Let’s say you’re holidaying in Reykjavik, Iceland and treating yourself to luxury trips and items, (while also helping the local economy of course), then suddenly! you discover your travel funds are running low. Now what?… Here’s a list of things to do in Reykjavík that are both fun and interesting without spending a penny!
Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur (Reykjavík museum of photography) is located on the 6th floor of the downtown Reykjavík library and preserves various photo collections from professional and amateur photographers, there are around 5 Million photographs from the period around 1870 to 2002. You can also see the latest photographs from the best Icelandic photographers i.e. Ragnar Axelsson. There are other museums in Reykjavík that are free of charge all year round too, like the Eínar Jónsson Museum (the first sculptor of Iceland) near Hallgrímskirkja, the Museum of Numismatists in Reykjavík 105, or the Pharmacy Museum in Seltjarnarnes.
Kolaportið is a well-known indoor flea market that opens on weekends from 11-17 and is great fun to check out. You can taste samples of famous Icelandic delicacies like shark and dried fish and walk the aisles filled with clothes, books, crafts and locals chatting about interesting topics.
The Nordic House (Norræna Husið) was designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and is open since 1968, offering each month a selection of exhibitions and cultural events i.e. music, conferences, photographs, film, theatre and a program for children and adults.
The geothermal beach Nauthólsvík is not to be missed during your visit to Reykjavík. Winter or summer, after a dip in the sea, you can relax in a large tub of hot water and enjoy the view ...
The Reykjavík Botanical Gardens (Grasagarður Reykjavíkur) is a delightful place to hang out in the summertime. It has over 5,000 species of plants and flowers to discover in a relaxed charming environment. In winter time, the gardens turn into a winter wonderland of Christmas lights and decorations glittering against the snow.
You can also enjoy the many walking tours that are offered daily by different guides in central Reykjavík. There’s also a tour to Perlan, the City Hall, the Harpa concert hall, the University of Iceland and its library. Throughout the year, there are free festivals and events throughout the city i.e. the Winter Lights Festival in February and the Culture Night Festival in August when all museums have no entrance fee.
Joanne, icelandtours24.blogspot.com
February 2016
