Wish You Were Here In Reykjavik

OVERVIEW

Wish you were here when Reykjavik was just a small fishing village clustered around the harbor at the edge of the North Atlantic. Discover how it has evolved since the beginning of the 20th century to become the dynamic capital of Iceland. While walking through Old Town – nicknamed 101 for its postal code – you will likely see a number of 18th-century houses and perhaps the Parliament building on Austurvöllur Square, which lies across the street from the cathedral, and the Harpa Concert Hall whose striking honeycomb design is unmistakable. The hilltop church Hallgrímskirkja is more iconic than the cathedral as it is the tallest building in Reykjavik and dominates the skyline. The church is named in honor of one of Iceland’s greatest poets and out front you will see a statue of Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer who is thought to have sailed to North America around the year 1,000. For a look at modern Reykjavik, you will enjoy an exterior visit of the Perlan, which features an observation deck that encircles the museum’s futuristic-looking dome and offers a different perspective on the city. By the end, it feels like quiet time travel for the soul—from the Reykjavik you wish you could have seen as a fishing village to the youthful capital stretching out around you today.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the Reykjavik you wish you could have seen, moving from a former fishing village in Old Town 101 to the modern skyline that defines the capital today.
• Walk through Old Town, noticing 18th-century houses, Austurvöllur Square, the Parliament building and the nearby cathedral.
• Browse Hallgrímskirkja church, the city’s tallest and most recognizable building.
• Enjoy an external view of the late 20th-century Perlan Museum and learn how its dome and observation deck reshaped the city’s silhouette.
• Admire the cutting-edge design of the 21st-century Harpa concert hall and come away with a clear understanding of how Reykjavik’s urban landscape has evolved.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.