Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.12.2016, Síða 39

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Best museum
Árbæjarsafn
Kistuhylur 4
This living history museum invites
visitors to stroll through the past of
Iceland, experiencing turf houses and
living conditions from previous centu-
ries. The tour guides dress up in period
costumes, creating a vivid vision of how
Icelanders used to live. It’s a drive out of
the city centre, or quite a long bus ride,
but it’s worth it. “It goes over very well
with first-time visitors to Iceland,” said
the panel. “There are all sorts of fun facts
about how people lived here in the past.”
Runners up
The National Museum of Iceland
Suðurgata 41
This sprawling collection of Iceland’s
history covers all manner of artefacts,
from jewellry to weapons, tools,
costumes, textiles and more. You
could easy spend an entire afternoon
here, learning about the history of the
country.
The Settlement Exhibition
Aðalstræti 16
This underground museum, located
right downtown on Aðalstræti, offers
a look into the beginning of Iceland’s
history as an inhabited country. “It has
the remains of a turf house from the
870s,” said the panel, “from the original
Reykjavík settlement era.”
Previous winners
2015: Árbæjarsafnið
2014: National Museum of Iceland
2013: National Museum of Iceland
2012: National Museum of Iceland
2011: National Museum of Iceland
Best place for a
romantic sunset
Grótta
Seltjarnarnes peninsula
The area of Grótta is something
of a hidden gem. At the end of the
Seltjarnarnes peninsula, not far from
the centre of Reykjavík, there’s a lonely,
windblown, red-topped lighthouse, with
a walkable causeway that’s only acces-
sible at certain times, depending on the
tide. There’s a black beach, a miniature
hot pot, and a nature reserve. On a clear
evening, you can see the silhouette of the
Snæfellsjökull glacier against the pink sky.
What could be more romantic?
Runners up
Old Harbour
Ægisgarður
Reykjavík’s old harbour area is perfect
for a seaside sunset stroll. You can
watch the boats coming in and out, visit
the little lighthouses behind Harpa, or
follow the painted lines to a bustling dis-
trict of cafes and restaurants, perhaps
finishing with a cocktail at Slippbarinn.
Laugarnes
Laugarnes
For something a bit more secluded,
take a walk along Sæbraut, past the
Sun Voyager sculpture, and keep going
to an outcropping of land known as
Laugarnes. There’s a sculpture garden
there, and some tucked away benches
with views across the sea to Viðey
Island and Mount Esja.
Previous winners
2015: Öskjuhlíð
2014: Grótta
2013: Grótta
2012: Grótta
2011: Grasagarðurinn
Best place to take the kids
Hljómskála-
garðurinn
Fríkirkjuvegur
For something fun and active, there’s
nowhere better to take the kids than
Hljomskálagarðurinn. There are some
rope pyramids for climbing, outdoor
barbecues to grill food, and things to do
for all different age groups—a sandbox
for toddlers, a big playing field for
sports and games, and a trampoline. As
well as being wholesome fun, it’s free, and
there are no queues to worry about.
Runners up
Húsdýragarðurinn.
Múlavegur 2
Another firm favourite is Hús-
dýragarðurinn, which translates to
"farm animal zoo.” It’s a petting zoo
with sheep, horses, goats, pigs, and
some wild animals like foxes and rein-
deer. There’s a walking bridge that takes
you to the Fjölskyldugarðurinn, (e.
Family Garden), which has fairground
rides and a boating lake.
Nauthólsvík
Nauthólsvegur
The fact that Reykjavík has a beach
is amusing to some—the sand was
brought there specifically to make the
beach, and the cold seawater is mixed
with geothermally heated groundwater to
make it bearable for swimming. There’s a
hot pot and a snack stand, and on a sunny
day, it can be a blissful place to go.
Previous winners
2015: Húsdýragarðurinn
2014: Húsdýragarðurinn
2013: Fjölskyldugarðurinn
2012: Lynghagaróló Playground
Best hike
Móskarðshnjúkar
This beautiful hike lies a little way off
the beaten track of the Esja hike. You
need a good car to get there, but it’s
worth it. “It’s a slightly more exotic
route, walking over rhyolite—the same
material found in the Andes,” said the
panel. “The path isn’t always clear, and
it’s a little wild, so you’ll see way fewer
people here than on any of the other
trails. It’s a good choice for getting
away from the crowds.”
Runners up
Helgafell
Driving to Helgafell, just outside Haf-
narfjörður, really feels like getting into
the wilds despite its proximity to the
city. It’s a nice light walk across a lava
field and then up a gentle slope to a 300
metre peak that offers a nice view over
the Reykjanes peninsula.
Esja
This is a classic hike up the distinctive
mountain that towers over the Faxaflói
bay across from Reykjavík. You can
get to the start of the track by taking
the bus, which makes this hike super
convenient. You can either hike up to
the base camp level, or continue all the
way up the rough path to the top.
Previous winners
No previous winners.