ICELAND - Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. After flying 12 hours to London from Singapore via Singapore Airlines, you take another 3 hours to reach Iceland on Icelandair.

This is Keflavik International airport at 11pm in August 7th 2013. Keflavik Airport is about 45min from Reykjavik. One can easily book a coach for the ride to the capital.

Keflavik Airport at 11pm, Aug 2013

The exchange rate in Aug 2013 was SGD$1 to 93 or USD$1 to 114 Icelandic Kronur. Iceland is not part of the European Union and does not use the Euro.

You can change your international currencies to the kronur either at the airport or in Reykjavik or at most major towns. The Icelandic kronur was greatly devalued in Oct 2008 after its banks faced a collapse during the 2008 Financial Crisis. Before 2008, USD$1 was fetching 60 to 70 kronur.

Iceland is a cashless country of credit cards. You can buy anything e.g. hot dogs at a hot-dog stand, using credit cards.

Famous hot dog in Iceland

We stayed at a serviced apartment called Reykjavik4you, right in the heart of Reykjavik where the

shopping streets are. This is an amazing accommodation right in town, with many shops around, a bakery in front and a Bonus supermart at the back lane, as well as a 10 min walk to the harbour for whale watch activities. Highly recommended place to stay.

Bakery in Iceland

Iceland's has a population of 300,000 over people with two-third of the population staying at Reykjavik. Reykjavik is one of the few places where you will only see 'crowds' of people hanging around. All other places in Iceland are remote and void of human occupation.

Street of Reykjavik

Shops and eateries at Reykjavik

Iceland is an expensive place. Most meals at a restaurant has a price tag of SGD30 to $50 per meal. However you can save a lot if you can cook your own meals. I buy most of my groceries at the supermart Bonus and cook them at my accommodation. 

Bonus Supermart - cheap and good!

Thai food is popular in Iceland

Inside Bonus supermart

Hallgrimskirka is the largest church in Iceland and it looks like a rocket ready to take off!

It is a central landmark in Reykjavik and one can see it easily everywhere you go.

You can walk in and visit the church for free. However you have to pay 700 kr to take a lift up to the top of the church. From there you can have a bird's eye view of Reykjavik and its surroundings.

The church of Hallgrimskirka

Inside the church

On top of Hallgrimskirka

Reykjavik