Reykjavík, Iceland
Today before my late afternoon flight home I had arranged to rent a bike to explore Reykjavik. I was debating if this was wise as weather was still just above zero and there could have been snow and ice. However it was a bit mild and not too much snow or ice on the ground so seemed ok.
I'd booked my bike with Reykjavikbiketours.com. They only operate in summer months so we had to agree to a meeting time so they could come to give me the bike. We met at 8.30am so I could get an early start.
My flight was at 5pm and with one hour for the airport bus I needed to catch the 2pm bus from the terminal. So I was hoping to do my four hour bike rental by 12.30 get some lunch and head to the bus terminal.
I'd planned a circular route looking up the trails on google but was still debating if I would do the whole route depending on weather and which direction to do it in.
To start I went toward the west peninsula where the lighthouse was. It was chilly and I'd packed my biking gloves, along with a hood top underneath my hood coat
There are no direction signs on the trail so I got thrown off a bit by the lighthouse.
Circling round the western peninsula the trail ends and puts you on Nesvegur street which you can follow to get you back to the southern trail.
Heading south the trail runs along Reykjavik city airport. This is used for domestic flights and private planes. Also in the distance was the Perlan a geothermal site with a rooftop viewing platform.
It was taking longer than I thought biking and I was keeping close track of time. By about 10.30 I needed a snack break. There was a board explaining how the city airport was built by the British during WWII to protect from German invasion.
It was still taking a long time to circle round this south western portion. I had to decide if I would cut back to the city or continue along my route. I gambled to keep biking the original plan.
There were no direction signs or markers for the bike trail. Had I not looked it all up on google I wouldnt have known where I was going or which paths to take.
To cross from the western seaboard trail is a bridge over the highway which brings you to an interior trail.
Again there were no maps, direction signs, or markers so I was relying on the map I had created from google. This was a long interior trail heading to a river dam. A couple of times I had to guess which path to take and relied on the research I had done on google.
The second highway crossing took me to a river path with multiple trails and no signs. Again I relied on my research and just continued in a straight line east along the river. I wasnt sure if I was supposed to cross the river yet or not and lucky I didnt.
I came to an interesting waterfall which eventually leads to a dam with a cycle path to cross the river. I was getting nervous before now but I knew now I was on the correct route I had planned.
Just north of the dam is the Arbaer Open Air Museum with historic homes. Unfortunately it is only open in summer months but I was able to scout it from the exterior for a future visit.
On my route map was a circle around a lake on the eastern end but I cut this out due to time. It seems along the waterfront in this part seems to be very industrial with shipping terminals.
I tried to go along the northern curve on my route but this was a highway, with improper bike lanes that suddenly ended, and no direction signs. Again all very industrial in this area.
On the northern side is a ferry to Vioey Island but to reach it again is a very industrial area. The ferry is seasonal in summer months only. Fortunately the seafront bike trails begin again back to the town centre.
After taking seafront pics I detoured back into town for a few blocks to get to the landmark Hallgrims Church.
This was the most touristic area with bus loads of tourists. I then continued thru the city centre.
I passed the Culture House where the original Icelandic Saga manuscripts are kept. On my last visit it was closed for renovation work. This time I also had to skip due to time. I cycled back to the Parliament garden square.
I made my way back to the bike rental for noon completing my morning biking. It was a nice way to explore having already visited Reykjavik on foot on my last trip. I was able to venture further out from the tourist centre and see some of the hidden landscape in the city.
I would have preferred the whole day, not be rushed, and warmer weather. Perhaps on a return trip I can plan for the summer when the Open Air Museum and Island Ferry are both open.
2025-05-22