|
|
About Reykjavík
|
| |
|
| About Reykjavík |
 |
 |
Reykjavík, with its neighbouring communities, has a population of around 170.000 and offers an interesting mix of cosmopolitan culture and local village roots.You will find the city full life by day and by night, all year round.
By Icelandic legend, it was the ancient gods themselves who guided Iceland´s first settler, Ingólfur Arnarson, to make his home in Reykjavík. He named the place Reykjavík, which means Smoky Bay, after the geothermal steam which today provides a pollutionfree energy source leaving the air outstandingly fresh, clean and clear.
The inhabitants of Reykjavík use natural hot water for outdoor thermal pools and baths where bealthy relaxation in a supremely healthy environment is the order of the day - at all times of the year whatever the weather.
You will find a beautiful salmon river running through the city limits, fine parks and wild outdoor areas for strolling within the city itself, and on the outskirts are places for fishing, horse trekking and golf.
But even with on this natural stage, Reykjavík has all the sights and familiar city delights too. With it's art museums, several theatres, an opera house, its own symphony orchestra, and concerts and live music spanning the whole spectrum of age and taste. Also, Reykjavík hosts a packed biennial international Arts Festival.
|
|
| |
| Travelling around Reykjavík |
|
|
You will find long distance buses to all parts of Iceland leave from the Bus Terminal which is within 15 minutes walking distance from downtown Reykjavík.
The city's bus service provides foreign visitors with a pleasant and convenient way to reach all parts of Reykjavík by bus. Whether you want to visit museums, dine out, go for a swim, visit the City's picturesque locations or simply enjoy the sights from a bus.
|
| |
| Shopping in Copenhagen |
|
|
Shoppers in Denmark can be tempted by more than figures of the Little
Mermaid and postcards of Queen Margrethe II.
The artists and craftsmen of Denmark, often working with traditional
methods and styles, are admired internationally for their work. Classic
tableware from Royal Copenhagen Porcelain and the simple but beautiful
jewellery from Georg Jensen are two good examples of Danish art and
craft.
Recently, Copenhagen's fashion designers have emerged as world leaders,
and there are now Danish designers working in several of the world's
top fashion houses in Paris, Milan, London and New York. A result
of this is that Copenhagen's shops boast an abundance of fresh fashion
talent, many based in and around the city's fashion streets.
Within the centre of Copenhagen is Royal Copenhagen Antiques, on Amagertorv,
with impressive offerings of porcelain, silver and glassware.
Kompagnistræde is home to another cluster of antique shops. Sølvkælderen's
silverware, Antik & Kunst's porcelain and china, Inuit Gallerie's
fascinating collection of Greenlander artifacts and Pinnau Antik's
books, prints and comics are all collectors' havens. |
| |
| Eating in Reykjavík |
|
|
Most visitors to Reykjavík are full of praises for Iceland's ocean-fresh seafood and mouthwatering mountain lamb, but these are only part of the local culinary experience. Traditional food is also served, made using the only preservation methods available when people had to store up for the winter in the days before refrigerators. Some is delicious, some is different, and is very good to boast about to your friends after you've finished it.
Meat was commonly smoked, and the delicious hangikjöt, which is smoked lamb. Among dairy products, a big favourite with visitors is skyr (curds), especially served with fresh bilberries during late summer. On the more adventurous side is slátur, which literally means "slaughter" but is like haggis. And for those with nerves of steel and stomachs of iron, the menu for the Thorri midwinter feast during January-February is a real challenge.
Some of the delicacies found in Reykjavík include some quite indelicate cuts of meat, including boiled sheep's head , ram's testicles pickled in whey, and loin bags. But what really sorts the men out from the boys is rotten shark, cured by burying, washed down with a well-deserved shot of Black Death schnapps. Their hint for beginners is if you manage to get it past your nose, you're half way there.
|
|
| |
| Shopping in Reykjavík |
|
|
The main shopping streets with numerous shops selling designer clothes are found in the Laugavegur and Bankastræti areas . Leading up from Laugavegur towards Hallgrímskirkja is Skólavörðustígur, lined with arts and crafts galleries.
The downtown shopping district of Reykjavík can be divided into the area around Austurstræti and Hafnarstræti, where shops selling souvenirs and woolens are located and Vesturgata where various arts and crafts galleries can be found. Kringlan is the biggest shopping center in Iceland, with over 130 shops selling designer clothes and other items.
|
| |
| Culture in Reykjavík |
|
|
The city of Reykjavík offers a great variety of museums. Icelandic and foreign artists display their work at the various art museums and galleries. Two historic museum can be found in the city as well as one excellent museum of natural sciences.
Lovers of the arts and culture are in for a real treat in Reykjavík. Strong Icelandic tradition and international culture thrive side by side to weave a rich tapestry of delights and experiences for visitors.
Visual arts flourish in Reykjavík, with its twin flagships the National Gallery and the Municipal Art Museum (Kjarvalsstaðir). Adding colour to the scene is a rich array of exhibition places ranging from museums and galleries to the streets where happenings are performed. For the performing arts, Reykjavík - selected as one of the European Cultural Cities in the Year 2000 - hosts a symphony orchestra, opera, several theatre companies and a ballet company. The biennial Reykjavík Arts Festival features a packed programme of international celebrities and many top performers in all fields make a point of including Iceland's capital on their itineraries. There's something in Reykjavík to keep your soul fed and nourished virtually every day of the week, all year round.
|
| |
| Art & Sports |
|
|
The capital area is more than just the city of Reykjavík. Adjoining it is the town of Kópavogur, with its new concert hall, art museum and fine sport and leisure facilities, plus the newly opened Smáralind shopping mall, the largest in Iceland. A little farther down the road, Hafnarfjörður nestles in a lava field and offers both traditional and off-beat attractions for visitors - including Viking feasts, elf-spotting tours, whale watching and horse riding.
|
| |
| Tours |
|
|
There is a great variety of tours, some covering large parts of the country, others small areas at a time.There are traditional tours as well as tours quite different from what can be experienced elsewhere.There are nature tours with striking landscapes, young lava fields, roaring waterfalls and majestic glacial ice-caps. In addition, there are organized day tours, and weekend and holiday tours all year round with Icelandic touring clubs where the emphasis ison hiking. Travelling into the uninhabited interior of Iceland is limited to the months of July and August, except for some specially organized winter tours (see section on opening of the mountain tracks).Winter tours in Iceland are unforgettable: there is skiing for both beginners and the experienced, glacier tours on snowmobile or snowcats, and ice-fishing. |
|
| |
|
|
