Iceland is one of the best destinations if you like places of wild nature, far away but close enough to consider the journey.
Reykjavík is the gateway and the capital, at the same time the largest city and the northernmost city in the world. What can you do here? What should be known and what should not? What are you going to eat, how are you going to get around and what shopping or excursions are there to do… all without spending a lot of money? Discover it here.
Reykjavík
It is a relatively new city since although the first settlement is centuries old, as an urban center it only developed in the XNUMXth century. To this day he is reputed to be one of the cleanest, safest and greenest cities in the world. Seeing is believing!
But first, When should i go? Well, the seasons are very demarcated, not only by temperature but by sunlight. The hours of sunlight, really. The tourist season in the whole country is between June and August when the famous midnight sun shines and there is a certain light all day every day.
But if you can choose August is better because it has more cultural festivals, if you like activities like that. Of course, finding cheap accommodation is difficult for these dates, but the festivals are worth it as there are concerts at night, jazz evenings and art exhibitions.
Iceland is one of the destinations where it is also possible enjoy the Northern Lights or aurora borealis and to have a chance to see them you have to go in autumn. On the other hand, if the cold does not scare you, December with Christmas, ice, snow and skating rinks, fireworks and parties is a beauty.
If you don't want to have only four hours of sun avoid January and February.
Reykjavik Tourism
Luckily it's a small city and in about two or three days you can go through it. You will walk along the Laugavegur pedestrian street more than once, to one side and to the other, through the center. Walking, but when it comes to the transportation system you can use the train and subway and make combinations between one and the other.
The public bus ticket is around 2, 15 euros and you can download the application to buy tickets on your mobile or pay upstairs, but only the fair rate. A ticket allows you a free transfer as long as you do it within 75 minutes. The truth is the public bus network is great and it works wonders throughout the city allowing you to go from one attraction to another.
La Reykjavik City Card It is 24, 36 or 72 hours and includes buses and discounts at attractions, restaurants and shops.
What to see in Reykjavík
The city is known for the energy use they make of their geothermal area, of the underground activity that keeps the planet alive and that these people have discovered how to take advantage of.
So, I think the first thing to see is that. Not far away is Hafnarfjorour, a place with sulphurous fields and hot springs with water that literally boils. Around it there are multicolored hills and a walkway crosses this entire geothermal area explaining everything that is seen.
Up the hill there is a huge smoking lake and although there is a lot of climbing to do, it is worth the climb. You'll see sulfurous deposits, mud holes, lake in colorful craters which have been formed by violent eruptions (the largest is 46 meters deep), sometimes deep green in color.
If you came here by car you can travel a few more minutes and reach the Atlantic coast to appreciate the fantastic Krýsuvíkurberg cliffs, highly recommended if you like birds. But if yours is still the great way in which Icelandic people take advantage of geothermal energy, you can visit the Geothermal Power Plant and its exhibition, in Hellisheioi. There are guided tours in spanish and it is only 20 minutes from downtown. It costs 950 ISK per person.
To continue enjoying the warm waters, but outdoors, you can go to the Nauthólsvik beach, opened in 2001, with a large lagoon that combines the hot and cold water of the sea and it is spectacular.
Today the viking culture so in the city there is an impressive site dating from the period between 870 and 930 AD, extending to the 1986th century. Everything is like a Viking settlement of that time, an old farm or what remains of it that was discovered by some works in XNUMX. It is worth going because there is a super 3D display. Everything is free.
La Hallgrímskirkja Church It is an icon of the city and if you climb the tower you will have a wonderful landscape of the capital of Iceland. It was built in 1945 inspired by the basalt formations, although the works were completed in 1986. The organ is huge with 15 meters high, 25 tones and more than 5 thousand pipes.
Talking sumo city icons La Perla, a glass dome huge that hides a gigantic water tank that has a highly recommended observation platform, the Höfdi House, Iceland Pavilion, Videy Island to enjoy a day outdoors, the Imagine Peace Tower, made, with beams of light, the Old Port or the modern sculpture Solfar Sun Voyager, on the boardwalk and looking out to sea.
How to save in Reykjavík
Restaurants and cafes in the city they don't have very cheap prices, unless you buy and take the food with you. Sitting down to eat as God intended is expensive. Then the option is to go through the supermarket and eat in the flat or hostel where you stop. The best way to drink is to take advantage of Happy Hour, as a beer can cost about 9 to 10 euros.
If you would like to save on transportation or buy the city card or you rent a bike. A bike is around $ 40 a day. Are there free attractions to take advantage of? Well yes, something good to start with may be the Free Walk through Reykjavík It lasts 80 minutes and touches the best and most touristy of the city. They are organized by local people and it is free, although the usual thing is to leave a tip at the end.
The church of which I speak above is free and free entry, although to climb the tower, and it is not necessary to ignore it, you have to pay 8 dollars. But you can attend mass for free on Sundays at 11 am, for example. In the port is Harpa, a modern concert hall, quite impressive, which can be visited every day as there are also shops and restaurants.
Strolling through street markets costs nothing and there are always good prices, better than in stores, even those with the tax-free system. But there is something that we cannot stop doing in Iceland in general and here is Reykavík in particular: doing like local people and take a dip in the public swimming pools and the famous Blue Lagoon.
This blue lagoon is between the airport and the city and if it is your idea it is advisable to buy tickets in advance since you always have to pre-book.
Tickets have a value from 40 euros for Standard service, from 55 for Comfort, 70 for Premium and 195 for Luxury. This article is about cheap tourism so another option, more advisable to watch your pocket is to visit one of the many public swimming pools in the city whose price is around 6, 50 euros.
Have I convinced you to visit Reykjavík? I hope so.