REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

As we approach the city we will notice the clean lines of modern buildings and fresh bright colours, with the number of traditional buildings increasing as we get closer to the old town centre. Our tour starts with a drive through the city’s main recreational and sports area of Laugardalur.

With around 180,000 inhabitants, Reykjavík – meaning ‘smoky bay’, from the geothermal activity taking place in the area – is certainly amongst the smallest capital cities in the world. As we approach the city we will notice the clean lines of modern buildings and fresh bright colours, with the number of traditional buildings increasing as we get closer to the old town centre. Our tour starts with a drive through the city’s main recreational and sports area of Laugardalur. We pass the Olympic sized, open-air swimming pool, which is filled with thermal water, and open all year round. The pool is considered a prime example of the seemingly endless natural hot water source, which supplies Iceland. We continue through some residential areas to reach the open air Folk museum of Árbaer, where old houses from Reykjavík and other parts of the country have been relocated. During our visit, museum staff will show us a turf church from northern Iceland and a turf farm building, allowing us a glimpse of days gone by. Some of the time spent here is our own. Travelling back to Reykjavík past modern housing developments, we come to Perlan – The Pearl – a vantagepoint built on hot water storage tanks in the area of Öskjuhlid. The building itself is interesting from an architectural point of view, with a dome consisting of reflective glass panels on a hollow steel frame. A circular viewing platform on top affords a splendid view over the city. From Perlan we shall head to the National Museum. The museum is dedicated to communicating knowledge of Iceland’s cultural heritage, from the time of its pioneering settlement in 874 to the present day. We will spend approximately an hour here, with our guide highlighting some of the main items and other outstanding objects, before we have some free time to wander at our leisure. Continuing our tour, we reach the charming mid town area of Reykjavík, with its colourful houses, City Hall, the Parliament and the Catholic Cathedral before heading back to our ship. To gain the most from this tour, walking is required at each stop. However, passengers with limited mobility may stay on the coach if preferred. Walking includes – approximately 200 metres (660 feet) over uneven ground at the Árbaer Museum, 50 metres (165 feet) to and from The Pearl (lifts are used to reach the viewing platform – there could be a short wait to use them) and 250 metres (820 feet) inside the National Museum (a lift should be available). Please note that the coach used may not have air conditioning. Places of interest may be visited in a different order than that described.