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When in Reykjavik
Reykjavik has succeeded in combining modern chic with old world traditions and has done so in one of the world's most unique landscapes. Lava fields, active volcanoes, glaciers and hot springs abound in Iceland and no visit to the country would be complete without getting out of the city and exploring the incredible natural occurrences that the island has to offer. Nevertheless, there is much to recommend for visitors looking to spend a couple of days in the capital.
A walk around the old town is quite something and completely at odds with the "modern metropolis" that surrounds. At the centre of the old quarter is Tjörnin, a small pond which is home to many species of bird and on whose banks explorer Ingólfur Arnarson founded the original town in 874.
Those up for sampling some of the best in the country's art should head to the National Gallery of Iceland in the city centre. The gallery is set in a converted ice house and makes for interesting viewing, with most works from the 19th and 20th centuries. There is a small collection of paintings by non-locals too, with Picasso and Munch both getting wall space.
The National Museum is also well worth visiting. The building contains a large number of artifacts from Icelandic and Norse history, including the 800-year-old Valþjófsstaður church door and building tools from the first Nordic settlers in the ninth and tenth centuries.
Visitors arriving away from the summer season may have their options limited as to where they can stay as many of the accommodation options close for the winter. Those arriving between November and January will aslo find that there are not many daylight hours to play with, with just two hours of murky daylight available on the shortest day. Conversely, tourists can take advantage of the midnight sun during the summer months, making for great sightseeing conditions, whatever time of day it is.
Temperatures are far better than might be expected by the country's vicinity to the Arctic. The Gulf Stream keeps things reasonable, with average summer temperatures of around 10°C and winter averages around the -1°C mark.
Unless you are arriving on a domestic flight or one from Greenland and the Faroe Islands, chances are you will be turning up some 30 miles west of the city at Keflavík international airport. It welcomes many international flights, both from Europe and North America as well as some that are refuelling between the two. Frequent buses make the journey in to town.
Those lucky enough to arrive at Reykjavik city airport will also find the BSI bus station nearby, from where services will go to outposts such as Akranes and Snæfellsnes in the north and Skaftafell in the east.
Once ensconced in Reykjavik, the easiest way of getting around is the city's fine SVR bus system. Services run from 07:00 to 24:00 except on Sundays, when no one gets anywhere before 10:00.
Hiring a bicycle is another good option as the city has many cycle lanes.
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Introduction
