Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.12.2016, Qupperneq 40

The R
eykjavík G
rapevine
B
est of R
eykjavík 20
16
40
Best day trip from Reykjavík
Hvalfjörður
This used to be part of the ring road, but is now off the beaten
track because of the Hvalfjarðargöng tunnel. There’s a great hike
to Glymur, the highest waterfall in Iceland. There’s also a cafe at
the Kjós campground. There are some old roadside gas stations,
which are all but abandoned and weird and exciting to visit. There’s
an old whaling station, and a sign marking where Winston Chur-
chill came to see submarines. And as if that wasn’t enough, you
can learn also about a wizard who turned into a whale at the Bor-
garnes settlement centre. The nearby area of Reykhólt is home to
one of the most famous authors of the Icelandic Sagas, who had one
of very first hot tubs. And finally, the town of Akranes has a great
beach, some good hikes, and a beautiful lighthouse.

Runners Up
Reykjanes
Although it is the location of the
famous Blue Lagoon, the Reykjanes
peninsula is often overlooked as people
head for the more well known South
Coast or the Golden Circle. But it’s a
treasure trove of nature: visit the Krý-
suvík geothermal park, the eerie lake of
Kleifarvatn, and the scenic coastal spot
of Reykjanesviti, and be back in time for
dinner, since it’s all not that far away.
Previous winners
2015: Snæfellsnes
2014: Snæfellsnes
2013: Reykjadalur
2012: Mosfellsbær and Esja
Snæfellsnes
Last year’s winner, Snæfellsnes, makes
for an amazing road trip. On the way,
you can see lava fields, huge green and
yellow hills, lighthouses, black beaches,
and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. But be
prepared for a lot of driving—it’s ap-
proximately an eight-hour round trip.
Best people-watching spot
Grandi
This concrete-heavy fishing harbour
area has been up-and-coming of late,
evolving into a bustling neighbourhood
of musicians’ practice rooms, startup
offices, cafés, shops and galleries. You
can mill around, taking in the scenery
of the harbour, get an ice-cream at
Valdís, have a delicious meal at Matur
og Drykkur or Coocoo’s Nest, visit the
Steinunn boutique, or walk out to the
manmade land artwork at the end of
the docks. And you’ll see a lot of street
life while you’re at it.
Runners Up
Prikið
Bankastræti 12
The oldest diner in Reykjavík is a perfect
place to enjoy a beer or coffee, order
one of their trademark burgers, and
engage in an entertaining bout of
people-watching. Whether you’re lucky
and get a downstairs booth, or you get
a window seat upstairs, pretty much ev-
eryone passes by here sooner or later.
Austurvöllur
The scene of the famous Panama
Papers protests earlier this year,
Austurvöllur is Reykjavík’s parliament
square. Whether you decide to perch
on a bench, sit outside at one of the
many café-bars lining the square, or
have a picnic, you’ll see pretty much all
of Icelandic society passing by.
Previous winners
2015: Austurvöllur
2014: Second Floor Window Seats,
Eymundsson on Austurstræti
2013: Booths at Hressó
Best place to see a movie
Bíó Paradís
Hverfisgata 54
This independent cinema on Hverfisga-
ta is a palace for indie film fans. They
run a great programme of arthouse cin-
ema from all around the world, as well
as showing Icelandic films on rotation
with English subtitles. They sometimes
show retro sci-fi and horror movies,
whether cult B-movies or well-known
classics. There’s an art gallery, a café,
and some comfy sofas to hang out and
drink coffee. Bíó Paradís, you’re doin’ it
right: we salute you.
Runners Up
VIP Theaters
Sambíó, Álfabakki 8
Smárabíó, Smáralind
If you wanna see a blockbuster popcorn
movie (and let’s face it, who doesn’t
from time to time) then the VIP screens
have got you covered. You can sit in a
La-Z-Boy, and there’s a bottomless vat
of popcorn to dip into. Perf.
Háskólabíó
As lot of visitors to Reykjavík are
probably on foot, or using public trans-
port, a handy option to see the latest
Hollywood product is Háskólabíó. It’s
located in the university complex just
across Tjörnin, and so walkable from
downtown, and it’s always showing
whatever has just come out.
Previous winners
2015: VIP Theater
2014: Bíó Paradís
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2016
Activities
Get outta town...