 This is the website freecitytravel.com by ingus | Reviews and photos of Reykjavík Region attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Reykjavík Region sightseeing. Map |
 | Reykjavík Region Things To Do | Tips 11 - 20 of 248 |  |
Gullfoss waterfall is a must visit and even in the winter when there's a lot of ice and snow it's still spectacular. The waterfall tumbles 32m down into a gorge, throwing up an immense spray which then freezes on the side of the canyon. I would recommend wearing some walking boots because it can be a bit icey on the walk up to the viewing point - I wore some cozy snow boots and was very thankful for them. There's a cafe there too where you can have welcome bowl of Icelandic soup to warm up.
|
Visiting Reykjavík Region?
Read reviews about Reykjavík Region Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Geothermal spa are rich with blue-green algae, minerals and silica mud which are all really good for your skin and gives the water an odd colour. The water is constantly around 38 degrees celsius, some parts are extremely hot! When you get there you pay and you can rent towels and robes which come in handy when you need to dash from the pool to the building in just your bikini and it's minus something degrees outside! Bizarre feeling when your in really hot water and you've got freezing wind beating in your face. Once your in, there are tubs of silica mud (also found at the bottom of the pool, you'll feel it underfoot - very sludgey!!) that you can scoop out to put on your face. Truely surreal experiance, especially if you're there early enough to watch the sun come up.
|
In the winter Lake Tjorn freezes over hard enough to walk on, so don't forget your iceskates ;) Lovely chocolates box houses around the lake too
|
Worth a visit to this unusual modern cathedral that dominates the skyline of the city. Take the lift to the top for great views across the city and harbour. It is extremely windy up there and in the cold December wind it can be really difficult to take pictures without getting frost bite or shakey pictures!!
|
For a bit of fun I would highly recommend going on a snowmobile on Iceland´s second largest glacier, Langjokull. Blazing across the white plains is quite an experience, especially seeing as I havd never driven a snowmobile before. It is very much like a motorbike and I was soon holding the accelerator down at maximum. Thank goodness we were given suits, gloves and helmets because it was unbelievably cold, even with the gloves on my hands were absolutely freezing. The barren landscape is breathtaking. At times I wanted to stop and take photos but flying around at high speeds made it impossible. I must admit that it is fairly expensive but then again how often do you get to roar around on a glacier???? It was an experience that will live on long in the memory of this beach- born, sun-loving South African.
|
Visiting Reykjavík Region?
Read reviews about Reykjavík Region Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
If you are taking a walk along the waterfront to the East of the old harbour you will come across the striking Sólfar or Sun Voyager. Reykjavik boasts many sculptures and statues scattered around the city but this is by far my favourite. It was created by artist Jón Gunnar Árnason and unvieled in 1971. The huge shinny steel structure is intended to be an abstract representation of a viking ship.
I think it is a beautiful piece of art. The sharp, symetrical lines of the work contrast nicely with the natural lines of the sea and the mountains of Akrafjall and Esjan in the background. The sculpture is also interactive in that you can climb and walk around 'inside it', and it is very big as you can see with me leaning against it in the photos. Directions: East of the old harbour, along the waterfront
|
 In front of the
Hallgrimskirkja church by GandalfOnTour,
2 more photos
The tower, which stands over 73 metres high, offers great views over the city and the surrounding areas. It is open to the public every day from 09:00 - 20:00, with adults paying about 350 ISK and children between 6 and 12 years old about 50 ISK.
The church itself is the largest church in Iceland. It was designed by Gudjon Samuelson, the former state architect, who took his inspiration from the volcanic basalt rock formations found around Iceland. It contains the biggest organ in Iceland, we were lucky enough to hear it being played. The church was opened in 1986 and is named after Reverend and hymn writer Hallgrimur Petursson.
Not to be missed is the statue in front of the church. It is of the great explorer and discover, Iceland-born Leifur Eiriksson. He was the first European to discover American in 1000 AD, long before Christopher Columbus. Directions: Look up, you can't miss it.
|
 | |  |
For some of the best views of Reykjavik you can't go wrong with a trip to the top of the famous Hallgrimur's Church tower (Hallgrimskirkja), Reykjavik's main landmark . The views from the tower are simply stunning, giving you a complete 360 degree view of the rooftops of the town and the surrounding sea and mountains.
The tower stands at an impressive 73m at its highest point. It is open every day from 09:00 - 20:00 with adults paying about 350 ISK and chicldren between 6 and 12 years old paying 50 ISK. It felt like we could see for hundreds of miles, thanks to the lovely clear weather that we had during our stay in Reykjavik. Directions: It is located at the top of the shopping street Skolavordustigur. But you can see the church tower from almost anywhere in Reykjavik.
|
Iceland is famous for its geysers and the term geyser was first coined in Iceland, after the Great Geysir. As a bit of a research before my trip to Iceland I found out that Geysers are found in active volcanic areas or land that is prone to earthquakes. The steam that shoots out fo the ground is the result of the process whereby surface water seeps deep underground and collects in caverns where it is subsequently heated by the surrounding 200°C volcanic rock this eventually converst the water to stream and it forces its way back out through holes in the ground.
The Great Geysir doesn't erupt that frequently, about every 8 to 10 hours and in fact it has ceased to erupt back in the early 1900s and it was only after a earthquake in 2000 that the geyser was 'reawakened'. At its prime it could erupt water to a height of 60m but nowadays it is more like 10m.
Luckily for us travellers who don't have 8 to 10 hours to spend sitting around waiting for an eruption there is the dependable Strokkur geyser right next to the Great Geysir. Strokkur erupts approximately every 8 minutes and sends an impressive column of water and steam about 20m in the air. It is great to watch, especially the bubble that forms right before an eruption.
The Geyser park has a numebr of other smaller geysers and steam vents that are worth seeing. Make sure you don't miss out on nature's little water and steam show when you are in Iceland. Directions: We saw it as part of the Golden Cirlce tour, its about 2 hours outside of Reykjavik
|
| | |
Gullfoss was the second last stop on our superb Golden Circle tour. The waterfall is apparently Europe's most powerful falls and is fed by waters from the Langjokull glacier. Looking down on the falls it is astounding to think that this beautiful sight was almost lost to us when plans to build a hydro-electric plant very nearlly went ahead. We were at the falls in early March and it was VERY cold walking around as the spray from the falls turns to ice and the wind whips it up and into your face. The white around the falls in the photo is ice and not snow and it just adds to the beauty of the place. It is a wonderful sight and we were lucky enough to see a rainbow despite it being so cold.
This is a very special location for Kerry and I as it was down at the top of the falls that I propsed to her and luckly for her she said yes, I threatened to push her into the rushing water unless she say common sense and said yes.
The falls are one sight that you have to see if you come out to Iceland!!!
|
| | |
More Reykjavík Region Tips |
- 101 Hotel
Hverfisgata 10, Reykjavík Region - Guesthouse BB 44
Borgarholtsbraut 44 Kopavogur, Reykjavík Region - CenterHotel Klopp
Klapparstigur 26, Reykjavík Region - Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
Sudurlandsbraut 2, Reykjavík Region - Top CityLine Grand Hotel Reykjavik
Sigtun 38, Reykjavík Region - Icelandair Hotel Loftleidir
HlÃdarfótur, Reykjavík Region - Fosshotel Lind
Raudararstigur 18, Reykjavík Region - Hotel Holt
Bergstadastraeti 37, Reykjavík Region - Skjaldbreid Hotel
Laugavegur 16, Reykjavík Region - Fosshotel Reydarfjoerdur
Budareyri 6 Reydarfjoerdur, Reykjavík Region - Hotel Atlantis
Grensasvegi 14, Reykjavík Region - Castle House Luxury Apartments
Skalholtsstigur 2a, Reykjavík Region - Hotel Odinsve
Odinstorg, Reykjavík Region
|
