Harpa and the Museum Mile in Reykjavík's old harbor

Sights and the museum mile

• Grandi, the old harbor Overview

  Between Harpa and Þúfa, the green grassy hill, extends the old port area. Standing at the concert hall, it seems like a stone's throw to the opposite hill. However, it is almost a 1.9 miles walk and thus about 40 minutes to get there. The last mile runs through the industrial area of ​​the fish processing company HB Grandi and is not particularly appealing. For ones who have a rental car, I recommend to use this and drive the last section directly to the parking slots in front of Þúfa.

  

  

  The harbor entrance is marked by two yellow lighthouses on which anglers can often be found.

  

• Harpa Concert Hall, Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland Start

  The best way to start a harbor tour is at the Harpa, the opera house and concert hall at the harbor of Reykjavík. The name was the winner of a competition which among other things was that the word should be easy to pronounce in most languages ​​:). On one hand Harpa is the Icelandic word for 'harp' and on the other hand a month in the old Nordic calendar, whose first day simultaneously marks the first day of the summer and thus the beginning of the brighter season.

  If you are traveling by car, you can park (fee is reasonably priced for European conditions) in the underground car park. Harpa, Miðborg, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland 64°09'01.5"N 21°55'56.2"W

  You can simply stroll through the shops in the futuristic building, let the exciting architecture work on you, enjoy the view of the bay and the opposite mountains or satisfy your hunger in one of the restaurants.

  

  

  

  

  

• Volcano House 800 m | 10 min

  Volcano House, Iceland, Tryggvagata 11, 101 Reykjavík
  "Hands-on" volcanism. The Volcano House offers free access to many different lava, pumice and ash from famous eruptions. Most of the exhibits, including the semi-precious stones, may be touched. In addition, you can watch a documentary about the two most famous Icelandic volcanic eruptions every hour.

  • Eyjafjallajökull 2010 – the day the earth stoodstill (or at least the day Europe didn’t fly…)

  • Westman Island 1973 – eruption in your back yard

• Aurora Reykjavík - The Northern Lights Center 600 m | 8 min

  Aurora Reykjavík, Grandagarður 2, 101 Reykjavík

  For those who visit Iceland in the summer or for those who had the misfortune in the dark season to miss the northern lights, Aurora Reykjavík offers an alternative. The exhibition is full of interesting information about the creation of the Northern Lights, Interactive Displays, a VR experience with 360-degree views of Northern Lights as well as information about taking fotos of northern lights and a 20-minutes film.
  Tip: Save 10% on an online booking with the promo code AURORAREYKJAVIK

• Saga Museum 70 m | 1 min

  Saga Museum , Grandagarður 2, 101 Reykjavík
  A small museum that illustrates the legends and history of Iceland in 17 exhibits. An audio guide leads through scenes with human-sized wax figures. At the end of the museum, you can dress up as a Viking with helmets, swords, chain mail and have your picture taken.
  Tip: An interesting 'Making of' the museum

• Harbor impressions

  

  

  

  

  

• Maritime Museum 140 m | 2 min

  Maritime Museum - Schifffahrtsmuseum, Grandagarður 8, 101 Reykjavík
  For many centuries, fishing was one of the most important livelihoods of Icelanders. Fittingly, the Reykjavik Maritime Museum is housed in a former fish-freezing facility. It includes, among other things, an exhibition on the cod wars, fish processing, various ship models and the historical development of the fishery. Outside at the pier next to the museum, there is the Coast Guard ship Óðinn, which can be visited 3 times a day (extra charge) with a guided tour.
  Tip: When registering for the newsletter, you will receive a 15% discount on the entrance fee for the museum.

• Whales of Iceland 350 m | 4 min

  Whales of Iceland, Fiskislóð 23-25, 101 Reykjavík
  

  Whales of Iceland is an exhibition of life-size whale models. From the porpoise to the giant blue whale, all 23 species found in Icelandic waters are shown.
  Tip: The museum runs an informative Blog , covering topics like"Do whales have hair?" or"Did you know that some Walmothers whisper with their calves" so as not to be discovered?"

• Marshallhúsið 750 m | 9 min

  Marshallhúsið, Grandagarður, 101 Reykjavík

  Marshallhúsið is a cultural center opened in 2017. It is home to the Living Art Museum as well as the Galerie Kling & Bang and the Studio Ólafur Elíassonwhich impresses with interesting, changing exhibitions. Art lovers will find out in advance which artists are currently being presented in the galleries.

• Þúfa 300 m | 4 min

  Þúfa, which is simply called Grasshooks, is a distinctive, round, artificially created hill in the old port of Reykjavik. The hill was designed by artist Ólöf Nordal. In 26 ft height is a small house in which (supposedly) fish are dried. Supposedly because at the time of my visit the narrow, spiral path to the top was closed because of the replanting. So I could not see the inside and the great view of the harbor, the surrounding mountains and the bay of Faxaflói for this time unfortunately.

  

  

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