Footprint Reykjavik [Paperback]

Laura Dixon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Footprint Reykjavik Pocket Guide | Publication Date: March 2003

This pocket guide to the northernmost capital city in the world covers nightlife, whale-watching, weird lava formations, hot springs and people who catch puffins for dinner. It is intended for citybreakers looking for something schizophrenic, from Bjork's favourite bar to imitating James Bond and Lara Croft on the largest glacier in Europe, to relaxing spa breaks in the midnight sun and modern art seen in that peculiar Icelandic way. There is information on all-action sports, bohemian bars, modern art, hotels and clubs. The book also covers the best day and weekly trips to be made into the wild moonscape of Iceland, from the popular Blue Lagoon to Hafnarfjordur, the best place pixies and elves in Iceland and Husavik, a whale-watching centre.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Super-stylish travel guides - perfect for short break addicts" Harvey Nichols magazine "Who should pack Footprint - readers who want to escape the crowd." The Observer" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

It was whilst at Oxford reading English (specialising in Anglo-Saxon and Viking-age sagas in Old English!) that Laura got really hooked by all things Nordic. Whilst researching this guide she went caving to the centre of the earth at Thingvellir National park, went out drinking with a former Miss Iceland and learnt a language which, roughly, only 350,000 people speak in the world. She would love to say she is descended from the Vikings but unfortunately this is probably not the case...

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Footprint Handbooks (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903471591
• ISBN-13: 978-1903471593
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #973,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Travel > Europe > Iceland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maximum Fun in Reykjavik!, January 18, 2004

By 

Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Footprint Reykjavik (Paperback)

This is a great little book, and really tells you what you need to know before a stay in Reykjavik. It is a small book, and fits into most any pocket. It is divided into useful sections like 'Sleeping' (hotels, guesthouses, etc.), 'Festivals and Events' (from Independence Day to the Icelandic Jazz Festival), and many other handy sections.

It focuses on things that are fun, historical, and/or quirky. For instance, there is an interesting and helpful commentary on Pingvellir National Park, home of the world's first elected parliament and general assembly (930 AD), and the huge geysers ("Geysir" and "Strokkur", which are, in fact, very impressive.) If you are into art there are numerous small and large art galleries and museums around Reykjavik, and this book details all the ones you might want to see (my favorite is the ASI Art Museum (www.asi.is, if you are interested), and the much stranger (and vastly creepier, yet less funny than expected) Iceland Phallogical Museum which is stuck away on Laugavegur, a key street in the main city shopping and arts district. It is just too weird to believe, but while you're there, you really owe it to yourself to visit, preferably not immediately after eating a large Mexican lunch, like I did (trust me on this one.) If you are into nightclubs, there are reviews of all of the happening places in Reykjavik, such as Club NASA. All types of transportation and lodging options (from the beautiful grand 'Hotel Borg', where I most recently stayed, to the Salvation Army Hostel accommodations for sleeping bags) are presented, and will definitely assist you in finding a place to stay that is in your budget and to your tastes.

The point of all this is simple: if you are going to visit Reykjavik, especially for the first time, you need this book. It has information that will be useful to absolutely anyone, as well as commonly called numbers, and several small but useful maps. As an aside, order it when it is in stock, it sometimes is unavailable for long periods, so grab it while you can. Don't go to Reykjavik without it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tells you everything you need to know, May 2, 2003

By 

A. Butterfield (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Footprint Reykjavik (Paperback)

Finally travellers to Reykjavik get to buy a book that doesn't cover the whole of Iceland. As a result, it's much more compact (pocket-sized) and relevant to people who are going to stay in the capital most of the time.

This will apply to most first-time visitors to Iceland. The book does mention some of the more obvious trips you might make from the capital, but concentrates on the city itself.

It's a bit like a mini Rough Guide. Not stuffy, seems to know about the 'in' places to eat and be seen, the cool places to go, and yet has all the basic, sensible stuff you'll want to know about a city before you go there.

I'd say it's just about on the money.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one you need., April 6, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Footprint Reykjavik (Paperback)

I looked at this and the Rough Guide to Iceland, and if you're making a visit to Reykjavík this is the only guide you need. The style is chatty and down to earth, with masses of useful information for the visitor--especially good sections on eating in the city, and on galleries, music venues, and museums. Some of the small details (like descriptions of menus) could be updated, as could info on public internet access (v.cheap at the City Library), info on phoning abroad, and contact info for Hotel Loftleiğer. Dixon's grasp of Reykjavik life, though, is excellent--insightful, hip, yet generous and inviting. A great guide.