Trendy reykjavík Whether you are after designer brands, unique Icelandic design or quality souvenirs, you will be spoilt for choice when shopping in Reykjavík. Even better, you can
take it home tax-free! City Centre Shopping Reykjavík’s main shopping street, Laugavegur, runs through the city centre. On Laugavegur, its side streets and on the neighbouring street Skolavordustigur, you will find everything from designer labels to streetwear in addition to jewellery, arts and crafts, quirky souvenirs and unique Icelandic design products. On weekends, you will find the Flea Market (Kolaportid) by Reykjavík Harbour overflowing with
bric-a-brac and Icelandic delicacies, such as fermented shark, dried fish, horse meat sausages, tons of liquorice and much more! Shopping Centres Kringlan shopping centre, located just outside the city centre, has over 150 shops, restaurants and service outlets, including fashion wear, food stores and gifts. The shopping centre includes a multi-screen cinema
and a food court. Reykjavík City Theatre is part of the same complex. Smaralind shopping centre is located in the geographical centre of the Reykjavík Capital Area. It has around 70 shops and other service outlets, including multi-national shopping chains, a variety of fashion stores, supermarkets, gift shops, a multi-screen cinema and several cafés and restaurants.
think reykjavík think family time Iceland’s friendly capital city is ideal for a break with the family. Children of all ages will love the clean outdoor thermal pools, the stunning nature, and the museums and attractions based on Iceland’s Viking tradition. (Note to kids: we have elves too!) Top Ten Family Activities Splash and play – or just soak – at one of 18 thermal pools in the Reykjavík Capital Area Feed the friendly ducks at Tjornin Lake Experience Viking TIMES at one of the capital area’s many museums Visit the animals at the Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo Try delicious Icelandic food: hot dogs, soft ice cream, skyr, and liquorice Climb to the very top of majestic Mount Esja and be rewarded with a spectacular view of the city Go horse riding through pastoral valleys and rocky lava fields on the unique Icelandic horse See whales and puffins on a boat trip from Reykjavík’s old harbour Watch bubbling hot springs and roaring waterfalls on a day trip from Reykjavík Revel in a Reykjavík winter: be dazzled by the multi-coloured Christmas lights, visit the Hafnarfjörður Christmas Village, skate on Tjornin Lake, start a snowball fight and, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the unforgettable northern lights
Grown-ups will be happy to bring their families to Reykjavík, a safe and clean city with a compact centre that’s easy to navigate on foot. Locals are also very open to youngsters; you’ll find a high chair in every café and see babies sleeping in prams outside. There’s no need to spend your time queuing in a theme park and blowing your budget on overpriced rides. The Reykjavík Capital Area has plenty to offer visitors at affordable prices – or even for free. In the bustle of the city or out in unspoilt nature, from hiking and cycling to whale
watching or swimming, Reykjavík is a great city for active families and curious kids. Indoor Fun Time passes very quickly exploring the Reykjavík Capital Area’s numerous cultural, leisure and sporting facilities. Many museums have special sections and activities for kids and there are a number of buildings which are fun to investigate. The capital area’s two main shopping centres will also go a long way to crossing off everything on your souvenir wish list.
Your shortcuts to Reykjavík
Complete guide to reykjavík www.visitreykjavik.is
Easy Access to Iceland www.icelandair.net www.icelandexpress.is www.smyril-line.fo
Mid Atlantic Meeting Point www.icelandconvention.com
Iceland in a Nutshell www.visiticeland.com www.icelandnaturally.com www.iceland.is
Think of a City – Think of Reykjavik, the Capital of Iceland
pureenergy Visit purenature Reykjavik
Feel your positive energy building up Reykjavík. Iceland’s capital is a young and daring city characterised by strong contrasts. Conveniently small, clean and safe, it is essentially free of the major problems that haunt most other capitals.
The perfect way to experience Reykjavík’s healing energy is to visit one of its many thermal pools and luxury spas. A healthy swim, a soak in the thermal hot pots or a relaxing visit to a state-of-the-art spa leaves you feeling in tune with body and soul. The worldfamous Blue Lagoon is just a forty-minute drive from the capital. Reykjavík’s abundant supply of geothermal water is even used to heat its Atlantic Ocean coast, creating a warm inlet by a sandy beach just ten minutes from the old city centre. Life doesn’t get much better than this. Time to enjoy Reykjavík combines an exciting cosmopolitan city with a delightful seaside village all wrapped up in one. The city’s excellent quality of life gives its inhabitants and visitors a sense of wellbeing and contentment. Reykjavík’s city centre is a friendly and colourful network of small streets with historic buildings, a good selection of boutiques, designer shops, cafés and quality restaurants serving attractive dishes made of quality ingredients. The variety of restaurants in Reykjavík leaves nothing to be desired for gourmets. The strength of the Icelandic cuisine lies in its pure ingredients and imaginative use of them. Fish and other seafood, wild game and lamb raised naturally in the wild make up the essence of this natural treat. After-dinner activities might include a visit to some of the numerous and trendy bars and
clubs in the city centre. The extreme lightness of being in the summer and the endless winter nights create a strange sense of timelessness and new possibilities.
the city limits. A quarter of the city area is devoted to open spaces, and the clear-headed feeling you experience from spending a day outdoors in Reykjavík is not easily matched.
Human/Nature In Reykjavík, unique nature is literally at your doorstep. Half-surrounded by a horizon of majestic mountains rising thousands of feet into the sky – visible from just about everywhere in the city on a clear day – you’ll fall in love with the natural beauty of the city’s setting. Dramatic geological formations, towering waterfalls, endless lava fields, glaciers, green valleys and breathtaking geysers are all within easy reach of the city. For those keen on adventure and sightseeing, glacier tours, snowmobiling and horseback riding – these activities offer a picturesque view of the dynamic landscape surrounding Reykjavík. Whale- and bird-watching tours leave from the downtown harbour area. Sportier activities include golfing or salmon fishing within
Reykjavík Facts Reykjavík is located on the SW corner of Iceland – an island 103,000 km (39,756 sq. miles) in square measure with a mean altitude of 500 metres above sea level. Over 11 per cent of the country is covered with glaciers, including the Vatnajökull ice cap, the largest glacier in Europe. Frequent flights operate to Iceland from main cities in Europe and North America, and many gateways operate daily. Flight duration to Europe is short – two to four hours. Most flights connect at Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport (45 km from Reykjavík), providing excellent stopover opportunities for transatlantic travellers.
Visit Reykjavik is your point of contact for tourism, marketing, information and events in Reykjavík Capital Area.
Tourism and marketing: Visit Reykjavík’s mission is to strengthen Reykjavík’s position as an exciting destination in a fascinating country. The main ingredients to promote Iceland’s capital are the unique features of Reykjavík, such as the clean energy and unpolluted environment, numerous wellness opportunities, vibrant cultural life, innovating design and various tourism related activities such as tours, walks, whale watching, horse riding and much more. Reykjavik’s brand-theme is Pure Energy. Visit Reykjavík’s marketing department works closely with numerous partners in tourism in promoting Reykjavík as a year-round destination. Assistance is provided to travel agents and journalists in the form of a free online image bank, brochures, assistance with schedules, contacts, etc. Please visit the Press and Professional section on our website for more information. Information: Visit Reykjavík runs the Official Tourist Information Centre in Reykjavík, at Aðalstræti 2 in the city centre. The information centre is the largest in Reykjavík and provides professional information and booking services about the whole country in various languages to tourists. Practical tourist information on the Reykjavík Capital Area is available on the website www. visitreykjavik.is. Visit Reykjavík also operates an electronic newsletter and has a fan page on Facebook for those seeking information on what’s on in the city.
Events: Visit Reykjavik’s events department is responsible for the organisation of a number of large-scale annual city events such as Reykjavík Culture Night, Museum Night, Festival of the Sea and others. The department also assists with other events in Reykjavík organised by others. Information on events in Reykjavík can be found on our website www. visitreykjavik.is, in both our events calendar and Festivals sections. Reykjavík Welcome Card: Visit Reykjavík produces and distributes the convenient and inexpensive Reykjavík Welcome Card, which offers free admission to museums, thermal pools and public transport
in the city, plus various discounts. The office assists travel agents to sell the card to their clients in order to make the Reykjavík experience more enjoyable. Study Visits: Visit Reykjavík is responsible for the Reykjavík Study Visits programme. A Study Visit is defined as a business tour where professionals, managers, politicians, delegations and other groups search for inspiration and in-depth knowledge of best practices. The visits are a blend of professional knowledge-building and on-site visits and are composed of a range of seminars on particular themes. Further information can be found on www.visitreykjavik.is/studyvisits
inspiring reykjavík
Lovers of art and culture are in for a real treat in Reykjavík. From the Icelandic Sagas to contemporary art, Reykjavík has a buzzing cultural scene. A constant flow of innovative musical happenings, theatrical performances and cultural events keeps locals and visitors entertained all year round. Museums and Galleries A fascinating Viking heritage and the latest in visual arts can be explored in the city’s many museums and galleries. Learn about the history of the Icelandic nation at the National Museum, step back in time at the Reykjavík 871 +/- 2 – Settlement Exhibition, get acquainted with the city’s maritime heritage at the Reykjavík Maritime Museum and view Iceland’s unique literary heritage at the Culture House. Visual arts Visual art flourishes in the city. The flagship art galleries are the National Gallery, which displays the most valuable collection of works by Icelandic artists in the country, and the three-fold Reykjavík Art Museum – in particular the Harbour House which focuses on contemporary and experimental art by national and international artists. Adding colour to the scene is a rich array of exhibition venues ranging from specialised museums and smaller art galleries to the city streets themselves.
Music and Performing Arts Reykjavík is characterised by an unusually vibrant artistic community. In recent years, the city has become well known for its happening music scene. The established Iceland Airwaves music festival draws an international crowd every year to experience what is new in Icelandic and international rock and pop music. Jazz and classical music is well represented too. The Reykjavík Jazz Festival and regular concerts by the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra are just some of the musical events that can be enjoyed in Reykjavík. As for the performing arts, Reykjavík hosts several theatre companies, the Icelandic Opera and the highly acclaimed Icelandic Dance Company. Numerous high quality cinemas showing international films in their original language are also dotted around the city. Harpa, the new concert hall and conference centre, currently under construction, opens in May 2011 and will be an exciting addition
to the city’s cultural landscape. This iconic building, whose unique design is inspired by Icelandic nature, is located by Reykjavík Harbour and will offer incredible opportunities for conferences, concerts and events for large audiences. The Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson designed the building with Henning Larsen Architects. Eliasson deploys light, colour, and natural phenomena to test how physical movement, sensual engagement, and the interaction of body and brain influence our perception of our surroundings.
REYKJAVÍK
NATURALLY URBAN Reykjavík has been shortlisted for the European Green Capital Award presented by the European Commission to a city on the forefront of environmentally friendly urban living. Cities are evaluated on criteria which include efforts to combat climate change, develop low-carbon transport, promote sustainable land use, improve air quality, cut noise pollution and manage water consumption and waste water treatment. Reykjavík´s beautiful natural setting, its uniqueness in Europe, use of and access to sustainable energy, and innovations in
energy will attract European eyes to Reykjavík. Reykjavík is in many ways exemplary city in environmental affairs. The City of Reykjavík offers environmental solutions and is ready to share them with others, both in Iceland and abroad … Reykjavík´s plans make the city a greener place, a better destination to visit and an inspiration to other cities. The nature is never far away in the city, and the attractions are many: whale-watching cruises from Reykjavík Harbour, the Blue-Flagged Geothermal Beach at Nauthólsvík, walks in the Heiðmörk nature
reserve, or a hike up Reykjavík’s local mountain, Mt. Esja (914m). Within the city there are 18 outdoor thermal pools and just close by is the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Geothermal springs in and around the city feed seven thermal pools in Reykjavík which are perennially popular with Icelanders and visitors alike. Reykjavík has thus great opportunities to live up to the nomination as a European Green Capital, and the city’s authorities have set themselves the objective of increasing green transport by changing over, among other things, to electric vehicles.