A walk through the city of Reykjavik
Reykjavik is an exciting city with interesting history, vibrant street life, a number of fascinating museums as well as cafés and restaurants.
With My Uncle City Walk you get a personal tour of the soul and heart of Reykjavik, which is a necessary component in the puzzle of understanding Iceland and the people who live here.
The world’s northernmost capital.
The walk starts at the highest point in Reykjavík, the iconic Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland's largest church observable from all over the city on the top of the hill Skólavörðuholt. Here we plan and start a three-hour long tour. Below is a description of the standard tour. Note that adapting the tour to the needs and interests of participants is welcome. Or if you prefer, I can take you on a mix of city walk and drive, if there are no more than three persons.
The tour takes you up to the tower of Hallgrímskirkja for a good view over the characteristic colourful houses and roofs of the city and the surrounding mountain range that frames the larger capital area. From the tower we continue to Einar Jónsson sculpture garden and down to the ”Central Park of Reykjavik '' (Hljómskálagarðurinn) through the colourful neighborhood Þingholt. We walk through the Campus of the University of Iceland where 15.000 students walk the academic path. We make a stop at the Nordic House for admiring an architectural pearl and pausing for a cup of coffee or tea.
A trip through history old and new
From the Nordic House we walk back into the heart of the city. First, we visit the City Hall side of the lake Tjörnin. Here I hope you will appreciate the view of a giant relief map of Iceland. I expect it will put things in perspective and help you to understand how Iceland is “designed” and this side can serve as useful preparation for your later explorations of the country. Here you can also observe what mischief the spoiled ducks, geese and swans on the lake get up to.
We then pass over to the first building in Reykjavik made of stones. Originally built as a prison over 200 years ago it serves now as the prime ministers office. The history of this building is in some way also reflects the history of Iceland for the last 250 years.
Rounding it off
The final part of the walk will take us through the old harbour and to the exhilarating Harpa Concert House, a building that is the center of thriving music life in Reykjavik but also serves as a symbol of the resurrection of Icelandic society after the deep financial crisis and collapse in 2008.
From the Harpa we walk the sea front towards one of the most photographed sculptures in Reykjavik, Sólfarið (the sun-ship), with the mount Esja, the city’s much loved mountain, in the background. This is where we end the walk and I will assist you to find your way to into the rest of the day.
After the walk I hope you feel you have got an important glimpse into the history and life of Icelanders, the story of our capital city and are well prepared for a journey into the splendor of Iceland’s nature and landscape.
For further information and booking contact +354 699 2682 | myuncle@myuncle.is