World City Guide

Sport

Icelanders have a passion for swimming pools and hot pots. Reykjavik owes its reputation as a spa city to the many pools within easy reach of the city. The most popular spectator sport is football and the country’s growing success in the game is demonstrated by the increasing number of Icelandic players in the English Premiership and in other European leagues. The city’s main football teams are Fylkier Reykjavik and Knattspyrnufelag Reykjavikur (KR Reykjavik; website: www.kr.is). Both clubs are in Iceland’s premier league. While their European success has been limited, the national team is growing in strength and is now ranked in 65th place out of 205 nations in the FIFA-ranking list. (The Iceland women's team is currently in 17th place out of 115 nations.) International matches can be viewed at the 7000-capacity Laugardalur Sports Centre, Laugardalur (tel: 568 5533). The most popular event in Reykjavik’s sporting calendar, however, is the marathon, which is held every August. Tickets to sporting events in Reykjavik are available direct from the venues.

Fitness centres: The private fitness centres in Reykjavik have a membership fee and ask for a minimum membership period of a year. Many of the swimming pools have gyms that are open to the public, such as Vesturbaejarlaug, Hofsvallagata (tel: 551 5004), which also has a steam bath. The main sports centre is Laugardalur Sports Centre, Laugardalur (tel: 533 0000), includes a gym.

Golf: The Reykjavik Golf Club operates two 18-hole courses: Grafarholt (tel: 587 2211; fax: 587 2212) and Korpúlfsstadir (tel: 586 2211 or 2213; fax: 586 2212). Green fees start at IKr2000. Both courses are located at Grafarholt (bus 8, 14, 15 or 115) in a natural landscape with rolling hills and rocky terrain.

Horseriding: The term is ‘horse rental’ and hiring a horse costs from IKr4500 for half a day (see Tours of the City).

Swimming pools: There are seven geothermal baths in Reykjavik, including Vesturbaerjal, Hofsvallagata (tel: 551 5004) and Laugardalslaug (tel: 553 4039). For more information visit www.spacity.is. Most are open-air because the water temperature is at a comfortable 27°C (80.6°F) all year round. Entrance to hot pools, with temperatures ranging from 37°C-42°C, are also included in the admission prices.

Tennis: Tennis courts can be found at TBR-Hall (tel. 581 2266).

Wintersports: The Skating Hall, Laugardalur (tel: 588 9705; website: www.skautahollin.is), is open from September to May. Whenever the Tjörnin pond freezes over, the snow is routinely cleared away to allow for skating. Skate hire is available here. The skiing areas of Blafjoll, Skalafell and Hengill are a half-an-hour drive from Reykjavik and are normally open from January to the beginning of May, depending on snow conditions. Scheduled buses leave from the BSÍ Coach Terminal (tel: 552 2300). Information on ski conditions can be obtained by telephone (tel: 570 7711).