Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.12.2016, Side 40

The R
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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 Gly-
mur, the tallest 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 Churchill 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 Borganes settlement
centre. The nearby area of Reykhólt is home to one of the most fa-
mous authors of the Icelandic saga, 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 long lot of driving—it’s
approximately 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 musician’s practice rooms, startup
offices, cafes, 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
man-made 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 cafe-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
cinema from all around the world,
as well as showing Icelandic films on
rotation during the summer, 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 cafe, 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 The-
ater has 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
Keeping it light, allright?
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