7.00
Upon landing at Keflavík International Airport, Iceland’s main hub for international travel, take a 45-minute taxi ride into Reykjavík, to one of the family-run CenterHotels. The chain has six converted, stately houses all located in the city centre. CenterHotel Thingholt in the heart of downtown is a wise choice for stunning loft suites, décor that blends Icelandic nature with Scandi-cool design and Ísafold restaurant serving quality local cuisine.
Minimalistic, stylish and spacious, Midgardur is the newest member of the CenterHotels family and is within walking distance to many attractions, while the hip Alda Hotel is located smack bang on the main high street with trendy barbers, a cocktail bar, friendly staff and large, stylish rooms. For a more traditional alternative, Hotel Holt is the second-oldest hotel in Reykjavík and maintains its original aesthetic. The boutique hotel sits on a quiet, central street, while Gallery Restaurant offers one of Iceland’s premier dining experiences.
Modern design at Holt Hotel
8.00
As tourism thrives in Iceland the number of guided excursions from trusted companies has also increased. There is so much to see in close proximity to the capital that a day trip can be easily factored into the first part of your day. One of the most popular trips is known as the “Golden Circle”. Established this year by three brothers, Your Day Tours (+354 770 4500; www.yourdaytours.is) offers guided tours that whisk you off to jaw-dropping sights with plenty of entertainment in the form of Icelandic music, local delicacies and an insight into Iceland and its people.
On the Golden Circle tour you’ll visit Thingvellir National Park, The Great Geysir and the gargantuan Gullfoss waterfall. For added action, Sterna Travel (+354 551 1166; www.sternatravel.com) offers a glacier snowmobile tour. Following a visit to the Volcanic Eruption Center to learn about the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption from 2010 that grounded global air traffic, the tour goes to the nearby Mýrdalsjökull glacier where guests gear up for a high-octane ride on powerful Arctic Cat snowmobiles.
Zooming over the vast white expanse of the glacier-capped and active Katla volcano is unforgettable. Another incredible and entirely unique tour is with Inside The Volcano (+354 519 5609; www.insidethevolcano.com). As the company name implies, that is exactly where they take brave and curious visitors. Normally, following an eruption, the magma chamber of a volcano is closed by cooled solid lava.
However, the Thrihnukagigur volcano has a magma chamber that remained intact after the last eruption some 4,000 years ago. Put simply, this means that it is the only volcano on Earth that can be explored on the inside. Descending 120 metres through a converted window-cleaning carriage, visitors are guaranteed an emotional and memorable experience.
The Gullfoss Waterfall
17.00
Freshen up after your day trip and head out to get orientated with a stroll around town. Reykjavík is a compact and colourful low-rise city and it’s a pleasure to wander around admiring the striking street art and unfamiliar architecture. Most of the shops, cafés, bars and restaurants are found on the main high street Laugavegur and on Skólavöroustígur – thankfully, they’re easier to find and explore than they are to pronounce. The design and vintage shops have plenty of quirky curios and the coffee served has a good kick.
18.00
Visit Hallgrímskirkja Church for a bird’s-eye view over the city from the tower. This iconic concrete landmark was completed in 1986 and is distinguished by its unusual form, which is inspired by the basalt lava columns found in the natural Icelandic landscape. Make sure to check out the immense organ inside, standing 15 metres tall with 5,275 pipes weighing 25 tons.
Pay a small fee and take the elevator up the tower from where Reykjavík appears like a charming toy town as its bright multi-coloured buildings ripple out to the horizon. Dominating the square outside the main entrance is a statue of Leif Erikson, the Icelandic explorer who visited America long before Christopher Columbus claimed its discovery.
Harpa Concert Hall at dusk
19.00
As dinner beckons it’s decision time again. There is enough choice to keep connoisseurs of either haute cuisine or gourmet burgers happy. For a middle ground there is no better place than Argentina (+354 551 9555; www.argentina.is). This Argentinean steakhouse has been a top choice for Icelanders since 1989, and although the main focus is steak, the menu also offers a wide selection of seafood and tender Icelandic lamb.
Just around the corner is the ultra-hip hostel/travel agent/bar/restaurant, Kex (+354 561 6060; www.kexhostel.is). This converted old biscuit factory is one of the coolest addresses in the city and serves up great gastropub fare and a wide selection of craft beers. You can also rent bikes, see live music, book a tour and generally just hang out watching the city’s hipsters and visitors come and go.
For a more upscale evening with a sweeping vista, visit Kolabrautin restaurant (+354 519 9700; www.kolabrautin.is), located on the fourth floor of the stunning Harpa concert hall – a striking steel and glass edifice on the harbour that dominates the skyline. Kolabrautin has a superb new-world wine menu and expertly mixed cocktails to accompany an exquisite meal such as rabbit-filled agnolotti with carrots, sea buckthorn berries and homemade ricotta.
A view of Reykjavík from the sky
22.00
Now that dinner is over it’s time to experience Reykjavík’s notorious nightlife. In a city of just 120,000 people, it seems everyone heads out to party at the weekend. What by day was a sweet little café or a funky 1950s diner transforms into a hopping bar or pop-up club.
A must-visit is Kaffibarinn (+354 551 1588; www.kaffibarinn.is), a bohemian bar part-owned by the multi-talented musician Damon Albarn. Don’t expect to get a table but find a spot and enjoy the bar service and the bedlam. With the long hours of daylight, your energy levels will remain surprisingly high so move on to discover a raft of other venues, all in close proximity within the city centre.
4.00
Prikid (+354 551 2866; www.prikid.is) is the place to visit if the partying has revived an appetite. Prior to your flight the “Hangover Killer Breakfast” could well be the best option – it includes a burger, a “Bruce Willis Shake” (a milkshake with a shot of Jack Daniels) and a couple of painkillers.
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