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Home > Cruise Destination Guide > Reykjavik

Time Zone: GMT.

Currency: Icelandic Krona (Ikr) = 100 aurar.

Language: Icelandic.

Sightseeing: Reykjavik has two landmarks that offer views over the city: the Perlan on Öskjuhlíd Hill and the 75m-high (230ft) Hallgrímskirkj church, in the centre of town. A visit to the top of either of these is the best way to become orientated and see the town’s layout. The Old Town contains a number of historic buildings, including the National Museum, and Hafnarhúsid (the Art Museum). Spreading eastwards from the Old Town is modern Reykjavik, which is home to the main shopping streets of Laugavegur and Laekjargata, as well as the National Gallery of Iceland.

Shopping: Lopapeysa (Icelandic jumper), fluffy, earth-coloured Lopi wool blankets and coats, jackets, hats and handknits, earthenware containers in natural colours and crushed lava ceramic pieces.

Eating Out: Icelandic specialities include gravlax (marinated salmon), hangikjot (smoked lamb), hardfiskur (dried fish), skyr (curds) and Icelandic sild (herring marinated in various flavours). Reykjavik’s speciality is codchrynn, or ‘the chin of the cod’, marinated in vinegar and fried in egg.