Witnessing vanished times in Iceland
For more than half a century the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum has presented an exhibition in the turf farmhouse of Glaumbær. Within the authentic buildings – a classic example of the roughly built turf, stone cottages once common all over Iceland – everyday tools are displayed in their natural environment, bearing witness to vanished times and the daily activities of people in Iceland''s past.
Icelandic Craft Beer Festival
If you like beer the thought of the annual Beer Festival in the small village of Hólar in Hjaltadalur valley will make you dizzy before you have a single sip. Breweries from all over Iceland will give you the chance to sample dozens of craft and specialty beers. The focus will of course be on the drinks menu but from the food menu you can choose betweeen homemade bratwurzt, pulled-pork and bretzels. Contestants will compete in keg rolling and the best stall will receive an award. The festival is from 3 PM to 7 PM on Saturday June 7th. You can buy tickets ad midi.is or at the location. Admission is 4.500 ISK ($40, EUR 30).
Running a marathon around lake Mývatn
Few marathons can match the route and environment of the Mývatn marathon. The race takes you around Lake Mývatn one of Iceland's most beautiful places and on the tentative list as a UNESCO world heritage site. The run starts and ends at the Mývatn Naturebaths. The entire route runs close to Lake Mývatn, which is 277 m above sea level. The route’s highest elevation is near Grímsstaðir farm, 308 m above sea level, or 31 m above the lake. The lowest part of the route is at the bridge over Laxá river, 270 m above sea level, or 7 m lower than the lake. The difference between highest and lowest point is therefore about 38 m. The road around the lake is 36.2 km.
Also an option are shorter runs, half marathon, 10 km and 3 km jogs.
Seal Watching at the Vatnsnes peninsula
Some of Iceland’s best seal watching locations are at the Vatnsnes peninsula in north Iceland. Closely monitored by the nearby Icelandic Seal Center in the town of Hvammstangi together with local land owners, each area offers visitors a different perspective of the seals. It is not unusual to see large numbers of them resting on the rocks and beaches, or playing close to the coast.
The perfect Saturday night out in Akureyri town
“The perfect Saturday night out in Akureyri would begin with dinner at Rub 23, which serves mostly seafood. Then I’d go for a mojito at Strikið restaurant, which is on the fifth floor of a building located in the city center. It has a splendid view over Eyjafjörður fjord and Hof, the new Cultural and Conference Center. I’d end the night at Götubarinn, which translates to The Street Bar. It’s a charming little bar in the city center, and its interior is reminiscent of old Akureyri.”
Recommended by Margrét Helgadóttir, a lawyer living in Akureyri
This is the North Iceland section of Best of Iceland This Week, the only Icelandic guide of its kind. New every week.
Witnessing vanished times in Iceland
For more than half a century the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum has presented an exhibition in the turf farmhouse of Glaumbær. Within the authentic buildings – a classic example of the roughly built turf, stone cottages once common all over Iceland – everyday tools are displayed in their natural environment, bearing witness to vanished times and the daily activities of people in Iceland''s past.
Icelandic Craft Beer Festival
If you like beer the thought of the annual Beer Festival in the small village of Hólar in Hjaltadalur valley will make you dizzy before you have a single sip. Breweries from all over Iceland will give you the chance to sample dozens of craft and specialty beers. The focus will of course be on the drinks menu but from the food menu you can choose betweeen homemade bratwurzt, pulled-pork and bretzels. Contestants will compete in keg rolling and the best stall will receive an award. The festival is from 3 PM to 7 PM on Saturday June 7th. You can buy tickets ad midi.is or at the location. Admission is 4.500 ISK ($40, EUR 30).
Running a marathon around lake Mývatn
Few marathons can match the route and environment of the Mývatn marathon. The race takes you around Lake Mývatn one of Iceland's most beautiful places and on the tentative list as a UNESCO world heritage site. The run starts and ends at the Mývatn Naturebaths. The entire route runs close to Lake Mývatn, which is 277 m above sea level. The route’s highest elevation is near Grímsstaðir farm, 308 m above sea level, or 31 m above the lake. The lowest part of the route is at the bridge over Laxá river, 270 m above sea level, or 7 m lower than the lake. The difference between highest and lowest point is therefore about 38 m. The road around the lake is 36.2 km.
Also an option are shorter runs, half marathon, 10 km and 3 km jogs.
Seal Watching at the Vatnsnes peninsula
Some of Iceland’s best seal watching locations are at the Vatnsnes peninsula in north Iceland. Closely monitored by the nearby Icelandic Seal Center in the town of Hvammstangi together with local land owners, each area offers visitors a different perspective of the seals. It is not unusual to see large numbers of them resting on the rocks and beaches, or playing close to the coast.
The perfect Saturday night out in Akureyri town
“The perfect Saturday night out in Akureyri would begin with dinner at Rub 23, which serves mostly seafood. Then I’d go for a mojito at Strikið restaurant, which is on the fifth floor of a building located in the city center. It has a splendid view over Eyjafjörður fjord and Hof, the new Cultural and Conference Center. I’d end the night at Götubarinn, which translates to The Street Bar. It’s a charming little bar in the city center, and its interior is reminiscent of old Akureyri.”
Recommended by Margrét Helgadóttir, a lawyer living in Akureyri
