Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [54]
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Water babies will have a splashingly good time in Reykjavík’s wonderful geothermal swimming pools, particularly Laugardalslaug and Árbæjarlaug. Icelandic horse-riding (opposite) is a great confidence-booster for novice riders – the horses have calm temperaments and aren’t too high off the ground. The 18-lane bowling-hall Keiluhöllin (Map; 511 5300; www.keiluhollin.is; Öskjuhlið; disco bowling ½/1/2hr Ikr2300/4600/9200, other evening & weekend times ½/1/2hr Ikr1900/3800/7600, cheaper weekdays; 11am-midnight Sun-Thu, to 2am Fri & Sat) has arcade games and pool tables; its weekend disco-bowling sessions ( noon-3pm Sat & Sun) may appeal to teenyboppers. To get there take bus 19. In winter, skating (above) is a popular family activity. Buses S2, 14, 15, 17 and 19 pass within a few hundred metres.
The best museums for children are the open-air Árbæjarsafn, where they can zoom around in a safe green space; and the Saga Museum, which will appeal to Viking fans (although may be too scary for very young children). Take bus 19 for Árbæjarsafn and bus 18 or 19 for the Saga Museum. The National Museum has dressing-up clothes, and puzzles and games relating to the museum’s collections.
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TOURS
Walking Tours
Reykjavík is perfect for exploring under your own steam, but if you’d like a little guidance, the tourist office has free themed brochures. They’re easy to follow; the ‘City Centre Walk’ is probably the most interesting, followed by ‘The City Parks’ and ‘The City Statues’.
Whatever the weather, a two-hour city walking tour (www.goecco.com; May–mid-Sep), which explores the old town’s history, leaves at 1pm from outside the main tourist office on Aðalstræti. The walk is free, although tips are encouraged.
The 1½- to two-hour Reykjavík Haunted Walk ( 843 6666; www.goecco.com; adult/under 12yr Ikr2500/free; 8pm May–mid-Sep), also departing from the main tourist office, combines ghost stories – gruesome, sad or just plain strange – with Viking history. The tour finishes, as all ghost walks should, in a twilight graveyard.
In a similar vein is the Reykjavík Hidden World Walk ( 843 6666; www.goecco.com; adult/under 12yr Ikr2500/free; 3pm Wed, Sat & Sun May–mid-Sep), which wends round sites in the old town where the ‘hidden people’ are said to live, merging folklore with modern Icelandic environmentalism.
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SUGGESTED TOURS FROM REYKJAVÍK
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A more cultural exploration of the city can be had on the free Reykjavík in Literature tour ( 5pm Thu Jul & Aug). This 1½-hour stroll through the city is an introduction to ancient and modern Icelandic authors – Snorri Sturluson, Halldór Laxness, Arnaldur Indriðason, Hallgrímur Helgason et al – and an exploration of the Reykjavík settings that inspired them. It departs, appropriately, from the city library.
Bicycle Tours
An ingenious idea, the Reykjavík Bike Tour ( 694 8956; www.icelandbike.com; 10am & 8pm Jun-Aug, 10am Sep-May) is a two-hour guided ride around the city. Make a reservation, and the guides will come and pick you up – they’ll even bring you a bike if you don’t have one of your own. The tour is free – but tip what you think it’s worth at the end.
Bus & Activity Tours
A day-long bus tour from Reykjavík is one of the best ways to see some of the country’s spectacular natural wonders, particularly if you’re not here for long. They’re also good if you want to combine sightseeing with snowmobiling, horse riding, kayaking, rafting and other exhilarating activities.
Tours need to be booked in advance (either at the tourist office, at your hotel or hostel, or directly with the company) and they may be cancelled if there are insufficient numbers or if the weather turns rancid. Young children generally can travel free or at discounted rates.
Every year more tour operators pop up, but here are some of the better-established ones:
Arctic Adventures (Map; 562 7000; www.adventures.is; Laugavegur 11) With young and enthusiastic