World City Guide

Key Attractions

Hallgrímskirkja (Church of Hallgrímur)
Reykjavik’s highest and most imposing structure, Hallgrímskirkja, is visible from over 20km (12 miles) away. Begun in the late 1940s and completed in 1986, 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: the panorama is superb.

Skólavörduholt
Tel: 510 1000. Fax: 510 1010.
Website: www.hallgrimskirkja.is (Icelandic only)
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112 or 115.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-2000 (2200 on Thursday in summer).
Admission: Free (church); IKr350, concessions available (tower).

Perlan (Pearl)
A walk through landscaped gardens (including an artificial geyser) 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. One the ground floor is the Saga Museum, a vibrant multi-dimensional display depicting key moments in Icelandic history, and giving a compelling insight into how Icelanders lived from the settlement of the island at the end of the 9th century through to the Reformation period. The dioramas use eerily realistic silicone rubber figures, whose features were borrowed from Reykjavik residents, so don't be surprised if you recognise a familiar face on the streets of the capital after your visit to the museum!

Öskjuhlíd Hill
Tel: 562 0203 or 562 0200 (restaurant). Fax: 562 0207 (restaurant).
Website: www.perlan.is
Transport: Bus 7 from Laekjartorg.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200 (restaurant until 2300).
Admission: Free.

Saga Museum
Tel: 511 1517 or 694 3096 or 897 2410.
E-mail: agusta@backman.is
Website: www.sagamuseum.is
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800.
Admission: IKr800; concessions available.

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 9600. 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.; concessions available.

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. Concessions available.

Harbour House
Tryggvagötu 17
Tel: 590 1200. Fax: 590 1201.
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112, 115, 140 or 150 stop by Laekjarbor (a 5-minute walk from the museum).
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.

Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum
Sigtún
Tel: 553 2155.
Transport: Bus 2 and 5.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1600 (May-Sep); daily 1300-1600 (Oct-Apr).

Kjarvalsstadethir
Flókagata
Tel: 552 6131.
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 140 and 150 stop by Hlemmur (a 5-minute walk from the museum).
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.

Thjódminjasafn Íslands (National Museum)
Founded in 1863, the National Museum, which has just reopened its doors, 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 covers all aspects of Icelandic life, from the time of the settlements to the present day. Featured at the museum are archaeological finds buried in the eruption at Mount Hekla in 1106, the first bible printed in Icelandic, a history of Icelandic witchcraft, and items such as the census of 1703, with detailed accounts of not just people but livestock across Iceland.

Sudurgata 41
Tel: 530 2200. Fax: 530 2201.
Website: www.natmus.is
Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 110 or 112.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (summer), 1100-1700 (winter). Closed Mondays
Admission: 600IKr, concessions available, free Wed.

Árbæjarsafn (Árbær Open-Air Folk Museum)
Árbæjarsafn is Reykjavík's folk museum, and the largest open-air museum in Iceland. It comprises about 30 buildings, most of them brought to the museum site from downtown Reykjavík. They date from the period 1820 -1920. In the houses, reconstructions of homes and workshops and special exhibitions may be seen. Events are scheduled every Sunday, with live accordion music. Craftspeople demonstrate traditional tasks almost every day in the museum. Milking takes place at 1630 every day and is always a popular event with children. There are also children's horse rides on Saturdays.

Árbæjarsafn v/Kistuhyl
Tel: 577 1111.
E-mail: abs@abs.rvk.is
Website: www.arbaejarsafn.is
Transport: Bus 110 and 4 from Lækjartorg and bus 10 from Hlemmur.
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 1000-1700, Mon 1100-1600, Sat and Sun 1000-1800 (June, July and Aug). Outside the summer season, guided tours of the museum are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 13:00. Guided tours for groups are by arrangement.
Admission: IKr500; concessions available.

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 section). 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.

Laugardalur, Sundlaugavegur
Tel: 553 4039. Fax: 581 1555.
Transport: Bus 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 15.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0650-2200, Sat and Sun 0800-2000.
Admission: IKr230.