Day 1 of a 10-day Iceland Roadtrip: Sight-seeing in Reykjavík

We took the Finnair flight from New Delhi (India) to Reykjavík (Iceland). It was a 10-hour flight with a 2-hour stop-over in Helsinki. Reached Reykjavík around 11 am, and our hotel, Reykjavík Residence, at about 1pm. After a quick check-in, we set out to for lunch and to explore the little city.

Reykjavík is indeed a very small city. Our hotel was right at the center of the town, and so we simply had to step out to be in the thick of things! The hubby had already singled out a couple of restaurants, famous for their grilled fish and lamb. Stepping in Messinn we had a magnificent, filling lunch of Arctic Char, Cod and Salmon.

With temperature hovering around 10 degrees Celsius, we strolled around the city to see its churches, harbour stretch, shopping arcades. Unlike the regular cities of Europe, Reykjavík is not an ornate city with spectacular churches and/or state buildings. Neither does its residential streets have the quaint European charm. And yet, there is a purity about it that doesn’t escape the discerning traveller. One minute you come up a window store that shows how Iceland makes no distinction between heterosexual and homosexual couples. Your heart warms at the thought that this was one of the first countries that had legalised gay marriages. Next, you find some defining street art at every nook and corner.

Onward, at the harbour stretch, quite in front of the Harpa Concert Hall is the open museum that tells the tale of Icelandic life, Iceland’s role in the world wars, its friendship with Germany…Get an ice-cream at the harbour stretch as you admire the many ships and sails anchored there.

A walk up to Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavík’s most popular church, will take you through a steep slope, past residential houses into the stunning church premises. You tend to spend a long time out here, trying to capture the very very tall church in your camera frame. We were lucky to chance upon the final stage rehearsal for a musical concert. Were completely mesmerised by the acoustic effects owing to the church’s high walls.

Walk down off the Laekjargata street to see the country’s parliament, Alpingi, stroll through the promenade of lake Tjörnin and walk up to the Old Church…

The next morning, we also went for a short run along Reykjavík’s Atlantic coast very early in the morning, and saw how Iceland sleeps in broad sun! Yes, we didn’t see nightfall in all 10 days of touring Iceland! 

Visa, immigration and other details:

• Iceland trip requires the Schengen visa. Visa for Iceland is given by the Danish Visa Application Center

• We underwent immigration procedures at the Helsinki airport. Upon landing at the Reykjavík airport, we simply walked out with our luggage

• Reykjavík airport to the city center is about a 45-minute drive

• We had pre-hired an SUV from Iceland Unlimited for the 10-day road trip. This was my first left-hand side drive experience. Within an hour of driving, you get the hang of it. 

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Planning a trip to Iceland? Here is help with the itinerary of a 10-day roadtrip in Iceland