City of the midnight sun
We arrived in Reykjavik by air, as most people do. It’s an odd little airport, sluggishly chaotic, but it serves its purpose. It’s a simple affair to catch a bus to the city center. You purchase a ticket from the ticket booth and they point you to a big bus in the parking lot. They’ll ask where your hotel or final destination is when they take your ticket. Then they’ll drive the bus to a transfer station, where you board a smaller bus to get to your destination. They are very service-minded, speak great English, and will get you where you need to go. If you’re confused, they’ll help, and they seem to make an effort to ensure that no one is on the wrong bus. I mostly say that because I was on the wrong bus and they got me on the right one.
Our driver mentioned that sometimes if you tell them your street address they’ll take you right to your front door (instead of the nearest official stop).
Reykjavik is a small manageable city by foot; we stayed in the old part, which was perfect. A short walk in any direction led to many fun adventures.
There are numerous hip restaurants, markets, music venues, and cool things to see. There’s a working shipyard area, a port, Viking museums, several art galleries, a world-class opera house, a spectacular church, a thriving live music scene, great shopping, endless scenic spots, good food, and even great ice cream. There are lots of outdoor and indoor gathering areas to enjoy your time in Reykjavik.
The Icelandic sense of style and design incorporates both traditional and modern motifs in unique ways. Simple, clean lines are an ongoing theme, from fashion to interior design to architecture. Arty graffiti and a keen sense of bold patterns and color spices up the scenery.
And to top if off, the streets are full of friendly domestic cats guarding front doors (who need pets) and a buzzing youthful energy. In general the population is fit, engaged and “arty”.
Boat excursions, bike rentals, and longer hikes are fun and plentiful. You can also ferry to nearby islands and see Puffins. Everyone likes Puffins!
We visited in July, when days are 20 hours long and night never fully falls. Daytime weather ranged between 60 – 70 degrees, with sunny, clear skies, and nights were in the low 50’s. We rented an apartment through Airbnb, which had a kitchen, and we had great fun exploring and cooking with local ingredients and baked goods. Smoked Salmon was a great deal, as were many other types of fish and seafood. The dairies there produce great cheeses, and some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had can be found at a place near the water front called Valdis http://www.valdis.is
We also enjoyed several meals out. One super-fun, casual place was called the Laundromat Café, and it actually did have a Laundromat in the basement. http://www.thelaundromatcafe.com/en/home
One of my friends is vegan, and we had no trouble finding her a variety of tasty selections.
Reykjavik is extremely safe for walking or biking. The whole country is in fact, almost entirely crime free, clean and socially benevolent.
We stayed for four days, but you could easily stay longer – especially if you pick up a car for excursions to the Golden Circle, Vik or Skogafoss waterfall.
Reykjavik could easily serve as a nice home base for those who want a big taste of Iceland without having to re-pack their bags. I’d even consider stopping there for a few days on the way somewhere else just to eat the incredible fish, drink the local beer, maybe catch some music, and absorb the Icelandic vibe.
Even this tiny little window in our apartment was decorated with unique Icelandic art that seems to so perfectly capture the seductive slow unfolding of time, light, sky and space.