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Reykjavik Revealed
 Duration: Approx.
1.25 hours
Reykjavik with a population of around 170,000 inhabitants
is one of the smallest capital cities in the world. One of the first
things that visitors notice as they approach the city are the clean lines
and fresh colours of modern buildings, and you will be astonished by the
clarity of the air. The tour starts with a drive to the city’s main
open-air swimming pool, which is filled with thermal water and open all
the year round. Reykjavik’s abundant supply of geothermal water is even
used to heat its Atlantic Ocean coast, creating a warm inlet by a sandy
beach just ten minutes from the old city centre. We then travel through
some of the city’s residential areas passing the open-air Arbaer Folk
Museum, where old farmhouses as well as a church made of turf have been
moved here and re-erected. Returning to Reykjavik, a stop will be made at
the Pearl vantage point. This unique modernistic construction is actually
built on top of hot water storage tanks in the outdoor area of Öskjuhlid
hill and can be seen from almost any point in the city. The dome resembles
a pearl and consists of reflecting glass panels on a steel frame, which
creates a full-circle viewing platform affording perfect panoramic views
over Reykjavik. Leaving the Pearl, our next stop is the excellent recently
opened National Museum of Iceland, which gives a fascinating insight into
the extraordinary history of the country from the time of the first
pioneering settlements in A.D. 874 to the present day. Following the
visit, our tour of the city continues to Reykjavik’s tallest building, the
unique spire of the Hallgrimskirkja Church, where after a short stop we
continue towards the bustling downtown area. Here you will see the
headquarters of one of the world’s oldest legislatures, the Althing
Parliament House, the Lutheran Cathedral and the statue of Iceland’s
national independence hero, Jon Sigurdsson. On our return, we pass by the
modern University complex and Höfdi House, famous as the meeting place in
1986 between U.S. President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the
then Soviet Union, before arriving back at the quayside.
By coach/on foot, subject to a minimum of 30/maximum of
200. Please note:
Lifts are available on the main viewing platform and restrooms at the
Pearl. |
