Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.08.2018, Qupperneq 44

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Iceland 2018
44 BEST OF ICELAND 2018
North
The reset button for the soul
Best Tour
Askja By Super Jeep
No amount of reading and scrolling over Instagram posts will pre-
pare you for an adventure in the otherworldly landscape of Askja.
This caldera formed centuries ago from a massive eruption, and it
has since been the perfect place to get lost in pure nothingness,
from canyons and craters to vast stretches of red and black lava.
Enjoy a hike during summertime, but make sure you rent a Super
Jeep tour during the winter or opt for the stunning aerial view
from a helicopter. Map square: I12
Runner Up
Whale Watching in Húsavík
“We’ve been much more successful
with whale watching here than in Reyk-
javík,” one panellist said. “Sometimes
if you’re lucky you can even spot seals
on the shore.” Video-camera in hand,
hop on a boat in Húsavík and look for
these majestic sea creatures with a
crew that knows what it’s doing. Just
sit down, lean back, and keep watching
the waves. H7
Runner Up
River Rafting, Varmahlíð
The North is famous for its winter
sports, from heli-skiing to snowmobil-
ing, but there is nothing like some good
river rafting in Varmahlið to shake up an
otherwise boring summer day. If you’re
an adrenaline junkie, you’ll be able to
find plenty of interesting guided tours,
while the less experienced will be able
to choose between calm rivers and
uncontrollable whirlwinds of water. H7
Best Museum or
Gallery
The Herring Era
Museum
Snorragata 10, Siglufjörður
“The name doesn’t do it justice,” said
one panellist, “but it’s truly a wonderful
place to discover the history of the
local community.” Síldarminjasafnið is
an unexpected gem in the museum
scene of the North, with a collection
that pays tribute to the boom years
of the Herring Era with pictures, texts,
and countless artefacts recollecting
Siglufjörður’s glorious fishing past. E6
Runner Up
The Húsavík Whale Museum
Hafnarstétt 1, Húsavík
Located in an abandoned slaughter-
house in the middle of Húsavík, this
Whale Museum takes matters one step
further than its Reykjavík counterpart.
“They have an actual blue whale skele-
ton—no plastic involved,” one panellist
stressed. A crucial hub for a town that’s
made whale watching a business in
itself, the Museum also has courses to
teach visitors about the oceans. H7
Newcomer
Into The Arctic
Strandgata, Akureyri
The new kid in town, Into The Arctic,
rests right at the Akureyri harbour,
enjoying a spectacular view over
Eyjafjörður. The museum hosts the
collection of an Icelandic explorer
Vilhjálmur Stefánsson, and a plethora
of taxidermied animals, maps, diaries,
and maritime paraphernalia that give a
unique insight into life in the Arctic. G9
Best Bar
R5
Ráðhústorg 5, 600 Akureyri
This little bar in downtown Akureyri has
got the best selection of craft beers in
the entire North, but the place’s true
gem is its baristas. Knowledgeable and
passionate, they’ll help you out with any
request, as well as entertain you at the
bar with some fun stories. Stop by for
a beer and occasional live music and
sink into their comfy sofas for a relaxed
evening in good company. G9
Runners Up
Ölstofan
Kaupvangsstræti 23, Akureyri
Iceland’s craft beer of excellence
Einstök is brewed right here in the
North of Iceland, so it seems fitting for
a bar in Akureyri to have its own Einstök
lounge. Take your pick amongst local
pale and white ales, or try the new,
uber-popular sour beer, and enjoy the
dimly-lit atmosphere of this downtown
bar. On Sundays, this is also the place to
go to for football aficionados. G9
Gísli, Eiríkur, Helgi Kaffihús
Grundargata 1, Dalvík
A bar, café and restaurant all in one, this
establishment offers good beer and
arguably the best fish soup you’ll ever
get in the North. Bjarni, the manager, is
always ready to provide a good story
when he’s not busy organising concerts
and events in the adjacent cinema
building. Stop by during a stormy eve-
ning and enjoy the atmosphere. F7