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Key Attractions
Hallgrímskirkja (Church of Hallgrímur)
Reykjavik’s highest and most imposing structure, Hallgrímskirkja, is visible from over 20km (15 miles) away. Begun in the late 1940s and completed in 1974, with its stark, light-filled interior and architectural resemblance to basaltic lava, it elicits mixed reactions. Most people visit it for the chance to view the city from the tower.
Skólavörduholt
Tel: 510 1000.
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112 or 115.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (summer); daily 1000-1800 (winter); Church tower daily 1000-1800.
Admission: Free (church); IKr200 (tower).
Perlan (Pearl)
A walk through landscaped gardens leads to the top of Öskjuhlíd Hill and Reykjavik’s architectural masterpiece – the Pearl. This magnificent glass structure, which houses a revolving restaurant perched atop hot water tanks, is an engineering feat. The fourth level has an outside viewing deck offering views of the city, as it sprawls out below. The first floor also houses a vetragardurinn (winter garden).
Öskjuhlíd Hill
Tel: 562 0203. Fax: 562 0207 (restaurant).
Transport: Bus 7 from Laekjartorg.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200 (restaurant until 2300).
Admission: Free.
Listasafn Íslands (National Gallery of Iceland)
Iceland’s National Gallery houses a permanent collection of paintings and sculpture by Icelandic and international artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. It also stages temporary exhibitions of Icelandic art. Housed in a modernist building that was originally built for ice storage, it comprises four exhibition rooms, a café, lecture hall, art library and bookshop.
Fríkirkjuvegur 7
Tel: 515 9610. Fax: 562 1312.
E-mail: list@natgall.is
Website: www.listasafn.is
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112 or 115.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1100-1700 (library shorter hours).
Admission: IKr400; free Wed.
Listasafn Reykjavikur (Reykjavik Art Museum)
Known collectively as the Reykjavik Art Museum and housed in three locations around the city – Harbour House (Hafnarhúsid), Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum and the Kjarval Collection – the museum offers up a wealth of Icelandic culture. The Harbour House lays claim to the Erró Collection, the Architectural Museum and the Reykjavik Art Collection. Located near the harbour, the Harbour House also boasts six exhibition halls, a multi-purpose space, an outdoor courtyard, bookshop and café. It houses changing exhibitions of work by modern Icelandic and international artists in a variety of media. Dedicated to the sculptures and drawings of Ásmundur Sveinsson, the Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum collection is housed in the artist’s former home and studio. The Kjarvalsstadethir gallery houses works by leading Icelandic and international artists of the 20th century. The gallery has a shop and a cafeteria overlooking the Miklatún Park and the Perlan.
Website: www.listasafnreykjavikur.is
Admission: IKr500 (daily ticket to all three museums); free Mon.
Harbour House
Tryggvagötu 17
Tel: 590 1200. Fax: 590 1201.
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112 or 115.
Opening hours: Daily 1100-1800 (until 1900 Thurs).
Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum
Sigtún
Tel: 553 2155.
Transport: Bus 5.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1600 (May-Sep); daily 1300-1600 (Oct-Apr).
Kjarvalsstadethir
Flókagata
Tel: 552 6131.
Transport: Bus 3 or 6.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700 (until 1900 Wed).
Thjódminjasafn Íslands (National Museum)
Founded in 1863, the National Museum has a huge range of relics and tools spanning Reykjavik’s 11 centuries of history. It houses everything from medieval altar cloths through to its star attraction – a 12th-century door depicting a Norse battle scene. The museum is currently closed for a major refurbishment. It was scheduled to reopen in 2001 but the prediction is now Spring 2003 for its reopening.
Sudurgata 41
Tel: 552 8888. Fax: 530 2201.
Website: www.natmus.is
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 110 or 112.
Opening hours: Closed until Spring 2003.
Admission: N/A.
Árbaejarsafn (Árbaer Open-Air Folk Museum)
Originally a farm – first mentioned in literary sources in the mid-15th century – Árbaejarsafn was turned into a museum in 1957. The museum includes exemplars of homes and buildings that illustrate life in early Iceland, including a turf church dating from 1842. The collection of homes shows furnishings of different periods and offers temporary exhibition spaces and craft workshops. Guided tours are available at 1300 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Visitors can also sample Icelandic pancakes from the old-style Dillonhus restaurant.
Arbae Sími
Tel: 577 1111. Fax: 577 1122.
Transport: Bus 110 from Laekjartog or 10 from Hlemmur.
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 0900-1700, Mon 1100-1600, Sat and Sun 1000-1800.
Admission: IKr500.
Heiti Potturinn (Hot Pots)
Geothermal swimming pools and hot pots play a major part in Icelandic life as swimming lessons are mandatory and students cannot graduate without passing a swimming test. The hottest pools have controlled temperatures of up to 44°C (108°F) and are said to have certain medical benefits. As the pools are not heavily chlorinated, it is compulsory to take a nude shower and wash thoroughly before entering. The largest is Laugardalslaug, which has a 50m (150ft) pool, curved waterslide, five hot pots of differing temperatures and a steam bath. (For others, see Sport). Many locals pop in between 0800 and 0900 to relax before work and catch up on the gossip, making it a good time for curious visitors to join in.
Sundlaugavegur
Tel: 553 4039. Fax: 581 1555.
Transport: Bus 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 15.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0650-2130, Sat and Sun 0800-2000.
Admission: IKr200.
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