The Microbar is located at Vesturgata 2, close to Ingolfstorg Square in central Reykjavik.. Its not the easiest place to find as its set back from the road and is actually located underneath Restaurant Reykjavik. A small doorway, with a rather helpful sign above, leads to a downstairs bar.
There is plenty of seating here and although basic it is comfortable enough. The atmosphere is very laid back with a most impressive choice of music playing during our visit including Nick Cave and Tom Waits Altogether there are 14 beers on tap and much greater choice in bottles and cans. Prices are not cheap but then again no different to most other places in the city. Alcohol is generally expensive in Iceland. Happy moments are between 3 and 7pm where a choice of two beers is available at 1000ISK for half a litre.
They also do a range of merchandise, including t-shirts, if you are looking for a souvenir to take back home.
Segull 67 A brewery in an old fish factory at Siglufjorder in North Iceland. Two beers were on offer in the Happy Moments promotion. Segull 67 Session IPA 4.2%. Pours yellow, hazy with a thin white head. Aromas of orange, pineapple and a hint of banana. The palate is creamy, soapy with orange and pine. Low bitterness and gentle carbonation. Segull 67 Amber Lager 5%. Amber, clear with a light tan head. Aromas of malt, caramel and a hint of pine. Palate is quite full, good carbonation and low bitterness. Malty, yeasty with some floral notes.
Bruggsmiojan Kaldi began brewing in 2006 in Arskogssander on Icelands northern coast. All production is unpasteurised with no added preservatives. Kaldi Black IPA 6%. Black, opaque with the thinnest of tan heads. Gentle carbonation. Palate has malt with a touch of coffee, lemon citrus and a touch of grapefruit. Finish has a slight bitterness.
GÅ“dingur Tumi Humall IPA 6.5%. Located in Skagafordur in northern Iceland and brewing since 2011. This beer pours yellow with a slight haze and a thin cream head. Aroma is tropical, hoppy, malt and pine. Palate is slightly creamy, nice texture, low bitterness. Lemon citrus is the dominant flavour. Very drinkable.
With only a limited time available it was only a short visit but there is much on offer here to satisfy the craft beer enthusiast.
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in Iceland with a population of around 120,000. It sits on the southern shore of Faxa Bay and is an excellent destination for a short break or long weekend from the UK.
The main international airport is Keflavik with is 50Km from the capital but is easily reached in 40/50 minutes by a frequent airport coach service. Indeed many travellers use Reykjavik as a stop over destination on flights between Europe and North America.
Compared with many European capitals Reykjavik is not only small but relatively compact which makes it a very walkable city if you want to avoid using public transport. It is also quite low rise, with very few really tall buildings, which gives it a big sky feel. Many of the buildings, especially in the old town, are characterful and colourful. At times you forget you are in a capital city and that’s how it should be, it make sit an excellent place to visit.
Just because its small doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot to see and do. I spent a full day here and still had much left too see and do that I’m already thinking about another trip back.
Hallgrimskirkja. This iconic Icelandic church is visible for miles around, standing tall in the city. It was designed to resemble volcanic lava flow and took just over 40 years to build. You can take a lift to the top of the tower for stunning views of the city.
Parliament House. The Icelandic parliament is called the Albingi and is the oldest parliament in the world, dating back to 930. Originally held at Thingvellir, some 30 miles east of Reykjavik, it has been housed in this building since 1881.
The Icelandic Parliament Building
The Sun Voyager. This sculpture, by Jon Gunnar Arnason, of a Viking ship is located on the waterfront close to the city centre. Its location is perfect set as it is with water and mountains framing its structure. There is some debate as to its true meaning but you cannot deny that it is a stunning piece of work that always has something different to offer as it catches the light at different times of day.
The Settlement Exhibition. A fascinating excavation of a 10th century Viking longhouse discovered in 2001 is combined with modern multimedia displays which explain its construction and life at that time. Its an excellent way to spend an hour.
The Settlement Exhibition
Reykjavik Museum of Photography. Located on the sixth floor of the City Library this small space plays host to exhibitions of the work of superb photographers. Well worth the very modest entry fee but do check what’s on first.
Have a hot dog. There are numerous outlets around the city selling hot dogs, a favourite snack of the locals. Baejarins Beztu cabins are said to do the best in town. They are very tasty, have them with everything on.
Aurora Reykjavik. This small exhibition gives a full explanation of why we see the Northern Lights and how best to capture them on film. There is also an interesting section detailing the significance of the display to the various cultures found in the Arctic. Best of all is the giant photo display of auroras captured at various Icelandic locations. There photography here is quite stunning and well worth the 30 or so minutes to view them all. A good little museum if you need to learn more about the aurora before you go to hopefully catch a display. Aurora Reykjavik website.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of things to do. I had to make decisions because I only had one free day in the city. You could easily spend 2 or 3 days here.
Having just returned from a short trip to Iceland I can honestly say that I was blown away by the country and am already thinking about when to return for a longer, more comprehensive visit. Summer tourism to Iceland is well established but visits in the winter are relatively new, six years ago there were very few winter visitors. Winter is an excellent time to visit, the landscapes are absolutely stunning, covered with snow and so photogenic. There is also a much greater chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
The days are short. Reykjavik is the most northern capital city in the world and its latitude (64 degrees North), means that in the winter there is a not a great deal of daylight. This doesn’t mean however that there is 24 hours of darkness at any time. Even on the shortest day there are just over 4 hours of daylight, with the sun rising at 11.22am. By the end of January this has increased to around 7 hours. The pace of the day is different, you soon adapt and become much more organised in getting out and about.
It can be cold. It is called Iceland after all. During my visit the temperature was around -6 Celsius with a wind chill down to -12. If you have the right clothing it is perfectly manageable. Make sure you pack appropriately, the temperature won’t necessarily be that low but if you are prepared its much less of a problem. Essentials are waterproof walking shoes/boots with a good tread, it can be snowy and slushy. A wind proof jacket and wind proof thermal gloves. I used the gloves that I use when cycling and they were perfectly adequate. Layering is always a good idea and try to start with a good thermal base layer, I use a merino wool thermal base layer and would recommend them wholeheartedly. Don’t forget a hat and scarf big enough to wrap round your face to protect from the wind. You can of course buy many of these things while you are there but you may find them much more expensive than at home.
You have a better chance to see The Northern Lights. The short days of winter mean that you may get to see the Northern Lights. Of course there is no guarantee, viewings depend on a number of factors such as cloud cover, solar activity and the absence of background light. Trips are available from Reykjavik which run on days when conditions are deemed to be favourable. They usually go to Thingvellir national park, about a 45 minute drive out of the city to an area with no light pollution. You may even be able to book on a subsequent evening if you were unlucky and there was no activity. Reykjavik Excursions run trips at 19.30 and 21.00 each day. The guided tour lasts for 3 hours and costs 4999 ISK.
The weather can be changeable. There had been heavy snow in Reykjavik in the days before I arrived and although main routes were clear side streets were not. Driving in Iceland in the winter requires care, attention and forward planning. Hire cars should be fitted with winter snow tyres to aid traction in snowy and icy conditions. It is possible to visit Reykjavik and do coach tours including around The Golden Circle without the need for car hire. There is also an excellent coach service which links Keflavik Airport with the capital.
There are a couple of websites that can help with road conditions in the country. Safetravel.is covers all aspects of travel in the country as well as giving weather and road reports. Road.is details road conditions around the country and even has webcams showing junctions and stretches of major roads so you can judge for yourself what conditions are like. The weather can change quickly and it is always a good idea to get an up to date weather forecast before heading out. The Icelandic Met Office is the place to look for the latest report.
It’s quieter. Although winter tourism is growing it is still far behind that in the summer. As a result tourist attractions are much quieter and restaurants less busy. Make the best of it while you can. Winter is glorious in Iceland and you won’t be disappointed, the snowy landscapes are absolutely magical.
