Pocket Rough Guide Reykjavik (Travel Guide eBook)

James Proctor, Rough Guides

Description

Discover this unique city with the most incisive and entertaining travel guide on the market. You can take this handy, pocket-sized book out with you anywhere, any time. Whether you plan to climb the Hallgrímskirkja's tower, try a rúntur pub crawl or go whale-watching off the southwest coast, Pocket Rough Guide Reykjavik will show you the ideal places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and visit along the way.
- Perfect for short trips - compact and concise, with all the practical info you'll need for a few days' stay.
- Free pull-out map, as well as full-colour maps throughout - navigate the harbour's backstreets or work your way along Laugavegur without getting online.
- Things not to miss - Rough Guides' rundown of Reykjavik's unmissable sights and experiences.
- Itineraries - carefully planned days to help you organize your visit.
- Independent, trusted reviews written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and insight, with options to suit every budget.
- Stunning images - a rich collection of inspiring colour photography.
- Detailed city coverage - whether visiting the big sights or venturing off the tourist trail, this travel guide has in-depth practical advice for every step of the way. Chapters cover each neighbourhood in depth, with all the sights and the best of the nearby shops, cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs.
Areas covered include: Lækjartorg; Austurstræti; Austurvöllur; Aðalstræti; Hafnarstræti; Tryggvagata; the harbour; Tjornin; Bankastræti; Öskjuhlíð; Laugardalur; Hafnarfjörður. Attractions include: Hallgrímskirkja; National Museum; Settlement Exhibition; Saga Museum; Phallological Museum; Blue Lagoon; Strokkur geyser; Þingvellir; Gullfoss; Þórsmörk.
- Day-trips - venture further afield to the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Golden Circle, the south coast and the interior.
- Accommodation - our unbiased selection of the top places to stay, to suit every budget.
- Essentials - crucial pre-departure practical information including getting there, local transport, activities, festivals and events, and more.
- Background information - an easy-to-use chronology, plus a handy language section.
Make the Most of Your Time on Earth with Pocket Rough Guide Reykjavik.

Sujets

• Iceland
• Islande

Informations

• Publié par: Apa Publications
• Date de parution: 01 juillet 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781789194029
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 18 Mo

Extrait

POCKET ROUGH GUIDE
REYKJAVÍK
written and researched by
DAVID LEFFMAN AND JAMES PROCTORCONTENTS
Introduction 4
When to visit ........................................................................5
Where to... ............................................................................7
Reykjavík at a glance ........................................................8
Things not to miss ...........................................................10
Itineraries ...........................................................................18
Places 24
Lækjartorg, Austurstræti and Austurvöllur .............26
Aðalstræti, Hafnarstræti and Tryggvagata ..............32
The harbour .......................................................................40
Tjörnin and around ..........................................................46
Bankastræti and around ................................................52
Hallgrímskirkja and around .........................................60
Öskjuhlíð and around .....................................................66
Eastern Reykjavík ............................................................70
Hafnarfjörður and around .............................................76
The Reykjanes Peninsula ..............................................80
The Golden Circle .............................................................86
The south coast and Heimaey .....................................92
The Interior ......................................................................104
Accommodation 110
Essentials 121
Arrival/Getting around .................................................122
Activities ...........................................................................125
Directory A–Z ..................................................................126
Festivals and events .....................................................130
Chronology .......................................................................131
Language .........................................................................133
Small print and index ...................................................134
Clockwise from top: Þingvellir National Park; Seljalandsfoss; Gló; whale watching boat in
Reykjavík harbour; cyclists on Laugavegur4
REYKJAVÍK
If you’re more used to the trafc-clogged streets
of other major European cities, Reykjavík’s sense
of space and calm will come as a breath of fresh
air. That said, the world’s most northerly capital
still dwarfs Iceland’s other built-up areas, with the
Greater Reykjavík area home to two out of every
three Icelanders. The atmosphere generated by this
bustling port, with its highbrow museums, colourful
streets and buzzing nightlife, has earned the city a
reputation for hedonistic revelry which draws visitors
from across the globe, in record-breaking numbers –
and its popularity shows no signs of waning.
Hallgrímskirkja
INTRODUCODUCTION5
The Northern Lights over Reykjavík Harbour
Split roughly into two halves by corrugated iron or daubed in
the brilliant waters of Tjörnin pebbledash as protection against
lake, the tiny city centre is more the ferocious North Atlantic
a place to amble around and take storms. Tis rather unkempt
in the suburban-looking streets feel, though, is as much part
and corner cafés than somewhere of the city’s charm as the views
to hurtle about, ticking of across the sea to glaciers and the
attractions. Reykjavík lacks the sheer mountains that form the
grand and imposing buildings backdrop to the streets. Even in
found in other Nordic capitals, the heart of this capital, nature
possessing instead apparently is always in evidence – there can
ramshackle clusters of houses, be few other cities in the world,
either clad in garishly painted for example, where greylag geese
When to visit
Icelandic weather is notoriously unpredictable. In summer,
Reykjavík tends to be cloudy and showery, though there can
be long, clear spells of sunny weather, too. However, one thing
is consistent – it’s never really warm. Summer in Reykjavík
is more about the long daylight hours than a sudden surge
in temperature – the average summer range in the city is
8–14°C. Since Reykjavík lies south of the Arctic Circle, it doesn’t
experience true Midnight Sun, though nights are light from
mid-May to early August. Conversely, in winter, days are short
and dark – at the shortest time of the year, in December, the sun
doesn’t rise until around 10.30–11am, setting again just a couple
of hours later. Between September and January, there’s a good
chance of seeing the Northern Lights. During winter, storms are
frequent and temperatures tend to hover a few degrees either
side of freezing point.6
regularly overfy the busy centre, the city harbour give you a chance
sending bemused visitors, more to experience Icelandic nature up
accustomed to pigeons, scurrying close.
for cover. If you have some time to spare,
In the midst of the essentially it’s well worth venturing outside
residential city centre, it is the the city limits to explore some
Hallgrímskirkja, a gargantuan of southwest Iceland’s greatest
white concrete church towering attractions. Top of everyone’s
over the surrounding houses, list is the erupting geyser known
that is the most enduring image as Strokkur, plus the nearby rif
of Reykjavík. Below this, the valley, Þingvellir, where you can
elegant shops and stylish bars see a clear split in the earth’s
and restaurants that line the tectonic plates; both are easily
main street and commercial accessible on day-trips from the
thoroughfare of Laugavegur are capital. A little further afeld,
a consumer’s heaven. Te central the Westman Islands, scene
core of streets around Laugavegur of the famous 1973 volcanic
and Skólavörðustígur is where eruption, beckon enticingly, while
you’ll fnd a range of engaging the rugged natural beauty of
museums, too. Te displays in the Þorsmörk national park and the
Landnámssýning and the Saga Landmannalaugar geothermal
Museum, for example, ofer an springs – which mark the
accessible introduction to Iceland’s jumping-of point into Iceland’s
stirring past; while whale-watching remote and uninhabited Interior –
and pufn-spotting tours from are equally worthy of your time.
Best places to swim
Reykjavík has several excellent swimming pools to choose from.
The biggest is Laugardalslaug, with outdoor pools and hot pots (see
p.71). Following extension work in 2017, Sundhöllin (see p.125) now
boasts a large new outdoor pool, in addition to its exisiting indoor
one. It also has hot pots and sun terraces. Most visitors can’t wait to
try the geothermal hot pots and sea lagoon at Nauthólsvík, where
there’s also a glorious sandy beach (see p.68). Wherever you swim,
you must shower thoroughly without a swimming costume before
entering the water, since it is not treated with chlorine.
Laugardalslaug
New pic: Laugardalslaug
INTRODUCTIONWHERE TO…
Where to…
Shop
Reykjavík’s main thoroughfare, Laugavegur, and the Kringlan shopping
centre are where you’ll fnd most of the city’s shops. That said,
Skólavörðustígur is beginning to ramp up its act and now comes a close
second to Laugavegur. Remember that most goods are available at
taxfree prices when exported from Iceland – ask in store when browsing
for details of the cash refund you’re entitled to (see p.129). Particularly
good-value purchases include anything made of wool – from traditional
sweaters, gloves and scarves to blankets, shawls and hats.
OUR FAVOURITES: Kolaportið p.37. Iða p.50. Víkurprjón p.101.
Eat
The one thing every visitor remembers about a visit to Reykjavík is
eating the freshest fsh they have ever tasted. In fact, there are many
Icelanders who simply refuse to order fsh when they travel abroad,
because it doesn’t taste like it does at home. In recent years there’s been
a veritable explosion in the number of fsh restaurants in Reykjavík,
serving unusual options such as catfsh and blue ling alongside more
common species like cod and haddock. The other Icelandic staple
is mountain lamb, which is as succulent as you would expect, and
available in most restaurants. Look out for lunchtime specials (often set
menus) when prices are much lower than in the evening.
OUR FAVOURITES: Einar Ben p.30. Lækjarbrekka p.58. Fjörubuðið p.101.
Drink
Drinking in Reykjavík is expensive. However, there are several ways
to cut costs. Consider buying wine, beer or spirits on arrival, at the
duty-free store inside Kefavík airport. Ask the helpful staf about your
duty-free allowances. Alternatively, buy your booze from the state-run
alcohol stores, vínbúðin (see p.30 & p.74), dott