Love Travelling Blog

On waking we decided to take a walk through the city after enjoying the hotel’s delicious continental breakfast. We were visiting in January when it doesn’t come light until around 10.30 a.m. but with numerous buildings illuminated, our twilight stroll actually turned out to be rather nice.

Reykjavik City Hall

The first building we came across was Reykjavik City Hall which looked very photogenic as it is surrounded by a pond with access walkways. The building opened in 1992 and is located on the northern bank of the lake ‘Tjörnin’ in the historic centre.

Statue of the Unknown Bureaucrat

Continuing, we paused to admire the statue of the Unknown Bureaucrat. This sculpture depicts one of the ‘faceless’ city officials carrying a briefcase on their way to work. The statue is very unusual as a large slab of Icelandic basalt obscures the bureaucrat’s face.

Our morning stroll continued along the lake side where we enjoyed more views of the city’s illuminated buildings as it gradually became light.

Grotta Island Lighthouse

We then hopped into our hire car for the ten minute drive to Grotta, which is located on a small peninsula. It was so windy there that we had to hold tightly onto the doors to get out of the car. Our morning stroll with its panoramic views across to Mount Esja and the nearby lighthouse made up for the howling gale.

At low tide it’s possible to walk across the causeway to the Grótta Lighthouse, which was first built in 1897 and later reconstructed in 1947. As it was high tide we just viewed from afar noting that Its stark white structure contrasts beautifully with the rugged landscape and the sea. There are several walking and cycling paths around the peninsula and we also spotted a cosy looking shelter nearby.

Brunch at Ráðagerði Veitinghaus

Following our breezy walk we were in need of warming up but we didn’t have to look far as situated just across the road from the charming lighthouse is a cosy restaurant. Ráðagerði is located in a historic house built in the late 1800’s. The views are absolutely beautiful as the building is surrounded by the sea and volcanic mountains in every direction. Ráðagerði has a varied menu drawing inspiration from Italian cuisine whilst at weekends a popular brunch menu is also available.

The restaurant is on two levels with the addition of a bar on the ground floor. We were shown to a table in an upstairs room which looked lovely and cosy with its candlelit tables and stunning sea views. Everything on the menu looked very tempting but spotting some brunch platters being delivered to a nearby table, our mind was made up.

The platters were delicious comprising cooked breakfasts with salad and smashed avocado. The freshly brewed coffee was very good too. We thought it was a splendid place to come for brunch or lunch as it takes less than 15 minutes to drive from the city centre. Ráðagerði Veitingahús

National Museum of Iceland

A short drive back to the city centre led us to the National Museum of Iceland which displays objects providing an insight into the nation’s history and culture.

Here we viewed the museum’s permanent exhibition, “The making of a Nation”, which took us on a journey through the history of Iceland. This exhibition has interactive exhibits and displays around 2000 objects dating from settlement to recent times. Having already visited the Settlement Museum the previous day where we learnt about the early settlers to Iceland, a visit to the National Museum extended our knowledge further. The exhibition is divided into seven time periods relating to Iceland’s history.

It was interesting to note that Icelandic items relating to more recent times had been displayed on an airport baggage carousel. This made the exhibits easy to view as well as giving a new lease of life to a disused piece of machinery. National Museum of Iceland

Arbaer – Open Air Museum

Moving on, it was then just a 15 minute drive to visit the The Árbær Open Air Museum which is open all the year round. Árbær was an established farm well into the 20th century with the museum opening on the site in 1957. It is now an open air museum comprising more than 20 buildings.

These form a town square along with a fascinating collection of historical buildings, most of which were relocated from Reykjavik’s city centre.

We spent around two hours exploring the buildings and by doing so this gave us a sense of the architecture and way of life in the past. During the summer months additional activities take place but whatever the time of year, I’d wholeheartedly recommend a visit. Árbær Open Air Museum

Perlan

Last but not least of the day’s attractions was a visit to Perlan – Wonders of Iceland which is a glass domed building located on Öskjuhlíð Hill, Reykjavik’s highest hill. The attraction has a large free car park but can also be reached by bus or on foot, a walk taking around 35 minutes from the city centre.

Perlan is much more than a museum as with its use of state of the art technology it has been able to create immersive exhibitions that enable visitors to experience Iceland’s natural wonders from glaciers to volcanoes, wildlife and the stunning Northern Lights. The building itself is unique as it has been constructed over six large water tanks, some of which still hold geothermal hot water that is used as heating.

Included in the ticket price is an opportunity to step inside the Perlan Ice Cave and Tunnel which is the first of its kind in the world and undoubtedly Perlan’s main attraction. 350 tons of snow from surrounding mountains were used to create this man-made marvel which extends for 100m and gives the impression of walking inside a glacier. The temperature inside the ice cave is a constant -10 degrees centigrade and as we were visiting in mid winter we were well equipped with thick coats, hats, gloves and scarves. Don’t worry about feeling the chill though if you are visiting during the warmer months as warm jackets are provided.

We spent around 15 minutes exploring the ice cave and tunnels. As only a limited number of people are allowed to enter at any one time it doesn’t get crowded and there are ample opportunities to view the ice sculptures and to take photos.

The Glaciers exhibit is part of the Wonders of Iceland exhibition at Perlan. This provided us with a fascinating insight into these natural phenomena. Through a series of interactive displays we were able to learn about aspects of their creation and the effects they have on land.

Another highlight is the stunning 20 minute Áróra screen show that takes place inside the planetarium, which is housed inside one of Perlan’s water tanks. It allows you to take a virtual tour of Iceland’s winter landscape and aurora displays. We had hoped for a clear evening sky on one of our two nights in Reykjavik to witness this natural phenomenon ourselves, so it was a consolation instead to view the aurora from a comfortable seat within the auditorium.

It was then up to the Observation Deck on the upper floor which encircles Perlan’s dome and offers stunning 360 degree views across the city.

Attached to the viewing balcony are numerous information boards indicating points of interest that can be viewed from where you are standing. On the horizon we could just make out the cone shaped volcanic mountain of Mt. Kellir.

Finally, before leaving, we warmed up with cups of coffee in the attractive cafe/restaurant which has floor to ceiling windows offering more panoramic views over Reykjavik without needing to step out of doors. It had gone dark by the time we left the building and I couldn’t resist taking another photo of the exterior as it looked striking with its illuminations.

Dinner at the Iceland Parliament Hotel

It was then back to the hotel for a rest before we set out on foot to enjoy dinner at the Hja Joni restaurant located in the Iceland Parliament Hotel just a short walk away. This elegantly appointed restaurant overlooks the town square and from our window table as well as being able to admire the twinkling lights outdoors we were also well placed to view the open kitchen where dishes were being meticulously prepared.

Lamb is one of my favourite meats and my eyes lit up when I discovered that Icelandic lamb was featured on the menu. This was served pink and exactly to my liking, tasting succulent and flavoursome with its accompanying vegetables.

Across the table, the beef cooked two ways also got a big thumbs up, both dishes being perfect fare for a winter’s evening. We then rounded off our meal with Icelandic pancakes and a chocolate trio served with Skyr yoghurt, ice cream and crushed pine needles. Hja Joni Restaurant, Reykjavik

Sun Voyager Sculpture

It was a very blustery evening but we couldn’t resist a stroll along the waterfront before heading back to the hotel for the night. A short distance from the Harpa Concert Hall stands the gleaming steel Sun Voyager sculpture that resembles a Viking longship. The artist Jon Gunnar Amason was the creator of this striking landmark which looks impressive both day and night.

Last but not least, we headed up the hill past our hotel to take another look at the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church, this time illuminated after dark. It was worth our efforts to view this enormous structure standing proud over the city centre. Wrapped up warm, it didn’t seem any colder than back in the U.K. and strolling around Iceland’s compact capital city felt very safe, calm and welcoming. The end of another lovely day exploring Reykjavik.

Of the three attractions visited during the day, both the National Museum of Iceland and the Open Air Museum are included in the Reykjavik City Card.

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