls of bank branches all over Iceland, but this exhibition will provide an unprecedented opportunity to see the banks‘ entire Kjarval collections in one place. These include many masterpieces never before seen publically exhibitions. The works are hung in the spirit of the salon, covering the walls of the galleries from floor to ceiling.

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In her exhibition Interplay at the Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum, Swedish-Icelandic artist Anna Hallin explores the threads that form so many connections in the history of art, between different countries, cultures and periods, and between one artist and another. In this exhibition Anna works with a kind of interplay between her own works and the sculptures of Ásmundur Sveinsson, while also examining Ásmundur’s links with Sweden and the work of Carl Milles, who was Ásmundur’s tutor for several years. The exhibition includes sculptures by Anna, as well as drawings and an installation, which interact with the building that houses the Ásmundur Sveinsson Museum, and a selection of his works from the 1930s and 40s.

KJARVAL COMPLETE

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REYKJAVIK ART MUSEUM ÁSMUNDARSAFN

EVENT CALENDAR

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND OPENING HOURS: 11 A.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

THE MAKING OF A NATION - HERITAGE AND HISTORY IN ICELAND The exhibition 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?

SIGFUS EYMUNDSSON PHOTOGRAPHER

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. It 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.

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I CAN’T BRING MYSELF TO RETREAT - SNAPSHOTS OF QUEER HISTORY

The National Museum of Iceland celebrates Reykjavík Gay Pride with an exhibition at Torgið (the Square) on the ground floor of the Museum building. The exhibition provides insights into the life and struggles of LGBT people in Iceland over the years, as described in their own words at different times. They recount the ways in which they learned

ICELANDIC SILVERWORK

to face their own feelings, and recall different stages in the campaign for human rights for LGBT people. Each individual has his or her own view of the world. Different voices unite in harmony – accompanied by photographs of the people who speak.

SIGFUS EYMUNDSSON PHOTOGRAPHER Sigfus Eymundsson was a photography pioneer in Iceland and his collection of photographs was the first one of its kind to be housed at the National Museum of Iceland. What do the photographs portray, why did Eymundson take those photographs and what is their significance to Iceland’s cultural heritage?

We seek answers to those questions and many more at the first retrospective exhibition of Eymundsons’ collection.

ICELANDIC SILVERWORK To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the National Museum of Iceland a new exhibition on various silver items made in Iceland will be opened on the 24th of February in the museum‘s Arc Hall. Various silver objects from a long period of Iceland‘s history will be shown at the exhibition where the focus will be on the methods used to create them. At the same time another exhibition, Part–time Silversmith, will be opened in the Corner, where guests can see the tools that silversmiths of the past used to make silver objects.

EVENT CALENDAR

SIGURJÓN ÓLAFSSON MUSEUM OPENING HOURS: WEEKENDS 2 P.M. - 5 P.M.

DE PROFUNDIS The exhibition brings together works from the collections of the Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum and the National Gallery of Iceland, juxtaposing sculptures by Sigurjón Ólafsson with paintings by a number of his contemporaries. During their formative years all the artists featured had studied in foreign countries, where they were active in the avant-garde art scene. On their return to Iceland they became trailblazers in the revolution of form known as Modernism, a period when Icelandic art flourished as never before. The title of the show, De Profundis points out that beneath the smooth surface of the works we may glimpse a white-hot turbulence and anguish which evoke that era of Cold War.

CINEMA ON FIRE Volcano House features two documentaries chronicling two of Iceland´s most famous volcanic eruptions of the last 40 years

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Eyjafjallajökull 2010 Eruption

This powerful documentary made specially for Volcano House was filmed and directed by the Emmy-nominated Icelandic film maker, Jóhann Sigfússon

The Westman Island´s 1973 Eruption began without warning on the night of January 23rd, 1973 where 400 homes perished under ash and lava

Showtimes: English: 10:00 to 21:00 Every hour on the hour German: 18:00 From June 1st – September 1st

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS

VOLCANO HOUSE OPENING HOURS: 9 A.M. - 9 P.M.

WONDERS OF VOLCANOES From the small island Vest’mannaeyjar, watch the awesome power of red-hot lava, seemingly irresistible as it moves in slow motion, swallowing and crushing everything in its path. Like a sci-fi monster, you see it start to engulf a thriving community and the

impending disaster as it edges to the harbour to destroy the only safe haven for the fishing fleet. Every boat is pressed into service to ferry the inhabitants to safety as they watch more of their lives disappear. Then, the 2010 eruption in Eyjafjallajökull that covered farms and villages in a deep layer of ash and an almost impenetrable fog, threatening, once again, the livelihoods of hard-working communities. A massive flood sweeps down the mountain, putting bridges along the main road linking the southern towns and villages at risk.

MUSEUM OF DESIGN AND APPLIED ART OPENING HOURS: 12 A.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS – TOWARDS MODERNITY IN ICELANDIC DESIGN The exhibition focuses on few aspects in the arrival of modernism in Icelandic domestic interiors from about 1930 and into the 1980s. It consists of well-known design objects, particularly furniture that has gained recognition for bringing fresh ideas into local design, as well as chance encounters with objects ranging from anonymous design to the works of more progressive furniture and textile designers.

EVENT CALENDAR

HAFNARBORG OPENING HOURS: 12 A.M. - 5 P.M. THURSDAYS 12 A.M. - 9 P.M. CLOSED TUESDAYS

RÚNA - BESIDE THE DEEP WATERS An exhibition focusing on the long and diverse career of Icelandic artist Rúna, Sigrún Guðjónsdóttir (b. 1926). The exhibition displays examples from Rúna‘s diverse artistic career, spanning both design and free visual art. She has been active in many fields: she was a pioneer of pottery in Iceland; has collaborated with leading design companies abroad; illustrated books and designed advertisements; and made a large number of murals for public buildings, working with her husband Gestur Þorgrímsson (1920-2003). In addition to objects and pictures from such projects, the exhibition also includes paintings by Rúna from all stages of her career; paintings on tiles and on handmade Japanese paper.

YOUR PLACE – OUR ENVIRONMENT – PLANNING IN PROGRESS

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From November 5th until the 28th.

Open workshop on the creation of a framework of daily life in Hafnarfjörður. Maps, plans, photographs and drawings related to the town planning and layout of Hafnarfjörður will be on display in Sverrissalur. Recent revisions of the town master plan will be presented and discussed. Visitors get an opportunity to express their own ideas in various ways.Ideas of urban planning for the towns many different neighbourhoods will be presented through plans, drawings and photographs, allowing for a chance to examine ideological context and different viewpoints from the past and present. Guided walks around Hafnarfjörður and presentations will be held in connection to the exhibition. A formal presentation of a revised master plan for the town of Hafnarfjörður for the years from 2005-2025 will take place during the exhibition period.

RÚNA - BESIDE THE DEEP WATERS

THE NORDIC HOUSE OPENING HOURS: 12 A.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

HEROES Julie Edel Hardenberg was born in 1971, in Nuuk. She is one of the most versatile and productive artists in Greenland. In addition to her curriculum vitae, which count international exhibitions, recognitions, and public

tasks, Julie has alongside her artistic practice worked with scenography and installations for both featured films, theater plays, and dance shows. Her works are characterized by being implemented conscious, quirky, poetic with a humorous approach to concepts such as ethnic and cultural identity. The Exhibition Heroes is about the lack of Greenlandic actors and films. This is how Julie pictures it if Greenlanders would star in Hollywood films.

CHECK OUT OUR MUSEUM WALK ARTICLE ON PAGE 20!

IMAGINE PEACE TOUR

NORTHERN LIGHTS CRUISE Make it’s Eldsure ing!

daily at 22:00 from 15 September to 15 October 21:00 from 16 October to 14 March 22:00 from 15 March to 15 April

to Viðey island daily at 20:00 from 9 October to 8 December

g.is www.eldin 000 5 +354 519

WHALE WATCHING from Reykjavík all year round EL-01 / EL-02 / EL-03

Jan-Feb

Mar 9:00

13:00

Apr 9:00

May 9:00

Jun 9:00 10:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 14:00 17:00* 17:00 20:30**

* From 15 May to 15 September ** From 15 June to 31 July

Jul 9:00 10:00 13:00 14:00 17:00 20:30

Aug Sep Oct Nov-Dec 9:00 9:00 9:00 10:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 14:00 17:00 17:00*

2013

EVENT CALENDAR

SUNDAY, NOV 3RD KJARVALSSTAÐIR Workshop Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir leads a workshop for the family in connection with the exhibition Alexander Rodchenko: Revolution in Photography. Concert: Elektra ensemble Concert in collaboration with Reykjavik Art Museum.

TUESDAY, NOV 5TH HAFNARBORG Lunch Time Concert concert with Kolbeinn Ketilsson tenor and pianist Antonía Hevesi. Free admission.

THURSDAY, NOV 7TH HARPA, NORÐURLJÓS Opera composers for two centuries Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner were both born in 1813 and the world celebrates their 200th anniversary this year.

SATURDAY, NOV 9TH HARPA, ELDBORG Sálin Hans Jóns Míns The band celebrates its 25 year anniversary.

TUESDAY, NOV 12TH HARPA, ELDBORG The Swan Lake St. Petersburg Festival Ballet’s performance of The Swan Lake on November 12th in Harpa, marks a milestone in our cultural history since this will be the first time that a Russian ballet appears in Iceland.

FRIDAY, NOV 15TH

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HARPA, ELDBORG

HARPA, NORÐURLJÓS

HAFNARHÚS

Guitar Celebration - Arnaldur Anarson A celebration commemorating the centenary of two musical giants of the 20th century

Icelandic Design Center Lecture Series The lecture is a part of The Iceland Design Centre´s lecture series in collaboration with Reykjavík Art Museum..

SUNDAY, NOV 17TH

SUNDAY, NOV 24TH

HARPA, SILFURBERG

HARPA, KALDALÓN

SOLAR 5 – Journey to the Center of Sound Solar 5 travels through five complex and ever changing worlds of sounds and visuals, creating a journey from the macroscopic to the microscopic. The audience will be surrounded by sound and visuals and will be able to move within the space during the performance.

Young Voices – Rúnar Kristinn Rúnarsson A monthly concert series on Sundays this winter.

HARPA, NORÐURLJÓS The Chamber Music Society #3 A wide variety of chamber music will be performed by some of Iceland‘s finest musicians.

KJARVALSSTAÐIR Lecture on the works of Rodchenko Benedikt Hjartarson will discuss the works of Rodchenko in relation to the art of the Avant-Garde.

HAFNARBORG Lunch Time Concert Concert with vocalist Marie Guilleray and pianist Tinna Þorsteinsdóttir.

TUESDAY, NOV 19TH HARPA, NORÐURLJÓS The Sound of Brass Through Harpa #2 The Association of Icelandic brass bands hosts a concert series in Harpa‘s Norðurljós recital hall in the winter of 2013-2014.

THURSDAY, NOV 21ST

Todmobile & Jon Anderson

HARPA, ELDBORG

Todmobile‘s annual concert in Harpa this year includes special guest Jon Anderson for Todmobile‘s grandest concert so far.

Iceland looks to the East – Iceland Symphony Orchestra Three Chinese musicians are at the forefront of this evening’s ISO concert.

MONDAY, NOV 25TH HARPA, KALDALÓN Jonathan Wilson The concert marks the beginning of a month long European tour to follow up on release of Wilson’s second LP.

TUESDAY, NOV 26TH HARPA Paul Lewis is one of the leading pianists of his generation and will play works by BachBusoni, Beethoven, Liszt and Mussorgosky.

WEDNESDAY, NOV 27TH KJARVALSSTAÐIR Concert: Jarðarber Part of the Jaðarber concert series in collaboration with Reykjavik Art Museum.

THURSDAY, NOV 28TH HARPA, ELDBORG Skálmöld & Iceland Symphony Orchestra

FRIDAY, NOV 29TH HARPA, ELDBORG Skálmöld & Iceland Symphony Orchestra

SATURDAY, NOV 30TH HAFNARHÚS Workshop Björk Viggósdóttir leads a workshop for the family in connection with the exhibitions in Hafnarhús.

LOOKING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THESE EVENTS? CHECK OUT THE WHAT’S ON EVENT CALENDAR FOR MORE INFO! WHATSON.IS/EC

WHAT’S ON

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY THIS YEAR “SNOW IS FALLING” It’s finally upon us! The annual festivity we await with great anticipation every year. The J-Day! Celebrated in many countries of the world at the same time each year, the J-Day marks the arrival of the Christmas spirit for a great many people. But what exactly is this blue-ish festival with the not-reallyself-explanatory name? Well. We go back to the year 1981 in Denmark. The first batch of the Tuborg Christmas Brew was supposed to arrive in stores bright and early, but due to a malfunction in the machinery, delivery was delayed! After a frantic days work, the ever so “Ligeglad” Tuborg employees finally arrived with the brew that night, just as the first snow of winter began falling. At precisely 08:49 in the night on the first Friday of November, tradition was born. Ever since then, Tuborg Christmas Brew, or Julebryg, has been delivered to bars, pubs and other sales outlets at the same time, the first Friday of November at this specific time. If any of the participating bars jump the gun and start selling earlier – they’re excluded from next year’s julebryg festivities. This, of course, applies to Iceland as well.

So, as the Christmas Brew is dubbed “Julebryg”, it was found quite logical to name the annual launch, and ensuing festival, J-day. In Copenhagen, inhabitants have grown to recognize the Tuborg trucks driving by with Tuborg employees, handing out Julebryg and celebrating the festival. In Iceland, the employees of Ölgerðin, the brewery of Tuborg, have likewise embraces this joy-filled festival, by flocking the streets of downtown Reykjavik, accompanied by the Julebryg Lads (distant cousins to the Icelandic Yule Lads) and the Tuborg Brass Band, singing the Tuborg Christmas song and distributing some delicious brew. This is truly one of everyone’s favourite days. You should really make a mission out of tasting the Julebryg while you’re in Iceland, because it’s really special. A bottom-fermented, wiener beer, brewed on lager, münchener and caramel malt with English liquorice. The beer is darkgolden with a fresh aroma of caramel, grain, liquorice and blackcurrant. It’s excellent with traditional Icelandic Christmas feasts, such as smoked or unsmoked pork, duck, herring and hangikjöt.

WHAT’S ON

WHATSON.IS WHAT’S ON IN ICELAND All the information on everything that’s happening in Iceland

So you‘ve arrived in Iceland, your warm clothes in your bag, high hopes and a lot of excitement. Great! But now what? There are about a million incredibly cool things to do in Iceland, so it can definitely be a daunting task to organize a stay here. Luckily – you‘ve got a hawk in a corner.

You really should check out whatson.is

A HAWK IN A CORNER REALLY DOESN‘T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

Well – it would make sense, if you‘d have read the FAQ‘s on WhatsOn.is. They‘re pretty awesome actually, though the author allegedly goes overboard at times in his borderline desperate attempts at humour. So having a hawk in one’s corner is a good thing. It‘s basically an ally, often times an unexpected ally, but one you can rely on. Your hawk will come to your aid when you most need it. Just like the guys at What‘s On in Iceland do! SO...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AGAIN? What‘s On in Iceland! Or Reykjavik! It‘s two different things, but still basically the same. You see, What‘s On in Reykjavik is the magazine you‘re currently holding. We‘re mighty proud of it and have really put a lot of effort into doing it the best we can. This magazine is now in its 30th running year of publication, making it one of the most, if not the oldest and most established tourist publications in Iceland. Now, any respectable magazine ought to

have a website that goes along with it right? At least we feel so. That‘s why we decided to completely overhaul our old website, in order to bring you the new and improved whatson.is. There, we try to cater to the whole of Iceland, by the name What’s On in Iceland. It’s not a big difference obviously, but we feel the distinction important nonetheless. We’re pretty happy about the website to be honest. There are still tweaks and modifications to be made – but we’re working on it, trying to improve the site by the day, adding interesting content and such. We’d of course welcome all feedback should you have any, reaching us at whatson@whatson.is is probably your best bet. WHAT CAN I FIND ON YOUR WHATSON.IS? Whatson.is is the online platform for this magazine; so as a result, you’ll find the majority of the content pieces from it there. The website offers articles from our contributing writers, with more added frequently, where we have the chance of going more in-depth and in more detail than we can

»» Events – loads of them »» Older What‘s On issues »» A comprehensive, all-inclusive Iceland Airwaves 2013 guide »» That Airwaves guide really is something actually »» Frequently Asked Questions »» Not-so-Frequently Asked Questions disguised as FAQ‘s »» Great and informative articles »» Bookable Tours and Activities »» Northern Lights tours »» Snowmobiling tours »» Hiking tours »» Many other pretty cool tours and activities

WHATSON.IS

ON WHATSON.IS YOU CAN FIND...

»» Restaurants, Bars, shops and museums »» Practical Information »» #WhatsOnRvk instagram pictures! »» They‘re awesome by the way »» Seriously, loads of events. With extended information as well »» Some good emails to contact »» whatson@whatson.is is for complaints »» hjortur@whatson.is is for praise, hails and congratulations »» You can also use the latter for any question you can imagine »» If there‘s anything else you were expecting to find but didn‘t, let us know

That means that you don’t have to go searching all over the place for things to do while you’re here, as whatson.is (along with this magazine!) can be your one-stop shop, for everything from food and drink, to events, to tours, activities and excursions! Want a good restaurant, a whale watching trip under the northern lights followed by a great pub to relax after a long day? Well! We got it! Like I said, this is something we’re very excited about and we’ve spent a considerable time in selecting the right operators to work with and making sure everything is set up right.

Online you’ll also find our older issues of course, as well as our restaurant, nightlife and shopping recommendations along with the backbone of our existence, the event calendar.

Now, in the next couple of pages you’ll get a glimpse of what we’re doing online, with a selection of some of the tours we’re offering, as well as some FAQ’s and a great article on new Icelandic music, by our good friend Hjalti.

However, there’s one thing in particular we’re quite excited about. You see, we’ve teamed up with some of the leading tour operators in Iceland. Like… the best of the best, in order to offer you guys the option to book your tours and activities right on our website.

We truly hope you have an awesome stay in Iceland. We also hope you’ll enjoy whatson.is and it can help you out and advice you during your stay. Stay in touch with us via social media, e-mail or any other method you find agreeable and take care!

whatson.is - a friend in need is a friend indeed

in the magazine, as we’re not restrained by print any more. We’re also working on constructing the most complete section of FAQ’s and Practical Information on Iceland the world has ever seen. It’s a daunting and ambitious task, fuelled and powered by the ever flowing fountain that is the curiosity of our visitors. As such – please feel free to ask us whatever you want to know about Iceland, Icelanders or life in Iceland, and we’ll a) answer you and b) put the answer on the website! We decided to share some of our favourite FAQ’s in the pages to come – so check it out and as always, let us know how you like it.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS Want to know the population of Iceland? Who‘s the president? Why there are so many beautiful women in Iceland? Why people live so far north in the cold? When is the best time to visit? We have all these answers and plenty more. We strive to have the answer to everything you might possibly. ARE YOU REALLY ESKIMOS? Where did you even get that idea from? No we‘re not. YOUR LANGUAGE DOESN‘T MAKE SENSE, ARE YOU REALLY SPEAKING REAL WORDS? No, this is just an elaborate scheme we put in action whenever there’s a foreigner around. In reality our language is Spanish, because we used to do a lot of business with the Spanish some hundreds of years ago. We sold them salted fish in bulk, in exchange for red wine. That was a great deal… Okay, in reality. Yeah… Icelandic is a real language, spoken by some 300.000 Icelanders. It’s related to the other Scandinavian languages, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, though it doesn’t really sound similar.

SINCE YOU GUYS LIVE IN IGLOOS, DO YOU HAVE INTERNET? The igloo joke is not funny. At all. We are serious folk, living in serious looking houses, with roofs and doors and electricity and stuff. Yes we have internet. Actually, we have like, the highest internet penetration in the world. Practically everyone in Iceland has access to internet.

WHAT ABOUT TROLLS AND ELVES AND STUFF? SHOULD I WORRY? Nah, not really. Unless you provoke or irritate them, in that case you should run.

I HEARD ICELANDIC FOOD IS DISGUSTING, WHAT‘S UP WITH THAT? It‘s not really. Well, some of it is, sure, but the regular food is honestly just that, regular food. You have to keep in mind that back in the day, Iceland was dirt poor and isolated in the middle of the ocean. So we really didn‘t have much choice when it came to culinary development and enhancements. Summer was about hoarding as much food as possible, just in order to survive winter. However, having plenty of food in August is not going to help at all if it‘s all destroyed and disgusting in April is it? So the ingenious Icelanders of yore had to figure out ways to preserve the food and did so by inventing methods of varying foulness, ranging from not foul at all (drying, smoking, salting) to quite foul and even very foul (fermenting stuff in sour whey, leaving stuff in barrels for weeks and calling it “processing”, when in fact things are just going bad.) As a result, some of the traditional Icelandic food has an acquired taste. A lot of it is quite delicious though. For more information, please refer the article “The Taste of Iceland,” on page 8.

DO YOU GUYS LIVE IN SNOWHOUSES?

I JUST GOT MUGGED! WHAT SHOULD I DO???

Yes. Yes we do. As well, we tend to embark on raids to Europe, pillaging and plundering peasants in England. On a serious note: We wish we lived in snowhouses, that‘d probably be awesome. But alas, we don‘t.

No you didn‘t get mugged. You don‘t get mugged in Iceland. You can literally leave your wallet on the ground and either some one will deliver it to you, the nearest police station, or it‘ll still be there the next morning.

NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNT

PEARL TOUR - GOLDEN CIRCLE

Departure from Reykjavík, we take you on a mystery-filled tour in a super jeep. A tour spiced with excitement and surprises, away from the city lights and into the barren landscape in the outskirts of Reykjavík in search of the elusive Northern Lights. On a clear night and with a little luck we can see the lights swirl around in dramatic shapes across the night sky – truly an amazing sight.

The tour allows visitors to get in touch with some of Iceland’s most famous and exciting natural phenomena. Our first stop is at Þingvellir National Park, which is one of Iceland’s most significant historical sites. From Þingvellir we head along mountain tracks to Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss waterfall. Next we kick the action into higher gear to get even closer to Iceland’s nature and go for a snowmobiling tour at the Langjökull area, Iceland’s second largest glacier.

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ESSENTIAL ICELAND Enjoy an amazing tour through a landscape of extreme contrasts, full of history and geology. Our day begins in Þingvellir National Park, the site of the ancient Viking parliament dating back to the 10th century. From there we head into the highlands, through the barren mountain pass of Kaldidalur to the Langjökull for an unforgettable discovery of this enormous glacier, before exploring one of Iceland‘s (biggest and) most spectacular lava caves (in Hallmundarhraun).

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MOUNTAIN SAFARI A great quad bike/ATV tour in the vicinity of Reykjavik. Explore the peaceful scenic outback of the capital city of Iceland on quad bikes. An enjoyable adventure tour only 15 minutes from most hotels in Reykjavik, fun for the whole family. The tour is perfect for beginners and anyone who wants to experience something new and different while enjoying the splendid outdoors. This tour is a great way to explore the beautiful back country of Reykjavik in a thrilling, yet safe way.

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BUY THESE ALBUMS!

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The Icelandic music scene is in overdrive at the moment. It‘s Iceland Airwaves time, which means that for the next couple of weeks, music will be everywhere in Reykjavík. It‘s also a great time to release your record so it will be featured in the Christmas-craze that is sure to follow. The following are brand new records that you just have to buy to bring home with you:

TILBURY – NORTHERN COMFORT

definitely a record for the winter months.

Tilbury is one of the most exciting bands in Iceland at the moment. It’s made up of many local musical veterans from bands like Hjaltalín, Brothers Grass and Valdimar. The band’s first album Exorcise, released in spring 2012, received critical acclaim and had a place on most national best-of-2012 lists.

Why should you buy it? Tilbury is one of the most exciting bands in Iceland and I’m sure there’s more to come.

Northern Comfort is a beautiful record. The melodies are catchy as always and there is a certain flow through the whole 10 songs. The lyrics are equally good. The theme is a love-hate with a woman, but it feels like it’s written to a specific person. It speaks about relationship troubles both between the couple but also within the protagonist. On the song “Turbulence” the singer talks about not minding the turbulence since he’s used to it, but still hopes he will be caught by the one he loves. In the final song “Transmission” the author seems to have found peace, but is still at unease since he can’t believe it will last.

Iceland‘s most energetic band, according to some, just released their second studio album. After taking Iceland by a storm in 2008 with their first album Circus, UMTBS has been laying low playing an occasional but usually packed show.

Northern Comfort is different from its older sibling. It’s darker and somehow more powerful. The melodies are catchy and lyrics are beautiful. It’s

Adjective to describe this record: Dark, beautiful UMTBS - !

Their second album is modestly named !. The name of the record alone should be intriguing to some! There’s nothing complicated going on here. The energy is there like on the first album. The lyrics are nerdy and relate-able, especially for young men. Many of them being about girls and the communication of the sexes but also about letting go of yourself and breaking out of conformity. Pay close attention to the lyrics in “Binaries”, “Squared” and “My Heart” and you’ll see what I mean.

Why should you buy it? It’s a party record. Do not listen to it while driving for it may lead to speeding. Adjective to describe this record: FUN! MAMMÚT – KOMDU TIL MÍN SVARTA SYSTIR The winner of Iceland’s Battle of the Bands in 2004 has just released its second album Komdu til mín svarta systir (e. Come to me, black sister). Their first album, Karkari, was released in 2008. Mammút is a girl band, even though it has two male members. A traditional stage line-up will see three girls in the front, with Kata the singer in the lead, and the two guys in the back. It’s an insanely cool band to say the least. The sound is inspired by the likes of Björk and sometimes you hear a resemblance with

the Icelandic pop band Unun, for those of you know the band. The album is Mammút coming of age. The sound of the record is much more composed and the album has much more continuity than their debut album. Listening to it is like watching a horror movie. You never know when the night-creatures will jump out and scare you. The lyrics accompanying the tune are suspenseful, and the imagery is just gorgeous. If you would like to get into modern Icelandic poetry, Mammút would be a perfect start. While listening to it I imagined an abandoned house somewhere in the country side. The night is pitch-black, the wind is howling and the ocean is hammering the shore. Beautiful. Why should you buy it? This is scary music! Not many bands have the ability to send shivers down your spine like that.

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If you have the chance while in Iceland, try to see this band live. It will kick you in the face, help you up and serve you up for crowd surfing – all in the same song. The release concert will be sometime in November!

Adjective to describe this record: Suspenseful

AN ARTICLE BY HJALTI RÖGNVALDSSON Hjalti is an avid music enthusiast - he’s even attended Airwaves 8 times! He’s incredibly passionate about music, spending a good portion of every day exploring new bands. You can follow his blog at www.hjaltir.com (albeit in Icelandic most of the time).

All the games and all the action on 5 Big HD Screens.

Live music all nights!

Save Water, Drink Beer

WHATSON.IS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS Even more answers to frequently asked questions from our friends at WhatsOn.is. WHAT’S THE POPULATION OF ICELAND AND HOW BIG IS THE COUNTRY?

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WHY DO PEOPLE LIVE SO FAR NORTH IN THE COLD? Meh…It’s a mixture of reasons really. Firstly – we were born here, so we’re just used to it and don’t know anything else. Secondly – we have some seriously warm clothes up here, so we’re not that cold all the time. Thirdly – Iceland is packed with steaming water pouring from the ground here and there, so our houses are warm all the time. Now on top of that – Iceland is BEAUTIFUL! It’s like… jaws-to-the-ground stunning at times. We have Aurora borealis, waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and a multitude of other super cool awesome amazing stuff. That alone makes living here a dream. Oh we also have a bunch of fish – we like fish, so it makes sense to live here for that.

Roughly 320.000. Yes – we have about the same amount of people as Santa Ana or Riverside California. Or one tenth of Berlin (Germany) or Madrid (Spain) if that scale makes more sense. Less than Bilbao (Spain), Cardiff (UK) and Nice (France). More than Utrecht (Netherlands), Bari (Italy) and the renowned town of Wirral (UK). Stop making fun of us. We’re blond, tall and strong. Who cares we’re just a handful. We’re statistically good at everything! Size really doesn‘t matter, so we‘re not too worried about that...But, we‘re talking 103,000 high-quality km‘s (40,000 sq mi). Iceland is actually the worlds 18th largest island, which isn‘t really that impressive.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN ICELAND? This is not coming from us, but according to some people, it‘s because, back in the day, the Vikings went over to England and stole all the beautiful women from them, which resulted in Iceland being a disproportionally beautiful nation, as opposed to the English... This is not something we honestly believe though – the official story is Lýsi, high quality fish and a biased, yet favourable, general opinion on beauty standards.

DO YOU GUYS SPEAK ANY OTHER LANGUAGES BESIDES ENGLISH? Back in the day, all of us spoke Danish, or some sort of an equivalent language, usually called “Scandinavian”. That was just a random mixture of Icelandic, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian, jumbled together and, surprisingly, always understandable by everyone from the Nordic countries. Except the Finnish of course, they have the most absurd language… In later years, we don’t really speak as much Scandinavian, unless we’re drunk, then we speak everything fluently. However, there’s a rising proficiency in super cool languages such as German, Spanish, French and more. Some people are learning Chinese as well, that’s pretty cool. Now, if, by “you guys”, you meant us here at whatson.is, then we can proudly inform that we speak Icelandic, English, Spanish, Scandinavian fluently, with a dash of German and a google-translate-proficiency of every other language conceivable.

YOU DON‘T HAVE AN ARMY? No. We’re peace loving to infinity. On top of that we have some pretty muscular friends.

WHAT IF YOU‘D BE UNDER ATTACK? Then we’d call upon said muscular friends. If that wouldn’t work we’d point out that we’re a tiny island way north in the middle of the ocean. If THAT wouldn’t work, we’d send forth our arsenal of international beauty queens and world’s strongest men.

WALK THROUGH ICE AND FIRE

NORTHERN LIGHTS BY BOAT

A tour that combines two of Iceland’s natural highlights, hot springs and glaciers, along with the notorious Eyjafjallajökull volcano! This day tour starts at Hengill geothermal area, located at the foot of an old volcanic cone. There you will take a 2 – 3 hour walk past a series of beautiful hot springs en route either to the Reykjadalur valley where you can enjoy a bath in a beautiful warm stream..

Hunting the northern lights from the ocean is an amazing experience; sailing away from the coastline of Reykjavik and seeing the aurora borealis out on the NorthAtlantic ocean with beautiful mountains and the city lights in the backround is something you won’t forget. Our expert guide will tell you all about the northern lights, as well as explaining the underlying scientific facts that make this magical light show possible.

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TAKE A WALK ON THE ICE SIDE On this Iceland day tour you will be guided through the labyrinth of a glacier tongue extending down from the fourth biggest glacier in Iceland. Only two hours from Reykjavík you find the Eyjafjallajökull massif, and just a little further east the Sólheimajökull glacier, a tongue extends down from its mother glacier, Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland’s fourth largest. On this tour you will go on a safe and easy walk on crampons up onto the ice field where you will discover a wonderland of ice ...

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QUAD MAD A adrenaline-fille ride along beautiful trails in Mosfellsdalur, just outside of Reykjavik. This thrilling tour will test both your physical endurance and stamina, as well as the capabilities of the ATVs, in around 3 hours of exciting ride in the wild outdoors. Due to the strenuous nature of the tour, being in a relatively good physical condition is recommended. Nonetheless, this tour is quite suitable for beginners and those with a little bit of experience of driving quads.

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ART & CULTURE

REYKJAVIK CITY LIBRARY 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, Reykjavik 411-6100 | www.borgarbokasafn.is Hours: Mon-Thu 10-19, Fri 11-18, Sat & Sun 13-17

SIGURJÓN ÓLAFSSON MUSEUM

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

Laugarnestangi 70 553-2906 | www.lso.is Hours: Sat & Sun 14-17

HAFNARBORG FREE ENTRY Hafnarborg has

REYKJAVIK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

FREE ENTRY The only independent museum of photography in Iceland. The aim of the museum is to shape a unique vision and to be leading in its field. The museum preserves various collections from professional and amateur photographers.

Strandgata 34, Hafnarfjörður 585-5790 | www.hafnarborg.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Thu 12-21, Closed Tue

Tryggvagata 15, Reykjavik 411-6390 | www.photomuseum.is Hours: Mon-Thu 12-19, Fri 12-18, Sat & Sun 13-17

ÁRBÆJARSAFN

THE EINAR JÓNSSON MUSEUM

Collection of artifacts documenting the development of the city of Reykjavik. Prese ntly the museum comprises 27 buildings, built between 1820 and 1907. Árbær, Reykjavik 411-6300 www.reykjavikmuseum.is Hours: Guided tours every day at 13.00 or by appointment.

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. Hallgrímstorg 3, Reykjavik 561-3797 | www.lej.is Hours: Sat & Sun 14-17.

THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION

MUSEUM OF DESIGN AND APPLIED ART

THE NUMISMATIC MUSEUM

Experience Viking-Age Reykjavik at the new Settlement Exhibition. Multimedia techniques bring Reykjavik’s past to life, providing visitors with insights into how people lived in the Viking Age, and what the environment looked like to the first settlers.

The Museum‘s 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.

FREE ENTRY A selection from the numismatic collection is on display on the ground floor of the Central Bank’s main building in Kalkofnsvegur 1, Reykjavik.

Aðalstræti 2, Reykjavik 411-6370 | www.reykjavik871.is Hours: Daily 10-17

Garðatorg 1, Garðabær 512-1525 | www.honnunarsafn.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Closed Mon

Kalkofnsvegur 1, Reykjavik 569-9600 www.sedlabanki.is Hours: Mon-Fri 13:30-15:30

Free WiFi

Hotspot on board our coaches.

BSÍ Bus Terminal Reykjavík City

Trip duration approximately

Reykjavík International Airport (KEF)

FAST, FREqUENT & oN SchEdUlE EvERy dAy oF ThE wEEK! The Flybus operates in connection with all arriving flights at Reykjavík International Airport (KEF ) and your seat is always guaranteed. For our very flexible schedule kindly consult our brochures or visit www.flybus.is

Transfer from most hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavík to Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF) or vice versa.

Transfer from BSÍ Bus Terminal to Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF) or vice versa.

Adults

1950 ISK

PRIcE

oNE wAy >

12–15 years PRIcE

975 ISK

0–11 years

PRIcE

RETURN > <

12–15 years PRIcE

Adults

3500 ISK 1750 ISK

For our flexible schedule scan the QR code

0–11 years FREE oF chARgE

E XPO • ww w.exp o.is

FREE oF chARgE

Adults

BSÍ Bus Terminal • 101 Reykjavík +354 580 5400 main@re.is • www.flybus.is

2500 ISK

oNE wAy >

12–15 years PRIcE

1250 ISK

Adults PRIcE

4500 ISK RETURN > <

12–15 years PRIcE

2250 ISK

0–11 years

FREE oF chARgE

R O

EMS 582904

wE’ll TAKE yoU ThERE!

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All ThE moST ExcITINg PlAcES IN IcElANd

ouR app is

FREE

you can easily buy your tour with us now!

Available! in the Android Play Store & Apple App Store.

RE-62

Northern lights Tour! SRE-63

glacier & monster Truck Adventure! SRE-64

warm baths & cool lights More Tours available in our brochures

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Free wiFi Hotspot on board our coaches.

and on ouR wEBsiTE www.RE.is

at your reception

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RElAx AT

the Blue lagoon Reykjavik Excursions offer great flexibility in Blue Lagoon tours. Flexible

All year MON TUE WED THU FRI

SAT

SUN

There is no better way to start or end your Iceland adventure than by bathing in the famous Blue Lagoon. You can either board the bus at BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavík or at Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF). After having enjoyed everything that the wonderful Blue Lagoon has to offer, you can either return back to Reykjavík or be dropped off at Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF). Safe luggage storage at the Blue Lagoon. Storage cost is 3 EUR (500 ISK) per bag.

From KEF Airport to Blue lagoon

From Blue lagoon to KEF Airport

09:15, 12:45, 16:15 & 17:15

12:15 & 14:15

From Reykjavík to Blue lagoon

From Blue lagoon to Reykjavík

09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 & 18:00

11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:15, 18:15, 19:15 & 21:15

BSÍ Bus Terminal 101 Reykjavík +354 580 5400 main@re.is www.flybus.is

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R O

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

The National Gallery of Iceland has come a long way from its origins. To begin with, the collection consisted of donated artwork, mainly by Danish artists. Today the museum stands at Frikirkjuvegur in central Reykjavik, displaying both Icelandic and International art.

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.

Laufásvegur 12, Reykjavik 515-9600 | www.listasafn.is Hours: Daily 11-17, Closed Mon

Suðurgata 41, Reykjavik 530-2200 www.nationalmuseum.is Hours: Daily 11-17, Closed Mon.

Hverfisgata 15, Reykjavik 545-1400 | www.thjodmenning.is Hours: Daily 11-17

ASÍ ART MUSEUM

SAGA MUSEUM

FREE ENTRY This museum was

From the time of the earliest settlers, history is brought to life in a unique and exciting way. The Saga Museum intimately recreates key moments in Icelandic history, moments that have determined the fate of our people and which give a compelling view into how Icelanders have lived for more than a millenium.

VÍKIN MARITIME MUSEUM

founded in 1961 when industrialist and book publisher Ragnar Jónsson donated his personal art collection to the museum, which consisted of paintings by Iceland’s most renowned painters. His wish was to establish an art museum that would bring art to the working class. Freyjugata 41, Reykjavik 511-5353 | www.listasafnasi.is Hours: Daily 13-17, Closed Mon

THE CULTURE HOUSE A unique venue dedicated to Icelandic history and cultural heritage. In the building there are facilities for exhibitions, meetings, gatherings, lectures, artistic events, public ceremonies and other occasions. On the ground floor you will find a restaurant and a souvenir shop.

It is impossible to truly get to know Iceland without getting to know its fishing history. The museum’s main exhibitions illustrate the development from rowing boats to modern trawlers and the history of trading vessels and routes and the construction of Reykjavik harbour. Grandagarður 8, Reykjavik 517-9400 | www.maritimemuseum.is Hours: Daily 11-17.

FREE ENTRY Dedicated to the

THE LIVING ART MUSEUM

GERÐUBERG CULTURAL CENTER

memory of the sculptor and stainedglass artist Gerður Helgadóttir. Her works constitute the most important part of the museum’s collection. A progressive art museum collecting and exhibiting modern and contemporary art. It is situated in Kópavogur, a town immediately south of Reykjavik.

FREE ENTRY The museum is an active exhibition space in central Reykjavik that has organized many exciting exhibitions throughout the years. They put an emphasis on introducing young Icelandic artists, as well as showcasing work done by better known Icelandic and foreign artists.

An all-round cultural centre run by the City of Reykjavik, offering a varied programme of cultural events for people of all ages. Its aim is to be a venue of ambitious and high-quality cultural activities of all types and a place where good ideas and new creative ventures can find expression.

Hamraborg 4, Kópavogur 570-0440 | www.gerdarsafn.is Hours: Daily 11-17, Closed Mon

Skúlagata 28, Reykjavik 551-4350 | www.nylo.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Closed Mon

Gerðuberg 3-5, Reykjavik 575-7700 | www.gerduberg.is Hours: Mon-Fri 11-17, Sat & Sun 13-16

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Perlan, Reykjavik 511-1517 | www.sagamuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-18

GERÐARSAFN

ART & CULTURE

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

ART & CULTURE

REYKJAVIK ART GALLERY The Gallery is an exhibition space for showcasing and selling art by working artists in nine spaces. It has been a venue for many exciting exhibitions and the gallery’s goal is to introduce Icelandic art, both to locals and travellers. Skúlagata 30, Reykjavik 564-2012 www.reykjavikartgallery.is Hours: Mon-Fri 10-18 & Sun 13-17

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.

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Gljúfrasteinn, Mosfellsbær 586-8066 | www.gljufrasteinn.is Hours: Daily 10-17, Closed Mon

REYKJAVIK WALK

NORDIC HOUSE

Reykjavík Walk is a virtual simulation of Reykjavík’s history from 1912 to 2013. More of a time machine than a movie theater, the Walk uses four video projectors and 3D motion graphics to take you on a virtual tour through the historical highlights, from the birth of Reykjavík to the modern day in just under 10 minutes.

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 to be if you want to enjoy the best of Icelandic cultural as well as experiencing rich culture of the Nordic countries

Vesturgata 2, Reykjavik reykjavikcenturymuseum.com Hours: 17:30-21:00, book any time for groups of 5+

Sturlugata 5, Reykjavik 551-7030 | www.nordice.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Closed Mon

GALLERY FOLD

COLLECTION OF ÁSGRÍMUR JÓNSSON

Iceland’s leading auction house and foremost fine arts dealership. Established in 1990, Gallerí Fold has been in the hands of its current proprietor since 1992. In 1994, they acquired their own premises, where they‘ve enjoyed a period of growth and prosperity. Their 600 m2 building has five exhibition spaces from 30 to 110 m2. Rauðarárstíg 12-14, Reykjavik 551-0400 | www.myndlist.is Hours: Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 11-14

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. Bergstaðastræti 74, Reykjavík 515-9625 Hours: Tue-Thu 11-14, Sun 13-16.

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 (1885–1972), 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 19421950. The original building served Sveinsson as studio and home; behind it he built a crescent-shaped structure as a work- and exhibition space.

The Reykjavik Art Museum took possession of its portion of Hafnarhús (Harbour House) in April 2000. Hafnarhús was built in 193239 for the offices and warehouses of Reykjavik Harbor and was at that time one of the largest buildings in the country. Chief designers of Hafnarhús were architect Sigurður Guðmundsson and the harbor master, Þórarinn Kristjánsson.

Flókagata 24, Reykjavik 517-1290 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17

Sigtún, Reykjavik 553-2155 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17.

Tryggvagata 17, Reykjavik 590-1200 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17, Thu 10-20

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Ísafjördur

Akureyri Reykjavík

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NIGHTLIFE

FAKTORY

HARLEM

VOLTA

It may not be the kind of factory you’re used to, but it’s a factory nonetheless. A factory of fun, if you will. Faktory is one of the main concert venues in the city, and there is something happening every night

The place where things are happening these days and there never seems to be a dull moment. It’s where you’ll find the city’s most popular DJ’s, a creative and exciting atmostphere, festive surroundings, suave bartenders, vibrant decor, fresh crowd, amazing wall art and dancing on tables.

Volta is a brand new concert and events venue in central Reykjavik that provides you with everything an excellent bar should have. A cocktail bar, lounge area, dancefloor, smoking room, a stage with a first class Funktion One soundsystem and a state of the art lighting system.

Tryggvagata 22, Reykjavik 571-8180

Tryggvagata 22, Reykjavik www.voltareykjavik.is volta@voltareykjavik.is

DOLLY

DEN DANSKE KRO

One of the newest and hottest clubs in Reykjavik these days, mostly attracting young people who want to dance. Electronic music is their main thing during the weekend, but on weekdays they like to play make-out music, Icelandic classics from the 80’s and 90’s and host curiously themedpub quizzes.

B5 bar/bistro has become a very popular establishment with the locals of the capital. With its very contemporary and stylish interior, b5 is laid back during the day, while as night falls, the lights dim and the atmosphere changes accordingly.

There is live music playing every night at Den Danske Kro and sometimes there are live football games, pub quizzes, beer bingo, darts and happy hours. Den Danske Kro is a casual place in the heart of Reykjavik where everyone is welcome.

Bankastræti 5, Reykjavik 552-9600 www.b5.is

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

KAFFIBARINN

MICROBAR

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 and univer sity 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.

Beer enthusiasts, look no further! In a small hole-in-the-wall kind of place just off Ingólfstorg square you will find Micro Bar. Carrying an impressive 140 different kinds of beers from all over the world, this is definitely the go-to place for beer fans.

In the mood for a pint? English Pub offers over 35 brands of beer and Whiskey. Whatever your preference – you will find it here. This is also a great place if you would like to catch some football (soccer). Inside they have 3 big screens and 2 TV’s so that you can catch all the action as it happens.

Smidjustigur 6, Reykjavik 551-4499 www.faktory.is

Find more recommendations on whatson.is

Hafnarstræti 4, Reykjavik 571-9222

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

Austurstræti 6, Reykjavik 847-9084 www.facebook.com/ MicroBarIceland

Austurstræti 12, Reykjavik 578-0400 www.facebook.com/enskibarinn

Come ride with us ISK 500.- discount!* For almost 30 years ﾃ行hestar has given people an opportunity to experience the Icelandic horse on long and short trips. Horses are our passion. Come ride with us in the beautiful surroundings of our ﾃ行hestar Riding Centre. You get free transport from all major hotels and guesthouses in the capital area.

Name the magic word, "Blesi", and you will get ISK 500.- discount on the Lava tour. Only valid when paid at our Riding Centre. *Not valid with other offers.

For further information check out our website www.ishestar.is, call +354 555 7000 or be our friend on Facebook.

SHOPPING & STYLE

ANNA MARÍA DESIGN 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.

Find more recommendations on whatson.is

Gallery Smíðar og Skart offers a wide selection of contemporary Icelandic art. Oil paintings, acrylic paintings, watercolors as well as ceramics and glass art. Over 50 local artists have their work on display in the Gallery.

KOGGA Near the harbour in the middle of old town Reykjavik you’ll find unique ceramic design by the well known ceramics artist Kogga at her self titled gallery. Her work is both functional and sculptural, influenced by the rough nature of Iceland. A piece by Kogga can be found in many Icelandic homes.

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

Skólavörðustígur 16a, Reykjavik 561-4090

LISTVINAHÚSIÐ

ÁLAFOSS

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”.

One of Iceland’s major woollen industry shops, the Álafoss store. Situated in old factory premises that for decades were the leading manufacturers and exporters of Icelandic woollens, Álafoss is a company that strives towards offering the newest wares along with the traditional Icelandic wool sweaters

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, Reykjavik 551-2850 | www.listvinahusid.is

GALLERÍ SMÍÐAR OG SKART

Álafossvegur 23, Mosfellsbær 566-6303 | www.alafoss.is

Vesturgata 5, Reykjavik 552-6036 | www.kogga.is

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

LISTASELIÐ

BIRNA DESIGN

CINTAMANI

Six energetic women design and create exclusive art, while also running and working in the gallery. The gallery offers gift vouchers, issued by the store or by the Centrum organization that can be redeemed within most shops on Laugarvegur and Skólavörðustígur in downtown Reykjavik.

The Icelandic label BIRNA is built on a strong and individual identity; a style that doesn’t change radically every season but evolves and keeps moving. Combining timeless design with a personal touch, BIRNA creates clothing for confident women who want an individual look that lasts.

Skólavörðustígur 17b, Reykjavik 551-5675 www.listaselid.is Hours: Mon-Fri 12-18, Sat 11-16

Skólavörðustígur 2, Reykjavik 445-2020 www.birna.net

Nowhere in the populated world does the weather change as fast, or as often as here. Thus Icelandic designers have to meet the requirements of consumers who have to go out all year long in harsh conditions. That‘s where the label Cintamani comes to the rescue. Their goal is to keep us warm, dry and comfortable, whatever the weather may bring. Bankastræti 7, Reykjavik 533-3800 www.cintamani.is

Enjoy

Every day from 18:00

Hugsa sér!

All your favorites

Steaks, fish´n chips, burgers, … or take at our sandwiches anda look salads menu with a variety of Icelandic delicacies

Grillhúsið Tryggvagötu - Phone + 354 527 5000 - www.grillhusid.is RR-WO_145x107_0513.indd GH-RCG_145x107_0313.indd1 1

Hugsa sér!

We just love it.

Aðalstræti 2 | 101 Reykjavík | Tel: +354 517 4300 | www.geysirbistro.is

22.5.2013 19.3.2013 15:25 16:41

SHOPPING & STYLE

GULLKÚNST HELGU

MICHELSEN

KRAUM

With its wide open spaces and beautiful treasures displayed in glass casting, Gullkúnst Helgu feels more like a gallery than a jewelry shop. Located on central Laugavegur, Reykjavik´s busiest shopping street, this family owned shop is not to be missed.

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, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Movado, Swiss Military and more.

Natural light floods the wooden floors and the fresh white walls of this stunning design hub and retail outlet, which already attracts some of Iceland´s top talents. More than 70 designers are contributing to a huge selection of products that include children’s puzzles, fish skin lamps and exquisite jewellery.

Laugavegur 13, Reykjavik 561-6660 www.gullkunst.is

Find more recommendations on whatson.is

Aðalstræti 10, Reykjavik 517-7797 | www.kraum.is

STUDIO STAFN

HILDUR HAFSTEIN

GEYSIR

At Studio Stafn you will be able to look at art, purchase art and have your art framed! Great works and historical paintings by Iceland’s most famous artists could become all yours if you pay them a visit. If you’re not looking to buy art, at least stop by and take a look.

A wonderful little workshop, where Hildur Hafstein creates her handmade Icelandic jewelry line, KORA. Inspired by different elements, such as Buddhism and the flower power, a visit to Hildur Hafstein will be a pleasant experience. Although the store is technically on Laugavegur, you walk in from Klapparstígur!

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.

Ingólfsstræti 6, Reykjavik 552-4700 www.studiostafn.is

Laugavegur 15, Reykjavik 511-1900 | www.michelsen.is

THE HANDKNITTING ASSOCIATION OF ICELAND 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 manufactures. Skólavörðustígur 19, Reykjavik 552-1890 | www.handknit.is

Laugavegur 20b, Reykjavik 771-1177 www.HildurHafstein.is

EPAL Their main goal has been to 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. Skeifan 6, & Harpa Reykjavik Keflavík Airport 568-7740 | www.epal.is

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

ANDERSEN AND LAUTH Based on quality and traditional craftsmanship it is a contemporary collection with strong roots in the vibrant Reykjavik art and music scene. Andersen & Lauth create their collections with passion and put their heart and soul into every piece of design. Laugavegur 7, Reykjavik 552-6067 www.andersenlauth.com

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

FOOD & DRINK

THE LOBSTER HOUSE

VEGAMÓT

GRILLIÐ

Lobster dishes are the main focus on the menu but there is a lot more to choose from. The starters are fresh and exciting, for example the whale tataki with ginger jelly, soya and sesam vinagrette, and the carpaccio of horse with lobster, wild mushrooms and foie gras.

Is a centrally located and affordable restaurant that boasts an extensive international menu with an emphasis on Tex-Mex, Italian, Indian and many light meal options. During the weekend Vegamót transforms into a bar with refreshing cocktails, a wide selection of beers and popular DJ’s playing well into the night.

Just last year they celebrated their 50th anniversary. From the very beginning, Grillid has been regarded as one of the best restaurants in Iceland. If you want fine dining, perfectly executed food, professional service and excellent wines with a spectacular view over the city, you have come to the right place.

Vegamótastígur 4, Reykjavik 511-3040 | www.vegamot.is

Radisson BLU Hotel, Reykjavik 525-9960 | www.grillid.is

ARGENTÍNA

HAMBORGARABÚLLAN – BURGER JOINT

Amtmannsstígur 1, Reykjavik 561-3303 www.humarhusid.is

AUSTURLANDAHRAÐLESTIN

Find more recommendations on whatson.is

An excellent Indian restaurant, focusing on quality take-away, with the option of eating in. This means that while it‘s technically “fast food”, it’s definitely of restaurant quality. The menu includes everything you could expect from an Indian restaurant, with the Chicken Tandoori being especially recommended.

They offer some of the the finest cuisine there is to find in the whole city. Grilling meat and fish of all kinds Argentinian style using wooden coal is what they do better than any other restaurant and frankly, you won‘t believe your own tastebuds Barónsstígur 11a, Reykjavik 551-9555 www.argentina.is

Lækjargata 8, Reykjavik 578-3838 | www.hradlestin.is

Since 2004, the Joint has kept it simple, fun and delicious. Sitting right by the Old Harbour, in a small, iconic house, the atmosphere of the Burger Joint is hard to find elsewhere. You can feel the joy of the staff, as they serve you juicy burgers, exploding with great taste. Geirsgata 1, Reykjavik 511-1888 www.bullan.is

SNAPS

CARUSO

LIFANDI MARKAÐUR

A new restaurant in Iceland situated at Odinstorg. Snaps is a classic french bistro using local Icelandic ingredients. The location could not be better. Snaps is literally a few steps away from downtown Reykjavik, close to the National Theatre, The National Gallery of Iceland and the two main shopping streets of Reykjavik”

Situated in a warm, charming old building in the heart of Reykjavik. Caruso is romantic to say the least, and serves top quality Italian- and Icelandic food. The surroundings are beautiful and the atmosphere is enchanting. The restaurant is on three floors, so it‘s ideal for groups, individuals and couples.

A modern and health conscious restaurant and whole food shop which offers a wide range of hot or cold food to eat in or take-out. The selection consists of both vegetarian food and healthy food. No white flour, white sugar, MSG is used in the food.

Óðinstorg, Reykjavik 511-6677 | www.snapsbistro.is

Þingholtsstræti 1, Reykjavik 562-7335 www.caruso.is

Borgartún 24, Reykjavik 585-8700 www.lifandimarkadur.is

AUSTURHRAUN 3 I BANKASTRÆTI 7

I KRINGLAN SHOPPING MALL I SMÁRALIND SHOPPING MALL

FOOD & DRINK

THE STEAK HOUSE A new 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. Tryggvagata 4-6, Reykjavik 561-1111 | www.steik.is

Find more recommendations on whatson.is

The spices used to season the food at Austur-Indiafjelagid are imported directly from India and blended on the spot by their team of highly experienced chefs. The Tandoori dishes on the menu must be mentioned, as the chefs have truly mastered the art of Tandoori grilling. Hverfisgata 56, Reykjavik 552-1630 | www.austurindia.is

JÓMFRÚIN 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. Lækjargata 4, Reykjavik 551-0100 | www.jomfruin.is

ÓSUSHI

NAUTHÓLL

PERLAN

The main attraction of Osushi is the greatly convenient conveyor belt that runs alongside the seating section, enticing guests with a diverse selection sushi and other delicacies. Each dish has a specific color that represents a certain price so you only pay for what you eat!

Located in the outskirts of Oskjuhlid and overlooking the beautiful thermal beach Nautholsvik, Nautholl Bistro is a wonderful restaurant. The environment will make you feel like you’ve gone far away from the hustle of the city, with a fantastic view over the woods and the shoreline.

For the finest in dining, nothing compares to Perlan Restaurant. While your taste buds delight to superb cuisine, you will enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Reykjavik and beyond as the restaurant gently completes a full rotation every two hours.

Pósthússtræti 14, Reykjavik 561-0562 www.osushi.is

AUSTURINDÍAFJELAGIÐ

Nauthólsvegur 106, Reykjavik 599-6660 | www.nautholl.is

Perlan, Reykjavik 562-0200 www.perlan.is

GLÓ

KAFFITÁR

VIÐ TJÖRNINA

Located inside Listhusid in Laugardalur valley in Reykjavik, Glo is Iceland‘s hottest new organic restaurant. The menu consists of vegetarian- and raw food courses, meat dishes, soups and salads. The courses are somewhat modest as they are simple, filling and not flooded with too much spice or ingredients.

A chain of cafés and espresso bars with over 30 years of experience in serving and roasting high-quality coffee. They operate cafés in 8 locations in Iceland, promising a highly knowledgeable staff and a great cup of coffee procured in a responsible and fair way.

At one of the most beautiful spots in the city, in the heart of Reykjavik, you will find Við Tjörnina (By the Pond), an old and cherished seafood restaurant. The restaurant was considered to be quite revolutionary when it first opened over 25 years ago and has been a big part of Iceland‘s culinary culture ever since.

Engjateigur 19, Listhusid, Reykjavik 553-1111 | www.glo.is

Bankastræti 8, Reykjavik 420-2700 www.kaffitar.is/en

Templarasund 3, Reykjavik 551-8666 | www.vidtjornina.is

PISA

LÆKJARBREKKA

Sjávarbarinn’s main feature is an all-you-can-eat buffet that has received raving reviews and it also offers an à la carte menu at a very competitive price. Join the locals for lunch in a friendly and cheerful atmosphere or enjoy dinner when the chef spruces things up.

This wonderful, small and intimate Italian restaurant is housed in Lækjargata, in the heart of downtown Reykjavik.. The restaurant has gotten excellent reviews from local critics in Iceland´s leading culinary magazine, Gestgjafinn and comes highly recommended for their great food.

A renowned Icelandic restaurant located in a house in central Reykjavik that is one of the oldest houses in the city. It has a rich and interesting history. Laekjarbrekka is a classy and elegant restaurant in every aspect, refined and well respected throughout the years.

Grandagarður 9, Reykjavik 517-3131 www.sjavarbarinn.is

Lækjargata 6b, Reykjavik 578-7200 | www.pisa.is

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

BAMBUS

GRILLHÚSIÐ

LEBOWSKI BAR

A new restaurant/lounge that gives you the best of both worlds - Authentic Asian food in a beautiful and stylish environment for a reasonable price, and people are quickly catching on. The skilled chefs working there are very experienced, having worked at some of the best restaurants and hotels in Asia.

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.

The 1998 comedy film The Big Lebowski by the Coen brothers is not only a film, it has become a lifestyle. With the emergence of the Lebowski Bar in Reykjavik, everyone can now be a part of The Dude‘s peculiar world. The Lebowski bar is everything you want it to be, a bowling themed burger joint, restaurant and bar.

Borgartún 16, Reykjavik 517-0123 | bambusrestaurant.is

Over 60 very diverse dishes to choose from and, to make things easier, special offer menus, for example the “Discover Iceland” option where you can sample Icelandic delicacies through a four course meal that includes puffin, langoustine, and Icelandic skyr pizza. Ægisgarður 2, By the old Harbour, Reykjavik 512-8181 | www.tapashusid.is

Laugavegur 20a, Reykjavik 552-2300

FISH COMPANY

KOLABRAUTIN

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.

Harpa is not only home to the Icelandic Opera and the Orchestra, it is also the location of one of Reykjavik‘s newest fine restaurants. The kitchen is in the middle of the room, where the fiery furnace gives the dinner guests a warm welcome. An ideal choice for people who appreciate fine cuisine combined with unique architecture and elegant atmosphere.

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

Harpa, Reykjavik 519-9700 | www.kolabrautin.is

Find more recommendations on whatson.is

ICELANDIC TAPAS HOUSE

Tryggvagata 20, Reykjavik 562-3453 www.grillhusid.is

FOOD & DRINK

SJÁVARBARINN

PRACTICAL INFORMATION whatson.is

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

» 112 Emergency, Police, ambulance, fire department, medicine.

» 118 Information.

WHAT ABOUT SHOPPING IN ICELAND AND REYKJAVIK? I LOVE SHOPPING! HELP ME OUT? Sure. There are some areas in Reykjavik better than others for shopping. The city centre as a whole is obviously great, with a great selection of highquality shops and stores. The Laugavegur is the main shopping street. There you’ll find everything you need for shopping, eating, drinking and culturally emerging yourself in the depths of Reykjavik. It’s a particularly nice street to walk on the 23rd of December. Leading up from Laugavegur towards Hallgrímskirkja church, you’ll find Skólavörðustígur – another cool street, populated mostly by neat galleries, workshops and other cool artistic venues. Reykjavik and the Capital Area also have a couple of malls. We have to be honest and acknowledge that they’re not the USA-style megamalls with 500 shops, a sauna and a rollercoaster. But they’re our own and they’re pretty nice. Kringlan and Smáralind are the most prominent ones – offering all the cool stuff one would expect to find in a modern mall. Also, check out our shooping recommendations on pages 56 to 58, there you will find a lot of great stores.

WHEN ARE STORES OPEN IN ICELAND? Opening hours in Iceland are generally quite liberal. Everything is more or less open on Sundays, contrary to many places in Europe. You’ll find a selection of grocery stores open 24/7 and most shops open till evening. Especially in the summer.

WHERE CAN I FIND A PHARMACY, AND WHAT‘S THE ICELANDIC WORD FOR IT? Of course! On page 16 there is the article A very brief history of iceland, that touches upon the major points in the history of Iceland since the beginning of times. A very informative and entertaining read.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, 24 HRS SERVICE

EMERGENCY WARD » 543-2000 DOCTORS ON DUTY » 1770 DENTAL WARD » 575-0505 HEALTH CENTRE FOR TOURISTS » 510-6500

COULD YOU PLEASE EDUCATE ME ON THE GRAND AND LONG HISTORY OF ICELAND? It’s around. Look for the internationally recognized cross. The word you’re looking for is “Apótek” – the main brands being Lyfja and Lyf og Heilsa. Quite simple.

WHAT IS THE MAJOR BUS TERMINAL? We call it “The Bus Terminal”. It’s a pretty neat place, very central, very downtown. It’s the home of Reykjavik Excursions and the FlyBus that takes you to and from Keflavik Airport. The terminal is basically between the airport (you really won’t miss the airport… it’s downtown (want to know what’s up with that? Well, we’ve answered that question already!)) and central downtown, but on the other side of the pond. At the bus terminal you’ll find one of the coolest restaurants in Reykjavik. Hugely authentic and Icelandic, they offer singed sheep heads en masse as well as other national delicacies. Lastly – the Bus Terminal will store your luggage if you need – especially handy if you’re doing a couple of day’s tour from Reykjavik.

k ey ja

ví

Restaurant for over 30 years

entre

Icelandic Cuisine

Bankastræti 2 - 101 Reykjavík - Tel. 551 4430 - info@laekjarbrekka.is - www.laekjarbrekka.is

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT I LOVE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. HOW DOES THAT WORK IN ICELAND?

ARE TAXIS EXPENSIVE IN ICELAND?

Yeah – we love public transport as well. Alas – we don’t have trains in Iceland. At all. We do however have a pretty cool public bus system. You’ll know the Reykjavik public bus by its friendly distinctive yellow colour – coupled with its, in comparison, huge size. The bus schedule starts promptly at 06:30 and runs a little past midnight (usually. Exceptions do apply – www.bus.is might help you figure out those exceptions.) The buses arrive at most stations at roughly 1530 minute intervals so you really shouldn’t have to wait too long. Riding the bus can be a thoroughly pleasant experience, allowing for a unique local flavour – a connection with the local man, not easily experienced elsewhere. The fare is 350ISK and the drivers don’t carry change. On top of that – local bus drivers are the only entities in all of Iceland not to accept credit or debit cards. So make sure you have the exact fare on hand! Unless you’re under 6 years old – in that case you’ll ride for free.

In all honesty – yes. They’re quite expensive. But they’re also very luxurious as well. There’s none of that yellow taxi thing going on here! You can expect to be driven around in brand new Mercedes’, BMW’s, Audi’s, which is obviously great. The taxis are easily identifiable by the internationally recognized yellow sign on the cars roof. Do keep in mind though, that this is the only thing that distinguishes them from any other super cool high end car. They’re not yellow. Not at all.

UHM…I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE TO PICK UP A BOTTLE OF RED WINE AND SOME BEERS. THEY WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND! WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? YOU GUYS DON’T SELL ALCOHOL TO THE PUBLIC IN ICELAND? COMMON! Ah, yes. As you’ve just found out, selling alcoholic beverages in grocery stores is highly illegal in Iceland. In fact – you can only buy such beverages, beers, wines, stronger spirits and the like in specific government run stores, graciously called “The Liquor Store” or Vínbúð. They are most likely the only stores you’ll find in Iceland that are never open on Sundays. Additionally they usually close at 6pm, though selected stores will be open till 8pm, except on Saturdays. At this government run liquor store you’ll find a great selection of spirits, wines and beers, as well as incredibly knowledgeable staff. Like – seriously knowledgeable, you should test ‘em to see it for yourself. But make sure you’re over 20 years old. That’s the minimum drinking age in Iceland. Oh there’s one thing to keep in mind! If you’re a beer enthusiast, connoisseur or simply appreciate a good beer, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a growing tradition of Icelandic micro-breweries, who have been creating some seriously nice beers. You should definitely make a go at trying out as many as you can. Consult The Reykjavik Beer Experience on page 18 for guidance and inspiration!

whatson.is

Viking feast Viking hotel Viking restaurants Viking live entertainment Viking Souveniers

For booking and further information: Tel.: 565-1213 www.vikingvillage.is vikings@vikingvillage.is Strandgata 55 Hafnarfjordur

e c r u o s A alth e h of

Th er m al sw i m m ing po ols

Hot t ubs and jacuzz i

Sa un as , steamb at hs an d sh ow er s

*Admission January 2013. Price is subject to change e

Reykjavik's Thermal Pools

O N LY

k. 55AD0ULiTsS k. 130DiRsEN CHIL

Fo r he alt h an d we ll- be ing

Se ve n lo ca t ion s

Op en ea rl y un t il lat e

Thermal pools a and d baths in Reykjavik a are e a source of health, rrelaxation elaxation and purenes pureness. s. All of the city´s swimming pools have several hot pots with temperatures ranging from 37˚ to 42˚C (98˚–111˚F). The pools are kept at an average temperature of 29˚ C (84˚ F).

Tel: +354 411 5000 • www.spacity.is

WHAT’S ON

insight into life in Reykjavik and introduce to its readers the highlights of the city. On their website you will find absolutely everything you could possibly want to know about Reykjavik and more. The greatest thing about My Destination Reykjavik and what separates them from other travel sites is that it is filled with tips and reviews from locals who really know what they are talking about.

Reykjavik My Destination is a global travel resource powered by a community of local experts providing unrivalled local knowledge and deals. My Destination operates in 6 continents, 46 countries with over 100 destinations and the network is constantly growing. The local experts at each destination are passionate about providing the best value for money and work closely with the global partners whilst supporting local businesses. As a result, My Destination makes travel experiences inspired, more enriched, and quite simply, better.

whatson.is

The My Destination Reykjavik franchise was founded in 2009 and has strived to provide information about many of Reykjavik’s best restaurants, stores, clubs, excursions and transportation companies along with practical tips and fun facts about Reykjavik and its surrounding areas. They give you an

My Destination is there for you whether you want to get to know the history of Iceland, learn about the culture, read informative content about the restaurants you plan on eating at, book your accommodation, rent a car, find out What’s On in Reykjavik, browse through photos or load up on other useful information. Basically they have everything you need to get informed and make the best of your trip. The local experts at My Destination Reykjavik are on the ground and have personally experienced what our destination has to offer. They make sure to produce comprehensive information in the form of travel articles, local tips, guides, reviews, videos and panoramic virtual tours. The website was recently given a makeover with an entirely new look and lots of improvements, along with new information and updates. It is safe to say that My Destination Reykjavik is the whole package. Let them enhance your experience and be your tour guide during your stay in Iceland. You will get more out of your Iceland experience than you thought was possible.

Some places have a certain something about them. People just want to be there. And if you are lucky you get to spend some time at one of those places. Atli Bollason shared an apartment at Ingólfsstræti 8a few years ago with two friends. He never knew who would be there or what would happen when he got home. Sometimes it was a café, sometimes a cinema and after the bars closed there would maybe be a line outside. People just showed up. Ingólfsstræti 8 Skál fyrir þér! Léttöl

WOOL SWEATERS, ACCESSORIES, WOOL BLANKETS, TRADITIONAL CRAFTS & MODERN ICELANDIC ART

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