Page 5 - AIT1215_Reykjavik

I nteresting cafés, good restaurants, the harbour and the facility of the Nordic countries 1968. The Aalto Bistro offers many bars such as the Kaldi Bar or the Café Rosenberg
with live music in the city centre.
colourful little houses of corrugated sheet iron ensure
lunch at moderate prices with a gorgeous view of nature.
plenty of flair in the world’s most northern capital: Reykja - 1.30 p.m. – Fortified, we continue on to Nauthólsvík, the
vík. Not to be forgotten the location in the midst of nature city’s nearby recreation area. Unspectacularly located on Sunday: At the harbour and on the sea
with the sea on the doorstep and mountains all around. the sea is the Nauthólsvík thermal beach (09). An out-
Our creative spirit becomes particularly manifest in the door pool with direct access to the sea. After a bath in 10 a.m. – We begin at the Alþingi (22) parliament buil -
nu merous festivals taking place throughout the year. the warm water, the route takes us through the na ture ding. Con structed in 1881 at Austurvöllur park it is the
Those who want to delve into the early architectural histo- reserve past Reykjavík University (11) 2011 built by Hen - oldest stone building of Reykjavík. In direct contrast is the
ry of Iceland should visit the museum Árbæjarsafn (01). ning Larsen Ar chi tects. Further north, we reach the service building with ample glass constructed in 2002 as
Kjarvals staðir (11). In addition to the Hafnarhús we will an annex by Batteriid Arkitektar. The city hall Ráðhús
Friday: Arriving and relaxing visit tomorrow and the Ásmundarsafn, it is part of the (23), from 1991 at Lake Tjörnin was designed by Studio
Rey kjavík Art Museum and is one of the city’s most beau- Granda.
4 p.m. – On the way from the airport, we take a detour tiful art museums. 11 a.m. – At the harbour, we continue to Hafnarhús (24),
to the Bláa Lónið (02). The Blue Lagoon is a pool with a 3.30 p.m. – After that much tranquillity and nature, we the second building of the Reykjavík Art Museum. From
spa clinic built by the architects Basalt and VA Arkitektar take a quick look at the Laugavegur (12) shopping here, we walk past the Harpa (25) concert house. I recom-
until 2007 that is world-famous for its healing waters and district. Those who feel like visiting a museum of a spe- mend a little refreshment in the Smurstödin restaurant.
guarantees a relaxed start of the weekend in Iceland. cial kind also go to the Icelandic Phallus Museum (13). At 12.30 p.m. – I now recommend a sailing tour to Videy (26)
8 p.m. – For spending the night, I recommend the Marina the top end of Laugavegur is the best confectioner in the island with some interesting works of art, for instance the
Hotel (03) at the harbour, above the Slip-purinn dry city centre, Sandholt (14). At the lower end of Laugavegur, Peace Column Yoko Ono installed in honour of John Len -
dock. Built in Icelandic design, a deliberately colourful Skól a vörðustigur (15), the “artist mile”, leads up the hill. non, The blind pavilion art installation by Ólafur Elíasson
hotchpotch has been created here. The bar is always well Bríetar torg square in honour of women’s rights campai- and Richard Serra’s sculpture Milestones. One can also
frequented. A somewhat more economical option is the gner Briet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir at the corner of visit the ruins of a fishing village with Iceland’s oldest
Kex Hostel (04) located 20 minutes on foot along the Amtmannsstígur/Þing holtsstræti offers a chance for a stone house Videyjarstofa – formerly a home, now a café.
coast. In the former biscuit factory, vintage furniture is relaxing break. 2 p.m. – After the tour on the water, we proceed to the
combined with recycled materials. In a laid-back atmo- 5.30 p.m. – On top of the hill stands Hallgrímskirkja (16) old fishing port where Icelandic design and handicrafts
sphere, musical and cultural events also regularly take church visible from afar. It is the largest church in Iceland can be admired. Here one should not miss the legendary
place here. and, due to its special shape, is often called the ugliest Kaffi vagninn (27): a workers’ café at the harbour’s edge
building of the city. Next to the church is the Einar Jóns so - where time has stood still. Not far is the Þúfa work of art,
Saturday: City and nature park nar Museum with a magnificent sculpture garden. To get a green hill with a shed on its top where Stockfische are
back into the centre, we walk through the park Hljóms - dried. A path leads up the hill where a gorgeous view
10 a.m. – The city centre is best explored on foot. We start ká la garður with numerous sculptures by various artists. awaits. Like Bríetartorg square and the Kvika fountain at
in the Bergsson (05) with breakfast. The tour begins in 7 p.m. – Exhausted from so much walking, we take a taxi the lighthouse, it was created by the great female artist
the di rection of the university. We put in a first stop at the towards Grótta and immerse our tired feet in the warm Ólöf Nordal.
Reykjavík 871±2 (06) exhibition. It shows Reykjavík’s sett- Kvika spring near the lighthouse (18). As an alternative, 6 p.m. – For the evening, I recommend fish. Either at Ice -
lement history with objects excavated in this spot. one can also head straight for cocktails in the hip landic Fish and Chips – the somewhat different fast food,
11 a.m. – We continue on through Garðastræti along ups- Apótekið (19) bar. For those who no longer have the in the rustic-looking Sægreifinn (28) restaurant or the top
cale residential buildings from the 1930s and 40s. On the energy to go on: the food as well is outstanding here. Also cuisine of the Fiskmarkaðurinn (29).
campus of Iceland University (07) are buildings from to be recommended: The Dill (20) restaurant offers inter- 8 p.m. – We end the weekend the same way it started: By
various periods. The main building was designed in 1926 esting interpretations of a new Nordic cuisine. A great visiting yet another swimming pool. The Seltjarnarnes-
by Guðjón Samúelsson. The Icelandic National Mu se um view of the harbour, the city and the mountains is provi- laug (30) is located west of the city centre and is a very
and the National Library are also on the campus. ded by the Kolabrautin (21) restaurant on the third floor beautiful pool fed by sea water. It is fantastic to lie in the
Noon – Norræna húsið (08) (Nordic house) borders the of the Harpa concert hall where they also serve excellent up to 40 degrees warm outdoor pools. With a bit of luck,
Vatnsmýri nature reserve. Alva Aalto designed the cul tural cocktails. Those who still feel strong should visit the while enjoying this one can observe the northern lights.

Die innovative Schreibtischkonsole
verwandelt jeden statischen Tisch
im Handumdrehen in einen
Sitz-Stehtisch.

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AIT 12.2015 • 063