Raking In Reykjavik //Josephine Bush

Reykjavik is the start and end point for nearly all of Iceland's tourists due to it being the biggest city in the country, by far. There are roughly 350,000 people who live in Iceland with 200,000 living in Reykjavik. This capital city really does it have it all - it’s the perfect place to gear up for the big outdoors or kick back after you have climbed Iceland’s infamous mountain tops. Here’s our recommendation for a perfect day: 

Start your day early walking or running along the waterfront. Here, you will come across the sun voyager sculpture. It is an ode to the sun and dedicated to dreamers. The boat looks out to the ocean as well as the snow covered peaks across the bay. ​

PC: Iceland Photo Tours

Once you are ready for breakfast, Reykjavik has countless options to start your morning off right. They are globally known for their rich and creamy yogurt, a local speciality, and nearly every breakfast hotspot will have it on the menu. For a big breakfast, that truly has it all, specializes in “honest food,” and is just oh so yummy head to BERGSSON MATHÚS. If you are looking for a traditional Icelandic meal head to Café Loki.  Another great breakfast place to check out is Cafe Baba that serves food all day. From crepes to eggs, soups to sandwiches, this cafe offers a super funky environment with thrift store decorations that have been thoughtfully placed to make the interior something you will never forget. Bonus: the baristas are hilarious.

Your next stop has to be the Hallgrímskirkja - a cathedral and an architectural marvel that can be seen from everywhere in town. The church is free to enter but in order to reach the top of the tower you have to pay a small fee - albeit nearly everything in Iceland is expensive.  

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PC: Flickr

For the rest of the morning, spend your time exploring Reykjavik’s colorful streets. There is a plethora of intriguing street art, interesting cafes, tourist shops, and boutiques. The vibe of this capital city is far from most large cities as it truly gives off one of leisure coupled with warm smiles from Icelandic locals. 

Once you’re ready to warm or fill up again, Iceland has plenty of options. We recommend one of the famous hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. If this was 2004, you might’ve seen Bill Clinton there! Yes, these dogs are famous amongst the famous. Not in the mood for a hot dog? Other great lunch joints include Icelandic Street Food  and Messinn for some delicious seafood. 

After lunch, it is time for a soak in Iceland’s famous geothermal pools. You can head to the world renown (though not locally recommended) Blue Lagoon. You will receive a full treatment and leave feeling like a queen or king, but for a more local (and much cheaper) option head to one of Reykjavik’s local spas such as Laugardalslaug thermal pool or 
Vesturbaejarlaug thermal pool-- more can be found here. Also, if you are staying outside of the city in an AirBnb simply ask your host and we can guarantee that they will tell you about their local hot spot that is probably an even cheaper option! 

The geothermal pools have a crazy way of making way for the best night’s sleep, but before that - head to dinner at one of these restaurants: The Fish Market, Apotek Restaurant, or Frederick’s Ale House. 

End your night under the stars and if you’re lucky, the aurora borealis. The best place to catch these celestial wonders are out in the countryside - away from the city lights. Such rare opportunities are humbling and profound and ones we cannot recommend enough.  

We promise a day of ease and a day of joy in Reykjavik, the heart of all of Iceland’s adventures. For a full, personal itinerary (based on your travel desires and style) for all of Iceland please email us at dosageofrepartee@gmail.com  

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