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Laugavegur Street leads through central Reykjavik and is chock-a-block on both sides with shops, souvenirs, restaurants, bars, and Tourist Information. I usually suggest tourists to immediately head to the main tourist information office but it will take a long time to get there. Why? See if you can manage to pass up 6-8 blocks of the above without popping into shops while still more shopping streets filled with boutiques and more restaurants branch off Laugavegur.
Eventually you’ll cross a square and there is the Official Tourist Information Center on Adalstraeti 2 filled with brochures and maps that cover whatever a person could ever want to know about Iceland and every activity. There are always long lines of people waiting to make reservations for excursions, hotels, guesthouses, apartments and it moves extremely s-l-o-w as patient employees spend much time assisting each person. We waited in line to buy stamps because the Post office is closed on Saturday.
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map of Reykjavik center
Reykjavik has a welcome card which gives 24, 36 or 72 hours unlimited travel on city busses as well as admission into major attractions. The 24 hour card costs 1,900 ISK, the 48 hours card 2,400 ISK and the 72 hours card 2,900 ISK and they can be purchased at many places in Reykjavik including hotels. We thought most of the attractions were within easy walking distance except for Perlan (The Pearl), an interesting landmark. Get there on the Hop-on-Hop-off bus or take Bus 18.
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Reykjavik restaurant
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popular Puffin souvenirs in Reykjavik
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Reykjavik, Iceland
Food in Reykjavik. Iceland is known for its fresh seafood, organic lamb, wild game and a few weird (to us) “others”: ram’s testicles; fermented, rotten shark…eeww; puffins; and whale. Iceland is not the place for activists. Reykjavik is becoming one of the best places to try new Nordic cuisine at astronomical prices. We planned to have Thai at Baan Thai, and discovered the restaurant was closed only after we walked there. Baan Thai located on the opposite and quieter end of Laugavegur is highly recommend. Back to the 4th Floor Hotel where Reception recommended Lemon on Laugavegur for sandwiches, and how delicious that turned out to be! We ate a yummy chicken, red curry sauce, pesto and spinach sandwich in this take-out or sit-down restaurant.
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Reykjavik store
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TravelsWithSheila and Troll friends on Laugavegur Street, Reykjavik
There is a supermarket on Laugavegur that had the most usual refrigeration. I don’t know about your markets but American stores usually have individual freezers for perishables. The supermarket in Reykjavik has one large open room kept at freezing temperature with all frozen goods on shelves! How unusual is that…
I only saw one bakery/sandwich/soup venue on Laugavegur (other than the supermarket) with the most scrumptious (and expensive) pastries.
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bakery in Reykjavik
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bakery in Reykjavik
Iceland VAT Tax. There are two VAT schemes and several ways to get your refund; pay attention or forget about getting the approximately 15% tax back.
– The purchase amount must be no less than ISK 4,000, approximately $40 USD (VAT included) per store; spending 2,000 in one store and 2,000 in another doesn’t count.
– Iceland VAT is operated by Global Blue and the other (I think) is operated by Tax Free Worldwide. Marine Steve bought some shirts at one store and got his VAT back at the Official Tourist Office who represents Tax Free Worldwide only. Several other places in Reykjavik process Global Blue.
– We waited in line at the Official Tourist Office with the original purchase receipt for a cash refund. As a guarantee, present a Visa or MasterCard, valid for at least three months. The woman then handed back the money, a export validated tax free form, original purchase receipt, and stamped envelope to mail and instructed us to drop it in a mailbox at Keflavik Airport when leaving the country. If the tax free form and the original purchase receipt are not returned to Tax Free Worldwide within 30 days from the date of refund, the full VAT amount will be debited from your credit card. Got it?
– If you spend more than 5,000 ISK and/or decide to do the entire process at Keflavik Airport, do not pack whatever was bought; all goods (except woolens) need to be shown at customs before check-in.
TIP: Always travel with more than one credit card. One VISA card worked in one store, not in two other stores and we switched to a Master Card. Fast telephone calls to both credit card companies to investigate the problem, found out there was no problem. End result, who knows…
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Harpa Glass Concert Hall, Reykjavik
Hooray, Marine Steve’s suitcase is no longer among the missing. It had been sitting in Oslo (duh, thanks SAS) and was delivered to the hotel. Oh happy day!
The Old Harbor Area. A short walk from the Official Tourist Office is the Old Harbor Area where marine activities take place, e.g., whale watching, puffin tours, and is also the home of the Viking Maritime Museum. If the rain hadn’t been coming down in buckets, there is supposed to be stunning views across the bay to Mount Esja. This area is becoming revitalized with restaurants, and coffee shops.
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Old Harbor Area, Reykjavik
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Puffin and Whale on the menu in Reykjavik
TIP: Don’t forget to pack an umbrella and rain gear. You’ll need it.