A day in Reykjavik

Iceland is fantastic and I could easily spend weeks in this land of elves and trolls but if you have only a day or so in the capital, don’t fret, Reykjavik is small enough for you to be able to catch the friendly, creative Nordic vibe in a short space of time. But I warn you, you’ll want to go back and do it all again. By Tess de Klerk

BREAKFAST – WHAT’S YOUR MOOD?

The Laundromat Cafe is a lovely, cosy little gem, perfect for brunch or lunch, with local specialities such as Skyr cake – and yes, there’s a laundromat downstairs. Looking for fantastic crepes, including gluten-free? I suggest heading to Eldur og Ís at the bottom of the rainbow-painted road, Skólavörðustígur.

In the mood for something more deathmetally first thing in the morning? Turn left at the bottom of that rainbow-hued road to find an unassuming cafe/bar in what must have been a house at some point. Order your breakfast beer and poke bowl amongst the politest leather clad rockers you’re ever likely to find. MIDMORNING MEANDERING

Head up the slope of the rainbow coloured road. (Yes, clearly I used it to get my bearings!) Icelanders are a creative bunch as seen by the street art and all the quaint makers and artists’ shops. (Did you know that around 10% of Iceland’s population will publish at least one book in their lifetime?) Window shop and browse your way up the hill to find yourself looking up at the magnificent Hallgrímskirkja church, overlooking the whole of Reykjavik. This stunning expressionist style building’s design was inspired by the beautiful basalt columns at Svartifoss waterfall on the south coast of Iceland, and the building work took 38 years to complete! At the top of this 74.5-metre tall Lutheran church you’ll find a viewing platform boasting 360-degree views of the entire city - well worth the €7 fee for the lift.

LUNCH

I suggest heading to a cafe, of which the city has plenty. We enjoyed Café Babalú, with its suntrap rooftop terrace. Visiting this little yellow/orange cafe felt like a trip unto itself - or just plain trippy - with its eccentric and ebullient decor, colourful everything, with something of everything, it seemed to me. If you’re not quite up for the slightly bizarre then rather pop over the road to Salka Valka for a more classy menu. There really are plenty of eateries to choose from, and all are easily reached by foot in this tiny capital city.

AFTERNOON ADVENTURES

Sky Lagoon You’ll have to hail a ride for this one but it’s only a few minutes outside of the city and it is STUNNING. A luxury spa – ‘Where the sea meets the sky’ – nestled in a cliff, fed by the healing thermal waters that Iceland is blessed with. The spa is an impressive ode to old Norse bathing culture fused with modern Nordic design. Go on, treat yourself, why not go for the seven-step immersive experience of pampering in a most impressive, fairytale setting?

Reykjavik City Museum and Settlement Exhibition Dig into the story of the Vikings at the Settlement Exhibition, the impressive archaeological site underground at the City Museum. It tells the story of human settlement over 1,000 years ago. The Icelandic Phallological Museum If you’ve never pondered the prevalence of penises in the world, then this one will really shock you. Be entertained and engrossed in equal measure as you check out more than 250 specimens from whales to walruses to, well, men.

Sun Voyager at sunset A short stroll down from the penis museum, you’ll find the harbour and the Sun Voyager sculpture. Get there just before sunset for a great silhouette against the changing colours of the northern sky. It was designed by the renowned artist, Jón Gunnar Árnason as an ode to sun and light.

Sky Lagoon

Sperm whale penis DINNER

Hands down, my first choice would be the Old Iceland restaurant... in my humble opinion. Carnivores can’t go wrong by ordering the lamb ribeye and slow-cooked shoulder of lamb; stuff to write home about.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

There’s plenty of nightlife and it won’t be easy to choose if you have such a short amount of time but...

If you’re in Reykjavík from September to March, head out into the cold in hopes of seeing the aurora borealis dance through the night sky. Not sure where to go? Book a tour at Aurora Reykjavík: The Northern Lights Center to learn about their history and science before being taken to the best vantage point.

There’s a unique charm to Icelandic nightlife with good company, security, and plentiful drink options. You’ll find local and international clubs, bars and craft breweries to suit every taste - and it’s all centred around the main shopping street: Laugavegur. As you descend the main road, you’ll see that Laugavegur becomes Bankastraeti, then Austurstraeti. You’ll find nightlife all along this strip.

Sun Voyager