Of course they all rumbled away well underground where you couldn’t feel them (a frequent happening in Iceland, apparently) but it was still surprising to hear. Then again, Iceland is so full of wonderful and quirky surprises that I shouldn’t really have been surprised at all.
If you’ve only got a few days to spare, you’ll still find all manner of unusual delights and surprises in the capital Reykjavik. A fun and trendy city, it’s where most visitors to Iceland base themselves, and it’s in a great spot surrounded by an otherworldly landscape.
5 favourite things to do during your short break in Reykjavik:
- Take a wander
With a population of around 200,000 (the whole population of Iceland is only about 320,000) it’s no wonder Reykjavik is a small city. But that makes it perfectly sized for short breaks and leisurely strolls. The best way to get to know it is to take a wander – just go and explore.
You can spend a lovely day taking in the sights such as the super-modern concert hall Harpa, the striking Hallgrímskirkja church (head to the top of the tower for great city views) and the relaxing Lake Tjornin surrounded by cute and colourful Icelandic houses.
If it’s a bit of shopping you’re after, head to downtown Reykjavik around Laugavegur and bob in and out of the cool, independent boutiques and cafés – there’s hardly a chain in sight.
The towering church of Hallgrímskirkja overlooks Reykjavik
- Join the Rúntur
Reykjavik on a weekend night is an altogether different animal. The residents join in what is known locally as ‘the Rúntur’ – a bar crawl on and around Laugavegur. Beer was banned in Iceland until as recent as 1989, but boy do they make up for it on a Friday and Saturday night!
The rúntur doesn’t get going until very late, (midnight), with the locals choosing to drink at home first. Then downtown Reykjavik gets overtaken with revellers going from one bar to another until around 5am when it’s time to spill into the takeaways instead.
Raucous but always friendly the rúntur can be whatever you make it of it – but whether you just have an early(ish) drink or you last the distance, it’s guaranteed to be a whole lotta fun!
The spirit of Iceland – you may want to try the local Brennivín on your night out
- Do the Golden Circle Tour
The Golden Circle is a popular sightseeing route that takes you out of Reykjavik and into the striking countryside to see some of Iceland’s most famous landmarks and natural wonders. Easily managable as a day trip from Reykjavik, you can do this yourself by hiring a car, or as part of an organised tour. Which is what I did so I could benefit from the insightful commentary and intersting folk tales about elves, trolls and other “hidden folk”.
There are three main sights on the Golden Circle Tour:
Thingvellir
Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world’s first parliament. But it’s not just of huge historical importance for Iceland, it also sits right on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates have drifted apart, telling a story of Iceland’s landscape too.
Fissures and cracks snake across the land alongside the largest lake in Iceland, making for a dramatic and beautiful scene that sweeps before you.
The world’s first parliament at Thingvellir
Geysir
Geysir, the original geyser, after which all other geysers in the world were named, is found in this area of Iceland. But the daddy of spouting hot springs isn’t very active these days, so visitors wait every four minutes-or-so to watch the nearby Strokkur blow water a hundred feet into the air instead. Other hot springs and steamy pools are dotted around the area too.
Strokkur Geysir erupts with water every 4-5 minutes
Gullfoss
Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is probably Iceland’s most famous waterfall, though the prestige of being the most powerful belongs to Dettifoss in the north. Gullfoss has a special trick up its sleeve, however. If it’s a sunny day dozens of rainbows form through the mist clouds that rise above the gushing water, creating a spectacular scene after which the waterfall supposedly got its name. Just don’t bank on getting that sunny day!
A snippet of rainbow falls over Gullfoss – but it was far from sunny!
- Visit the Blue Lagoon
If you’re recovering from last night’s rúntur, or just exhausted after a full day’s sightseeing there’s no better way to soothe head or feet than with a trip to the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous (but far from only) geothermal spa.
Around 40 minutes by car or bus from Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is nestled amongst black lava formations in a landscape that feels quite like nowhere else on earth. Like the moon, in fact.
Some dramatic weather creates a gloomy looking Blue Lagoon
Sink into the steamy, milky blue water that’s naturally heated from the ground below and spend a couple hours in pure relaxation mode. Fancy a drink? Then just swim up to the bar to get what you want without leaving the water.
Even if it’s freezing above (as it was when I was there), the waters simmer around an inviting 40°C and the only time we considered getting out was to hop across to the steam rooms and saunas that jut out of the lava. It’s a unique and atmospheric experience you’ll never forget.
- Sample the local cuisine
Iceland may not be renowned for its cuisine, but the dining in cosmopolitan Reykjavik is becoming increasingly sophisticated. And if you’re brave enough there are some real treats to be found on the local menus.
I couldn’t stomach the scary sounding smoked sheep head or rotten shark, but I gave Puffin (with a liver-like texture) and Minke Whale (dark, rich and meaty) a go, which are on offer in a fair few Reykjavik restaurants. A little bit controversial maybe, but if you’re comfortable with either you’ll be rewarded with some lovely, distinctive flavours.
I had my tasting session at Islenski Barinn on Pósthússtræti. Here they offer a ‘Jar City’ menu, which is a little like Icelandic tapas with food served in small jars. It’s great if you’d prefer to try these delicacies in small portions.
