Reykjavik Shore Excursions
Iceland is an increasingly popular cruise destination, especially with LGBT travelers interested in both Iceland’s natural beauty and its socially progressive LGBT-friendly stance. MMOB asked Adamo and Joey, aka The Gays Abroad, to share their tips on how to have a fabulous day when your cruise ship pays a call in Reykjavik.
A Day in Iceland
In the past fifteen years, Iceland has seen significant growth in its tourism industry, and with good reason. Dubbed as the safest and most peaceful country in the world , it was also the first nation to elect an LGBT leader as their head of government. Needless to say, it’s time to put Iceland on your bucket list.
Reykjavik, the northernmost capital of the world, is a vibrant and relatively small city, with almost 120,000 residents–roughly half of the country’s population. The houses are cute and colourful, and some of the streets look like what one might expect to see in a quaint residential neighbourhood in London.
Not sure what to do during your 24-hour port stop? We’ve got you covered with some great options.
If you enjoy visiting museums, look into the Reykjavik City Card. Not only does it permit you to ride the transit, it also gives you access to a number of museums, including the National Gallery of Iceland and the National Museum of Iceland.
Reykjavik Walking Tours
From June until August, a group consisting mostly of students offers Free Walking Tours of the city. These informative tours last between 80-90 minutes and their philosophy is that each guest tips to their ability and what they think the service was worth.
Visit the iconic, immense concrete church Hallgrímskirkja (pronounced hatl-krims-kirkya). The church, which dominates the city’s skyline, is visible from up to 20km away. It was designed to resemble the basalt formations that can be found all over the country’s landscape. Despite being one of the most visited landmarks in the country, admission to the tower is only $900 ISK (a little more than $7USD).
Walk the waterfront
One thing that makes Reykjavik great in the summer is that the sun shines throughout most of the day. Late at night, you can do as we did and walk the kilometers of pathway by the waterfront. It’s a relaxing experience with a chilled-blue view across the equally calming water.
Although we were there in the beginning of Summer, it does get a tad chilly so make sure to bring some warm clothes with you. But don’t worry, the ‘cold’ doesn’t even compare to the kind of cold we are accustomed to in Canada. A pair of jeans, a sweater and a jacket are all you will need to keep warm.
Island of Viðey
Visiting the island of Viðey can make for a great half-day trip. The Elding ferry will take you there in 15-30 minutes, depending on your point of departure. It is only $1,100 ISK (1 Icelandic Króna=approximately 0.008 USD) for a return trip, but free for anyone who purchases the aforementioned Reykjavik City Card. The island also has several hiking paths. You can explore the paths by foot or, in summer, up the ante and rent a bike or horse. You can also look into combining your trip to Viðey with a whale-watching tour, a special offer provided by Elding.
The island is home to Iceland’s oldest stone house (now a restaurant/gallery/museum), Viðeyjarkirkja church (don’t ask us how to pronounce that), and the John Lennon Imagine Peace Tower (shooting brightly into the sky for two months in the Fall). If you happen to be there in late August, why not join the locals and pick caraway seeds that grow on the island.
The Golden Circle
If you would rather get out of the city and explore natural landmarks, you can organize a day tour of Iceland’s Golden Circle. With return transportation provided from Reykjavik, explore three of the country’s highlights in one single day: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss Waterfall.
Thingvellir National Park is home to a protected national area with some hiking trails and a nice viewpoint.
Found in the Geysir Geothermal Area are the exploding geysers Strokkur and Geysir. Strokkur erupts every few minutes, spouting water 30 meters into the air. Geysir, on the other hand, is less active. It does erupt but it can be several years between each eruption. Fun fact: the English word ‘geyser’ is derived from the name of Iceland’s Geysir.
Iceland’s most famous waterfall is Gullfoss. Walk the long boardwalk toward the many viewpoints and take-in the immensity of the falls. You can view them from high, walk down and get up close and personal, or for those who are a bit wary, enjoy them comfortably from a distance.
If you feel like relaxing, there are day tour options that also include a final stop at some thermal pools to finish off the day with some warmth and relaxation. Book tours independently or on board with your ship’s shore excursion director.
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