Einar Jónsson Museum

This small museum atop Skólavörduholt hill (near the Hallgrímskirkja church) celebrates Iceland’s first sculptor, Einar Jónsson.  The museum features examples of Jónsson’s plaster works made over the course of his 60-year career.  The building, which was built in 1923, was originally Jónsson’s studio and home.  The outdoor sculpture garden is open to the public year-round.

Aerial View-Hallgrímskirkja ,Iceland, Iceland-Courtesy of Gateway to Iceland

Hallgrímskirkja

It took thirty-eight years to complete the Hallgrímskirkja church, whose 244-foot tower is visible across Reykjavík. A prime example of Expressionist architecture, the church was inspired by the basalt columns found at such waterfalls as Svartifoss in Skaftafell National Park. The church’s wings start low, then rise dramatically to shape the central high tower. The interior of this Lutheran church is unadorned and luminous. The statue out front is of Norse explorer Leif Eriksson, and a plaque declares that he was the first European to set foot in America.

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Aerial View-Harpa ,Iceland, Iceland

Harpa

A stunning contemporary structure on the Reykjavik harbor, Harpa is a multipurpose cultural space housing the National Opera and Symphony along with a smattering of art galleries, shops and a restaurant. The honeycomb façade of the structure, designed in collaboration with famed artist Olafur Eliasson, might initially attract visitors to the site, but it is worth staying for a performance or checking out the rotating art exhibits on the third and fourth floors.

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Mirror - Sea - Golden,Iceland, Iceland

i8 Gallery

This white-wall gallery near the port and the Reykjavík Art Museum is the city’s most prestigious and cutting-edge exhibition space. The gallery represents such well-known international artists as Ölafur Elíasson, Roni Horn, and Lawrence Weiner as well as Icelandic performance artist and rising art star Rangar Kjartansson. Check the website for hours and current shows.

Iceland - Icelandic Horses ,Iceland - Courtesy The Official Gateway to Iceland

Icelandic Horses

These sturdy equines are a matter of major national pride, and you will see herds of them dotting the landscape. They are not wild but very popular with locals and foreigners for their special five gaits, two of which (the tölt and the flying pace) are extremely rare and deem the Icelandic horse a breed of its own. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team for help with arrangements.

Aerial View - Indagare Tours: Boat Tour ,  Iceland - Courtesy The Official Gateway to Iceland

Indagare Tours: Boat Tour

There are multiple ways to get out on the water, ranging from a group RIB speed boat tour or a private speed boat or sailing cruise. All options will allow you to see Iceland as the Vikings first spotted it from the sea. In addition, you may be able to spot whales, dolphins, puffins and other wildlife, depending on the season, and see fjords, glaciers and a range of islands, including the one that contains a wonderful museum about a recent volcanic eruption. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team for help with arrangements.

Aerial View - Indagare Tours: Ice Lagoon,Iceland, Iceland

Indagare Tours: Ice Lagoon

The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most spectacular natural wonders.  Here you can watch large and small icebergs that have broken off from the glacier float down the lagoon and eventually out to sea.  Some of the bergs rest on the black sand beaches—where they look like sparking diamonds on this dramatic dark background—before being carried off by the crashing waves.  Exploring the lagoon by zodiac boat is a great way to see the larger icebergs up close.

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Indagare Tours: Inside the Volcano

Located midway between Reykjavík and the Golden Circle, the Thrihnukagigur volcano has been dormant for 4,000 years and can be explored by hearty hikers. Getting to the mouth of the volcano requires crossing over a flat lava field—covered by moss in some places, snow in others—by foot, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour. (The total distance from the parking lot is approximately 2 miles each way. And though it is not steep or particularly rough terrain, the walk can be difficult in bad weather.)

Upon arrival at the base camp (a small cabin near the mouth of the volcano) coffee and hot tea will be served before guides to help you suit up with a helmet and harness before taking small groups (4 at a time) on a specially designed elevator platform that slowly lowers you down to the bottom of the crater. Once down (the ride takes about 6 minutes), you are free to scramble about the rock piles and admire the mineral stained walls, whose vibrant blues, yellows, and reds are the result of sulfur and iron residue left behind after the most recent eruption. Upon returning to the base camp, you will be happy to discover that the staff has prepared a warming and nourishing traditional lamb stew.

This is an experience that should not be missed.  At time of writing there were rumors that a road would soon be built to connect the parking lot to the base camp.  While this would certainly make the tour easier, it will also increase the number of tourists substantially. Come soon to take advantage of what is still, for the time being at least, a just reward for a rugged adventure.

Indagare Tip: Though the hike is only of moderate difficulty, it is wise to gear-up as the weather can be wet up in the mountains and the air significantly colder than at sea level.  A pair of good hiking boots (not sneakers) as well as wind/rain proof pants (not jeans) and jacket are recommended, as are a warm hat, gloves, and socks. For those who wish to go inside the volcano, but are not up for the hike, it is also possible to arrange a helicopter drop off near the base camp.  Children under 12 are not permitted on this tour.

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Aerial View - Indagare Tours: Puffins Tour,Iceland, Iceland - Courtesy of the Official Gateway to Ireland

Indagare Tours: Puffins Tour

Cape Ingolfshofdi is a beautiful isolated headland on Iceland’s southwest coast between Skaftafell (in the Vatnajokull National Par) and the Jökulsárlón ice lagoon.  The land is part of a protected nature reserve that is home to thousands of sea birds who come to nest, including puffins and great skuas. A local guide will take you on a wonderful birding tour via her tricked out tracker that has been adapted with a large wooden flatbed that can carry up to forty passengers across the marshy sands and tide pools to the base of the bluff (about a 25 minute drive each way.)  After hiking up a dramatic black sand dune, the flat walk around the nature preserve lasts about 1 ½ hours, during which time you will learn to watch where you step to avoid crushing eggs laid by the puffins, who make their nests in small holes along the edge of the bluff.

Note: You will want to have good all-weather gear for this trip, as it can be windy and or rainy on the cape.  In addition to good hiking boots, wind/rain proof pants and a jacket are recommended.

Aerial View -Into the Glacier ,  Iceland, Iceland

Into the Glacier

One of the newest adventure offerings in Iceland involves descending into the world’s largest ice tunnel to walk 25 meters below Europe’s second largest glacier. The activity launched in the summer of 2015, and was originally going to operate only during the summer months but has proven so popular that it is now offered year-round. For those staying in Reykjavik, it is a full-day outing; the base is nearly a two-hour drive from the city and involves a drive onto the glacier in a converted German missile launcher, which can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours depending on the snow conditions on the glacier (drives tend to be longer in the winter months).

The trucks hold thirty-five people who are split into two groups for the guided visit, which includes time for photos on top of the glacier followed by an hour-long walk through the various ice caves within the tunnel, where you see crevasses, icicle formations and other frozen spectacles. Along the 500-meter walk, you will enter various chambers, including a small chapel. LED lights behind the ice walls light up the tunnel and rooms, and guides discuss glacier formation, safety and global warming. Crampons are provided, but it is advisable to dress for very cold temperatures; at the base, warm-weather suits are offered to those who are underdressed.

Who it’s right for: Thrill seekers and nature enthusiasts.

Who it’s wrong for: Impatient sightseers (of any age), as the excursion takes a full day (unless you hire a helicopter to land on the glacier, which can cut the timing down significantly).

Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team for help with arrangements.

Interior at Laugarvatn Fontana Iceland, Iceland

Laugarvatn Fontana

A smaller and less touristy alternative to the Blue Lagoon, Laugarvatn Fontana makes for the perfect relaxation stop on the Golden Triangle Route. Unwind in the geothermal pools located directly beside a large lake – if you’re up for it, you can plunge into the cold waters of the lake after spending some time in the naturally-heated sauna and steam room.

Interior View - National Museum,Iceland, Iceland

National Museum

Those looking for a general introduction to Iceland’s history and culture should plan on an hour’s visit to this museum (you won’t need more), within walking distance of Reykjavík’s shopping streets. Don’t miss the boutique, which has a fine selection of books in English, including Independent People and World Light, written in the 1930s by Icelandic Nobel Prize–winner Halldór Laxness.

Aerial View-Pearlan,Iceland, Iceland

Pearlan

Set atop the Oskjuhlid bluff overlooking central Reykjavik, the Pearlan complex (home to a café, restaurant and outdoor observation deck) provides spectacular 360-degree views of the city and surrounds. The striking structure is supported by six huge water tanks and capped by a futuristic glass dome. Opened in 1991, Pearlan is due for a revamp, but the views and whimsical indoor fountain (constructed to mimic a Geysir) make it well worth a visit.

Aerial View - Reykjavik Art Musem, Iceland, Iceland

Reykjavik Art Musem

The city’s contemporary art museum was founded in 1973 and now spreads across three locations in the city. Paintings and sculptures by established artists are on view at the Kjarvalsstadir exhibition hall at Miklatún. The Hafnarhus (Harbor House), inaugurated in 2000, is located in downtown Reykjavík near the waterfront, and is dedicated to new developments in art.  Finally, the Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum, a showcase of work by the Icelandic sculptor, is located near Laugardalur. The permanent collection at Kjarvalsstadir and the temporary exhibitions at Hafnarhus are worth a visit.

The Marshall House

The Marshall House cultural center in Reykjavik houses two contemporary art galleries, Studio Olafur Eliasson and an eponymous bar and restaurant with a Brooklyn vibe.

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