Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
REYKJAVÍK IN WINTER
It's bitterly cold and the sun barely rises, but there are advantages to wintery Iceland. The
major joy is watching the glory of the Northern Lights. Many bus tours continue to oper-
ate in winter, taking you to frozen white Gullfoss, caves full of icicles, and snow-covered
mountains. There're also snowmobiling, back-country skiing and heli-skiing tours.
The Reykjavík Skating Hall (Skautahöllin; MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 588 9705;
www.skautaholl.is ;Múlavegur 1, Laugardalur;adult/child Ikr850/600, skate hire Ikr400; noon-3pm
Mon-Wed, noon-3pm & 5-7.30pm Thu, 1-7.30pm Fri, 1-6pm Sat & Sun Sep-Apr) in Laugardalur
throws open its doors September to April. Some people also skate on Tjörnin when it
freezes.
SKIING
The downhill ski season runs November to April, depending on snowfall. The three ski
areas close to Reykjavík (Bláfjöll, Hengill and Skálafell) are managed by Skíðasvæði (
MAP GOOGLE MAP ;
530 3000; www.skidasvaedi.is ; Pósthússtræti 3-5).
Bláfjöll SKIING
( 561 8400;day pass adult/teen/child Ikr3100/1200/800;
2-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat &
Sun)
Iceland's premier ski slopes at 84-sq-km Bláfjöll have 14 lifts, and downhill, cross-country
and snowboarding facilities. You can hire gear at reasonable rates. Bláfjöll is about 25km
southeast of Reykjavík on Rte 417, just off Rte 1. A shuttle bus (Ikr1500 return) leaves
from the Mjódd bus station once daily in season - check with Skíðasvæði
( www.skidasvaedi.is ) for departure times.
Activities
You can rent bikes to zoom along lake or seaside trails, or pop into hot-pots all over town.
Reykjavík is also the main hub for activity tours to a range of destinations beyond the city
limits.
Reykjavík's naturally hot water is the heart of the city's social life (as in many Icelandic
towns); children play, teenagers flirt, business deals are made and everyone catches up on
the latest gossip at the baths. Volcanic heat keeps the temperature at a mellow 29°C, and
most baths have heitir pottar (hot-pots): Jacuzzi-like pools kept a toasty 37°C to 42°C.
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