Words by

Elín Traustadóttir

Photo by

Páll Hilmarsson

Your Grapevine Guide

If you are a tourist stranded in Iceland over the holiday season, you may find yourself hard pressed to come up with activities to engage in, as the country practically shuts down in late December (admittedly, this has been changing along with the increased tourist influx). Most shops are closed, tour operators generally run a limited schedule, and some of our favourite restaurants close down (although, again, this has been slowly changing for the better). Rather than let you depend on dumb luck, we at the Grapevine compiled a list of what’s open and when for your convenience. Rest assured, there are things to do in Reykjavík over Christmas. You just have to be smart about it, and manage your expectations somewhat.

We’ve tried to make sure this guide is as comprehensive as possible, but there may be changes from when we print the issue. For a complete list, check out The Official Tourist Information Centre.

Travel

STRÆTÓ

23: Regular schedule
24: Saturday schedule until 14
25: No Service
26: Sunday schedule
26: Sunday schedule
31: Saturday schedule until 14
1: No service

REYKJAVÍK EXCURSIONS

24: Reduced service
25: Reduced service
26: Normal schedule
31: Normal schedule
1: Normal schedule

ICELAND EXCURSIONS

24: Reduced service
25: Reduced service
26: Normal schedule
31: Reduced service
1: Reduced service

THE OFFICIAL TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

24: Open 10-14
25: Closed
26: Open 10-14
31: Open 10-16
1: Open 11-16

THE BLUE LAGOON

23: Open 10-17, restaurant open 12-15
24: Open 10-17, restaurant closed
25: Open 10-15, restaurant closed
26: Open 10-20, restaurant open 10-20
1: Open 10-20, restaurant open 12-20:30

Pools

ÁRBÆJARLAUG

24: Open 08-12:30
25: Closed
26: Open 12-18
31: Closed
1: 06:30-22

BREIÐHOLTSLAUG

24: Open 08-12:30
25: Closed
26: Closed
31: Open 06:30-22:00
1: Closed

GRAFARVOGSLAUG

24: Open 08-12:30
25: Closed
26: Closed
31: Closed
1: Open 06:30-22

KLÉBERGSLAUG

24: Open 11-15
25: Open 10-12:30
26: Closed
31: Closed
1: Open 15-21

LAUGARDALSLAUG

24: Open 08-12:30
25: Closed
26: Open 12-18
31: Open 12-18
1: Open 06:30-22

SUNDHÖLL REYKJAVÍKUR

24: Open 08-12:30
25: Closed
26: Closed
31: Closed
1: Open 06:30-22

VESTURBÆJARLAUG

24: Open 08-12:30
25: Closed
26: Closed
31: Closed
1: Open 06:30-22

Museums/Galleries

The following museums are open on the following days:

24: Volcano House, Aurora Reykjavík
25: Volcano House, Aurora Reykjavík
26: Hafnarhúsið, Kjarvalsstaðir, The Phallic Museum, Volcano House, Aurora Reykjavík
31: Reykjavík Museum of Photography, National Museum, The Phallic Museum, Volcano House, Aurora Reykjavík
1: Volcano House, Reykjavík Museum of Photography, Aurora Reykjavík

Stores

KRINGLAN

23: Open 10-23
24: Open 10-13
25: Closed
26: Closed
31: Open 10-13
1: Closed

LAUGAVEGUR & DOWNTOWN

23: Open 10-23
24: Open 10-12
25: Closed
26: Closed
31: Open 10-12
1: Closed

SMÁRALIND

23: Open 11-23
24: Open 10-13
25: Closed
26: Closed
31: Open 10-13
1: Closed

ÁTVR/VÍNBÚÐ (State Alcohol Outlets in Reykjavík)

23: Open 11-23
24: Open 10-13
27: Open 11-18
30: Open 11-20
31: Open 10-14
1: Closed

BARS/CLUBS (in general)

28: Open 00-04:30 (stuff opens at midnight of the 27th).

See also: Your complete guide to holiday boozing!