Reykjavik

The capital of Iceland, with its 130,000 inhabitants, is a popular destination for cruises to the North. Well-known sights include the Hallgrímskirkja Church, the Harpa Concert Hall, and the Perlan hot water storage facility with its restaurant under the glass dome.

However, there are also many natural wonders in the area surrounding Reykjavik, first and foremost the Blue Lagoon, and of course, the Strokkur Geysir and the Gullfoss waterfall.

The ships usually anchor in the port of Reykjavik for two days, allowing cruise passengers sufficient time to experience all the sights.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

The best hot dogs in town are supposedly at Skúli's. We naturally had to test this, as swimming is known to make you hungry.

Even Bill Clinton and Kim Kardashian made sure to grab a hot dog here during a visit to Reykjavik.

The stand is located by the Old Harbour and is easy to find, because it is well-visited at all times.

The hot dogs are really good; a visit is worthwhile.

Meanwhile, the hot dog stand is mentioned in every guide book.

Lebowski Bar

From home, we had already researched the Lebowski Bar; they are said to have the best burgers here. The bar is furnished in a very cozy way and blockbuster movies are playing on a large TV screen. The service is very good, and so are the burgers. We had the Honey Boo Burger, which was truly delicious. We would love to come back during our next visit. You can take a look at the menu here.

Hallgrímskirkja

The Hallgrímskirkja is the most distinctive landmark of Reykjavík and the largest church in Iceland. The Evangelical Lutheran structure was designed by architect Guðjón Samúelsson, and its façade is reminiscent of the basalt columns found in Icelandic nature. Named after the poet Hallgrímur Pétursson, its construction lasted from 1945 until its completion in 1986. The 74-meter-high tower offers an excellent viewing platform over the city. In front of the church stands the statue of Leifur Eiríksson, the discoverer of America. Inside, the massive, 15-meter-high Klais organ is impressive. The Hallgrímskirkja is not only a place of worship but also an important cultural centre for concerts.

Fótógrafí

The store Fótógrafí in Reykjavík, located on Skólavörðustígur, is a charming gallery and souvenir gem that opened in 2007. It stands out due to its unique blend of art and antiques. Here, visitors can find a diverse selection of photo prints of Icelandic landscapes, which make for a perfect travel souvenir. A particular eye-catcher is the over 300 old film cameras hanging as decoration on the walls. The relaxed atmosphere, often accompanied by music from the 60s to 80s played on a record player, makes browsing a special experience. It is the ideal place to find an authentic and stylish Icelandic memento. We had already bought a beautiful print here in 2017 and found something great again this time.

Icelandic Sweater

The traditional Icelandic store for handmade sweaters in Reykjavík is the Handprjónasamband Íslands (The Handknitting Association of Iceland). Here you can get authentic, hand-knitted Icelandic sweaters (Lopapeysa). The sweaters are knitted by women in the countryside using pure Icelandic wool. The wool is very lightweight, warm, as well as wind and water-repellent. This quality comes at a price; a sweater costs between €320 and €380.

The Höfði House

We walked to the harbor, and on our way, we passed the We walked to the harbor, and on our way, we passed the Höfði House. The Höfði House achieved worldwide fame when the summit meeting between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev took place here in October 1986. This meeting is considered an important step and a symbolic beginning of the end of the Cold War. Built in 1909, the house now belongs to the City of Reykjavík and serves as the official guesthouse for receptions and state visits. The building was originally imported from Norway for the French consul Jean Paul Brillouin. It is an elegant example of early wooden houses in Reykjavík and is located near the coast, about 1.5 km east of the Harpa Concert Hall. The house is not open to the public, but you can view the statue of the poet Einar Benediktsson in front of the house.

The recycled house

On our way to the harbor, we also passed the Recycled House. The "Recycled House" (also known as Garðarshólmi) at Laugarnestangi is one of the most unusual art installations in Reykjavík. This house is a unique, private building project by the artist Guðjón Ketill. It consists almost entirely of recycled materials, especially scrap and metal parts that he has collected over the years. The entire property, which can be viewed from the outside, is decorated with quirky, imaginative sculptures and assemblages made from rusty metal and discarded objects. It is a fascinating example of upcycling art and offers a great contrast to the natural coastal scenery. It is not a museum, but a living, constantly changing work of art.

More excursion tips for Reykjavik

Reykjavik 2017

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