Sabbatikos

Our adventures in Reykjavík began with a full day dedicated to exploring the lively city before embarking on the Ring Road to discover the dramatic wonders of Southern Iceland. Upon our return, we had the perfect blend of daily Reykjavík explorations and evening performances at the 2022 Iceland Airwaves Music Festival.

We kicked off our stay in Reykjavík with a visit to Brauð & Co, where the aroma of freshly baked pastries welcomed us. These delectable treats, paired with rich coffee from the nearby Reykjavík Roasters, gave us the perfect start.

Energized, we made our way to Hallgrímskirkja, the city’s iconic church. Ascending its bell tower, we were greeted with panoramic views of Reykjavík’s colorful rooftops and the surrounding mountains—a truly breathtaking sight.

Next was a walk through Reykjavík’s culture and quirkiness. Our stroll towards downtown led us to the Punk Rock Museum, a quirky tribute to the city’s rebellious spirit and fascinating musical history. Housed in a former public toilet (as any self-respecting punk rock museum should be), this diminutive museum offered a fascinating glimpse into Iceland’s punk rock and independent music history.

Next, we ventured to the Phallological Museum, an eccentric yet educational stop where we learned far more about the animal kingdom than we ever expected.

After our engrossing visit to the Phallological Museum, we couldn’t resist the irony of indulging in one of Iceland’s most iconic—and perhaps surprisingly humble—culinary delights: the famous Icelandic hot dog. Known locally as “pylsur,” this beloved treat features a mix of lamb, beef, and pork, topped with crispy onions, raw onions, ketchup, sweet mustard, and a remoulade sauce. Nearby was a well placed Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur the local chain of hot dog stands. It felt fitting to follow up our quirky museum tour with a bite of something uniquely Icelandic, bridging the gap between the curious and the delicious.

Nearby was the ticket office for Iceland Airwaves, so we dropped in to pick up our festival passes. After picking up our tickets, we stepped outside the venue and were stunned to bump into an old friend from Seattle. The chance encounter was a serendipitous surprise, and we quickly made plans to catch up before the festival started after we returned from our trip to Southern Iceland. We invited her and her friend over to our Airbnb for drinks, setting the stage for a perfect prelude to the festival’s opening night to come.

We wandered down to Reykjavík’s harbor to explore the area and grabbed some food and drinks at a hip bar called Slippbarinn.

We continued on past the harbor to visit and tour Öldur, Iceland’s only meadery. There are few bees in Iceland, and therefore no commercial honey (except by import) and so the mead industry in Iceland is just now starting to blossom. We learned about the process and history of mead and got to taste very fine meads. We walked on visit nearby Icelandic chocolate company Omnom whose smart packaging and marketing caught our eye at the KEF airport on our last trip.

When Iceland’s tourist industry first began, there were many reservations about traditional Icelandic cuisine, which features unique dishes like hákarl (fermented shark), svið (sheep’s head), harðfiskur (dried fish), and lundi (smoked puffin). Today, however, the culinary scene in Iceland has transformed remarkably. We had the pleasure of dining at several outstanding restaurants that offered innovative and modern interpretations of Icelandic classics. These meals highlighted the best of local ingredients, from succulent lamb and fresh Arctic char to rich skyr, multiple root vegetables, and the savory hot dogs, creating a memorable and delicious culinary journey through Iceland’s evolving food culture.

Our days in Reykjavík were a perfect blend of culinary delights, cultural exploration, and unexpected reunions, setting the tone for an unforgettable journey through Iceland.