Thursday, 16 March 2017

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik


If you are into museums, you can easily spend two days in Reykjavik to go to their museums. If you interested to go further out away from Reykjavik, you can join the cruise excursions or use the cruise excursions as a guide to what you might want to do but then try to book with local tour or Gray Line for similar trip but cheaper. The Reykjavik City Card info says that you get 25% discount with Gray Line Tours.  That would make it a really good deal.  We will be there for two days, there is a lot of time to arrange for a tour for the second day.

Most of the places of interest are within 30-min walk from the old harbour.  I assume we will be close to the old harbour or be provided transport to that area.

Reykjavik City Card

  • ISK 3,700 - 24 hours
  • free entry to museums, noted below
  • Reykjavik City Bus
  • Ferry to Videy Island
  • discount at select restaurants and cafes
  • discount for select tours
  • Gray Line Tours - 25% off 
  • Eiding Whale Watching - 10% off
  • http://www.visitreykjavik.is/city/reykjavik-city-card


Top Attractions:

Free Walking Tour
  • schedule and booking available 5 days ahead of time; likely 10am, 12noon and 2pm
  • tour duration: 2hr
  • gratuity expected
  • meet up at a park, named Austurvöllur in front of the House of Parliament (Alþingi) 
  • https://citywalk.is/tours/

Laugavegur















Kolaportid Flea Market
  • open Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 5pm
  • near the old harbour


Hallgrímskirkja Church





Harpa Concert Hall











  • colourful changing facade
  • 45-minute tour of the hall for ISK 2,200 at 11am, 130pm, 330pm or 530pm - 25% discount with  Reykjavik City Card
  • Expo Pavilion from 2010 Shanghai Expo was restored in Harp ISK 1,500 admission with 15-min Icelandic Film.  1030am to 600pm - 20% discount with  Reykjavik City Card
  • http://www.harpa.is

National Museum

Settlement Exhibition 

Icelandic Phallological Museum




















Reykjavik Art Museum
  • contemporary arts
  • three locations in central Reykjavik; Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn
  • ISK 1,600 for all three museums in the same day - free with Reykjavik City Card
  • 10am to 5pm
  • http://artmuseum.is

Reykjavik Maritime Museum
  • exhibition about the development of the Icelandic fish industry and coast culture through the years.
  • ISK 1,600 

Videy Island

  • Ferry from old harbour (city Centre) or Harpa Concert Hall
  • ISK 1,200 return ticket - free with Reykjavik City Card
  • Imagine Peace Tower by Yoko Ono.  Tower of light beam is only lit in early October to early December.
  • Half an hour to walk the length of the main island.


The Pearl












  • up on the hill next to the airport
  • about 1-hr walk from the harbour
  • can see the city from the hill
  • Revolving restaurant

Food


Fiskfelagid Fish Company

Fiskmarkadurinn - The Fish Market

Fish and Chips Vagninn
  • street vendor

Cafe Loki

Baejarins Beztu Pylsur






Other cafes
  • Te & Kaffi
  • Mokka Kaffi