Summer Activities in Reykjavik, Iceland

Summer activities in Reykjavik, Iceland include a wide array of sun-filled events that make this quick trip from the United States worth the fuss. Iceland is the closest European country to the United States; it is a five hour plane ride from New York City or Boston, Massachusetts. Reykjavik is Iceland's capital city; while the country has a population of only 300,000, more than one-third of Iceland's population lives in Reykjavik.

Iceland Air is the only airline that flies to Iceland; it is a state-sponsored airline, and the service, from booking reservations on the website through landing in Keflavik, Iceland's major airport, is impeccable. In the off-season, through very early June, round trip tickets to Iceland run under $500 per person. By mid-June, flights to visit Reykjavik run anywhere from $700 to as much as $1200 round trip from the U.S. east coast to Iceland.

Because Iceland is so close to the arctic circle, in the summer there are as few as two hours of darkness. Twenty-two hours of sunlight each day means that Icelanders like to party, hold festivals, and celebrate the summer sun after the bleak darkness of winter. Summer activities in Iceland include trips to The Blue Lagoon, a natural mineral spring surrounded by volcanic rock. Imagine a natural Jacuzzi the size of a small lake, with minerals in the water that soothe aching joints and rejuvenate skin. Adult admission is 1400 Icelandic Kroner-about $21 in U.S. dollars. Children eleven and under are free. Visitors can rent bathing suits for approximately $6 U.S., and towels for $5 U.S.

Other summer activities in Reykjavik and the surrounding area include the Hallsgrimkirkja, the largest structure in Reykjavik. The church commemorates one of Iceland's famous writers, Hallgrimur Pettersen, and stands at 244 feet. Visitors can pay a fee in the gift shop of the church to ride the elevators to observation decks. Children are free, while adults are charged approximately $2 U.S. The fees help to pay for operating costs and maintenance on the church. The view from the top of the Hallsgrimkirkja is breathtaking; bring a camera. In the church's sanctuary visitors are invited to light a candle for those in need (a small donation is requested). A large statue of Leif Erikson, the national hero of Iceland, stands before the Hallsgrimkirkja. Taking a picture beneath the statue, with the church in the background, is an ideal tourist shot when visiting Reykjavik in the summer.

The best cup of coffee, hands down, is at Café Babalu, a small apartment converted into a coffee house, with an outdoor roof terrace. While Americans are accustomed to stores that follow zoning codes, in Reykjavik, apparently, many residential spaces can be converted into impromptu restaurants and stores. Don't let Café Babalu's appearance intimidate-while it seems like you're stepping into someone's private home (literally), head up the stairs and you'll find a converted kitchen/coffee bar, funky music and reading material, and the best latte in town.

No trip to Iceland in the summer would be complete without these two activities. While the Blue Lagoon is outside Reykjavik, it is easily accessible by bus; tours even run from the airport to the mineral springs to give visitors a quick break. Hallsgrimkirkja is the major landmark in Reykjavik as well; orient yourself while walking through the streets, and you will never be lost as you have summer fun in Reykjavik, Iceland.