A planned goal is a wish; a chased dream is a fantasy.
Priya Nagrajan
Steam from hot springs in the region which loosely translates to Smoke Cove, where the city referred to as Bay of Smoke or Smoky Bay. Initially, farmland than to the wool industry is how we know about Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland.
Reykjavik has a subpolar oceanic climate and also extremes of day and night lengthen over the course. It has a daylight of over 5 degrees below the horizon permanently from 20th May to 24th July. From 2nd December and 10th January, day length drops to less than 5 hours. That’s the reason they call it the land of Ice and Fire.
Iceland’s Capital is known for its colorful homes, unique architecture, wild nightlife, strange museums, traditional cuisines, and a few hidden attractions.
Reykjavik, definitely Scandinavian, and also known as Europe’s northernmost remote capital. It is unique, unusual, to discover the city from elves and trolls to glaciers and volcanoes.
So, let’s explore the cool country.
Unique Hallgrimskirkja Church
Most popular and unique church of Reykjavik, also the major landmark in the city. This church is visible from all points of the city, as it is the tallest building that took 40 years to build. This spaceship looking structure is jetting 240 feet into the sky. Its 74-meter observation tower has the unparalleled view of Reykjavik and is viewed if we pay a fee of 900 ISK for adults and 100 ISK for kids.
Free Laugavegur Walking Tour
The best way to be familiar with Reykjavik is to take a walking tour from Laugavegur street. They will be guides to discuss with the history of the city and show you the sites, souvenir shopping, bizarre window displays, and Icelandic trolls. One thing is for sure you will have to struggle with the street names, for instance, Vatnsmýrarvegur.
Perlan Museum
Perlan or The Pearl is a glass and steel dome built over six gigantic tanks that hold the city’s geothermal boiling water. They construct it on top of Oskjuhlio Hill with the best viewpoints of the city. This museum is Iceland’s largest nature exhibition with information on Iceland’s Volcanoes, northern lights, glaciers, ocean life, and seabirds.
There is a revolving restaurant on the top with a 360-degree platform where you can see the full view of the city. From there you can access the only beach, Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach of Reykjavik.
Harpa Concert Hall
The glistening Harpa is the coolest-looking building that reflects the nature of surrounding Iceland. Its wild geometric design made of glass which reflects the Icelandic landscape, sea, and sky. This is home to Symphony and Opera. Also, schedule your visit at the night time for the moving multicolored lights which make the building alive.
Harbour Tour
A walk in the old harbor will be pleasant for shopping, galleries, and restaurants. You can watch marine activities, boats, whale watching, and enjoy the long-distance view of Mount Esja. It is the best place to browse for souvenirs in the colorful old tents that replaced little shops.
Whale Watching
When you are in Iceland and not going for whale watching, then you are definitely missing an enormous part of this trip. When you take a tour of the islands of Akure and Lundy, you can find tons of whales. Faxafloi Bay next to Reykjavik is home to minke whales, humpbacks, porpoises, and dolphins. You can book a trip of 3 hours for this during summer between April and October. That is the time you can watch some 12 types of whales swim up from the equator to feed.
Street Art and Sculptures
Throughout Reykjavik, you can find unique street arts, murals, and graffiti. Wall Poetry, where most of the project collaboration with artists and musicians explored by foot. Added to it, you will also find an unusual array of sculptures along the sidewalks.
One of the famous sculptures is Sun Voyager or Solfar that resembles a Viking warship. This remarkable piece of art is an Ode to the sun that symbolizes light and hope and should view around sunset.
The Blue Lagoon
Coming to Iceland and not experiencing Geothermal pools or The Blue Lagoon is definitely a sin. The Blue Lagoon or Geothermal Spa is a man-made heated lagoon in the volcanic earth that is closer to the airport. The water is milky blue shade because of high silica content and is rich in salts and algae. The silica forms soft white mud on the bottom of the lake that bathes and rubs on themselves.
Also, this lagoon found to have beneficial effects on the skin disease psoriasis. This made the Blue Lagoon the most popular tourist spot in the world.
Reykjavik, Iceland is a unique city to explore. You can also book for day trips and explore the wonderful attractions.
Always remember to have a bucket list so you can explore more, experience more, challenge more, and create more memories. Sure, add in that bucket list a visit to Iceland and chase the fantasy not in dreams but for real.
