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Fun & Leisure Entertainment in Reykjavik
The exceptional status Iceland enjoys today is because of its breathtaking nature. Iceland displays a beautiful array of nature’s gifts from geysers, to mountains with impressive heights, to volcanoes, to phenomenal waterfalls, incredible lakes, to its limitless lava deserts. These numerous works of art by nature and its uncommon ambiance of serenity have attracted people from different parts of the world to Iceland. When visiting Iceland’s capital we thought we would share some fun and leisure activities in Reykjavik, suitable for the whole family. Here we go:
Fly Over Iceland
The FlyOver Iceland is a very recent place of educative entertainment situated in the exhilarating Grandi harbour district, Reykjavík. This facility employs avant-garde mechanization; seated in hanging seats, a simulation of soaring high up looking down at the breath-taking scenery of Iceland from the extensive lava plains to the geysers, mountain tops, fjords, etc. is projected from a twenty-meter encasing screen. Unique nature impacts are employed, like haze, fragrance, breeze incorporated along with the movement of the ride, which imprints in your memory an amazing encounter. At this incredible facility, you do not have to worry about the weather because it is an indoor adventure where you get to see and feel the sights and sounds of Iceland. There are also pre-ride shows which survey the works of nature and the people on this incredible island. This beautifully planned structure also features a memento shop and a café.
Lava Show Reykjavík
The Lava Show has just recently open in Reykjavík, it has another location in Vík í Mýrdal. The Lava Show recreates a volcanic eruption, they do that by superheating real lava and pouring it into a showroom full of people. The Lava Show is the first of its kind in the world. The founders got the idea for the business when the volcanic eruption at Fimmvörðuháls/Eyjafjallajökull started in 2010.
Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool
Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool is situated in the valley of Laugardalur. It is the Reykjavik’s biggest pool with spacious amenities. These amenities consist of water slides, an array of hot tubs, a children’s pool, a 50m outdoor pool, a steam bath, a paddling pool, and a miniature golf course. The pools are pleasantly warm with a temperature of twenty-nine degrees Celsius whilst the children’s pool is warmer. Other interesting features are the seven varying hot tubs, just in case you prefer warmer waters. The biggest of the seven can take up to fifty persons; these are just perfect as the temperature range is within thirty-seven to forty-three degrees centigrade. In 2012, a new addition was introduced to the Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool; a saltwater hot tub. The saltwater was gotten from a dredged hole close to the north of Reykjavik foreland. It is cold right from the hole but warmed up to forty degrees centigrade. The quality of water in Reykjavik’s swimming pools is very high. It is sourced from dredged holes in three varying locations in and close to Reykjavik. The water quality is checked four times a day by the pool staff while health and safety inspectors do their evaluation four times annually.
Reykjavik Escape
Reykjavik Escape is located in central Reykjavik. It is a reality communal escape game. A group of two to five persons is locked in a room with hidden clues, and mysteries with a time limit of sixty minutes to break free. All clues and mysteries must be solved to get out in record time; this reality game encourages cooperation and tasks your reasoning skills. Altogether, there are six rooms and there are three types of reality games: ‘Taken’, ‘The Scientist’, and ‘Prison Break’.
Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo
The Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo are located in the Laugardalur valley in Reykjavik. It is managed by the division of leisure and sports in the city of Reykjavik. This exceptional park and zoo also feature the gardens of Reykjavik. It is a fantastic fun place for the whole family. The zoo which was opened in 1990, showcases some insects, foreign reptiles, and amphibians; also consists of farm animals in their natural habitat; reindeers, foxes, seals, and an array of choice birds like pigeons and hens.
The zoo accentuates wild and domestic animals found in Iceland, like the cows, Arctic fox, sheep, pigs, ducks, rabbits, goats, etc. The cold water aquarium was introduced in 2004. It features over twenty species fish, sea creatures from the north Atlantic, crabs, and seals. The exciting fact about the zoo is being able to get near to the animals and feed them; this makes the experience an impressionable one.
At the park, there are interesting fascinations like cook-out amenities, relaxation areas, and other fun activities for kids like the segway, merry-go-round, trampoline, boats, a miniature race track, and a train. It also features a coffee house and stalls where mementoes and choice beverages are sold. Children from 0-4 years have free entry access to the zoo. Another impressive and captivating feature is the Science World; there, children get to encase themselves in giant-sized soap bubbles and they also get the unforgettable experience of measuring their screams in units of decibels. The Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo is a fantastic place to visit with children; it is a fun place for adults and children alike. It is a place where children can meet other children and play away; it is a place where every child will find an activity of interest. Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo is an ideal place for a family outing and it is open throughout the year.
Iceland is fast becoming one of the big travel-bucket-list countries in the world. There is no gainsaying that you will have a remarkable and awesome experience visiting Reykjavik during your stay in Iceland.
Reykjavík Food Walk
The Reykjavik Food Walk is the #1 rated food tour on TripAdvisor. It is a fantastic way to start your stay in Reykjavík.
You will be walking from one restaurant to the other while the guides tells you some facts about our beautiful country (though mostly about food, there is a mixture of the people, history and tradition as well). Since you will be walking between each restaurant we suggest that you dress according to the weather, you don’t want to get cold! Each tour is on the smaller side, maximum 12-14 guests. You experience the excellent seafood that Iceland has to offer and who knows maybe even our free roaming Icelandic Lamb. This is a tour that a foodie should add on their activity list while in Reykjavík.
While on this amazing food walk tour you will visit 5-6 restaurants and taste over 8 amazing local cuisines. This is also the place to try out the Icelandic fermented shark and brennivín or black death. It is not as bad is the name gives it out to be….or maybe it is, you would have to tell us after giving it a taste.
Puffin Express
Did you come to Iceland in hopes of seeing one of these colourful birds? Then a Puffin Express tour might be something for you. Puffins are mostly on the Westman Islands, however you can join a tour from Reykjavík. A tour starting from the old harbour in Reykjavík takes you to puffin island, Akurey. The islands you will see on the tour are covered in small hills and slopes, the islands shores are also rocky. The boats used on the tour are designed to get you as close to the islands for the best visibility of the puffins. You will also get a fantastic view of the capital while on the boat.
Whale Watching
Whale watching is quite the experience, seeing whales so close is something you might not want to miss. The most common type of whales that you will see are the Blue whales, you might be lucky enough to see Minke whales, Fin whales, Humpback whales, Orcas, White-beaked whales and Sperm whales.
Whale watching is available all year round from Reykjavík, however the summer season (from April-October) is the best time to observe the whales as they are most active at that period.
This is a fantastic tour for the whole family!
You can get more information on whales here: https://www.gjtravel.is/whale-species-in-iceland/ & https://www.gjtravel.is/wildlife-and-animals-in-iceland/.
Reykjavík Cat-Walk
Are you a cat person or maybe not. Even so the Reykjavík Cat-Walk might be something that you would like to do. You will probably see while you are staying in Reykjavík that cats get to roam free and on this tour you will follow “the paw prints” of cats since the settlement of Iceland.
The tour guide will talk to you about the history of cats, but not just here in Iceland, throughout the world. A visit to the Reykjavík Cat Coffeehouse where you can pet some cats while having a hot cup of coffee, tea or chocolate while tasting an Icelandic pastry. While on the walk your might also spot some of Iceland’s most famous cats, Baktus, Jónsi and Ofelia (just to name a few).
When joining the tour, you are supporting The Cat Protection Society and Kattholt (which is a cat shelter and a cat hotel), as a part of the tour price goes to them.
Here more blogs which could be helpful when staying in Reykjavik
Landmarks and Sculptures in Reykjavik
Top Hotels in Iceland’s Capital
Best Fast & Street Food in Reykjavik
Asian Restaurant Recommendations