Reykjavík
GusGus “Mexican theme” evening at Boston
One of Iceland’s best musical exports, GusGus, will be celebrating their 8th album release named MEXICO. Part of the celebration will include snippets of the new album being played – and best of all the party will have a Mexican theme. The party starts at 7pm at the downtown bar Boston at Laugavegur 28b on the fourth of July. For those who come early there will be Mexican culinary delights provided by Santa Karamba as well as Mexican cocktails. To keep the party going the DJs Hunk Of A Man and President Bongo will provide the music.
See more Reykjavík and capital area highlights
West Iceland
Luck of the Irish
This weekend Akranes will host their annual community festival, Irish Days, which celebrates the town‘s Irish roots.
Street barbeques, street markets and a golf turnament are among the many events which will take place this weekend in connection with the festival. Also, natural redheads can sign up for a competition celebrating this rare hair color so often identified with Ireland.
Akranes is only a 45-minute drive from the center of Reykjavík.
See more West Iceland highlights
Westfjords
Viking festival in Þingeyri
Dýrafjarðardagar Viking festival is held at a reconstructed stone circle in Haukadalur this weekend. The festival celebrates the area’s Viking heritage and the saga of local Viking Gísli Súrsson. The event is a family friendly one with loads of fun activities for children of all ages, including soap box car racing, a guided tour around historical spots, paintball and picnic.
More information here and here.
See more Westfjords highlights
North Iceland
Boat exhibition in Siglufjörður
Guðbjörg Ringsted has opened an exhibition in the Herring Era Museum in the beautiful town of Siglufjörður. On display are toy ships and boats from her private collection. The Herring Era Museum is a recreation of a typical herring factory from the 1930‘s and consists of three buildings, each showing a different aspect of the herring industry, and is also well worth a visit. For futher information regarding opening hours, visit their website.
See more North Iceland highlights
East Iceland
Tthree things people should absolutely not miss when visiting East Iceland
1) “Go to the former Iceland spar mine Helgustaðanámur (but don’t take the Iceland spar with you, it’s protected!)
2) “Take a walk around the town of Fáskrúðsfjörður and visit the French hospital and museum. All the town’s street names are in Icelandic and French, in memory of the French fishermen who used to fish around the coasts of Iceland.
3) “Drive to Mjóifjörður (which translates to Narrow Fjord) and take in the beautiful scenery.”
Recommended by Hulda Guðnadóttir from Reyðafjörður fjord.
See more East Iceland highlights
South Iceland
The National Icelandic Horse Competition
The big final of Iceland's largest outdoor sporting event is this weekend. Also known as the Landsmót, the national horse competition showcases iceland's best horses and riders. The bi-annual event has been held since 1950 and is held at rotating locations. This year the festival is at the racing and exhibiton track called Gaddstaðaflatir in the town of Hella in South Iceland. Attendance for the 2008 event held in Hella reached 14,000 people and it will also be crowded this weekend.
See more South Iceland highlights
Reykjanes peninsula
All Tomorrow’s Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) comes to Iceland this week. The official festival starts in the old US navy base in Keflavík on Thursday July 10th. Noteable bands for this years festival include Portishead, Interpol, Mogwai, and Slowdive. ATP is an organization based in London that has been promoting festivals and concerts throughout the world for over ten years. It sets itself apart from big festivals by staying intimate, non-corporate and fan-friendly. The line-ups are chosen by significant bands or artists, resulting in unpredictable and exciting events from any (and every) musical genre. And if that's not a good enough reason to attend an ATP Music Festival: It's now in Iceland. For more information about ATP, click here. From July 10th-12th.
See more Reykjanes peninsula highlights
Best of Iceland This Week is a guide for those who are curious about what's going on across Iceland and want local recommendations about events, activities and places of interest. This is the only Icelandic guide of its kind. New every week.
Reykjavík
GusGus “Mexican theme” evening at Boston
One of Iceland’s best musical exports, GusGus, will be celebrating their 8th album release named MEXICO. Part of the celebration will include snippets of the new album being played – and best of all the party will have a Mexican theme. The party starts at 7pm at the downtown bar Boston at Laugavegur 28b on the fourth of July. For those who come early there will be Mexican culinary delights provided by Santa Karamba as well as Mexican cocktails. To keep the party going the DJs Hunk Of A Man and President Bongo will provide the music.
See more Reykjavík and capital area highlights
West Iceland
Luck of the Irish
This weekend Akranes will host their annual community festival, Irish Days, which celebrates the town‘s Irish roots.
Street barbeques, street markets and a golf turnament are among the many events which will take place this weekend in connection with the festival. Also, natural redheads can sign up for a competition celebrating this rare hair color so often identified with Ireland.
Akranes is only a 45-minute drive from the center of Reykjavík.
See more West Iceland highlights
Westfjords
Viking festival in Þingeyri
Dýrafjarðardagar Viking festival is held at a reconstructed stone circle in Haukadalur this weekend. The festival celebrates the area’s Viking heritage and the saga of local Viking Gísli Súrsson. The event is a family friendly one with loads of fun activities for children of all ages, including soap box car racing, a guided tour around historical spots, paintball and picnic.
More information here and here.
See more Westfjords highlights
North Iceland
Boat exhibition in Siglufjörður
Guðbjörg Ringsted has opened an exhibition in the Herring Era Museum in the beautiful town of Siglufjörður. On display are toy ships and boats from her private collection. The Herring Era Museum is a recreation of a typical herring factory from the 1930‘s and consists of three buildings, each showing a different aspect of the herring industry, and is also well worth a visit. For futher information regarding opening hours, visit their website.
See more North Iceland highlights
East Iceland
Tthree things people should absolutely not miss when visiting East Iceland
1) “Go to the former Iceland spar mine Helgustaðanámur (but don’t take the Iceland spar with you, it’s protected!)
2) “Take a walk around the town of Fáskrúðsfjörður and visit the French hospital and museum. All the town’s street names are in Icelandic and French, in memory of the French fishermen who used to fish around the coasts of Iceland.
3) “Drive to Mjóifjörður (which translates to Narrow Fjord) and take in the beautiful scenery.”
Recommended by Hulda Guðnadóttir from Reyðafjörður fjord.
See more East Iceland highlights
South Iceland
The National Icelandic Horse Competition
The big final of Iceland's largest outdoor sporting event is this weekend. Also known as the Landsmót, the national horse competition showcases iceland's best horses and riders. The bi-annual event has been held since 1950 and is held at rotating locations. This year the festival is at the racing and exhibiton track called Gaddstaðaflatir in the town of Hella in South Iceland. Attendance for the 2008 event held in Hella reached 14,000 people and it will also be crowded this weekend.
See more South Iceland highlights
Reykjanes peninsula
All Tomorrow’s Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) comes to Iceland this week. The official festival starts in the old US navy base in Keflavík on Thursday July 10th. Noteable bands for this years festival include Portishead, Interpol, Mogwai, and Slowdive. ATP is an organization based in London that has been promoting festivals and concerts throughout the world for over ten years. It sets itself apart from big festivals by staying intimate, non-corporate and fan-friendly. The line-ups are chosen by significant bands or artists, resulting in unpredictable and exciting events from any (and every) musical genre. And if that's not a good enough reason to attend an ATP Music Festival: It's now in Iceland. For more information about ATP, click here. From July 10th-12th.
