REYKJAVIK SECRET GUIDE

Why visit there

Reykjavik, in Icelandic it means "the bay of smoke." Because the geothermal energy is rich here, it is rich in hot springs. The city is often filled with water vapor, which looks like smoke. Many people say that going to Iceland should appreciate more natural scenery. There may be no exploration here. Although it is too small compared to the international metropolis in the world, there are many hidden spots in this small city. It is the northernmost capital in the world and the safest city in the world.

How to get there

1

EXTERNAL TRANSPORTATION

From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), you can fly to Keflavik International Airport (KEF), also known as Reykjavik-Kevlavvik Airport, which usually takes 3h 30 minutes. Iceland's aviation is very developed and is mainly operated by Icelandic Airlines (Flugfelag Islands), you can choose:

- Icelandair  (official website: https://www.icelandair.com/fr-fr/vols/ )

- Icelandic low-cost airline WOW air (official website: https://wowair.fr ) 

2

INTERNAL TRANSPORTATION

From the airport to the city centre

Car Rental: It is recommended to rent a car locally in Iceland and pick up the car when arriving at the airport. Icelandic major car companies have:

SBK ( www.sbk.is), Wesfjords Adventures ( www.westfjordsadventures.is ), Reykjavik Excursion ( www.re.is  ) and SBA Norðurleið( www.sba.is  ).

Of course, you can also use the popular car rental website in your country.

Taxi: Iceland taxis are expensive and require at least 16,000 ISK from the airport to the city centre, not very recommended

Airport Bus: Relatively cheap, around 3,000-6,000 ISK, more recommended, more cost-effective. Website: https://www.re.is/flybus/    

**If you choose to take the bus, when the flight arrives at Keflavik Airport, show the ticket to the staff at the Reykjavik Excursions counter at the right of the pick-up hall.
   

What to see

1

HALLGRIMS CHURCH (Hallgrímskirkja)

Standing in the heart of Reykjavik, named after the famous Icelandic writer "Halgrims" to commemorate his great contribution to Icelandic literature. The church itself was designed by the famous Icelandic architect Gudjon Samuelsson. The lava landscape left after the Icelandic volcanic eruption inspired him to create the largest church in Iceland, resembling a pipe organ, a streamlined basalt texture building, and a very avant-garde style. However, some people say that the simple geometric design is more like a rocket ready to go to the sky.

There is another very beautiful organ inside the church, classic Nordic style. If you have time, you can choose to climb to the top of the church. The 73-meter-tall tower offers 360-degree views of Reykjavik, and even the surrounding mountains and westward to the oceans of Greenland and the Americas. Therefore, the tower is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Reykjavik.  

Address : Hallgrímstorg 101, 101 Reykjavík, Islande 

Transportation : Take the bus to the BSI station and walk 600 meters east to reach

Opening hours : May to September 9:00-21:00, the tower is closed at 20:30 / October to April 9:00-17:00, the tower is closed at 16: 30

Tickets : Free visits

Admission to the tower : 800 ISK for adults and 100 ISK for children (7-16 years old)

Time reference : 1 hour

2

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND (Þjóðminjasafn)

Visit the museum is the best way to learn about the history of a city. In the National Museum of Iceland, the history of Iceland and the life and culture of Icelanders have been sung. Established on February 24, 1863, the National Museum of Iceland presents visitors with a treasured collection of the entire country. Here you can see not only Iceland's cultural heritage from early to modern, but also many religious-related exhibits.

 
Address : Suðurgata 41, 101 Reykjavík

Transportation : Bus 1/3/6/14, Haskoli Island Station or Bus 11/12, ÞjóðminjasafniðSite

Opening hours : Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-17:00 (closed every Monday and Sunday)

Tickets : 2000 ISK for adults, 1000 ISK for students/aged persons over 67 years old, free for children under 18 years of age, free tutorials

(National Museum and National Cultural Center tickets can be used interchangeably)

Website : http://www.thjodminjasafn.is/english 

3

REYKJAVIK CITY VISIT

Sometimes, you don’t need to visit a famous attraction to experience the charm of a city. Especially in such a lovely place as Reykjavik, when the weather is good, it is a kind of happiness to walk around the streets and feel the colorful buildings. For example, in the house full of colorful graffiti, there is a popular bakery inside the building.

What to eat

1

TRY A CRISPY BREAD

If you use one sentence to describe "Icelandic bread," it means "It will make people feel happy when they eat." Reykjavik’s most popular “Braud & Co” bakery is located in a beautiful house full of graffiti, with Reykjavik’s number one delicious “cinnamon roll”. Although the bread here is made only from different types of cows and bread, it is still exotic and famous, and the simplicity is supreme.

In recent years, this store has partnered with major grocery stores in Copenhagen and is very focused on the quality of raw materials. The store manager said that he dose not really care about crispy or cake decoration, but rather focused on content and taste. It can be said that he is very familiar with the rough personality of the Vikings. Here, whether it is the color and flavor of the bread or the appearance of the waiter are worth looking forward to!

Address : 16, Frakkastígur, Reykjavik 101

Opening hours : Open until 17:00

Website : http://www.braudogco.is/ 

2

TAKE A CUP OF ICELANDIC COFFEE

Like the French love coffee, the life of Icelanders is also inseparable from coffee. Reykjavik was once named one of the world's eight largest coffee cities by CNN, and the streets and lanes are of course full of cafes. Unlike the fast-food coffee Starbucks, Icelandic coffee is full of its own characteristics. Right next to the bakery is a popular coffee shop ——Reykjavik Roasters. Here, every cup of coffee is “perfect." Originally founded in 2008, Reykjavík Roasters is the most lovely place to import high quality coffee that respects nature from abroad, and imports the freshest coffee beans from different countries every season. In addition to coffee, the desserts here are also worth trying.

REYKJAVIK ROASTERS - KÁRASTíGUR COFFEE SHOP

Address: Kárastígur 1, 101 Reykjavík, Islande

Opening hours: Every day at 08:00-17:30

Website: https://reykjavikroasters.is/en/ 

3

EAT A STRANGE ICE CREAM

Like Sichuanese, the hotter the weather, the more they have to eat hot pot. For Icelanders, the colder the weather, the more they eat ice cream. Eating ice cream has even become their usual entertainment. A wide range of ice cream parlours can be found in the capital, Reykjavik. For example, this Valdís ice cream shop, the blue store is very cute, located in the trendy Grandi art district, very eye-catching. It is said that there is Iceland's best ice cream.

In the beginning, Valdís had only a few basic flavors, and these basic flavors of ice cream clearly did not satisfy the Icelandic adventurous spirit.

After accepting the advice of the customers, the three most popular flavors are "Tyrkisk Pepper", "Salty Peanut" and "Caramel". For the past five years, Valdís has tried to make more than 400 flavors of ice cream, and there are still some new flavors. There are even some strange tastes that we cannot think: beer, rye bread, lavender, bacon  and chili curry ! It is worth mentioning that these flavors are available in limited quantities, but if you order more than 5 liters a time, you can choose any flavor.

VALDíS ICE CREAM SHOP

Address : Grandagarður 21, 101 Reykjavík

Opening hours : 11:30~23:00

Price : 450 ISK/scoop

Website : http://valdis.is/index.php/en/ 

4

DRINK A BOWL OF ICELANDIC HOT SOUP

In such a cold climate all year round, drinking a bowl of hot soup seems to be an indispensable choice for the day. Whether you are tired or not, you can push a door of aa restaurant and order a bowl of seafood or meat soup. Drinking soup is very helpful for warm stomach. Unlike France, the Icelandic people's eating habits are very similar to asian people. They started to eat dinner at 5 or 6 in the evening, and by 9:00, many restaurants have begun to close!

Located in the heart of Reykjavik, Old Iceland is a family-run restaurant. There is a very warm and friendly dining atmosphere and authentic Icelandic cuisine. What's special is that the dishes here blend with Icelandic spices and herbs to provide a unique taste.

Recommended dishes:

-Traditional Icelandic Meat Soup – lamb and vegetables, kr.1890)

-Fresh Salad – Tindur cheese, dates, roasted nuts and fresh berries, kr. 1890)

**In Iceland, service fees and VAT are all included in the price of the goods, not required Additional tipping.

OLD ICELAND most popular restaurant

Address : Laugavegur 72, 101 Reykjav&iacute ;k, Islande 

Opening hours : 11.30am – 4:00pm; 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Booking Phone : +354 551 6131 (strongly recommended to book in advance)

Booking an email : [email protected]

Website : https://oldiceland.is/

O'bon Paris' tip

Reykjavik is not a big city, so normally you can visit it in one day. In addition to these attractions, you can also go to the beach and enjoy the beautiful North Atlantic. If you don't want to visit alone, you may not want to miss the free city walk (check out their officiel website: https://citywalk.is)

Words and Photographs by Lexi Wang