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What are the main attractions in Reykjavik
00:00 Mon 09th Jul 2001 | Travel
Asks alicevida
A. Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, and while it has a lot to offer the tourist it is one of the most expensive places in Europe to visit. If you're planning to visit for longer than a weekend it should be used as your base as it is a good place to plan trips into the countryside - and what a countryside! It is full of glaciers, hot springs, volcanoes and lava deserts. The entire population of the country is well below half a million people (approx 300,000), with about two thirds of these live in Reykjavik.
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Reykjavik is very small when you compare it to other European capitals, but its main activities are centred around the Old Town area, it comprises leafy parks, museums, cafes and markets and has a very relaxed and pleasant feel about it - it is also very clean with its white-washed fronted houses adding to the general feel of cleanliness.
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The National Museum is dedicated to Icelandic and Norse culture in general, and is packed with old tools and artefacts, religious relics etc. Its main attraction is its carved wooden door that dates back to 1200.
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Reykjavik is also full of bookshops selling books in English, German and Icelandic. Icelanders are said to be among the most prolific readers and writers in the world, and literature plays an important part in Icelandic culture and history. The Icelandic Sagas, the oldest of which were written in 930AD as a chronicle of Iceland's history, are still very much alive in Iceland today. The language used over 1000 years ago in the sagas remains virtually unchanged. If you are a fan of The Icelandic Sagas the �rni Magn�sson Institute (located behind the National Museum) is a must. It houses original copies of the Landn�mab�k and Nj�ls Saga, which which were returned from Denmark.
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The Hallgr�mskirkja is a must-see for any tourist�- it is a huge church with a difference�- it is designed to look like a mountain of lava! It is incredibly light inside and a trip up its 246ft tower provides breathtaking views of the city.
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Reykjavik was also selected as a European City of Culture in 2000, because it has an abundance of music venues (for popular and orchestral music), theatres - for plays, ballet and opera and museums. It is also a great place for socialising. Reykjavik is currently a very hip place to be if is full of cafes and bars, Damon Albarn from Blur has a bar here and Bjork is something of a figure head.
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A 'runtur' (basically a huge pub crawl) is a Reykjavik institution and involves trawling through the city's hip bars, live music venues and clubs. One of the hottest bars in town this summer is the Dillon Bar (Laugavegur 30, Reykjavik. Telephone: 00 354 898 4100). It is a grey wooden building found in the very heart of the city on its main thoroughfare - it is very trendy and its resident DJs play jazz, house and drum 'n' base until early morning.
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Q. When is the best time to visit
A. The summer months (May-August) are the best times to visit as the weather is at its most pleasant and many hotels, hostels and camping facilities close down at the end of August - if you just visit Reykjavik things will stay open until later in the year. If you visit in June you will be in for a treat as Independence Day is celebrated on 17th June and the whole city explodes into colourful parades, street theatre and general merriment. Midsummer is also celebrated on 24 June and Pj�dh�t� Vestmannaeyjar is celebrated in August with lots of bonfires, outdoor camping, Bar-B-Q's, singing and dancing.
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Q. What is the currency in Iceland
A. Icelandic Kr�na
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Q. Do I need a visa to visit
A. If you have a European passport you do not need a visa, and you'll be entitled to stay for three months. In April this year Iceland joined up with Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway to join the world's largest passport-free zone, known as the Schengen. Other countries involved in the scheme include Greenland, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. New areas at airports will bring aircraft into special piers, allowing travellers from within the zone to move through passport control areas without any obstacles.�
Q. Can you recommend anywhere to visit outside of Reykjavik
A. You shouldn't really visit Iceland and just 'do' Reykjavik as there are so many wonderful natural places to visit outside of the city.
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The Blue Lagoon: (50km from Reykjavik) is a unique natural pool of mineral-rich geothermal water located in the middle of a lava field in the Icelandic wilderness. Known for its special properties and beneficial effect on the skin, the warm waters of the lagoon - approximately 35�C (90�F) all year round - are one of Iceland's most popular tourist attractions.
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The Western Fjords: You can take a coach trip from Reykjavik to visit the small fishing villages and towns along the fjords in the northwest: Kroksfardarnes, Holmavik, Korksfjaroarnes, Orlygshofn and Isafj�rdur. The road climbs over mountain passes between each new fjord, stopping at Iceland's only whaling station, the Museum of Farm Implements and Fishing Equipment between Orlygshofn and Isafjordur and the Dynjandi Waterfall. Accommodation on these trips is in community centres and schools.
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The Central Highlands: A number of Icelandic tour companies operate 'safaris' in specially constructed overland buses into the mountainous interior. The tours go through lava beds, deserts and barren wilderness, passing glacial lakes with floating icebergs, glaciers, vast ice fields, mountain ranges, crevasses and extinct volcanoes, and the Skaftafell National Park.
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By Karen Anderson
