Reykjavík Grapevine - des. 2021, Blaðsíða 14

14The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12— 2021
Christmas and New Year’s Eve are
about two things for Icelanders:
setting off some fireworks while
drunk, and spending some serious
money on a bunch of stuff. Let’s fo-
cus on the spending money side of
things. With this compilation of the
best Christmas markets, which co-
incidentally, are also the best rem-
edy for the December darkness.

Christmas Market
Hei!mörk
Elli!avatnsbær
The Christmas market at Hei!mörk
is not only a great place to buy your
Christmas tree and gifts, but to have
a cup of hot cocoa as well as chill
in front of the bonfire in the small
wood by the lake. On a beautiful day,
this conservation area is nothing
less than magical, with children
running around in nature, hiding
in the woods or skating on the shal-
low lake that is often frozen at this
time of year. And, on top of every-
thing else, you can buy handmade
things at the Christmas market.
Ingólfstorg Christmas
Market
101 Reykjavík
The Nova Ice Skating Rink is per-
haps the most American cliché
when it comes to Christmas mar-
kets in Iceland. But that doesn’t
matter, it’s so fun! It’s wonderful to
go ice skating and enjoy a cup of cof-
fee afterwards, check out the goods
being sold in the little huts lining
the square, buy something for your
grandparents and lie to them that
you made it yourself (we’re joking,
don’t lie to them).
Hafnarfjör!ur Christmas
Markets
Strandgata, 220 Hafnarfjör!ur
The Christmas market in Haf-
narfjör!ur, arguably the most beau-
tiful town in the world, is the OG
Icelandic Christmas market. They
were first to start the tradition and
even sued Reykjavík City for steal-
ing their idea. The market’s stage
features a rotation of the Yule Lads,
children's choirs and other Christ-
mas-related stuff. Plus, you can buy
all kinds of local handcrafted stuff.
Also, it’s a good opportunity to visit
the wonderful town and chat with
the locals. Just don’t mention any
Reykjavík Christmas market while
you’re at it.
Ásmundarsalur
Freyjugata 41, 101 Reykjavík
So you’re a posh type and despise
those talented handcrafted locals.
We got you, you snob. Ásmundar-
salur is hands down the best Christ-
mas art market, where all of Ice-
land’s finest artists are represented
and you can make a seriously good
purchase there—and buy some art-
work for yourself while you’re at it.
There is a wonderful coffeehouse
on the ground floor and an incred-
ible sculptor always carving some
masterpieces in the garden outside.
This is where you go to buy some-
thing for your new girlfriend to im-
press her, or your callous mother
that never thinks anything you do
is good enough and has inflicted
you with crippling anxiety and an
inferiority complex. Good luck with
that, by the way.
Jólamarka!ur Hjartatorgi
Laugavegur, 101 Reykjavík
The market at Hjartatorg is differ-
ent from the others, it offers a va-
riety of art and finer stuff from the
shops lining the square. But you will
also find seriously nice food there.
The market started a few years ago
and has become a smash hit. Ice-
landers like the market since it’s
a little different from the others
it feels like you’re in another city,
roaming around finding some nice
gifts for friends and family. And
that can be incredibly refreshing.
From the rink at Ingólfstorg
Best of Reykjavík
Christmas Markets
Why not go ice skating while buying stuff?
Words: Valur Grettisson Photos: Art Bicnick
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
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