Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2022, Side 38

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2022
38
Best Day Trip
Geldingadalur
Volcano
Close to Grindavík
The volcano in Fagradalsfjall was pos-
sibly one of the most beautiful natural
displays in the world in the past year.
The volcano spewed fire and lava for
months, before finally petering out in
the autumn (or, so we think… keep an
eye on the Met office). But the fresh-
ly-cooled lava is no less spectacular
and is still steaming eerily—the perfect
backdrop for an enviable selfie.
Runners-Up
Guðlaug Natural Pool
Langisandur, Akranes
Why not swim in the Atlantic ocean? Too
cold? We know. But, if you drive all the
way to Akranes (okay, it’s not really that
far), you will find a beach, with beautiful
hot pools on two floors, and the roaring
Atlantic in front of you. If you’re brave
enough to take a dip in the sea, you can
always warm up again in the pool. It’s an
incredible experience and perfect for a
family day out.
Reykjadalur
West of Hveragerði
Reykjadalur is only a 40-minute hike
from Hveragerði, which is, coinciden-
tally, a 40-minute drive from Reykjavík.
At the bottom of the valley, you will find
a beautiful hot river where you can
luxuriate like you're in a hot tub at the
Reykjavík swimming pool. Pro tip: bring
a towel with you and consider wearing
your swimming gear under your hiking
clothes if you’re too prudish to change
in public and flaunt it all.
Previous Winners
2021: Geldingadalur Volcano
2020: Reykjanes Bound!
2019: Snowmobile/ATV
For A Night Out
Tjarnarbíó
Tjarnargata 12
Tjarnarbíó was originally built as an
icehouse, but is now the super-cool
downtown home of all types of theatre
and performance. You can always
trust that if something is happening at
Tjarnarbíó, it’s worth seeing. We’d like to
particularly applaud them as a venue
for Reykjavík Fringe, allowing experi-
mental artists to take a big stage. Bravó,
Tjarnarbíó. Bravó.
Runners-Up
R6013
Ingólfsstræti 20, 101 Reykjavík
Bear with us here: this is not your
typical venue. If you’re over 40, you
might feel odd here—or finally just like
home. The minds behind R6013 have
held close to 100 events in a basement
on Ingólfsstræti since they opened, and
it is a vital bloodline between the lively
grassroots scene in Reykjavík and, well,
reality. Study the R6013 Facebook page
for details on their next gig.
FÚSK
Gufunes, 112 Reykjavík
A group of visual artists have taken over
an old warehouse and changed it into
a cutting-edge music and visual arts
space. This is probably the most excit-
ing venue in Reykjavík right now; this
year, in addition to their annual rave,
Buxur, FÚSK are also hosting design fes-
tival Rusl (Trash). It’s a pretty impressive
space and a good opportunity to dive
into the grassroots arts scene.
Previous Winners
2021: Iceland Symphony Orchestra
2020: Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Best Place To Spend Time
With The Kids (Summer!)
Húsdýragarðurinn
Múlavegur 2, 104 Reykjavík
Húsdýragarðurinn (Reykjavík Family
Park and Zoo) is the go-to place for
Icelandic families on a nice summer
day. It’s basically a petting zoo where
you’ll find everything from seals and
horses to reindeer. If you’re really lucky,
the zoo might be nurturing a falcon
or eagle, which you can visit before
they’re released back into nature. The
last time one of our writers went, a
bewildered stork was being nursed
back to health. The garden also offers
an amusement park with a few rides
like go-carts, a quainte little boating
lake, and a drop tower.
Runner-Up

Elliðaárdalur
Kistuhyl 4, 110 Reykjavík
Reykjavík has a lot of small secret hide-
outs. Elliðaárdalur is of course no small
place, but not many travellers manage
to find it. There is a beautiful river and
a forest and even salmon if you want
to catch a fish—though you'll need a
licence. But still, what other capital can
boast a salmon river smack dab in the
middle of the city area?

Árbæjarsafnið
Kistuhyl 4, 110 Reykjavík
Hey, here is a newsflash for you nihilis-
tic monsters; the past is cool and really
matters. Not only that, it can be incredi-
bly fun and entertaining. Árbæjarsafnið
is a unique open-air museum, set up
like a small village, with old houses from
the 18th century and a good old vibe
from the past. The museum is very en-
tertaining for children, and the houses
are just something else.
Previous Winners
2021: Maritime Museum
2020: Húsdýragarðurinn
2019: Tjörnin
Best Hike
Volcano - Lava
field
North of Grindavík
There are no two ways about it; the
hike to the site of the fresh eruption of
Fagradalsfjall is no less interesting than
visiting the moon. This is a medium-hard
hike, suitable for almost everyone in
decent physical health. The lava field is
just otherworldly, with hot steam from
the lava rising up everywhere across
a mysterious landscape you thought
you’d only see in that fancy documen-
tary on National Geographic. Just be
careful —the fresh lava can take up to a
year to cool, and even when it does, it's
fragile and sharp.
Runners-Up
Keilir
Reykjanes Peninsula
Okay, we get it: you’re too hipster for
the ‘basic bitch’ version of the volcano
hike. Well, if you want to climb an
impressive mountain and have the
greatest view of all time over the Reyk-
janes peninsula, you want to visit Keilir.
The mountain looks like a picture-per-
fect volcano from a storybook, despite
being one of the few in the area that is
completely inactive. From the top you
get a view over the surrounding lava.
Hengill
Hellisheiði, starting point at
Hellisheiðarvirkjun
Hengill is located between Reykjavík
and Hveragerði. The hiking route is a
day trip through beautiful rocky land-
scapes and thermal areas, filled with
bubbling rivers and even a hot pool. The
area offers incredible views all the way
to Þingvellir national park and the city
of Reykjavík in the distance, as well as
the whole of the Reykjanes peninsula.
Previous Winners
2021: Akrafjall
2020: Mt. Esja
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2022
Activities
Doing stuff is great!