Reykjavík Grapevine - nóv. 2021, Blaðsíða 14

Reykjavík Grapevine - nóv. 2021, Blaðsíða 14
14The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 11— 2021 As the cold starts seeping into your bones here in the north, sau- nas come in handy. The Grapevine crew tested out five of the warmest saunas in the capital area and gath- ered all the important information about them for you. Note: the crew includes notoriously sauna-loving Finns, so you’re in good hands. Laugarvatn Fontana Hverabraut 1, Laugarvatn The hour-long drive from down- town Reykjavík to Laugarvatn Fon- tana, dotted with striking vistas and a never-ceasing sense of seren- ity, is the perfect urban cleanse. Once you arrive, this beloved spa is ready to wash away any remaining woes. The environment begs you to make the experience your own, with relaxation pools at varying temper- atures, a steam bath and a Finnish- style sauna. What sets this place apart, however, is the opportunity to take a cool dip in the adjacent lake. If you’re feeling peckish from the drive, book the Bread Tour—a charming lake-side lesson in geo- thermal baking that ends with all the samples of rye bread you could dream of. DT Sky Lagoon Vesturvör 44-48, Kópavogur Sky Lagoon has been the talk of the town since its opening earlier this year. Although new, Iceland’s fresh- est geothermal spa runs like they’ve been at this for decades. Wading in and out of the coves, you’ll eventu- ally come across the swim-up bar with sparkling wine (among other things!) on draft. The sauna, step three of the seven-step Sky Ritual, is spacious and offers a stunning view that—when paired with the heat—is hypnotising. For supreme tranquility, go during a quieter time of day and you may even have this little pocket of paradise all to yourself. DT Vesturbæjarlaug Hofsvallagata 107, Reykjavík Are you longing for a sauna expe- rience, but don’t necessarily want to go to the pool area? In that case, Vesturbæjarlaug is the place to be. They have separate saunas for both men and women inside the chang- ing areas, which enables the biggest sauna-fans to enjoy the warmth without stepping outside the locker room. When the heat is getting too intense, there’s always a possibil- ity of plunging into the cold pot to cool down. Also, because the saunas are same-sex only, it allows people to enjoy them in the nude—as one should! Just remember to bring a towel to sit on, if you want the au- thentic experience. RH Rjúkandi Fargufa Address varies When it comes to the best löyly (the steam that rises from the sauna stove), the insuperable winner is this trailer sauna. The stove is flame-heated, making the steam extremely mellow. What’s special about Rjúkandi Fargufa is that it comes with a sauna master, who leads the session. The session in- cludes music, essential oils and a whole lot of löyly. After the guests are warm to their core, it’s time to dip in the sea. This ritual is repeated three times, and the session itself takes about an hour in total. How- ever, the euphoric feeling you’ll ex- perience lasts much longer. RH Sundhöllin Barónsstígur 45a, Reykjavík Sundhöllin’s sauna might be small in size, but it’s big in heat. Hidden upstairs from the public swimming pool, this compact gem offers an intense sauna-experience. Unlike many other saunas in the area, Sundhöllin has equipped their sauna with a water bucket—an ac- cessory which every sauna should include. This means that the visi- tors are able to control the heat themselves by throwing water onto the sauna stove. As stated in the be- ginning, this sauna is tiny and you might need to be seated in some- one’s lap, but the more the merrier, right? RH A reflective moment Best of Reykjavík “The session includes music, essential oils and a whole lot of löyly.” Fi!ht The Cold With Heat A guide to the top five saunas around Reykjavík Words: Reetta Huhta & Desirai Thompson Photos: Art Bicnick & Vala Baldursdóttir Storytelling is probably the most important cultural tradition in Iceland and a lot of its places have enthralling tales to tell. This book is a round trip around the country, with thirty stops at such places along the way. A LITERARY TOUR AROUND ICELAND Forlagið bookstore | Fiskislóð 39 | www.forlagid.is Open weekdays 10–18 | Saturdays 11–16 ICELAND’S LARGEST BOOKSTORE

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