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| City Guide - Reykjavik - Key Attractions | ||
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Key Attractions Hallgrímskirkja (Church of Hallgrímur) Reykjavik's highest and most imposing structure, Hallgrímskirkja, is visible from over 20km (15 miles) away. Begun in the late 1940s and completed in 1974, with its stark, light-filled interior and architectural resemblance to basaltic lava, it elicits mixed reactions. Most people visit it for the chance to view the entire city from the tower. Skólavörduholt Tel: 510 1000. Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112 or 115. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (summer); daily 0900-1700 (winter). Admission: Free (church); IKr200 (tower). Perlan (Pearl) A walk through landscaped gardens leads to the top of Öskjuhlíd Hill and Reykjavik's architectural masterpiece - the Pearl. This magnificent glass structure, which houses a restaurant perched atop hot water tanks, is an engineering feat. The fourth level has an outside viewing deck to see the whole city as it sprawls out below. The first floor also houses a vetragardurinn or winter garden. Öskjuhlíd Hill Tel: 562 0200. Fax: 562 0207. Transport: Bus 7 from Laekjartorg. Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200 (restaurant until 2300). Admission: Free. Listasafn Íslands (National Gallery of Iceland) Iceland's National Gallery houses a permanent collection of paintings and sculpture by Icelandic and international artists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It also stages temporary exhibitions of Icelandic art. Housed in a modernist building that was originally built for ice storage, it comprises four exhibition rooms, a café, lecture hall, art library and bookshop. Fríkirkjuvegur 7 Tel: 562 1000. Fax: 562 1312. E-mail: list@natgall.is Website: www.listasafn.is Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112 or 115. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1100-1700. Admission: IKr400; free Wed. Hafnarhúsid (Reykjavik Art Museum) Located near the harbour, Hafnarhúsid boasts six exhibition halls, a multi-purpose space, an outdoor courtyard, bookshop and café. It houses changing exhibitions of work by modern Icelandic and international artists in a variety of media. Harbour House, Tryggvagötu 17 Tel: 511 5155. Fax: 511 5156. E-mail: listasafn@Reykjavik.is Website: www.reykjavik.is/listasafn Transport: Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 110, 111, 112 or 115. Opening hours: Fri-Wed 1100-1800, Thurs 1100-1900. Admission: IKr400, free Mon. Thjódminjasafn Íslands (National Museum) Founded in 1863, the National Museum has a huge range of relics and tools spanning Reykjavik's 11 centuries of history. It houses everything from medieval altar cloths through to its star attraction - a twelfth-century door depicting a Norse battle scene. It is currently closed for refurbishment but is due to open in 2001, although work is behind schedule. Sudurgata 41 Tel: 530 2200. Fax: 530 2201. Árbaejarsafn (Árbaer Open-Air Folk Museum) The farm was first mentioned in literary sources in the mid-fifteenth century. It was turned into a museum commemorating Icelandic life in 1957 and includes exemplars of homes and buildings that illustrate life in early Iceland, including a turf church dating from 1842. The present collection of 27 homes shows home furnishings of different periods, as well as temporary exhibition spaces and craft workshops. Visitors can sample Icelandic pancakes from the old-style Dillonhus restaurant. Arbae Sími Tel: 577 1111. Fax: 577 1122. Website: www.Reykjavik.is/arbaer Transport: 110 from Laekjartog or 10 from Hlemmur. Opening hours: Tues-Fri 0900-1700; Mon 1100-1600; Sat and Sun 1000-1800; (guided tours at 1300 Mon, Wed and Fri). Admission: IKr400. Heiti Potturinn (Hot Pots) Geothermal swimming pools and hot pots play a major part in Icelandic life as swimming lessons are mandatory and students cannot graduate without passing a swimming test. The hottest pools have controlled temperatures of up to 44°C (108°F) and are said to have certain medical benefits. As the pools are not heavily chlorinated it is compulsory to take a nude shower and wash thoroughly before entering. The largest is Laugardalslaug, which has a 50m (150ft) pool, curved waterslide, five hot pots of differing temperatures and a steam bath. For others, see the Sport section; all are open according to the hours shown below. Laugardalslaug, Laugardal Tel: 553 4039. Fax: 581 1555. Transport: Bus 5. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0700-2200, Sat and Sun 0800-2000. Admission: IKr200. |
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