Iceland
Laugardalur Sports Park 1 Laugardalslaug Swimming Complex 2 Laugardalsvöllur National Stadium Reykjavík Marathon
3 Valbjarnarvöllur Football Pitch
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Midnight sun
4 Laugaból Multi Sports Complex 5 Astroturf Football Pitch
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6 Laugardalshöll Indoor Arena Museums
7 Laugardalur Ice Skating Rink
Concerts
8 TBR Badminton Hall
Reykjavík Culture Night
Having fun
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experience not to be missed. The most popular event in the capital‘s
handball, football, athletics, basketball, golf, volleyball, skiing,
sporting calendar, however, is the Reykjavik Marathon, which is held
badminton and swimming,
in August every year.
& Family Park Botanical Garden
11 Camping site
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12 ÍSÍ – National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland
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The vast, beautiful landscape around Reykjavík opens opportunities to innumerable outdoor and sport activities. Visitors to Reykjavík will be impressed by its proximity to nature and struck by the cleanness of the city itself. There is also a wide range of possibilities for sport and other activities in the capital.
Sports are very popular in Iceland. Popular sports include
Reykjavík Zoo
10 Botanical Gardens
Imagine Peace Tower
The Sport City – Reykjavík – Welcomes You
Exhibitions
9 Reykjavík Zoo and Family Park
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13 ÍBR – Reykjavik Sports Union 14 KSÍ – The Football Association of Iceland
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Judo
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12 13
Karate
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Football
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Ice-skating Athletics
Team handball is often referred to as the national sport. Iceland’s
The perfect way to experience Reykjavik’s healing energy is to visit
Gymnastics
team is one of the top ranked teams in the world, recently winning
one of its many thermal pools. A healthy swim, a soak in the thermal
Handball
the silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, and
hot pots or a relaxing visit to a state-of-the-art spa leaves you
Swimming
a bronze medal in the 2010 European Championship. Icelandic women
feeling in tune with body and soul. The world famous Blue Lagoon is
excel at football, the national team being ranked eighteenth by FIFA.
just a forty minute drive from the capital.
Iceland has hosted some major sports events, such as the 1995 World
Icelandic society has always prided itself on innovation. The fast-
Handball Championship and Games of the Small States of Europe
paced modernisation of the country, especially in the past quarter-
in 1997. In Laugardalur in Reykjavik there are several international
century, required a high degree of adaptability from its people. The
standard sports facilities where major events like European
result is obvious in the state-of-the-art conference and sport halls
Championship in Swimming for disabled in 2009 and International
and business facilities in Reykjavík. Here you will find an exemplary
Children‘s Games in 2007 have been held. Based on years of experience,
selection of high-class accommodation and an exciting community
the sports movement in Reykjavik has established an international
of entrepreneurial businesses and thinkers.
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Badminton Basketball Ice-hockey Fencing
Laugardalur Sports Park
each January since 2008. The Reykjavik Marathon attracts over 10.000
Match this with everything else that Reykjavík has to offer and you
runners each summer, over 1.000 of them coming from abroad.
have a city that recharges and rejuvenates you while you stay here. For clarity and peace of mind, there’s no setting more perfect. Since
There are several 18-hole golf courses in and around the Reykjavik
Iceland is located midway between Europe and North America, it is
area. Playing golf in the midnight sun during the summer time is an
a perfect meeting point.
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Design: Tomas Bolli Hafthorsson
Visit Reykjavik - Aðalstræti 2 - 101 Reykjavík - Tel. +354 590 1550 - www.visitreykjavki.is
Map: Markus Puusepp Mihkel Jarveoja Gísli Örn Bragason Kortið er byggt á gögnum frá LUKR
Laugardalur Sports Park – Reykjavík
multi-sport event, Reykjavik International Games, which has been held
Reykjavík
Annual Events
Reykjavík International Games - January Multisport competition in Laugardalur Sports Park. www.rig.is Museum Night - February Reykjavik’s museums stay open past midnight and offer special events. www safnanott.is DesignMarch - March DesignMarch is a four day feast which brings a splash of colour to the city of Reykjavik and the country. www.icelanddesign.is
Laugardalur Recreation and leisure Laugardalur is a centre for sports and recreation in Reykjavik, with a variety of accommodation ranging from first class hotels to a campsite. You will also find the largest outdoor thermal pool in Reykjavik, Laugardalslaug, in which you can soak all year round in hot geothermal water. Laugardalur also has a beautiful botanical garden, with ponds, birdlife, and a lovely garden café. Reykjavik Botanical Garden, which has free entry, is an outdoor collection of living plants. Its main role is to conserve plants for education, research and delight. The garden conserves some 5,000 plant species in eight plant collections, giving an idea of the enormous diversity of vegetation in the northern temperate zone.
Reykjavík Zoo & Family Park A favourite place for local families, the zoo has 150 animals of 19 species, including farm animals and wild animals such as seals and reindeer. You´ll find exciting rides and activities in the adjacent Family Park, including a merry-go-round, jumping pillow, miniature train rides and horseback riding. The park also features an aquarium and a Science World, an exhibition with hands-on activities. Café and barbecue facilities on-site. Note: Rides at the Family Park are limited in winter. At the edge of the Laugardalur valley, not far from Laugardalshöll, is an unusual white domed building, Reykjavik Art Museum Ásmundarsafn sculpture museum. This was the studio of Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982), a pioneer of Icelandic sculpture. In addition to his works exhibited inside the museum, a sculpture garden outside contains many of his monumental works.
Food and Fun - March Food and Fun involves world-acclaimed chefs collaborating with Reykjavik’s finest restaurants, fresh natural ingredients and Icelandic outdoor adventure. www.foodandfun.is The Icelandic Horse Festival - March A 6 day event spreading out to the riding clubs in and around Reykjavik, ending in a full day in Reykjavik Zoo and Family Park. www.iceladichorsefest.is Reykjavik Art Festival - May Established in 1970, this is Iceland’s premier cultural festival, bringing together the best in local and international theatre, dance, music and visual arts. www.listahatid.is National Day - June 17th The National Day of Iceland has been celebrated on June 17th since 1944. Rey Cup - July The Reykjavík International Football Festival has been held annually since 2002. www.reycup.is Reykjavík Gay Pride - August This colourful event brings tens of thousands of people into the city centre in August every year to show solidarity and have fun with the gay community in Reykjavik. www.gaypride.is Reykjavik Marathon - August An annual event including full marathon, half marathon, 10km and fun run. The event attracts thousands of runners from Iceland and abroad. www.marathon.is Reykjavik Culture Night - August Reykjavik Culture Night has become an essential part of cultural life in Iceland with thousands of people strolling in the streets of the city on this exciting and eventful night. www.visitreykjavik.is
How to get there Iceland Airwaves - October Iceland Airwaves has evolved into a full- blown international music festival that presents the hottest new bands from the USA, Europe and Iceland. www.icelandairwaves.is Reykjavík International Film Festival - October The festival was founded in 2004. RIFF’s reputation has spread considerably around the world, making the festival one of the best-kept secrets of the film festival circuit. www.riff.is Imagine Peace Tower - October-December The Imagine Peace Tower is a memorial to John Lennon from his widow, Yoko Ono. It consists of a tall “tower of light”, projected from a white stone monument that has the words “Imagine Peace” carved into it in 24 languages. www.imaginepeacetower.com Christmas and New Years Eve The main day of celebration for Icelanders is Christmas Eve (24 December). There is plenty on offer for visitors at this charming time of year. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day you can enjoy a traditional Icelandic Christmas dinner at some of the best restaurants in Reykjavik. New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to go a little bit overboard. Join in the celebrations by taking a New Year’s Eve tour to one of the city’s huge bonfires and popular gathering places for the spectacular fireworks at midnight.
Accommodation in Laugardalur Hotel Cabin Borgartún 32, 105 Reykjavík www.hotelcabin.is Grand Hotel Reykjavík Sigtún 38, 105 Reykjavík www.grand.is Hilton Nordica Hotel Suðurlandsbraut 2, 105 Reykjavík www.hilton.com Park Inn Ísland Hotel Ármúli 9, 108 Reykjavík www.hotelcabin.is Hostelling international Iceland Sundlaugarvegur 34, 105 Reykjavík www.hostel.is Reykjavík Campsite Sundlaugarvegur 32, 105 Reykjavík www.reykjavikcampsite.is
By air Icelandair maintains regular scheduled flights to Iceland from Europe and US. www.icelandair.com Iceland Express maintains regular scheduled flights to Iceland from Europe and US. www.icelandexpress.is By sea Smyril Line maintains throughout the year a regular scheduled ferry service to Iceland from Denmark and the Faroe Islands. www.smyril-line.fo
Laugardalsvöllur National Stadium
Laugardalslaug Swimming Complex
Sports Organisations The citizens of Reykjavík have many opportunities for enjoyable recreational activities. At the local neighbourhood level, the Department of Sports and Leisure - ÍTR - offers various services including recreation centres, leisure centres, after-school centres, thermal swimming pools, sports halls, skate parks, Astroturf football pitches, the Geothermal Beach, the Family Park and Zoo and the skiing slopes. www.itr.is Reykjavik Sports Union is an organization of the sports clubs in Reykjavik. The union is a part of the National Olympic and Sports Association and acts as a connection between the City of Reykjavik and sports clubs. www.ibr.is The National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland is the highest authority for voluntary sports activities in Iceland. There are 25 sport districts in Iceland and 28 national sport federations. In total, there are more than 40 sports practiced under the umbrella of the NOC in Iceland. www.isi.is The Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ) was founded in 1947. KSÍ has been affiliated with FIFA since 1947 and with UEFA since 1953. Today, there are around 80 clubs affiliated with KSÍ. Football is the most popular sport in Iceland. The national stadium, Laugardalsvöllur, was opened in 1957, and its current capacity is 9,800, all seated. www.ksi.is
More information Reykjavík’s official tourist information centre is the key to a successful Reykjavík city break and holiday in Iceland. Reykjavík Tourist Information Centre, Aðalstræti 2, 101 Reykjavík. www.visitreykjavik.is
Laugardalshöll Indoor Arena
Laugardalur Sports Park
Laugardalur Sport venues Laugardalslaug Swimming Complex
Laugardalur Ice Skating Rink
The complex is among the largest in the country. It has facilities for every age group, for those who want to train, play or relax. There is a 50m outdoor pool, many hot pots, a special pool for children with an 80m long water slide and a 50m Olympic size indoor swimming pool.
The facility is suited for ice-hockey and figure skating. It is also open for the public on certain days of the week.
Laugardalslaug Tel.: +354 411 5100 laugardalslaug@itr.is – www.spacity.is
Laugardalsvöllur National Stadium
TBR Badminton Hall
TBR is a world class badminton facility with two halls, one with 5 courts and the other with 12 courts. There are also good training facilities for table tennis in the basement. Tennis- og badmintonfélag Reykjavíkur Tel.: +354 581-2266 tbr@tbr.is – www.tbr.is
Laugardalshöll Indoor Arena
Laugardalshöll Sports Hall is a multipurpose building, where many sports activities, games, concerts, shows and trade fairs have taken place. The hall hosted The World Chess Championship Match between Fischer and Spassky in 1972 and The World Men‘s Handball Championship in 1995. Laugardalshöll Tel.: +354 585-3300 ish@ish.is – www.ish.is
Skautahöllin Tel.: +354 588-9705 skautaholl@skautaholl.is – www.skautaholl.is
The floodlit stadium fulfils the conditions of international regulations, with the roofed galleries seating 9,800 people. The stadium is also an international competition facility for track and field with 8 tartan lanes and a photo finish. Laugardalsvöllur is also the home of the Reykjavik Fencing Club, which has a world class fencing centre in the facility. Laugardalsvöllur Tel.: +354 510-2900 ksi@ksi.is – www.ksi.is
Laugaból Multi Sports Complex
Laugaból is a multipurpose sports venue for gymnastics, judo, taekwondo, glíma (traditional Icelandic wrestling), Olympic weight lifting, football and tennis. Football pitches are both grass and heated Astroturf. Laugaból Tel.: +354 580-5900 trottur@trottur.is and armenningar@armenningar.is