What's On in Reykjavik - June 2014 by MD Reykjavik

JUNE 2014

IN REYKJAVIK

REYKJAVIK’S LEADING GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT, EATING OUT, MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES.

Reykjavík Art Museum

Open daily One admission to three museums

KjarvalSStaðir Flókagata Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

HafnarHúS Tryggvagata 17 Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

1.2.–14.9. 2014 the Seasons in Kjarval’s art 31.5.–14.9. 2014 reykjavík, town, Structure 31.5.–14.9. 2014 affinities ÁSmundarSafn Sigtún Open daily 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. 10.5.–31.8. 2014 Selection from the Ásmundur Sveinsson Collection

24.5.–7.9. 2014 Your Compound view – Selection from the collection 1970–2010 12.10. 2013–24.8. 2014 Erró: the World today

Guided tours in English every week Thursdays at 6 p.m. – Hafnarhús Fridays at 1 p.m. – Kjarvalsstaðir

www.artmuseum.is artmuseum@reykjavik.is +354 590 1200

Louisa Matthíasdóttir, Klapparstígur, 1983.

Ásmundur Sveinsson, Sigh, 1948.

The Icelandic Love Corporation, The Tent Lady´s Hospitality, 2007.

Ragnar Kjartansson, God, 2007.

WHAT’S ON

CONTENTS JUNE 2014

ON THE COVER JUNE IN REYKJAVIK

EXPERIENCE 6-27

MUSEUM WALK

28-29

EVENT CALENDAR

30-41

REYKJAVIK CITY MAP 42-43

WHAT’S ON

44-55

ART & CULTURE

56-61

NIGHTLIFE 62-63

SHOPPING & STYLE

64-67

FOOD & DRINK

68-73

PRACTICAL INFO

74-81

It seems like June is going to be a particularly musical month, with at least three major musical events of completely different genre taking place – and all being covered in this issue of What’s On. The cover photo this month features the worldrenowned Mahler Chamber Orchestra, one of the most respected chamber orchestras in the world and a winner of several Grammy’s amongst other critical acclaim. Why? Well because they’re coming to Iceland, playing, for the first time, in June, as part of the Reykjavik Midsummer Music festival between the 13th and 16th of June. The festival is covered in the magazine and promises to be great! More music? The Summer Solstice music festival takes place in late June – in Laugardalur. That’s going to be a lot of fun, as Iceland gets to experience a “real” type of music festival with outdoor stages and major bands playing (such as Massive Attack which is…well…massive!) Further things of interest are then definitely the annual Viking Festival in Hafnafjörður. Celebrated every year on the 17th of June (Iceland’s national day!) the Vikings of Iceland meet, celebrate, brawl and sing for a couple of days, which is truly a great time for all – spectators and participants alike. So get ready for a packed June – summer is here, which means Iceland kicks into high gear. Now you just have to make sure you enjoy it!

Volume 32– Issue 6. Published by MD Reykjavik ehf. Laugavegur 4, 101 Reykjavik. Tel.: 899-2255. E-mail: whatson@whatson.is Editor: Hjörtur Atli Guðmunds. Geirdal, hjortur@whatson.is, Tel.:847-4153. N

Layout & design: Stefán Birgir Stefáns, sbs@sbs.is Content writers: The What’s On Team Printing: Oddi, Ecolabelled Printing Company

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WHAT‘S ON IN REYKJAVIK is published monthly covering events and happenings in and around Reykjavik. Opinions expressed in WHAT‘S ON IN Reykjavik are those of the individual authors. While every effort has been made to ensure the information presented is accurate, prices, times, dates and other information may be subject to change.

GLACIER WALKS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES MAKE SURE IT’S MOUNTAIN GUIDES

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Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources

2006 For designing and developing Glacier Walks.

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ICELANDAIR PIONEER AWARD

MOUNTAINGUIDES.IS info@mountainguides.is · Tel: +354 587 9999

EXPERIENCE

THE

JUNE CHECKLIST

You’re in Iceland – now go enjoy Iceland! Here is a list of things we think you should do this month! Tag your photos with #WhatsOnRVK as you check items off the list and stop by at the What’s On House with final proof that you’ve done ‘em all! Have fun!”

Find us in downtown Reykjavik, Laugavegur 4

THE TOP 10 TO-DO IN JUNE!

ss! Take a cheeky selfie at Gullfo am! See the sunrise before 03:00 landic! Taste something uniquely Ice Listen to live Icelandic music! Visit a local swimming pool! Touch a glacier!

am in the rain! Be a Viking and have ice cre sweater! Buy wool and knit yourself a hthouse! Take a footbath at Grótta Lig ms! Visit one of Reykjavik’s museu

THE WONdErS Of

VOLCANOES Volcano House features two documentaries chronicling two of Iceland´s most famous volcanic eruptions of the last 40 years

Vestmannaeyjar 1973, Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and other volcanoes Showtimes

English: 10:00-21:00 every hour on the hour German: 18:00 from June 15th to September 15th Open every day Vestmannaeyjar 1973 The eruption in Vestmannaeyjar began without warning on the night of January 23rd, 1973. 400 homes perished under ash and lava and nearly 5.000 people had to flee to the mainland in matter of hours.

Eyjafjallajökull 2010 The most famous volcano eruption in recent times; the eruption that caused much disruption in air travel over large parts of Europe. This powerful documentary made specially for Volcano House was filmed and directed by the Emmy-nominated Icelandic film maker, Jóhann Sigfússon.

Geological Exhibition you may touch Tryggvagata 11, 101 Reykjavik | (354) 555 1900 volcanohouse.is

VOLCANO HOUSE Cinema | Geological Exhibition

EXPERIENCE

THE REYKJAVIK COFFEE EXPERIENCE Iceland may not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of coffee, but Icelanders are actually big coffee drinkers. You will find plenty of small coffee shops or cafés on nearly every street corner in downtown Reykjavík. We know of at least five places where you will get great coffee.

CAFÉ PARÍS

AUSTURSTRÆTI 14

Café Paris is one of Reykjavik city’s most beloved restaurants and cafés, and has been for twenty years. It’s ideally situated by Austurvöllur square, where Icelanders go to celebrate the sun in the summertime. Inside Café Paris, you’ll be able to relax in a calm and casual atmosphere while enjoying a warm cup of coffee. They have a wide selection of coffee drinks but their Frappuccino “à la Café Paris” deserves the highest praise. You can’t go wrong with any of their cakes if you’re in the mood for a luxurious refreshment as well.

10 DROPAR

LAUGAVEGUR 27

One of Reykjavik‘s oldest cafés, located in a hidden basement on Laugavegur that is frequented by avid loungers, coffee addicts, happy families and hungry travelers. There’s nothing pretentious about it, it’s just a lovely old-fashioned house with homelike atmosphere and generous coffee refills. If you want to try something really Icelandic with your coffee you should order flatkökur, rye pancakes with sliced smoked lamb, or pönnukökur, traditional Icelandic pancakes with sugar, or with jam and whipped cream.

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REYKJAVIK ROASTERS KÁRASTÍGUR 1

A small and intimate coffee shop in the city center where you’ll find first class coffee and refreshment. Their coffee is roasted in their own roasteries by their own roasting masters. When you walk in you’ll notice their beautiful La Marzocco espresso machine and two Mazzer grinders, and realize that coffee at Kaffismiðjan is serious business. If you like your coffee, which you probably will, you can purchase whole beans in 300 gram bags or have them custom grinded for your coffee maker.

KAFFIFÉLAGIÐ

SKÓLAVÖRÐUSTÍGUR 10

It may be the smallest coffee shop in the country but it’s definitely one of the most popular ones too. Kaffifélagið offers a wide selection of coffee drinks made from Italian espresso beans that are grown in Ottolina, Milan. If you want to awaken your senses and make your mouth to foam with delight and deliciousness, Kaffifélagið is where you should go. The place is usually filled with busy locals getting their take-away coffee. You can also stock up on coffee beans, DVD’s and Icelandic music while you’re there.

SÓLON

BANKASTRÆTI 7A

If you’re looking for the perfect place to sit down, order a cup of coffee and watch people go on with their daily lives outside the window, Café Sólon is the place for you. The oversized artwork and sleek furniture definitely add to its appeal. Café Sólon is located in an old beautiful building in the city center with big windows and a lot of history. Their aromatic coffee will send any coffee lover over the edge, and if you’re looking for something more, than their variety of tapas plates or their seafood soup is definitely something to check out!

WE’RE OPEN! FÍTON / SÍA

YOU'LL FIND US AT KRINGLAN SHOPPING CENTER

EXPERIENCE

ICELAND:

A PARADISE FOR THE HIKER If you‘re on the way to Iceland you better bring your hiking boots because you‘re in for a treat. Iceland is a beautiful place to hike for a number of reasons. As you probably know, Iceland is a volcanic island filled with mountains and natural wonders which many are very accessible. The beauty is that you’re never far away from a great hike. A SHORT DRIVE OR EVEN A BUS RIDE There are many beautiful trails around Reykjavík. If you have a car then Mount Esja, Reykjavik’s favorite trail is only 30 minutes away. You could even take the bus there! Other fun hikes within or around an hour away, include the waterfall Glymur which is the highest in Iceland, Mount Hengill where you can overlook Þingvellir and the highlands and Keilir, on the way to the airport. These are all fairly easy and accessible. GUIDED, OR NOT

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If you’re based in Reykjavik there are numerous of companies that will take you on a guided hike. I would always recommend a guided hike, especially if you’re going somewhere out in the wilderness for a longer trip. First of all the hikes can be dangerous, particularly for people untrained in Icelandic conditions. Second of all it’s easy to get lost if you don’t know your way. But your guide can also be an endless source of information and he or she will no doubt enrich your experience.

TIPS FOR HIKING IN ICELAND: »» »» »» »»

Wear good boots, even for the shortest hikes Know where you’re going Have a working cell phone on you Always bring a jacket. The weather changes without notice »» Fill your water bottle with water from a stream »» Take pictures Þingvellir, and takes its awful name from a part of the journey that is very rocky so in the old days it was very hard to travel there by horse. If you know any locals, especially out in the country, ask them to join you for your hike and they will doubtless be full of information you wouldn’t hear otherwise. THERE’S ALWAYS A MOUNTAIN

If you’re doing shorter hikes, like Mount Esja, you probably won’t need a guide. A local travel partner might be a good idea though because…

You’ll have a hard time to get away from them, which is good if you’re a hiker. One time I drove the ring-road around Iceland, stopping my car at the side of the road whenever I saw a hike I wanted to try. I literally just stopped the car and started walking. Wherever you go, you’ll find a good hike.

THERE’S ALWAYS A STORY!

ALL THE VARIOUS WALKS

Icelandic history is rich with folklore and through the years stories of trolls, elves, bandits and hidden people have been passed along. Each mountain has its own story and each trail will be guarded by a patron. Hell, even the hill near my house is inhabited by elves and other beings! Many of the longer trails have weird names such as Leggjabrjótur (e. Legbreaker), which is a 17km trail from Hvalfjörður to

What I love about my country is all the different places you can go. If you were to stay for a few days you could do a different walk every day, and each trail would be different. You can do guided glacier hikes, walk through lava, go waterfall hunting, climb perilous mountains and bathe in hot springs – all in a small radius. So bring your boots, you’ll need them.

Svartifoss (Black waterfall) 20 metre high, famous for the surrounding hanging hexagonal black basalt columns. These columns have inspired many Icelandic architects and artists, most visibly in the design of Hallgrímskirkja church and the National Theatre. Svartifoss is located in Skaftafell National Park, close to Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.

Michelsen Svartifoss The Waterfall collection was inspired by the watchmakers’ quest for perfection and the exceptionally beautiful Icelandic waterfalls Svartifoss and Goðafoss. These waterfalls deserve their names on a watch. A fine Swiss mechanical movement, hand-beveled and hand-decorated by a 4th generation Michelsen watchmaker. The Svartifoss features a high quality solid stainless steel case with black coating (DLC), and a Swiss traditional dial made by hand. Available with several strap offerings, including exotic Icelandic spotted wolffish leather.

For more information please visit www.michelsenwatch.com

Laugavegur 15 - 101 Reykjavík - Tel. 354 511 1900 - www.michelsenwatch.com

EXPERIENCE

#WhatsOnRvk So youâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;re in Iceland. Enjoying life, seeing the sights and taking in everything our magnificent country has to offer. Why not share it with the world?

Follow WhatsOnIceland on Instagram for more beautiful shots from Iceland!

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;d love to publish your best moments from Iceland, so go ahead and tag them on Instagram, using #WhatsOnRvk.

EXPERIENCE

on Instagram

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@LOVETOURISM

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EXPERIENCE

A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF ICELAND 16-18 MILLION BC: The Formation of Iceland. Volcanic eruptions form the landmass known as Iceland. 871 AD: The Settlement of Iceland. Ingólfur Arnarson killed a man in Norway and fled to Iceland. 930 AD: Parliament Established. Iceland is arguably the oldest still extant democracy in the world. 1000 AD: Conversion to Christianity, Discovery of America. Parliament decided everyone would be christian or at least pretend to be. Leif “the Lucky” Ericson got lost and found America, didn’t like it and went home.

1550 AD: Civil war and Lutheranism. The violent conflict between Catholics and Lutherans ended with the beheading of bishop Jón Arason. 1602: Monopoly (not the fun kind). The king of Denmark decided Icelanders would only trade with particular Danes, resulting in abject poverty until the monopoly was abolished in 1786. THE 1750S: The Enlightenment and the Birth of Reykjavík. Industrialisation and modernisation started when “Sheriff” Skúli Magnússon started wool manufacturing in Aðalstræti 10.

turn of the century saw the first motor boat and car. The world wars and American occupation resulted in the first serious urbanisation and foreign cultural influence. 1955 AD: Nobel Prize. Halldór Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. 1980 AD: First Female President. The world’s first democratically elected female head of state, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, took office.

2008 AD: Crash and Miraculous Recovery. Iceland’s banking system went spectacularly bankrupt. Since then, things are picking up surprisingly well, but Í SL E NSKI BA RI NN1944I NGÓLF SST RÆT I 1A Iceland 1 01 R EYKthey’re JAV Í Kstill tough. AD: Independence. 1262 AD: Iceland Submits to declared independence while www.islenskibarinn.is postur@islenskibarinn.is sími: 517 6767AD: First openly gay prime Norway. Civil war between 2009 Denmark was too busy being powerful clans resulted in making minister. The world’s first openly invaded by Germany to protest. peace by submitting to Norway. lesbian head of government, Later, Iceland somehow wound 20TH CENTURY: The World Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, took up under Danish rule. Wars and modernization. The office.

Fish • Lamb • Whale • Icelandic cuisine with a twist Icelandic music and nightlife Mix with the locals . .and all the Icelandic beers in one awsome place!

INGÓLFSSTRÆTI 1A

1 0 1 R E Y K J AV Í K

www.islenskibarinn.is postur@islenskibarinn.is sími: 517 6767

EXPERIENCE

T H E R E Y K J AV I K Reykjavík is filled with things to do, places to go and stuff to see but some are just a little bit more important than others.

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA Hallgrímskirkja church is one of Reykjavík’s most iconic buildings and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The tower of the church is among the city’s highest buildings and offers a fantastic view of the city for the small price of 700ISK for adults, 100ISK for children. Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church- and the sixth tallest architectural structure in Iceland. It’s named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Petursson, author of the Passion Hymns. The architect who designed it, Guðjón Samúelsson is said to have designed it to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland’s landscape.

PERLAN Standing at 25 metres high, Perlan is one of Reykjavík’s most striking buildings and although it was opened to the public in 1991 it still makes a stand out piece of architecture for its modern construction. Up on the fourth level there is a 360 degree viewing platform where you can get the best panoramic views of Reykjavík and when the sun sets it’s a spectacular spot for the northern lights. You can also dine at the Perlan restaurant that slowly rotates so you get to see the whole city without even having to turn your head.

TJÖRNIN

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People go to the pond to feed the birds and enjoy one of the most amazing views that Reykjavík has to offer. There isn’t a better place in the city to enjoy a beautiful sunset and you can watch or feed a huge variety of birdlife that calls the lake home while you’re at it. When the lake freezes over in winter, hot geothermal waters are pumped in to defrost an area for the birds while those who can handle the cold keep warm from the romantic atmosphere and take to the ice on skates.

AUSTURVÖLLUR When the sun is shining and the air is hot, Austurvöllur is the place to be no matter who you are. Surrounded by cafés and restaurants on Vallarstræti and Pósthússtræti, this public square is a wildly popular spot for locals to dine outside, soak up some sunshine or recline in the grass with picnics. With its close proximity to the Parliament of Iceland building, Austurvöllur has contrastingly also been the gathering place for political protests. At the center of it all stands a statue of Jón Sigurðsson, the renowned figure who led Iceland to independence.

KOLAPORTIÐ Whether you want to sample dried fish and fermented shark, purchase a bag of Icelandic candy or browse through thrifted clothing, Kolaportið should be the destination of your choice. Kolaportið is an indoor flea market that is open during the weekend between 11am-5pm. The atmosphere is very unique and the old industrial building is usually filled with people hunting for books or antiques, grocery shopping at the food court, selling their old garments, buying music and DVD’s or digging through piles of stuff in search of hidden treasures. We recommend bringing cash, as the majority of stalls don‘t accept cards.

HARPA The whole 28.000 square meters of Harpa stand at the edge of the Reykjavik Harbour with Iceland‘s biggest concert hall suitable for a broad range of concerts and cultural events, conference centre with meeting facilities and in-house catering and fine restaurants. Harpa also occasionally hosts promotions, plays, and public events. It‘s open to everyone, always, and you should definitely visit Harpa, whether it‘s for a show, to buy souvenirs, a concert or a lovely dinner in one of the fabulous restaurants. Harpa was designed by a Danish firm in co-operation with Ólafur Elíasson, an Icelandic artist, and opened to the public in 2011.

THE OLD HARBOR The descriptive name comes from the fact that it‘s the first lasting harbor in Reykjavik. The most visited area is the eastern pier where you’ll find a community of shops, galleries, electric bike and scooter rentals and guided tours in Reykjavík. You will find numerous whale watching companies willing to take you out to sea on unforgettable excursions. The area is filled with excellent restaurants (sushi and other seafood, tapas, burgers, etc.) and coffee houses. The atmosphere at the old harbour is friendly, the air is fresh and salty and there’s plenty of interesting activities to check out.

EXPERIENCE

SIGHT EXPERIENCE

THE SUN VOYAGER A beautiful sculpture of a Viking ship located by the ocean on a small peninsula by Sæbraut, close to the Reykjavík center. The sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason symbolises the Viking past of the Icelanders and an ode to the sun. It serves as reminder of our history and heritage when the first Viking settlers came sailing to Iceland. An ideal opportunity to see Sólfarið at its best is when the sun is setting, at whatever time that may be. It should be every photographer’s dream to capture the amazing view.

CITY HALL

LAUGARDALSLAUG Every country has traditions when it comes to leisure. Iceland’s big thing is swimming pools.. Laugardalslaug is the city’s largest pool with extensive facilities, located in Laugardalur Valley. Its facilities include a 50m outdoor pool, outdoor children’s pool and paddling pool, two waterslides, numerous hot tubs, steam bath, gym and mini golf course. There really is no better place to be on a sunny day, or a cold one for that matter. Right outside you will find a hot dog stand where you can buy traditional Icelandic hot dog.

Head over to page 28 for the Reykjavik Museum Walk.

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With an impressive, modern design, the building sits right on the northern shore of Lake Tjörnin. It’s not only offices for the mayor and city’s excutive officials, but is also open to visitors, providing internet access, an information desk, exhibition halls and a cafe. Café Öndin boasts huge glass windows so you can sit back and admire the water, bird life, nature and city surrounds. Go to the galleries to admire one of the steady streams of new and exciting exhibitions always coming through. The three dimensional map of Iceland is always a favourite with visitors to the country.

EXPERIENCE REYKJAVIK‘S

BEST HAPPY HOURS

We Urge You to Drink Responsibly

We love a good Happy Hour. There’s just something about getting your drink at half-price, while it’s still bright outside that makes us all fuzzy inside. As a result, we’ve scoured the bars and pubs of Reykjavik, searching for the best of the best. This list is in no way conclusive at all, and in fact, we’ve no doubt there are plenty of other great Happy Hours out there – but for now – these are our favourite five!

MICRO BAR

LOFT HOSTEL

Where: Austurstræti 6 (City Center Hotel)

Where: Bankastræti 7 (4th floor)

When: Every day from 17-19

When: Every day from 16-20 o‘clock

What: Selected draft beer

What: Draft beer and wine

Why: Micro bar only serves beer from micro breweries. All the beers on tap are Icelandic, but you can get rare beers from Europe and the US in bottles. This is absolutely one of my favorite bars in all of Iceland. Ask the bartender about the brews, they know absolutely everything there is about beer.

Why: The people are friendly, the beer is decent but most importantly of all the view is unbelievable. Come here on a nice day and sit outside on the balcony. Even if you miss the happy hour, the price of drinks is fair compared to most places. If you‘re lucky you might even catch a concert from a local band!

(354) 58 12345

Treat yourself to Ice popular pizza. Ca landâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most ll and we deliver rig us at 58 12345 ht to your room!

EXPERIENCE

SLIPPBARINN

(ICELANDAIR HOTEL MARINA)

GALLERY BAR (HÓTEL HOLT)

Where: Mýrargötu 2 (entrance is in the back)

Where: Bergstaðastræti 37 (through the hotel lobby)

When: Every day from 16-18

When: Every day from 16-19.

What: Selected cocktails, draft beer and wine

What: Draft beer, wine, cocktail of the day

Why: Slippbarinn is located at the Icelandair Marina Hotel by the old harbour. It‘s safe to say that here you get the best cocktails in Reykjavík. The hotel is new with a unique view of the adjoining shipyard, hence the name Slippbarinn (e. The Shipyard Bar). Another fun trivia about the bar is that it used to be a MMA studio where the UFC fighter Gunnar Nelson rose to fame.

Why: One of Reykjavík‘s most historic bars. It‘s located within the famous Hótel Holt, one of Reykjavík‘s finest hotels which is famed for its precious art collection. In fact, the famous painter Jóhannes Kjarval used the place as his personal studio from time to time. When you look around you can see paintings, sketches and drawings by him. The Gallery Restaurant is also one of Reykjavík‘s greatest.

KALDI BAR Where: Laugavegi 20b (up Klapparstígur) When: 16-19

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What: Draft beer, wine

Why: Kaldi bar draws its name from the beer Kaldi, which is brewed in a small brewery in the north of Iceland. The place is only one of very few places where you can get Kaldi beer on tap. It just so happens that it‘s one of Reykjavík‘s “it” places at the moment, usually packed with a trendy crowd.

AN ARTICLE BY HJALTI RÖGNVALDSSON Hjalti is passionate about everything Icelandic, whether it is nature, culture, food, drink or music – he’s even attended Iceland Airwaves 8 times! He spends his time wandering around Iceland looking for new interesting things to share. For more things Hjalti, follow him on Twitter (www.twitter.com/hjaltir)

CHECK OUT MORE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GREAT PLACES TO GO IN OUR NIGHTLIFE SECTION ON PAGE 42

Come ride with us ISK 500.- discount!* For almost 30 years ﾃ行hestar has given people an opportunity to experience the Icelandic horse on long and short trips. Horses are our passion. Come ride with us in the beautiful surroundings of our ﾃ行hestar Riding Centre. You get free transport from all major hotels and guesthouses in the capital area.

Name the magic word, "Blesi", and you will get ISK 500.- discount on the Lava tour. Only valid when paid at our Riding Centre. *Not valid with other offers.

For further information check out our website www.ishestar.is, call +354 555 7000 or be our friend on Facebook.

EXPERIENCE

THE ICELANDIC

Although beer and ale have been brewed in Iceland for a long time, the growth in recent years has been amazing. In just a few years, we‘ve seen many great breweries emerge, filled with ambition and ingenuity. There is one thing they all have in common though, the Icelandic water; renowned for its purity and quality. Here you can read up on some of our favorite beers, all of whom you‘ll find in Reykjaviks pubs and bars.

VÍKING SUMARÖL This is the first Icelandic summer beer, a Belgian style White Ale spiced up with coriander and orange peel. This beer is only available for limited time from first day of summer until end of July. It can be found in Vinbudin (monopoly stores) and on draught in the special bars in down town Reykjavik.

BRÍÓ The first beer produced by Borg Brugghús, Bríó is a pilsner, however unlike what most people might think, being a pilsner doesn‘t mean it‘s any less of a beer. The name comes from the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic. This style of brewing first emerged in the middle of the 19th century and immediately became so popular that the majority of beer drunk today is in some way derived from the original pilsner. Brío uses German hops, giving a very distinctive taste and a sweet aroma. Along with the hops, it uses Pilsen malt and under-fermentation yeast. Brío, which has won many awards and prizes over the years, was originally brewed as the House Beer for Ölstofan (see pg. 12) and is available in liquor stores around the country as well as most bars in town.

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KALDI

The Brewery on Árskógssandur was the first microbrewery that opened in Iceland, back in 2006. Their first product, Kaldi, definitely paved the way for the rest of them. The regular Kaldi is a pure pilsner, with all the ingredients, except the Icelandic water, coming from the Czech Republic. Even their Brewmaster is Czech! Kaldi is a very mild and comfortable pilsner, with 5% ABV. You can detect a hint of sweetness in it. Kaldi is the most sold bottled beer in Iceland today and has been tremendously well received. You can get Kaldi in the liquor stores in bottles, as well as on draught at MicroBar.

KALDI DARK Most Icelanders are a bit afraid of dark beers, at least until they taste Kaldi Dark. A dark pilsner, it‘s not that much different from the regular Kaldi, as the main difference is the use of burnt malt, which provides the beautiful, distinctive dark color. Kaldi Dark is unpasteurized with no added sugar or preservatives. As mentioned – the Kaldi beers are brewed by Czech traditions, dated from 1842. Kaldi Dark is brewed using 3 different types of Czech hops. You can get Kaldi Dark in all liquor stores as well as in MicroBar on draught.

VÍKING CLASSIC Víking Classic is a Vienna style beer with golden amber colour and taste of roasted malt. It has a good body and medium bitterness with balancing sweetness and a hint of caramel. This Classic type of beer has become one of the best sellers on draught in Iceland in one year. Víking Classic is available in draught, bottles and cans and is part of the Víking beer family which is the most popular beer brand in Iceland.

ÚLFUR

EXPERIENCE

BEER EXPERIENCE

The first Icelandic IPA (India Pale Ale) on the market. Úlfur IPA is in the same caliber as the best produced on the West Coast of the Unites States and probably comes to many Icelanders as a surprise regarding flavor and aroma. The aroma is of fresh citrus fruits, especially grapefruit, which can also be found in the flavor and a strong bitterness makes you crave another sip. Only American hops are used in the beer and hops are added when boiled and after fermentation, a so called “dry hopping” technique. Icelanders took to the beer immediately and it helped clear the way for smaller breweries to try new things.

LAVA

GÆÐINGUR PALE ALE The Pale Ale from Gæðingur is a mixture of American and British Pale Ale. It’s ABV is quite low, at 4,5%, but it has the body of a much bigger beer. Bitterness and hops describe it aptly. Gæðingur is the latest addition to the Icelandic Microbrewery scene, founded in 2010. Gæðingur Pale Ale is unfiltered, so it has some residue at the bottom of the bottle. The Pale Ale is the beer that cemented Gæðingur as a quality Microbrewery and is available at most liquor stores, and as with many of the other beers mentioned, on draught in MicroBar

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This beer is unique in the Icelandic beer scene and quite possibly globally as well. Lava is a pitch black Ale, with its colour coming from dark-roasted mat, burnt in a similar way as coffee beans. The Brewmasters goal was to create a distinctive beer. Lava is described as being like a good wine – improving with age, reaching optimal quality after 3 years of storage in a cold place. Lava is a very smoked Imperial Stout, and considered by beer connoisseurs as one of the best Icelandic beers. It has received many international awards, including a gold medal at the “United States Open Beer Championship” – where it competed against over 1650 beers. Lava is available at the bigger liquor stores as well as exclusively on draught at MicroBar.

EXPERIENCE

THE TASTE OF ICELAND If you’re coming to Iceland, you will be blown away by the vibrant and unique food culture. Between the world-class restaurants with pristine ingredients and master chefs, the quaint little local flavours and the unique and unusual traditional cuisine, there is no shortage of flavourful experiences for both the adventurous explorer and the demanding connoisseur. MODERN ICELANDIC CUISINE Modern day Iceland offers every kind of food you can imagine, and many that you probably can’t. With world-class chefs working with pristine ingredients, Icelandic Restaurants are sure to be a thrill. Most restaurants will offer some traditional Icelandic dishes, such as smoked lamb, or some twist on tradition, such as a reindeer burger. Reykjavik offers any kind of international food you can imagine, sushi, thai, mexican, you name it. It offers steak houses and seafood restaurants. You can go from very high end to fast food in one block. Because icelandic farms are relatively traditional and the icelandic nature is very pure and unspoiled, the ingredients of the food will be absolute first rate. We particularly recommend you try the lamb, which is in a league of its own. THE ICELANDIC HOT DOG – AN UNUSUAL INSTITUTION

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You don’t get more authentically Icelandic than the hot dog. Whereas some of the more traditional food are only really eaten during the Þorri festival, Icelanders actually eat hot dogs all the time.

The Icelandic hot dog is unique in that it contains lamb in addition to the international pork and beef, and it is supposed to be eaten “með öllu” (with everything): raw chopped onions, roasted

onions, ketchup, mustard and remoulade. If you order one “with everything” up north, it will also include “cocktail sauce,” a mixture of ketchup and mayo. ICE (CREAM) LAND Icelanders, somewhat appropriately, love ice cream. They love it at any time, in fact, you can sometimes see a line at the ice cream parlour in a snowstorm. There is a long-standing debate in Reykjavík of which is better, Ísbúð Vesturbæjar or the one in Skeifan. Unless of course you’re from the north, and the obvious winner is Brynjuís. Because, well, obviously. TRADITIONAL ICELANDIC FOOD Finally, don’t miss out on the traditional Icelandic food! These dishes, prepared the same way they have for centuries, are steeped in history and... other things. There are some flavours everyone can enjoy such as the smoked lamb, flat bread, and liverwurst and some more unusual delicacies such as blood pudding and dried fish. At the far end of the spectrum you find curiosities of acquired taste such as fermented shark, singed sheep’s head and pickled ram’s testicles. These are otherwise known as “things you only eat so you can tell your friends at home you did it”. With a shot of Brennivin, an Icelandic Schnapps lovingly nicknamed “Black Death”, you can wash down your meal, along with washing away any memory you might have had of the whole affair.

Barónsstíg 11 - 101 Reykjavík Tel: 551 9555 argentina.is

Gourmet Experience - Steaks and Style at Argentina Steakhouse

EXPERIENCE

WEIRD THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK Many people ask us if there are some weird or unusual things to do while staying here. Of course there are! We‘re eccentric people who lived in isolation for about 1000 years. Something off is bound to happen under these circumstances. Here are some tips for weird stuff to try while in Iceland.

1 | EAT ICE CREAM Okay, maybe this doesn’t sound too weird. Who doesn’t like ice cream? Try eating ice cream in the rain, in the snow, heavy winds or your regular sunny day. And during all times of day, midday, midnight, after dinner, in the morning – you name it. We like our ice cream and we enjoy it all year round. Hell if we were to limit ourselves to eating ice cream only when it’s sunny and nice then we wouldn’t have ice cream shops! Here’s a fun tip. If you’re asking an Icelander (boy or girl) out on a date, ask them to come on an ísrúntur (e. ice cream drive). It’s the typical ice breaker (pun intended) into a starting a relationship. It’s pronounced “eehs-roont-uhr”.

2 | HAVE DINNER AT THE COACH TERMINAL 26

Better yet, eat cooked sheep heads at the

coach terminal! The main coach terminal in Reykjavik, BSÍ, is a known restaurant in Iceland. Many people go there for the traditional bus stop meals such as hamburgers or hot dogs. But the dish they are most famous for is the “kjammi og kók” which is cooked sheep’s head, served with beet stew and an ice cold Coca Cola. You just have to try it.

3 | PEE IN THE SALTY SEA When you live on an island, the language and especially proverbs will obviously revolve around the sea a lot. If you hear someone say “you’ve never peed in the salty sea” it’s being implied that you’re somehow inferior and haven’t seen anything noteworthy. This was often said about the people who lived on land and never had to experience the perils of the sea. So please pee in the sea, so you don’t come off as a total newb.

No I’m not kidding. High on Laugavegur, close to the main bus stop Hlemmur, you will find the Icelandic Phallological Museum. The museum has over 200 items on display and happens to be unique in the world. All mammals you would find in Icelandic nature, such as whale, mink, mouse and goat, are represented along with the crown jewel: a human penis. Don’t miss this unusual museum while in Iceland. www. phallus.is

5 | GET NAKED! …at the local swimming pool. We constantly hear stories of bewilderment of Icelandic swimming pool habits. Most our pools are outside heated with geothermal water from the ground. We swim all year round and we’re not shy in the locker room. Do bring your bathing suits though.

…or in nature. You won’t be able to swim in the legendary Geysir (it’s almost 100° celcius). However there are tons of warm hot springs that you can take a dip into. The closest one would be right outside of Hveragerði in Reykjadalur. What are some other weird things you’ve learned about Iceland? Let us know on www. whatson.is.

EXPERIENCE

4 | GO TO THE PENIS MUSEUM

WHAT’S ON

THE REYKJAVIK MUSEUM WALK Reykjavik is rich with culture and history which can be experienced in the many museums that our city has to offer. To make life easier for you, here is a proposed Museum Walk that covers the best bits of downtown Reykjavik, while within a walking distance. 1

VOLCANO HOUSE

The museum gives visitors an idea of the real life in Iceland, where volcanoes and earthquakes are a constant threat. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur daily and Icelandic nature is in a state of constant flux. Volcano House lets you experience the world of Icelanders by coming as close as possible to experiencing an eruption or earthquake for yourself. They also have an in-house cinema where they offer two back-to-back documentaries on historical volcanic eruptions.

THE REYKJAVÍK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The museum’s main objective is to present both historical and contemporary photography in an artistic, social and cultural context, as well as nurture public and scholarly interest in photography and its culture.The collection’s themes are diverse, you can find family photograpshs, photos from portrait studios, industrial- and advertising p h o to g ra p h s , p re ss p h o to g ra p hy, l a n d s c a p e photographs and more.

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THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

The nation’s most precious treasures are kept and displayed at The National Museum of Iceland that was established on the 24th of February in 1863. The aim of the museum is to increase and relay knowledge of Icelandic cultural heritage from the beginning until now. At the museum you will find objects that provide insight into Icelandic cultural history and displays from different eras.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

The principal art museum of Iceland, established in 1884. Its art collection consists mainly of 19th and 20th century art works. In its possession are many of the keystones of Icelandic art history, as well as a growing collection of works from other countries. The National Gallery’s main role is to collect, preserve, research and exhibit Icelandic art and offer education about it, as well as there is a considerable emphasis laid on showing Icelandic art in context with international art.

REYKJAVÍK ART MUSEUM

Hafnarhús serves as the m u s e u m ’s i n s t i t u t e o f contemporary art, where new developments in art are explored through d i ve r s e ex h i b i t i o n s o f Icelandic and international artists. An exhibition of paintings by well known pop artist Erró is a permanent feature. You’ll really like the restaurant inside that has a beautiful view over the harbour. Don’t forget to stop by the Hafnarhús shop for postcards, art posters and books published by the museum.

THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION

Archaeological remains were excavated in Aðalstræti in 2001, which turned out to be the oldest relics of human habitation in Reykjavík.The relics are now preserved at their original location as the focal point of the Settlement Exhibition. The construction of Viking Age buildings is explained using multimedia technology and computer technology is used to give an impression of what life was like in the hall.

Enjoy Reykjavík with one easy to use card

The Reykjavík Welcome Card offers great value for money by giving you FREE ADMISSION to all of Reykjavík’s thermal pools and museums, with unlimited travel on Reykjavík buses, free ferry rides to Videy Island and DISCOUNTS at selected shops and restaurants. The card is available for 24, 48 and 72 hours. For more information about the Reykjavík Welcome Card visit www.visitreykjavik.is. Connect with culture!

Enjoy the nature! Take a dip in our thermal pools!

See the Sights!

The Official Tourist Information Centre in Reykjavík Adalstraeti 2 101 Reykjavík Tel +354 590 1550 info@visitreykjavik.is www.visitreykjavik.is

With so much to see and do, why not rent a car with audio guided day tour GPS system?

Perfect day tours for the independent traveller My Way is your own audio day tour consisting of a suitable car for you and your friends together with an audio guide programmed into the GPS system. Sold in cooperation with Avis and Budget car rentals. My Way audio guided daytours exsamples: Reykjanes Peninsula

Reykjavík – Gardskagi, Hafnir, Blue Lagoon, Kleifarvatn – Hafnarfjördur Volcanic wonders and some of our country’s most unforgettable sights. The Reykjanes peninsula tour offers an extreme variety of landscapes, lava fields and geothermal activity,

MIN: 4HRS

APX: 180KM

Golden Circle

Reykjavík – Gullfoss & Geysir Iceland’s most popular day tour, The Golden Circle, a route which encompasses many of Iceland’s most famous landmarks. This tour includes some of the best known historical sites and natural phenomena in Iceland.

MIN: 5HRS APX: 250KM

Only available from: &

To book your own day tour • Contact Avis, tel. 591 4000 or Budget, tel. 562 6060. • Ask the hotel or next information centre to book it for you. • Visit the My Way website mywayiniceland.is

South Shore

Reykjavík – South Shore to Vík – Reykjavík You drive along the south coast of Iceland passing by glaciers and volcanoes, black sand coastline and moss-covered lava fields as far as the charming village Vík í Mýrdal.

MIN: 8HRS

APX: 400KM

HAFNARBORG OPENING HOURS: 12 A.M. - 5 P.M. THURSDAYS 12 A.M. - 9 P.M. CLOSED TUESDAYS

THE PIONEERS IN THE COLLECTION From June 21st. A collection exhibition focusing on the work of the pioneers of Icelandic art, with an emphasis on works depicting the Icelandic landscape and nature in diverse ways. The exhibition includes works by some of the first Icelanders to make painting their profession, such as Þórarinn B. Þorláksson, Jóhannes S. Kjarval and more.

NEW AQUISITIONS

LUSUS NATURAE Until June 17th. Lusus naturae is the result of a collaboration between the artist Ólöf Nordal, composer Þuríður Jónsdóttir and Gunnar Karlsson, graphic designer and cartoon director. A 3D installation combining music, moving pictures and live performance. Specially composed music plays a large part in the work. On the one hand, soundscapes which accompany the whole show and on the other live musical happenings, a composition by Þuríður Jónsdóttir for voice and instruments.

FANCY-CAKE IN THE SUN Until June 9th.

An exhibition of recent additions to the Hafnarborg collection, including work by leading Icelandic contemporary artists such as Sirra Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, Stefán Jónsson, Hildur Bjarnadóttir, Pétur Thomsen and Hreinn Friðfinnsson.

OPENING HOURS: 9 A.M. - 9 P.M.

WONDERS OF VOLCANOES

From the small island Vest’mannaeyjar, watch the awesome power of red-hot lava, seemingly irresistible as it moves in slow motion, swallowing and crushing everything in its path. Like a sci-fi monster, you see it start to engulf a thriving community and the impending disaster as it edges to the harbour to destroy the only safe haven for the fishing fleet. Every boat is pressed into service to ferry the inhabitants to safety as they watch more of their lives disappear. Then, the 2010 eruption in Eyjafjallajökull that covered farms and villages in a deep layer of ash and an almost impenetrable fog, threatening, once again, the livelihoods of hard-working communities. A massive flood sweeps down the mountain, putting bridges along the main road linking the southern towns and villages at risk.

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From June 21st.

An exhibition of selected print works from 1957- 1993 by Dieter Roth. Dieter Roth was an exceptional artist and designer, relentlessly and enthusiastically creating art using many different mediums; graphics, sculptures, paintings, artist books and video. Roth’s approach to artistic practice and technical methods was innovative and he is regarded as one of the most important post-war European artists. The exhibition FancyCake in the Sun focuses on Roth’s contribution to the print medium which he had considerable aspiration towards.

VOLCANO HOUSE

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THE PIONEERS IN THE COLLECTION

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MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY

MIRROR OF LIFE PHOTOGRAPHS BY RAGNAR AXELSSON Ragnar Axelsson‘s photographs attract attention wherever they go. Alluring and intriguing, they convey a profound insight into the worlds they portray. In recent years, books of Ragnar’s photographs have drawn attention and praise around the world. He has been honoured with a variety of awards for his unique achievements in documenting the nature and communities of the countries where he has worked.

#INNKAUPAKERRUR (E. #SHOPPINGTROLLEYS) – PHOTOGRAPHS BY GUNNAR MAREL HINRIKSSON Gunnar Marel Hinriksson has over the past year and a half photographed shopping trolleys around Reykjavik city with the help of the app Instagram.

through diverse media such as photography, sculpture, video, animation, design and fashion. Contemporary Icelandic artists & designers have been given free reign to create and to present artworks inspired by the Icelandic horse: its beauty, its grace, its colors or its destiny. Each artist conveys his own vision and perception stemming from the horses.

THE NORDIC HOUSE

MAPPING EUROPE

OPENING HOURS: TUE-SUN 12-5 P.M.

In the exhibition the artist shapes questions about the human situated in the landscape. The spectator sees photographs with children standing in a row by a coastal line and is faced with the question of the connection between humans and their environment. How does the landscape restrict people and where do we find our true borders and limitations? The Swedish artist Katerina Mistal has in the recent years sought to examine these questions in her work.

From June 26th.

TÖLT

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Tölt is an art exhibition entirely dedicated to the Icelandic horse, presented

MIRROR OF LIFE

OPENING HOURS: 12 A.M. - 7 P.M. FRIDAYS 12 A.M. - 6 P.M. WEEKENDS 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.

ATLANTIS PHOTO EXHIBITION From June 21st. Atlantis is an underwater photo series taken in the swimming hall Aalto Alvari in the Finnish

city of Jyväskylä. Aalto was very concerned with natural light and the pictures clearly show the effect of sunlight and natural light even if taken inside. It is great to have the exhibition here in the Nordic House; another of Aalto’s creations. Atlantis was first put up in the Gallery Laterna Magica in Helsinki in 2004.

EINAR JÓNSSON MUSEUM OPENING HOURS: WEEKENDS 2 P.M. - 5 P.M.

A museum in the heart of Reykjavík and houses the life work of Icelands first Sculptor Einar Jónsson.

ALL THE GAMES AND ALL THE ACTION ON 5 BIG HD SCREENS! LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT! Save Water, Drink Beer

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REYKJAVIK ART MUSEUM HAFNARHÚS

fifty pieces from the period 1970–2010, representing three

OPENING HOURS: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. THURSDAYS 10 A.M. - 8 P.M.

REYKJAVIK ART MUSEUM – KJARVALSSTAÐIR

generations of artists.

ERRÓ: THE WORLD TODAY This exhibition shows Erró´s gifts to Reykjavík Art Museum in recent years. The works add to the huge collection he has presented to the Museum over the years. His latest gift comprises a multitude of works – collages, oils, watercolours and enamels – which he has made over the past twelve years. The works represent a new period in the artist’s career, during which he has created his own visual world using new approaches and themes. These latest works bear witness to the artist’s joie-de-vivre and creativity in juxta-posing images from around the world.

YOUR COMPOUND VIEW - SELECTION FROM THE COLLECTION FROM 19702010

THE SEASONS IN KJARVAL’S ART It has been said that, through Kjarval’s eyes, the people of Iceland learned to see their country in a new way. Gone are the verdant slopes of romanticism; the land seen by his eyes and depicted on his canvases is a stark and spectacular land of rugged mountains, lava and moss. Every season imbues the land with new life, and every cloud sheds new colour upon the mountains. An ever-changing land of contrasts, with its shifting boundaries between the visible and the perceived, faces in stone, and spirits inhabiting every rock. In the works of Jóhannes Kjarval, land and saga merge to become one.

AFFINITIES The exhibition presents a selection of Icelandic art from the collections of the Reykjavík Art Museum. The works, which span a period of 73 years, are not curated here in terms of a historical overview or thematic approach: here the

AFFINITIES

works of different artists are juxtaposed – two or three together – in order to highlight the similarities or affinities between them.

REYKJAVÍK, CITY, STRUCTURE The summer exhibition at Kjarvalsstaðir showcases selected works from various periods of Icelandic art history, drawn from the collections of the Reykjavík Art Museum. The exhibition Reykjavík, City, Structure explores how Icelandic artists perceived the town as it developed into a city, over 102 years from 1891 to 1993.

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The summer exhibition at Hafnarhús presents a selection of contemporary art from the collections of the Reykjavík Art Museum. Many of Iceland‘s best-known artists working today are featured in the show, including e.g. Ólafur Elíasson, Ragnar Kjartansson, The Icelandic Love Corporation, Gabríela Friðriksdóttir and Hreinn Friðfinnsson. The exhibition comprises a total of about

OPENING HOURS: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.

ERRÓ

YOUR COMPOUND VIEW

REYKJAVIK ART MUSEUM ÁSMUNDARSAFN OPENING HOURS: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.

SELECTION FROM THE ÁSMUNDUR SVEINSSON COLLECTION The Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum is dedicated to the works of the sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982). The collection in the Museum contains works that span the whole career of the artist and clearly show how his artistic vision developed throughout his life. Among the oldest are sculptures that he created as a student at the Sate Academy in Sweden; later came the grand masterpieces that sing the praise of the Icelandic

REYKJAVIK CITY STRUCTURE

common people, folktales and nature, and finally the collections has a number of abstract works, that the artist created in the last decades of his life. Ásmundur Sveinsson was one of the pioneers of Icelandic sculpture and was first and foremost inspired by Icelandic nature and literature, as well as by the people itself. His massive, powerful and sometimes provocative works are akin to the wondrous formations that can be seen in Icelandic nature. But although the visual material Sveinsson used was first and foremost national in origin, he nonetheless adopted the main currents in creative international art as if nothing was closer to his heart, at the same time lending them an Icelandic character - an Icelandic content.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND OPENING HOURS: 11 A.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

TRACKS IN THE SAND A selection of Sigurjón Ólafsson’s works from his studies in 1928 − 1935 in his museum at Laugarnes while later works (1936 − 1982) are exhibited in the halls of the National Gallery of Iceland, at Fríkirkjuvegur 7. Also there are sculptures by his Danish collegues from that time, Asger Jorn, Ejler Bille, Erik Thommesen, Robert Jacobsen and Sonja Ferlov.

OPENING HOURS: WEEKENDS 2 P.M. - 5 P.M.

TRACKS IN THE SAND See National Gallery of Iceland listing above.

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SIGURJÓN ÓLAFSSON MUSEUM

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KJARVAL

EVENT CALENDAR Book a tour now on whatson.is 36

MUSEUM OF DESIGN AND APPLIED ART OPENING HOURS: 12 A.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

„ARE YOU READY, MRS. PRESIDENT?“

ÁSGRÍMUR JÓNSSON

HJALTI KARLSSON THIS IS HOW I DO IT From June 14th. Last year’s recipient of the Nordic Torsten and Wanja Söderberg prize is Hjalti Karlsson, the Icelandic graphic designer who works with clients from various countries from his office in New York. In its statement the prize jury writes: “From the newspaper page to moving graphics, from educational exhibition form to the place-specific art installation – Hjalti Karlsson’s contemporary, visual language shows traces of both classic schooling and Icelandic narrative tradition.” At the Museum of Design in Iceland, Hjalti Karlsson has an exhibition featuring works specially created for the occasion of the prize.

The Museum of Design and Applied Art’s exhibit Ertu tilbúin frú forseti? presents clothing and various accessories from the wardrobe of Mrs. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former President of Iceland, from her years in office between 1980-1996. Vigdís was the first woman in the world to be democratically elected as her country’s head of state.

ÁSGRÍMUR JÓNSSON COLLECTION OPENING HOURS: SUND. 2 - 5 P.M.

ÁSGRÍMUR JONSON VIEW ON HÚSAFELL The exhibition includes works from the years 19151955. Ásgrímur spent the summer in 1915, 1917 and 1919 at Húsafell, after that Húsafell became a regular

visit for him the rest of his life. After 1940 the Húsafell became his primary dwelling at summer and most Húsafell paintings are from the fifth decade of the last century. Contrasting nature, crooked trees that testifies to harsh weather gods; white glacier against a black desert or colorful vegetation of the ground emotionally moved the artist and make these paintings unique in his career. Works painted after 1940 reveals a strong emotional interpretation akin to the work of van Gogh. The exhibition includes both watercolors and oil paintings.

REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM REYKJAVÍK CITIZENS – PHOTOS FROM A WORKING MAN In the exhibition Reykjavík citizens – photos from a working man there are many interesting sights from everyday life of people who lived in Reykjavík in 1916-1950 seen through the eye of a common man, Karl Christian Nielsen. The thing that specifies these photos and combines them is the colourful culture of triteness.

I have chosen to work in black and white as well as in infrared. The final prints made with these processes are very different from the original subject matter, which allows me to interpret and share the feelings I had when in a particular place. My personal goal is to be in communion with the land. For me photographing the landscape of Iceland is like experiencing the birth of our planet where natural forces are still at work creating and shaping the land. I feel that remarkable energy here in Iceland and strive to express it through my photographs.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND OPENING HOURS: 11 A.M. - 5 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS

THE MAKING OF A NATION - HERITAGE AND HISTORY IN ICELAND

The exhibition includes about 2,000 objects, dating from the Settlement Age to the present, as well as about 1,000 photographs from the 20th century. It is conceived as a journey through time: it begins

LAND OF THE SODIUM SUN

SNAPSHOTS OF A MOMENT: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ÞORSTEINN JÓSEPSSON.

From June 14th.

Photographs of streetlights in Iceland by Stuart Richardson.

Þorsteinn Jósepsson (1907– 1967) was a widely travelled author and journalist. Jósepsson’s photography presents an intricate panorama of Icelandic life and a rapidly changing rural landscape. His collection of photographs is one of the largest, most important and most comprehensive private collections from the twentieth century preserved in Iceland’s National Museum of Photography, a part of the National Museum of Iceland. The curator is Steinar Örn Atlason.

RON ROSENSTOCK INSPIRATIONS Photographs of Iceland in black and white by Ron Rosenstock are the subject of the summer exhibtion, Inspirations, on the Square at the National Museum of Iceland.More on the exhibition: „The original subject matter for my photographs - land, sky, trees, and glaciers - serves as my initial inspiration. I then work with the image on my computer as I once did in the darkroom to bring out what I

Check out our page on the Reykjavík Midsummer Music festival on page 44.

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The exhibition is intended to provide insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from the Settlement to the present day. The aim is to cast light on the Icelanders’ past by placing the cultural heritage preserved by the National Museum in a historical context, guided by the question: What makes a nation?

with the ship in which medieval settlers crossed the ocean to their new home, it ends in a modern airport, the Icelanders’ gateway to the world.

Ron Rosenstock is an american photographer and a professional photo tour leader since 1967. His photographs have been widely shown at numerous exhibits and many books have been published on his photography.

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felt at the time of exposure.

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JUNE 1ST TO JUNE 30TH »» Interview on demand by the media to Jon Thormodsson, author of a 1,300-page reference book, Peace and War: Niagara of Quotations. Home phone 568 7250, mobile phone 898 6852.

JUNE 1ST, SUNDAY REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM »» Grand opening

REYKJAVIK HARBOUR AREA »» Festival of the Sea – Fisherman’s Day

KRYDDLEGIN HJÖRTU RESTAURANT »» Sister Sister Concert

JUNE 2ND, MONDAY REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM »» Historical walk starting at the vessel Odinn to Örfiris island and Þúfa.

JUNE 3RD, TUESDAY ÞJÓÐLEIKHÚSIÐ »» Biðin

JUNE 4TH, WEDNESDAY ÞJÓÐLEIKHÚSIÐ »» Biðin

LAUGARDALSVÖLLUR »» Iceland – Estonia, Men’s Football

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– Friendly

JUNE 5TH, THURSDAY

ÞJÓÐLEIKHÚSIÐ

»» Gísli Súrsson og Fjalla Eyvindur

»» Wakka wakka - Saga

HARPA

JUNE 7TH, SATURDAY KJARVALSSTAÐIR

JUNE 8TH, SUNDAY GAMLA BÍÓ »» Gísli Súrsson og Fjalla Eyvindur

JUNE 10TH, TUESDAY HARPA »» Icelandic Opera Lunchtime Concerts

MENGI »» Ólöf Arnalds – Indie Music

JUNE 11TH, WEDNESDAY HLJÓÐBERG »» The Happy Sun

JUNE 12TH, THURSDAY HARPA

JUNE 13TH, FRIDAY HARPA

»» Goldberg Variations – Reykjavik Midsummer Music

JUNE 14TH, SATURDAY HAFNARHÚS »» Curator‘s talk.

HARPA »» Different Trains – Reykjavik Midsummer Music »» Ghostigital and Finnbogi Pétursson – RMM

JUNE 15TH, SUNDAY

HARPA »» Iceland Symphony Orchestra – Duets and Debussy

HARPA

ÞJÓÐLEIKHÚSIÐ

»» In the Hands of Few – RMM

»» Wakka wakka - Saga

BLÓMADAGURINN GAMLA BÍÓ

»» Pearls of Icelandic Song

JUNE 16TH, MONDAY

»» 3 Underground Bands

»» Gallery talk and poetry reading.

HARPA

JUNE 6TH, FRIDAY DILLON

»» The End – RMM »» After the End – RMM

JUNE 20TH TO 22ND ÁSMUNDARSAFN »» Workshop for kids about the life and art of Ásmundur Sveinsson

LAUGARDALUR »» Secret Solstice

JUNE 20TH, FRIDAY HARPA »» Pearls of Icelandic Song

JUNE 21ST, SATURDAY HARPA »» Voksen skoles musikkorps school band from Norway

JUNE 23RD, MONDAY LAUGARDALUR »» Suzuki Midnight Sun Run

JUNE 24TH, TUESDAY HARPA »» Pearls of Icelandic Song

JUNE 25TH-JULY 13TH! KLAMBRATÚN »» Circus Iceland’s Tent Tour Reykjavík

JUNE 26TH, THURSDAY HARPA »» Tom Odell

JUNE 27TH, FRIDAY HARPA »» Pearls of Icelandic Song

»» Viola Viola – RMM »» Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Pekka Kuusisto – RMM

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS, VISIT US ONLINE AT WHATSON.IS/EC YOU CAN ALSO SEND US YOUR EVENTS ON WHATSON.IS/EC/ADD OR EVENTS@WHATSON.IS

SEA ANGLING

PUFFIN WATCHING Make it’s Eldsure ing!

daily at 11:00 from 1 May to 31 August

daily at 9:30 and 15:00 from 15 May to 15 August

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WHALE WATCHING from Reykjavík all year round EL-01 / EL-02 / EL-03

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Mar 9:00

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Apr 9:00

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Jun 9:00 10:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 14:00 17:00* 17:00 20:30**

* From 15 May to 15 September ** From 15 June to 31 July

Jul 9:00 10:00 13:00 14:00 17:00 20:30

Aug Sep Oct Nov-Dec 9:00 9:00 9:00 10:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 14:00 17:00 17:00*

WHAT’S ON

JUNE 13TH-JU NE 17TH!

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THE VIKING FESTIVAL IN THE VIKING VILLAGE

The Viking Festival in Hafnarfjörður is the oldest and largest event of its kind in Iceland. Since 1995 Hafnarfjörður has been a playground for Vikings demonstrating through the years most aspects of the Viking culture; like ships, cuisine, handcraft, storytelling, archery, games, music and battle demonstrations. Many artists have come from far and wide, from Europe and America to join us in celebrating the memory of our ancestors. Sometimes there have been opportunities to bring forth unexpected things, anachronism to underline even further how the Vikings of the old and modern times can coexist and make a strong union.

From the beginning the emphasis has been on authenticity, so the guests at the Festival feel as they’ve been taken a thousand years back. Ships from foreign countries have come ashore and merchants have taken out their goods and started to trade. The atmosphere is festive, there is music, jesters, good food and drinks. But when everything seems to be peaceful, a battle breaks out and in kindness and joy men fight and “kill” each other. At the Viking Festival 2014 are expected over two hundred Vikings, domestic and foreign. This Viking festival will be nr. 18 and the market will be open from 13:00-20:00 each day. There will also be Viking feasts at the restaurant which is open until the early hours for celebrations all through the night. The Viking Village is only a few kilometers south of Iceland’s capital Reykjavík, easily accessible for those staying in the city. There is also hotel in the Viking Village called Hotel Viking.

WHAT’S ON

For example there have been Viking weddings and Viking baptisms on the Viking Festival.

This time as always the Viking festival will be hosted by Fjörukráin in the Viking village in Hafnarfjordur and everyone is welcome! For further info - check out www.fjorukrain.is

13 –16 June in Harpa Reykjavík Midsummer Music is a music festival in Harpa, Iceland’s fabulous concert hall. The festival was founded in 2012 by pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, who also serves as its artistic director. RMM features some of the best and the brightest from Iceland’s vibrant music scene, bringing them together with stars from the international concert stage for a few days of beauty and brilliance in downtown Reykjavík. Praised for its dynamic, lively concerts and strong artistic vision, RMM was chosen ‘Event of the Year’ and received a special innovation prize at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2013.

PHOTO [1] Photo by Karolína Thorarensen

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.reykjavikmidsummermusic.com

Now in its third year, the festival has become an integral part of the capital’s musical life during the summer. This year’s theme, ‘Minimal-Maximal’, will be reflected in numerous ways through an innovative programme of happenings, concerts, DJ-sets and improvisations.

This year’s stellar artists include the Grammy Award-winning Mahler Chamber Orchestra (hailed by Le Monde as “The World’s Best Orchestra”) led by the incomparable Pekka Kuusisto (winner of the 2013 Nordic Council Music Prize), Pétur Grétarsson (percussionist and master improvisator), DJ Georg Conrad (who flies in from Berlin to do a set with Mahler Chamber Soloists on the final night), Davíð Þór Jónsson (jazz-pianist-maverick), Amihai Grosz (principal viola of the Berlin Philharmonic), Ghostigital (electro-experimental must-see-and-hear duo), Kathryn Stott (the British lioness of the keyboard), Sigrún Eðvaldsdóttir (concertmaster of Iceland Symphony Orchestra), Víkingur Ólafsson (“Iceland’s rising star of a pianist” The Times), Finnbogi Pétursson (sonic and visual artist), Bryndís Halla Gylfadóttir (principal cellist of Iceland Symphony Orchestra), and the sensational violin virtuoso Sayaka Shoji.

Check out the extraordinary programme on www.reykjavikmidsummermusic.com Join us for 9 concerts in 4 days. 13th-16th June.

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WHAT’S ON

THE INTERNATIONAL ORGAN SUMMER IN HALLGRIMSKIRKJA The International Organ Summer in Hallgrimskirkja is a concert series hosted by the Friends of the Arts Society in Hallgrimskirkja for the 22nd time this summer. It holds an important position in Reykjavík’s cultural environment and enriches the experience of tourists during the summer. Due to  an ever increasing interest in the Organ Summers events the festival-period has been lengthened and this summer there will be four concerts per week in the period from June 14th to August 17th: the main concerts are every Saturday at 12 noon and every Sunday at 5 PM with internationally acclaimed organists, every Thursday at 12 noon in collaboration

with the The Society of Icelandic Organist and the Schola cantorum chamber choir gives a concert at 12 noon every Wednesday. The weekend organists of the IOS participate in the Sunday services in Hallgrímskirkja by playing the postludium. The International Organ Summer serie started after the in auguration of the church’s Klais-organ in 1992 and at the beginning of last year the grand Klais-organ underwent extensive renovation; a complete cleaning of its pipes and infrastructure, all clutches were checked and its computer equipment renewed. Tickets are sold at the entrance one hour before each concert. www.hallgrimskirkja.is www.listvinafelag.is

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ART & CULTURE

REYKJAVIK CITY LIBRARY

HAFNARBORG

FREE ENTRY Looking for a place to hang out, browse the internet, get access to Wi-Fi or meet the Reykjavik locals? Then Reykjavik City Library is the perfect place to visit. Have a seat and dip into the latest magazine or relax while checking out their great selection of books.

FREE ENTRY Hafnarborg has a collection of Icelandic art and regular exhibitions presenting leading Icelandic and international artists. Collection exhibitions are a regular part of the program. Around exhibitions are workshops and guided tours.

Tryggvagata 15, Reykjavik 411-6100 |borgarbokasafn.is Hours: Mon-Thu 10-19, Fri 11-18, Sat & Sun 13-17

Strandgata 34, Hafnarfjörður 585-5790 | www.hafnarborg.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Thu 12-21, Closed Tue

Tryggvagata 15, Reykjavik 411-6390 | www.photomuseum.is Hours: Mon-Thu 12-19, Fri 12-18, Sat & Sun 13-17

SIGURJÓN ÓLAFSSON MUSEUM

MUSEUM OF DESIGN AND APPLIED ART

THE EINAR JÓNSSON MUSEUM

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A museum that Icelandic sculptor Sigurjón Ólafsson’s wife founded as a tribute to his life and work in 1984. She had his studio in Laugarnes converted to an exhibition space to house his collection of works, including sculptures, sketches, drawings and biographical material.

Laugarnestangi 70 553-2906 | www.lso.is Hours: Daily 14-17, closed Mon

THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION Experience Viking-Age Reykjavik at the new Settlement Exhibition. Multimedia techniques bring Reykjavik’s past to life, providing visitors with insights into how people lived in the Viking Age, and what the environment looked like to the first settlers. Aðalstræti 2, Reykjavik 411-6370 | www.reykjavik871.is Hours: Daily 10-17

Its objective is to collect, study and present Icelandic design and crafts from 1900 to the present day. This young museum, the only one of its kind in Iceland, holds regular exhibitions of Icelandic and international design during the year. Exhibitions from the museum‘s own collection are regularly held. Garðatorg 1, Garðabær 512-1525 | www.honnunarsafn.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Closed Mon

ÁRBÆJARSAFN Collection of artifacts docu-menting the develo pm ent of the city of Reykjavik. Prese ntly the muse um comprises 27 buildings, built between 1820 and 1907. Árbær, Reykjavik 411-6300 www.reykjavikmuseum.is Hours: Guided tours every day at 13.00 or by appointment.

REYKJAVIK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY FREE ENTRY The only inde-pendent museum of photography in Iceland. The aim of the museum is to shape a unique vision and to be leading in its field. The museum preserves various collections from professional and amateur photographers.

A museum with indoor and outdoor exhibitions dedicated to the work of Einar Jónsson, Iceland’s first modern sculptor (1874-1954). The museum was built in the early 1900’s when Einar Jónsson offered all of his works as a gift to the Icelandic nation. Hallgrímstorg 3, Reykjavik 561-3797 | www.lej.is Hours: Sat & Sun 13-17.

THE NUMISMATIC MUSEUM FREE ENTRY A selection from the numismatic collection is on display on the ground floor of the Central Bank’s main building in Kalkofnsvegur 1, Reykjavik. Kalkofnsvegur 1, Reykjavik 569-9600 www.sedlabanki.is Hours: Mon-Fri 13:30-15:30

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Reykjavík International Airport (KEF)

FAST, FREQUENT & ON SCHEDULE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK! The Flybus operates in connection with all arriving flights at Reykjavík International Airport (KEF) and your seat is always guaranteed. For our very flexible schedule kindly consult our brochures or visit www.flybus.is

Transfer from BSÍ Bus Terminal to Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF) or vice versa.

Transfer from most hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavík to Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF) or vice versa.

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There is no better way to start or end your Iceland adventure than by bathing in the famous Blue Lagoon. You can either board the bus at BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavík or at Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF). After having enjoyed everything that the wonderful Blue Lagoon has to offer, you can either return back to Reykjavík or be dropped off at Reykjavík Intl. Airport (KEF). Safe luggage storage at the Blue Lagoon. Storage cost is 3 EUR (500 ISK) per bag.

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08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00* 21:00*

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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND

The National Gallery of Iceland has come a long way from its origins. To begin with, the collection consisted of donated artwork, mainly by Danish artists. Today the museum stands at Frikirkjuvegur in central Reykjavik, displaying both Icelandic and International art.

Offers a state-of-the-art exhibitions on the cultural history of Iceland. The permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation - Heritage and History of Iceland, gives a comprehensive picture of Iceland’s cultural history through the ages to the present day.

Laufásvegur 12, Reykjavik 515-9600 | www.listasafn.is Hours: Daily 11-17, Closed Mon

Suðurgata 41, Reykjavik 530-2200 | nationalmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17

Hverfisgata 15, Reykjavik 545-1400 | www.thjodmenning.is

ASÍ ART GALLERÝ

SAGA MUSEUM

FREE ENTRY This museum was founded in 1961 when industrialist and book publisher Ragnar Jónsson donated his personal art collection to the museum, which consisted of paintings by Iceland’s most renowned painters. His wish was to establish an art museum that would bring art to the working class.

From the time of the earliest settlers, history is brought to life in a unique and exciting way. The Saga Museum intimately recreates key moments in Icelandic history, moments that have determined the fate of our people and which give a compelling view into how Icelanders have lived for more than a millenium.

VÍKIN MARITIME MUSEUM

HANNESARHOLT Cultural center and historic home of Hannes Hafstein, Iceland’s first Minister of State, now houses the non-profit Hannesarholt, dedicated to retrieving cultural memory, and revitalizing cultural roots. Bordstofan Bistro open daily from 11am – 6pm. Short doc on Hannes Hafstein and early Reykjavik Guided historic city walks Tue and Thu at 1 pm by appointment. Grundarstígur 10, Reykjavik 511-1904 | www.hannesarholt.is Hours: Daily 11-18

Grandagardur, Reykjavik 511-1517 | www.sagamuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-18

A unique venue dedicated to Icelandic history and cultural heritage. In the building there are facilities for exhibitions, meetings, gatherings, lectures, artistic events, public ceremonies and other occasions. On the ground floor you will find a restaurant and a souvenir shop.

It is impossible to truly get to know Iceland without getting to know its fishing history. The museum’s main exhibitions illustrate the development from rowing boats to modern trawlers and the history of trading vessels and routes and the construction of Reykjavik harbour. Grandagarður 8, Reykjavik 517-9400 | maritimemuseum.is Hours: Daily 11-17.

THE LIVING ART MUSEUM

AURORA REYKJAVIK

FREE ENTRY The museum is an active exhibition space in central Reykjavik that has organized many exciting exhibitions throughout the years. They put an emphasis on introducing young Icelandic artists, as well as showcasing work done by better known Icelandic and foreign artists.

The Northern Lights Center, Aurora Reykjavik, allows you to experience the Northern Lights in a completely different way, both if you saw them, but as well if they escaped you while in Iceland. The center features information, education and of course stunning visuals of the elusive lights that’ll get your heart racing.

Skúlagata 28, Reykjavik 551-4350 | www.nylo.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Closed Mon

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Freyjugata 41, Reykjavik 511-5353 | www.listasafnasi.is Hours: Daily 13-17, Closed Mon

THE CULTURE HOUSE

ART & CULTURE

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ICELAND

Grandagarður 2, Reykjavik 780-4500 | aurorareykjavik.is Hours: Daily 10-22

ART & CULTURE

KJARVALSSTAÐIR

ÁSMUNDARSAFN

HAFNARHÚS

Mainly devoted to paintings and sculpture by well established Icelandic and international artists. Kjarvalsstaðir offers a permanent exhibition of key works by one of Iceland’s most beloved landscape painters, Jóhannes S. Kjarval, as well as changing exhibitions that explore various thematic and historical aspects of Icelandic art.

Opened in 1983, the collection is housed in a unique building designed and constructed mostly by the artist himself from 19421950. The original building served Sveinsson as studio and home; behind it he built a crescent-shaped structure as a work- and exhibition space.

The Reykjavik Art Museum took p o ss e ss i o n o f i t s p o r t i o n o f Hafnarhús (Harbour House) in April 2000. Hafnarhús was built in 1932-39 for the offices and warehouses of Reykjavik Harbor and was at that time one of the largest buildings in the country.

Flókagata 24, Reykjavik 517-1290 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17

GLJÚFRASTEINN LAXNESS MUSEUM

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Halldór Laxness is arguably the most famous Icelandic writer of all time, and the only Icelander to have won a Nobel Prize, which he received for literature in 1955. Gljúfrasteinn was his home until his death, and today it is a museum dedicated to his life and work.

Gljúfrasteinn, Mosfellsbær 586-8066 | www.gljufrasteinn.is Hours: Daily 10-17, Closed Mon

THE CINEMA A cozy place in a loft at the lively Old Harbour down town Reykjavík, where there is a daily show of films of volcanoes, northern lights and nature gems of Iceland made by a re-known Icelandic filmmaker. At The Cinema one can also enjoy a rock exhibition, buy DVD´s and more, look at books, get refreshments, information - or just relax in a unique place. Geirsgata 7b, Reykjavík 898 6628 | www.thecinema.is Hours: Daily 12-20

Sigtún, Reykjavik 553-2155 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17.

GALLERY FOLD Iceland’s leading auction house and foremost fine arts dealership. Established in 1990, Gallerí Fold has been in the hands of its current proprietor since 1992. In 1994, they acquired their own premises, where they‘ve enjoyed a period of growth and prosperity. Their 600 m2 building has five exhibition spaces from 30 to 110 m2. Rauðarárstíg 12-14, Reykjavik 551-0400 | www.myndlist.is Hours: Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 11-16

COLLECTORS EMPORIUM ICELAND In a basement of sorts on Hverfisgata, just off Reykjavik’s main shopping street, you’ll find this hidden gem. Imagine it as a museum where you can take home anything you particularly fancy. A vast collection of unique and historic Icelandic items, such as stamps, coins and much more, make it well worth a visit. Hverfisgata 16, Reykjavik Hours: Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 12-16

Tryggvagata 17, Reykjavik 590-1200 | www.artmuseum.is Hours: Daily 10-17, Thu 10-20

COLLECTION OF ÁSGRÍMUR JÓNSSON One of the pioneers of Icelandic art and the first Icelander to take up painting professionally. Having died in 1958, he bequeathed all his works, as well as his studio home to the Icelandic nation. Bergstaðastræti 74, Reykjavík 515-9625 Hours: Sun. 1-4.

NORDIC HOUSE Iceland maintains strong ties to other Nordic countries, and the center of this cooperation is the Nordic House, designed by acclaimed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1968. The Nordic House is the venue to be if you want to enjoy the best of Icelandic cultural as well as experiencing rich culture of the Nordic countries Sturlugata 5, Reykjavik 551-7030 | www.nordice.is Hours: Daily 12-17, Closed Mon

SOUVENIR SHOP S HOP OF T H E Y E A R 2 0 1 2

The viking:info Laugavegur 1 · Reykjavík Hafnarstræti 1 - 3 · Reykjavík Hafnarstræti 104 · Akureyri Adalstræti 27 · Ísafjördur e:info@the viking

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Two Icelandic themed villages

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Restaurant & Lodging

The Viking Village is a unique place and it is the only Viking theme Hotel and restaurant in Iceland. We have step by step been developing our facilities over the last 24 years and will hopefully continue to do so in the future. We offer Hotel accommodation and Viking houses. Good for families and groups.

The Fisherman´s village, our newest accommodation is Hlið in Álftanes only few minutes drive from the Viking Village. Like a country home by the seaside. Such an idyllic place to visit. The restaurant is open for groups in the evenings. Close to the president´s residence.

ve ri re d nt es ce ut ty in ci m e 15 th to

Viking feasts - Souvenirs - Live entertainment most nights “You haven't been in Iceland if you haven't been to us“ Don’t miss it! Booking: www.vikingvillage.is | +354 565 1213

This is Solla, the winner of Best Gourmet Raw Chef and Best Simple Raw Chef in the 2011 and 2012 “Best of Raw” Awards. Come and try out one of her great dishes at her restaurant Gló, Iceland’s most popular health food restaurant operating at three different locations in the great Reykjavik area. Reykjavík: Engjateigur 19 and Laugavegur 20b · Hafnarfjörður: Strandgata 34 · www.glo.is

KALDI BAR

THE CELTIC CROSS

Austur is one of the hottest clubs in downtown Reykjavik, and has been since it first opened in 2009. Austur is located in Austurstraeti, one of the main bar- and shopping streets downtown, and even though the surrounding area is filled with clubs and bars, Austur seems to be the center of attention.

One of the coolest bars in Reykjavik these days is Kaldi Bar. In close cooperation with north-Icelandic micro-brewery of the same name, Kaldi offers you a selection of craftbrewed beers on tap. Great happy hour and great fun, Kaldi is a place not-to-be-missed!

An Irish pub with multiple beers on tap. With a big screen TV to watch the game, while enjoying a nice cold pint of beer, the Celtic Cross features friendly staff and a nice atmosphere that makes you feel just at home.

Austurstræti 7, Reykjavik 568-1907

Laugavegur 20b, Reykjavik 581 2200

Hverfisgata 26, Reykjavik 511-3240

DEN DANSKE KRO

One of the newest and hottest clubs in Reykjavik these days, mostly attracting young people who want to dance. Electronic music is their main thing during the weekend, but on weekdays they like to play makeout music, Icelandic classics from the 80’s and 90’s and host curiously themed-pub quizzes.

B5 bar/bistro has become a very popular establishment with the locals of the capital. With its very contemporary and stylish interior, b5 is laid back during the day, while as night falls, the lights dim and the atmosphere changes accordingly.

There is live music playing every night at Den Danske Kro and sometimes there are live football games, pub quizzes, beer bingo, darts and happy hours. Den Danske Kro is a casual place in the heart of Reykjavik where everyone is welcome.

Hafnarstræti 4, Reykjavik 571-9222

Bankastræti 5, Reykjavik 552-9600 www.b5.is

Ingólfsstræti 3, Reykjavik 552-0070 www.danski.is

KAFFIBARINN

MICROBAR

THE ENGLISH PUB

Beer enthusiasts, look no further! In a small hole-in-the-wall kind of place just off Ingólfstorg square you will find Micro Bar. Carrying an impressive 140 different kinds of beers from all over the world, this is definitely the go-to place for beer fans.

In the mood for a pint? English Pub offers over 35 brands of beer and Whiskey. Whatever your preference – you will find it here. This is also a great place if you would like to catch some football (soccer). Inside they have 3 big screens and 2 TV’s so that you can catch all the action as it happens.

Best known as Damon Albarn’s hangout place back in the days, this most famous bar in Iceland is a popular destination for the artsy and univer sity crowd. During the week it‘s more of a café, but on the weekend the volume rises and KB becomes one of the hottest bars in Reykjavik. Bergstaðastræti 1, Reykjavik 551-1588 www.kaffibarinn.is

Austurstræti 6, Reykjavik 847-9084 www.facebook.com/ MicroBarIceland

Austurstræti 12, Reykjavik 578-0400 www.facebook.com/enskibarinn

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ANNA MARÍA DESIGN For over twenty years, jewelry designer Anna Maria has created her things of gold and silver, a design that is both pure and timeless. Exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship create the elegant simplicity that shines through Anna Maria‘s products.

GALLERÍ SMÍÐAR OG SKART Gallery Smíðar og Skart offers a wide selection of contemporary Icelandic art. Oil paintings, acrylic paintings, watercolors as well as ceramics and glass art. Over 50 local artists have their work on display in the Gallery.

KOGGA Near the harbour in the middle of old town Reykjavik you’ll find unique ceramic design by the well known ceramics artist Kogga at her self titled gallery. Her work is both functional and sculptural, influenced by the rough nature of Iceland. A piece by Kogga can be found in many Icelandic homes.

Skólavörðustígur 3, Reykjavik 551-0036 www.annamariadesign.is

Skólavörðustígur 16a, Reykjavik 561-4090

LISTVINAHÚSIÐ

ÁLAFOSS

METAL DESIGN

The oldest ceramic workshop in Iceland established 1927. Three generations of artistic potters. U n i q u e h a n d m a d e ce ra m i c s , Viking masks and various ceramic potteries decorated with lava, made by Gudmundur Einarsson. Located right next to Hallgrímskirkja and the statue of “Leif the Lucky”.

One of Iceland’s major woollen industry shops, the Álafoss store. Situated in old factory premises that for decades were the leading manufacturers and exporters of Icelandic woollens, Álafoss is a company that strives towards offering the newest wares along with the traditional Icelandic wool sweaters

The jewellery forms which Metal design is known for are inspired by the Icelandic flora. But what stands out the most is the shape “The Coast” that is inspired by the waves of the Icelandic coast.”The coast silver jewellery line is for ladies and gentlemen.

Skólavörðustígur 43, Reykjavik 551-2850 www.listvinahusid.is

Álafossvegur 23, Mosfellsbær 566-6303 | www.alafoss.is

Vesturgata 5, Reykjavik 552-6036 www.kogga.is

Skólavörðustígur 2. Reykjavik 552-5445 www.MetalDesignReykjavik.is

LISTASELIÐ

IGLÓ&INDÍ

CINTAMANI

Six energetic women design and create exclusive art, while also running and working in the gallery. The gallery offers gift vouchers, issued by the store or by the Centrum organization that can be redeemed within most shops on Laugarvegur and Skólavörðustígur in downtown Reykjavik.

Loved by parents and children alike and praised in the media for boldness and creativity, Ígló&Indí has offered both parents and children an ever growing collection of clothes with a fresh take on children’s fashion since 2008— representing the best childhood has to offer.

Skólavörðustígur 17b, Reykjavik 551-5675 | www.listaselid.is Hours: Mon-Fri 12-18, Sat 11-16

Skólavörðustígur 2, Reykjavik 445-2020 | www.igloandindi.com

Nowhere in the populated world does the weather change as fast, or as often as here. Thus Icelandic designers have to meet the requirements of consumers who have to go out all year long in harsh conditions. That‘s where the label Cintamani comes to the rescue. Their goal is to keep us warm, dry and comfortable, whatever the weather may bring. Bankastræti 7, Reykjavik 533-3800 | www.cintamani.is

Icelandic CHILDRENSWEAR PLAYFUL & PRACTICAL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM COMFORT WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON STYLE AND CREATIVITY.

Visit us at our store in downtown Reykjavík on Skólavörðustígur 4 or at our store in Kringlan mall. You can also find us online at www.igloandindi.com

SHOPPING & STYLE Find more recommendations on whatson.is

GULLKÚNST HELGU

MICHELSEN

KRAUM

With its wide open spaces and beautiful treasures displayed in glass casting, Gullkúnst Helgu feels more like a gallery than a jewelry shop. Located on central Laugavegur, Reykjavik´s busiest shopping street, this family owned shop is not to be missed.

Inside their spacious shop in downtown Reykjavik, Michelsen Watchmakers offer you to browse one of Iceland’s best selection of watches. Along with their own design they also have a wide selection of well-known brands including Rolex, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Movado, Swiss Military and more.

Natural light floods the wooden floors and the fresh white walls of this stunning design hub and retail outlet, which already attracts some of Iceland´s top talents. More than 70 designers are contributing to a huge selection of products that include children’s puzzles, fish skin lamps and exquisite jewellery.

Laugavegur 13, Reykjavik 561-6660 www.gullkunst.is

Laugavegur 15, Reykjavik 511-1900 | www.michelsen.is

Aðalstræti 10, Reykjavik 517-7797 www.kraum.is

STUDIO STAFN

HILDUR HAFSTEIN

GEYSIR

At Studio Stafn you will be able to look at art, purchase art and have your art framed! Great works and historical paintings by Iceland’s most famous artists could become all yours if you pay them a visit. If you’re not looking to buy art, at least stop by and take a look.

A wonderful little workshop, where Hildur Hafstein creates her handmade Icelandic jewelry line, KORA. Inspired by different elements, such as Buddhism and the flower power, a visit to Hildur Hafstein will be a pleasant experience. Although the store is technically on Laugavegur, you walk in from Klapparstígur!

Rustic, vintage interior, intertwined with the latest fashion in outdoor and woolen clothing. Add some puffin, reindeers and other iconic animals and you‘ve got one of the coolest shops in town. This is one place you‘ll have to visit, if only for the experience.

Ingólfsstræti 6, Reykjavik 552-4700 www.studiostafn.is

THE HANDKNITTING ASSOCIATION OF ICELAND Renowned for its excellent products and quality. Offering the widest selection of traditional hand knitted Icelandic sweaters, the range of products also includes special designs and a variety of woolen products from leading Icelandic manufactures. Skólavörðustígur 19, Reykjavik 552-1890 | www.handknit.is

Laugavegur 20b, Reykjavik 771-1177 www.HildurHafstein.is

Skólavörðustíg 16, Reykjavík 519-6000 www.geysir.com

EPAL

KRINGLAN

Their main goal has been to increase Icelanders interest and respect for fine design by introducing and providing top quality design products from all over the world, particularly Scandinavia. Epal has always been very supportive of Icelandic designers and done what they can to help them promote their design around the world.

Kringlan Shopping Centre is conveniently located close to downtown Reykjavik. Standing at 50.000 sq.m. and equipped with 150 shops and services, including a multiplex cinema, a seven-outlet food court and three themed restaurants, it has something to suit every need.

Skeifan 6, & Harpa Reykjavik Keflavík Airport 568-7740 | www.epal.is

Kringlan 4-12, Reykjavik 517-9000 | www.kringlan.is

SKÓLAVÖRÐUSTÍGUR 14 - 101 REYKJAVÍK - TEL: +354 571 1100

FOOD & DRINK

THE LOBSTER HOUSE

VEGAMÓT BISTRO

GRILLIÐ

Lobster dishes are the main focus on the menu but there is a lot more to choose from. The starters are fresh and exciting, for example the whale tataki with ginger jelly, soya and sesam vinagrette, and the carpaccio of horse with lobster, wild mushrooms and foie gras.

Is a centrally located and affordable restaurant that boasts an extensive international menu with an emphasis on Tex-Mex, Italian, Indian and many light meal options. During the weekend Vegamót transforms into a bar with refreshing cocktails, a wide selection of beers and popular DJ’s playing well into the night.

Just last year they celebrated their 50th anniversary. From the very beginning, Grillid has been regarded as one of the best restaurants in Iceland. If you want fine dining, perfectly executed food, professional service and excellent wines with a spectacular view over the city, you have come to the right place.

Vegamótastígur 4, Reykjavik 511-3040 | www.vegamot.is

Radisson BLU Hotel, Reykjavik 525-9960 | www.grillid.is

ARGENTÍNA STEAKHOUSE

HAMBORGARABÚLLAN – BURGER JOINT

They offer some of the the finest cuisine there is to find in the whole city. Grilling meat and fish of all kinds Argentinian style using wooden coal is what they do better than any other restaurant and frankly, you won‘t believe your own tastebuds

Since 2004, the Joint has kept it simple, fun and delicious. Sitting right by the Old Harbour, in a small, iconic house, the atmosphere of the Burger Joint is hard to find elsewhere. You can feel the joy of the staff, as they serve you juicy burgers, exploding with great taste.

Amtmannsstígur 1, Reykjavik 561-3303 www.humarhusid.is

AUSTURLANDAHRAÐLESTIN

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An excellent Indian restaurant, focusing on quality take-away, with the option of eating in. This means that while it‘s technically “fast food”, it’s definitely of restaurant q u a l i t y. T h e m e n u i n c l u d e s everything you could expect from an Indian restaurant, with the Chicken Tandoori being especially recommended.

Barónsstígur 11a, Reykjavik 551-9555 | www.argentina.is

Geirsgata 1, Reykjavik 511-1888 www.bullan.is

SNAPS

CARUSO

LIFANDI MARKAÐUR

A new restaurant in Iceland situated at Odinstorg. Snaps is a classic french bistro using local Icelandic ingredients. The location could not be better. Snaps is literally a few steps away from downtown Reykjavik, close to the National Theatre, The National Gallery of Iceland and the two main shopping streets of Reykjavik”

Situated in a warm, charming old building in the heart of Reykjavik. Caruso is romantic to say the least, and serves top quality Italian- and Icelandic food. The surroundings are beautiful and the atmosphere is enchanting. The restaurant is on three floors, so it‘s ideal for groups, individuals and couples.

A modern and health conscious restaurant and whole food shop which offers a wide range of hot or cold food to eat in or take-out. The selection consists of both vegetarian food and healthy food. No white flour, white sugar, MSG is used in the food.

Lækjargata 8, Reykjavik 578-3838 | www.hradlestin.is

Óðinstorg, Reykjavik 511-6677 | www.snapsbistro.is

Þingholtsstræti 1, Reykjavik 562-7335 www.caruso.is

Borgartún 24, Reykjavik 585-8700 www.lifandimarkadur.is

The concept of the restaurant is "c a s u a l f u n d i n i n g" a n d w e p r e p a r e w h a t w e w o u l d call a simple honest, "feel good", comfort food, where we take on the classics with a modern twist.

S K Ó L AV Ö R Ð U S T Í G U R 4 0 · 1 0 1 R E Y K J AV Í K T E L . +3 5 4 5 1 7 74 74 · I N F O @ K O L R E S TA U R A N T. I S · KO L R E S TA U R A N T. I S

Enjoy

Every day from 18:00

Hugsa sér!

All your favorites

Steaks, fish´n chips, burgers, … or take at our sandwiches anda look salads menu with a variety of Icelandic delicacies

Grillhúsið Tryggvagötu - Phone + 354 527 5000 - www.grillhusid.is RR-WO_145x107_0513.indd 1 GH-RCG_145x107_0313.indd 1

Hugsa sér!

We just love it.

Aðalstræti 2 | 101 Reykjavík | Tel: +354 517 4300 | www.geysirbistro.is

22.5.2013 15:25 19.3.2013 16:41

A new restaurant opposite the old harbour that offers traditional steak dishes along with some exciting and fairly unorthodox choices. The pride and joy of The Steakhouse is the Mibrasa charcoal oven, a rare oven that is designed to cook the perfect steak by mixing modern technology with ancient tradition. Tryggvagata 4-6, Reykjavik 561-1111 | www.steik.is

AUSTURINDÍAFJELAGIÐ The spices used to season the food at Austur-Indiafjelagid are imported directly from India and blended on the spot by their team of highly experienced chefs. The Tandoori dishes on the menu must be mentioned, as the chefs have truly mastered the art of Tandoori grilling. Hverfisgata 56, Reykjavik 552-1630 | www.austurindia.is

JÓMFRÚIN An open-sandwich restaurant in the Danish tradition offering authentic Danish smørrebrød along with a selection of hot dishes. The restaurant is located in the heart of the city centre and seats 80 guests. It is a popular lunch venue, especially with people from the business sector. Lækjargata 4, Reykjavik 551-0100 | www.jomfruin.is

KOL

BAST

PERLAN

Kol describes itself as “casual fine dining with a big bar”. The name comes from the unique charcoal oven which lends a very special, rustic flavour to the dishes. The restaurant offers a wide variety of sophisticated cocktails, mixed with handmade syrups and juices.

BAST - “wicker ” in Icelandic, is a lightweight material, and this restaurant focuses on light d e co r, l i g h t a t m o s p h e re a n d light dishes, such as brunch, soup and cakes.

For the finest in dining, nothing compares to Perlan Restaurant. While your taste buds delight to superb cuisine, you will enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Reykjavik and beyond as the restaurant gently completes a full rotation every two hours.

Skólavörðustígur 40, Reykjavik 517-7474

Hverfisgata 20, Reykjavik 519-7579

KAFFITÁR

Located inside Listhusid in Laugardalur valley, Glo is Iceland‘s hottest new organic restaurant. The menu consists of vegetarian- and raw food courses, meat dishes, soups and salads. The courses are somewhat modest as they are simple, filling and not flooded with too much spice or ingredients.

A chain of cafés and espresso bars with over 30 years of experience in serving and roasting high-quality coffee. They operate cafés in 8 locations in Iceland, promising a highly knowledgeable staff and a great cup of coffee procured in a responsible and fair way.

Engjateigur 19, Listhusid, Reykjavik 553-1111 | www.glo.is

Bankastræti 8, Reykjavik 420-2700 www.kaffitar.is/en

Perlan, Reykjavik 562-0200 | www.perlan.is

KJALLARINN KITCHEN BAR „The Cellar“ a new restaurant in one of the cities oldest houses. The menu is split up by the two main methods of cooking, a coal oven and a French planche. Master chef Eyjólfur Gestur serves up exciting feasts from both sea and land as well as great parings of food and cocktails. Aðalstræti 2, Reykjavik 517 7373

Find more recommendations on whatson.is

GLÓ

FOOD & DRINK

THE STEAK HOUSE

FOOD & DRINK Find more recommendations on whatson.is

SJÁVARBARINN Sjávarbarinn’s main feature is an all-you-can-eat buffet that has received raving reviews and it also offers an à la carte menu at a very competitive price. Join the locals for lunch in a friendly and cheerful atmosphere or enjoy dinner when the chef spruces things up. Grandagarður 9, Reykjavik 517-3131 www.sjavarbarinn.is

MAR - SEAFOOD RESTAURANT A restaurant in prime location in Reykjavík‘s old harbour. The menu is inspired by South-American and southern-European cuisine and the restaurant designed to deliver fresh and uplifting dining experience, unique to the harbour area. MAR is an interesting choice for individuals and groups alike.

BORÐSTOFAN This secret lunch heaven just opened, and locals already love it. The chef is renowned for a reason, as he offers good pricing and great food, with a special emphasis on the musttry cakes and pastry. In a 100 year old house in the Reykjavik centre, Borðstofan will make you feel at home. Open every day 11am-6pm

Geirsgata 9, Reykjavik 519-5050 | www.marrestaurant.is

Hannesarholt, Grundarstígur 10, Reykjavik 511-1904 | www.bordstofan.is

KOPAR

GRILLHÚSIÐ

LEBOWSKI BAR

Kopar is a restaurant by the old harbour in Reykjavik which has an emphasis on adventure and experience in a brasserie setting. Their menu is composed of various locally sourced ingredients from sea and land, and aims to give you a taste of Iceland in a single evening.

A fun restaurant, with the look and feel of an American Diner. R e a s o n a b l y p r i ce d , o f f e r i n g delicious food and a very good service, you‘ll definitely get great value for your money here. They put a special emphasis on using only high quality ingredients, making for a terrific meal.

The 1998 comedy film The Big Lebowski by the Coen brothers is not only a film, it has become a lifestyle. With the emergence of the Lebowski Bar in Reykjavik, everyone can now be a part of The Dude‘s peculiar world. The Lebowski bar is everything you want it to be, a bowling themed burger joint, restaurant and bar.

Geirsgata 3, Reykjavik 567-2700 www.koparrestaurant.is

ICELANDIC TAPAS HOUSE Over 60 very diverse dishes to choose from and, to make things easier, special offer menus, for example the “Discover Iceland” option where you can sample Icelandic delicacies through a four course meal that includes puffin, langoustine, and Icelandic skyr pizza. Ægisgarður 2, by the old Harbour, Reykjavik 512-8181 | www.tapashusid.is

Tryggvagata 20, Reykjavik 562-3453 www.grillhusid.is

Laugavegur 20a, Reykjavik 552-2300 | lebowski.is

FISH COMPANY

KOLABRAUTIN

Quality, fusion and fun are the Fish Company’s main characteristics. The interior is stylish and the quirky tableware fits in wonderfully. The menu is a world of adventures from starters to deserts. It’s designed to take you on a seafood journey and not only a journey of the Icelandic culinary waters but a trip around the world.

Harpa is not only home to the Icelandic Opera and the Orchestra, it is also the location of one of Reykjavik‘s newest fine restaurants. The kitchen is in the middle of the room, where the fiery furnace gives the dinner guests a warm welcome. An ideal choice for people who appreciate fine cuisine combined with unique architecture and elegant atmosphere.

Vesturgata 2a, Reykjavik 552-5300 | www.fiskfelagid.is

Harpa, Reykjavik 519-9700 | www.kolabrautin.is

Experience real Icelandic cuisine

Bankastræti 2, 101 Reykjavík Tel: (+354) 551 4430 info@laekjarbrekka.is www.laekjarbrekka.is

Let’s be friends!

/laekjarbrekka

vurl.is/i

Culinary underground movement — Literally The newest addition to the restaurant flora of the capital is Kjallarinn - Kitchen Bar

Kjallarinn simply means „The Cellar“ a fitting name since Kjallarinn is literally underground. The stylish yet warm surrounding is the home of some exciting innovations in both cooking as well as cocktails, which are the inventions of master chef Eyjólfur Gestur in collaboration with the bartenders. The menu is broken up by method of cooking, on one hand the coal oven and on the other a French Planche. On the menu you can find various fish, meat and fowl and of course some interesting cocktail pairings, should you be so inclined. Enjoy!

Aðal st ræt i 2 101 Reykj aví k Tel : 517 7373 kjallarinn@kjallarinn.is

GENERAL TIPS AND ADVICE

Want to know the population of Iceland? Who‘s the president? Why there are so many beautiful women in Iceland? Why people live so far north in the cold? When is the best time to visit? We have all these answers and plenty more. We strive to have the answer to everything you might possibly want to know about Iceland, Reykjavik, Icelanders, travelling to Iceland and everything related (or unrelated) you might be seeking. If you can‘t find your answer here – just visit us on Laugavegur 4 in Reykjavik, or drop us an email on whatson@whatson.is – ask us on facebook, twitter, instagram or any other media you can imagine and we‘ll do our best to answer promptly! YOU HAVE ANY GOOD IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS FOR ME? JUST IN CASE SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS? 112 – For every emergency you can imagine. Including if you get beat up (that’ll only happen if you’re a complete asshole by the way, we’re not a violent people. The Viking blood has been diluted over the years and with it the rage has receded) 5885522 – Every Icelander knows this number. It’s for one of the taxi stations. We won’t judge if it’s a better taxi station than the next one – but it has a catchy phone number. 58-12345 – Domino’s. What’s better than a juicy Domino’s pizza after a hard day of exploring Reykjavik? 118 – This is the phonebook and allegedly they answer all sorts of questions you might have. You’ll pay heftily for this service though.

severely injured yourself in your own home country. Apart from possibly changing the phone number you’d call – what would be your action plan? Go ahead and execute that plan – it’s likely that all the steps will align perfectly with Icelandic reality. But again. 112! That’s the number to remember. I JUST SO HAPPEN TO HAVE THIS LETTER HERE I FORGOT TO POST… CAN I DO THAT IN ICELAND? Well yes you can. There are 5 post offices scattered through Reykjavik. As well you can use the post boxes. Both the office and the boxes will be more or less red. The Icelandic word for post is póstur, so you really shouldn’t have any problems finding the correct thing. If that fails, you might want to consider joining the rest of us here in the modern day, using e-mail.

HOW CAN I CALL ICELAND? CAN PEOPLE CALL ME WHILE HERE? Your standard issue mobile phone is most likely going to work just fine in Iceland. Nowadays phones just…take care of all that complicated stuff themselves. If you really want to get down and dirty, the country code is +354 and the phone numbers have 7 digits. IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE IN ICELAND? Unless you’re a complete asshole – driving should be quite safe. We drive on the right side and the speed limit is 90km/h. One major point to keep in mind though, is that the weather changes ridiculously fast and the driving conditions can get seriously disgusting, slippery, snowy and whatever. Drive according to situation always!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I JUST SEVERELY INJURED MYSELF. WHAT SHOULD I DO? Hmm… You should almost certainly start by calling 1-1-2. That’s the emergency phone number in Iceland, one you should generally use in all sorts of life threatening perils. After that you should judge the nature of the injury. Honestly though – Imagine you just

Get to know the Icelanders 5 0 m i n i at ur e e s s ay s o n t h e q uirk s a n d fo i b le s o f th e i c e l an d i c p e o p l e

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS I HEARD ICELANDIC FOOD IS DISGUSTING, WHAT‘S UP WITH THAT? It‘s not really. Well, some of it is, sure, but the regular food is honestly just that, regular food. You have to keep in mind that back in the day, Iceland was dirt poor and isolated in the middle of the ocean. So we really didn‘t have much choice when it came to culinary development and enhancements. Summer was about hoarding as much food as possible, just in order to survive winter. However, having plenty of food in August is not going to help at all if it‘s all destroyed and disgusting in April is it? So the ingenious Icelanders of yore had to figure out ways to preserve the food and did so by inventing methods of varying foulness, ranging from not foul at all (drying, smoking, salting) to quite foul and even very foul (fermenting stuff in sour whey, leaving stuff in barrels for weeks and calling it “processing”, when in fact things are just going bad.) As a result, some of the traditional Icelandic food has an acquired taste. A lot of it is quite delicious though. For more information, please refer the article “The Taste of Iceland,” on page 8. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME POSITIVE ABOUT THE FOOD?

Skyr, Hangikjöt, Harðfiskur, Kleinur, Laufabrauð. We have plenty. Modern Icelandic cuisine is awesome. Icelandic fish is by default superb, and the lamb is great as well. Visiting modernday Iceland is not going to leave you disappointed when it comes to food. As stated earlier – refer to “The Taste of Iceland,” which touches on the high-end stuff. Oh and of course our “Food & Drink” section only covers great stuff. Promise.

WHO WANTS SECONDS?

ARE YOU REALLY ESKIMOS? Where did you even get that idea from? No we‘re not. SINCE YOU GUYS LIVE IN IGLOOS, DO YOU HAVE INTERNET? The igloo joke is not funny. At all. We are serious folk, living in serious looking houses, with roofs and doors and electricity and stuff. Yes we have internet. Actually, we have like, the highest internet penetration in the world. Practically everyone in Iceland has access to internet.

You can literally leave your wallet on the ground and either some one will deliver it to you, the nearest police station, or it‘ll still be there the next morning. WHAT ABOUT TROLLS AND ELVES AND STUFF? SHOULD I WORRY? Nah, not really. Unless you provoke or irritate them, in that case you should run.

WHAT ABOUT…PROPER INTERNET, LIKE WI-FI AND STUFF? Yeah. We have that as well. You’ll have access to 3G, 4G, LTE, Wi-Fi and a multitude of other cool standards and abbreviations. Majority of café’s, restaurants, hotels and other frequented places are going to offer free Wi-Fi. I JUST GOT MUGGED! WHAT SHOULD I DO??? No you didn‘t get mugged. You don‘t get mugged in Iceland.

ARE ICELANDERS COOL? (PUN INTENDED) That was an awful pun. But yeah – we are… Have you seen the Of Monsters and Men kids? Or Björk?

e c r u o s A alth e h f o

Th er m al sw i m m ing po ols

Hot t ubs and jacuzz i

Sa un as , steamb at hs an d sh ow er s

*Admission February 2014. Price is subject to change ge

Reykjavik's Thermal Pools

O N LY

0LiTsSk. 60 ADU k. 130DiRsEN CHIL

Fo r he alt h an d we ll- be ing

Se ve n loc at ion s

Op en ea rl y un t il lat e

Thermal pools a and d baths in Reykjavik a are e a source of health, rrelaxation elaxation and purenes pureness. s. All of the city´s swimming pools have several hot pots with temperatures ranging from 37˚ to 42˚C (98˚–111˚F). The pools are kept at an average temperature of 29˚ C (84˚ F).

Tel: +354 411 5000 • www.spacity.is

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS YOUR LANGUAGE DOESN‘T MAKE SENSE, ARE YOU REALLY SPEAKING REAL WORDS? No, this is just an elaborate scheme we put in action whenever there’s a foreigner around. In reality our language is Spanish, because we used to do a lot of business with the Spanish some hundreds of years ago. We sold them salted fish in bulk, in exchange for red wine. That was a great deal… Okay, in reality. Yeah…Icelandic is a real language, spoken by some 300.000 Icelanders. It’s related to the other Scandinavian languages, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, though it doesn’t really sound similar. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN ICELAND? This is not coming from us, but according to some people, it‘s because, back in the days, the Vikings went over to England and stole all the beautiful women from them, which resulted in Iceland being a disproportionally beautiful nation, as opposed to the English… This is not something we honestly believe though – the official story is Lýsi, high quality fish and a biased, yet favourable, general opinion on beauty standards. DOES EVERYONE SPEAK ENGLISH IN ICELAND? Yes. And most of us know some pretty difficult words as well!

LIFE IN THE NORTH CAN BE A BIT SNOWY AND DARK

HOW BIG IS YOUR COUNTRY? Size really doesn‘t matter, so we‘re not too worried about that…But, we‘re talking 103,000 high-quality km²‘s (40,000 sq mi). Iceland is actually the worlds 18th largest island, which isn‘t really that impressive. WHAT’S THE POPULATION OF ICELAND? Roughly 320.000. That’s thousand, not millions. Yes – we have about the same amount of people as Santa Ana or Riverside California. Or one tenth of Berlin (Germany) or Madrid (Spain) if that scale makes more sense. Less than Bilbao (Spain), Cardiff (UK) and Nice (France). More than Utrecht (Netherlands), Bari (Italy) and the renowned town of Wirral (UK). Stop making fun of us. We’re blond, tall and strong. Who cares we’re just a handful. We’re statistically good at everything.

WHY DO PEOPLE LIVE SO FAR NORTH IN THE COLD? Meh … It’s a mixture of reasons really. Firstly – we were born here, so we’re just used to it and don’t know anything else Secondly – we have some seriously warm clothes up here, so we’re not that cold all the time. Thirdly – Iceland is packed with steaming water pouring from the ground here and there, so our houses are warm all the time. Now on top of that – Iceland is BEAUTIFUL! It’s like…jawsto-the-ground stunning at times. We have Aurora borealis, waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and a multitude of other super cool awesome amazing stuff. That alone makes living here a dream.

CHECK OUT MORE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ONLINE ON WHATSON.IS/FAQ 80

THE PLATINUM TENORS OF ICELAND PERFORM PEARLS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

PHANTOMS

of the

OPERA

THE HARPA ROOFTOP DINNER

Three of Iceland’s leading tenors celebrate the glory of music and the midsummer night sun. Five course Icelandic Gala Menu prepared by the former captain of the Icelandic culinary team. Taste of Iceland with a breath taking view, overlooking Reykjavik, from the award winning Harpa concert house. Toped of by the legendary Harpa balcony toast. Exclusively only hundred seats per show.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW AT HARPA’S BOX OFFICE / +354 528 5050 / WWW.HARPA.IS

WOOL SWEATERS, ACCESSORIES, WOOL BLANKETS, TRADITIONAL CRAFTS & MODERN ICELANDIC ART

1896

LAUGAVEGUR 8, REYKJAVÍK ÁLAFOSSVEGUR 23, MOSFELLSBÆR OPEN: MON. - FRI. 9.00 - 18.00 SAT. 9:00 - 16:00

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ENJOY THE WARMTH FROM ICELAND!

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WORN OUT FOR CENTURIES We o ffer c lot h i n g & o t her mer c h a n d i s e t h at r em i n d s u s of g o o d old Ic el a n d

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