Reykjavík - Iceland - page 106

Aurora Reykjavík EXHIBITION
(Northern Lights Centre; MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 780 4500; www.aurorareykjavik.is ;Grandagarður
2;adult/child Ikr1600/1000; 9am-9pm)
Learn about the classical tales explaining the Northern Lights, and the scientific explana-
tion, then watch a 35-minute surround-sound panoramic HD recreation of Icelandic auror-
as.
Cinema at Old Harbour Village No 2 FILM
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 899 7953; www.thecinema.is ;Geirsgata 7b;adult/child Ikr1500/750)
A tiny theatre perches in the top of one of the rehabbed Old Harbour warehouses. Nature
films include volcanoes (Hekla, Eyjafjallajökull, Westmann Islands), the creation of Ice-
land, þingvellir and the Northern Lights, and are mostly shown in English with occasional
German screenings. See schedule online.
THREE FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
The Reykjavík Art Museum ticket covers all three of its sites.
The National Gallery ticket also covers nearby Ásgrímur Jónsson Collection and
further-afield Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum.
Laugavegur & East of Tjörnin
Hallgrímskirkja CHURCH
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 510 1000; www.hallgrimskirkja.is ; Skólavörðustígur;tower adult/child
Ikr700/100; 9am-9pm Jul & Aug, to 5pm Sep-Jun)
Reykjavík's immense white-concrete church (1945-86), star of a thousand postcards, dom-
inates the skyline, and is visible from up to 20km away. Get an unmissable view of the city
by taking an elevator trip up the 74.5m-high tower . In contrast to the high drama outside,
the Lutheran church's interior is quite plain. The most eye-catching feature is the vast
5275-pipe organ installed in 1992. The church's size and radical design caused contro-
versy, and its architect, Guðjón Samúelsson (1887-1950), never saw its completion.