If you have been researching Iceland and Reykjavik, then I’m certain you have come across the website, I Heart Reykjavik. It’s the brainchild of Auður Ösp and is essential reading before going to Iceland.
One of my favorite things to do in a new city is take a walking or cycling tour. It’s a good way to get oriented and get some insider knowledge. Auður offers I Heart Reykjavik Walking Tour (s) and I recommend taking a tour at the beginning of your trip. If you’ve read her blog, you get the impression that she has a friendly demeanor and sense of humor. All the more in person. She had me laughing quite a bit throughout the tour and there was never a dull moment.
Auður points out things you may otherwise not notice, like the gorgeous centrally located building that happens to be a jail, and other tidbits fueled by local knowledge and passion for her home town.
She will tell you about her favorite places to get food and drink. And she will give you the insider tips on finding local goods to bring home. In Reykjavik, you will find items which say “Iceland” but were really made elsewhere. It’s more fun and better for the Icelandic economy to get actual locally made goods. One place she told us about was the wool co-op, where local knitters sell their stuff. It’s also less expensive than the other shops and I found a great scarf there. I never did get a classic Icelandic sweater (saving it for next time!) but it’s fun to look. For more information about the I Heart Reykjavik Walking Tour (s), and tons of great information about Reykjavik and other parts of Iceland, check out Auður’s website.
