Hotels in Reykjavik

Hallgrimskirkja is Iceland's tallest church.  It can be spotted a mile away and many say it looks like an iceberg or a rocket.  Standing beneath the bell, the coloured tin roofs, harbour and snowy mountains create a breathtaking view.  Taking 34 years to build and complete the church opened in 1974 named after Reverend Hallgrimur Petursson who wrote Icelands most popular hymnal.

Laugavegur is the main shopping street.  The unique boutiques sell everything from children's clothes, designer scarves, lotions and potions.  A new concept larger store has recently opened owned by designer Gudlaug Halldorsdottir.  She also owns the gallery Ma Mi Mo where she sells her own designed cushions and handbags made from materials such as fish skin. 

On the top of Oskjuhlid Hill the Perlan Complex can be found surrounded by reservoir tanks which supply hot water to the city.  There is a 360-degree walkway with revolving restaurant, a small geothermal beach and lush grounds woven with walking trails.  The Saga Museum is also found here and opens 10:00am to 6:00pm with cheap admission.

The Reykjavik Art Museum is dedicated to the sculptor Asmunder.  For those interested in cultural attractions this igloo style building is worth a visit.

Eating Out in Reykjavik

For lunch on the run, there is a tiny hot dog kiosk by the harbour.  Locals queue and queue for this and so it must be worth a try. 

Austrovollur Square is the main hub of Reykjavik and on a Sunday is bustling with people spilling out from the bistro style Café Paris and Kaffi Brennslan with its cosy wooden and brass bar.  Visit for lunch to enjoy this local atmosphere.

Sjavarkjallarinn is an excellent top restaurant although it comes at a price.  It is one of the best seafood spots in town, typical dishes include snow crab Thai cannelloni, salted fillet of cod with apricot rosemary and chilli. 

Reykjavik's Nightlife

The 'runtur' is a legendary Friday and Saturday night pub crawl.  Locals traditionally drink at home before heading out around 11:00pm. 

This sleepy city seems to spark to life at night with pubs and bars opening until beyond 3:30am.

Further afield from Reykjavik

Day trips from Reykjavik provide the opportunity to experience some of the amazing landscapes near by.  A good company to book with is Reykjavik Excursions or it is very easy to hire a car and explore for yourself.

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular day trips.  It includes Thingvellir Natioanl Park, the magnificent waterfall at Gullfoss and the geysers at Geysir.

The Blue Lagoon can be visited on the way to the airport.  This bizarre spa experience should not be missed with massages on a mattress in the algae, men wearing Viking hats drinking beer as they soak and bathers lathering themselves in white mud from the lagoon floor.  This spa has become so popular it is now being even further expanded.

From the Airport to Reykjavik

Reykjavik's International Airport is at Keflavik 50 kilometres Southeast of the capital.  The flybus departs every 40 minutes and stops at many of the city's hotels.  At a cost of around ISK1,100 (£8.50) this is a much cheaper option usually less than a fifth of the cost for a taxi.