Guidebook for Kjósarhreppur
Parks & Nature
This is a nice valley that no many people know about and it is a bit hidden from the road, and thus people generally don´t hike there, but go up to Glymur waterfall instead (next valley over). However, this one ins very nice. It is best to walk on the north side of the river, you will stumble upon old ruins of houses for sheep. You will not find much on the internet about his hike, as it is not that well known. However in a book on our living room shelf on 25 hikes in Hvalfjörður, this one is Hike 17 (i. Gönguleið 17). Althoug the book is in Icelandic, it might help to take a look at the map on page 107, and there you can see a picutre of the waterfalls "Gljúfurfossar". That should help you get oriented a bit. However, there is no specific path in that valley besides the one that has formed by sheep moving around there. Thus you would simply we making your way over the land as it is.
Brynjudalur
This is a nice valley that no many people know about and it is a bit hidden from the road, and thus people generally don´t hike there, but go up to Glymur waterfall instead (next valley over). However, this one ins very nice. It is best to walk on the north side of the river, you will stumble upon old ruins of houses for sheep. You will not find much on the internet about his hike, as it is not that well known. However in a book on our living room shelf on 25 hikes in Hvalfjörður, this one is Hike 17 (i. Gönguleið 17). Althoug the book is in Icelandic, it might help to take a look at the map on page 107, and there you can see a picutre of the waterfalls "Gljúfurfossar". That should help you get oriented a bit. However, there is no specific path in that valley besides the one that has formed by sheep moving around there. Thus you would simply we making your way over the land as it is.
There is so much history, geology etc. to learn about Thingvellir, that this space here would not suffice.
See here http://www.thingvellir.is/english.aspx
and
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g315853-d276576-Reviews-Thingvellir_National_Park-Thingvellir_South_Region.html
40 yerel halk öneriyor
Thingvellir
There is so much history, geology etc. to learn about Thingvellir, that this space here would not suffice.
See here http://www.thingvellir.is/english.aspx
and
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g315853-d276576-Reviews-Thingvellir_National_Park-Thingvellir_South_Region.html
Gullfoss waterfall.
Google search should give you plenty of information.
283 yerel halk öneriyor
Gullfoss
Gullfoss waterfall.
Google search should give you plenty of information.
This is a geothermal area where the Geysir is located.
A google search should give you plenty of information.
6 yerel halk öneriyor
Strokkur
HafnartúnThis is a geothermal area where the Geysir is located.
A google search should give you plenty of information.
If you would like to see a volcano from the inside. The trips are only available until October 15th from what I understand.
See more here
https://insidethevolcano.com/
10 yerel halk öneriyor
Thríhnúkagígur Volcano
If you would like to see a volcano from the inside. The trips are only available until October 15th from what I understand.
See more here
https://insidethevolcano.com/
Essentials
Krónan
13-15 HáholtThis is the wine store, but you can only purchase wine at specified stores, not in the grocery stores.
13 yerel halk öneriyor
Vínbúðin
2 ÞverholtThis is the wine store, but you can only purchase wine at specified stores, not in the grocery stores.
Bónus
BjarkarholtFood Scene
Mosfellsbakarí
HáholtWe like this bakery.
This is a small typical country side cafe. Don´t expect to get the meal of a lifetime here, but if is sweet for what it is, and more importantly, it is conveniently located and you can buy some of the most basic necessities there. Thus if you for example just need milk and don´t want to drive into town, you can stop by Kaffi Kjós.
See http://www.kaffikjos.is/en/
11 yerel halk öneriyor
Kaffi Kjós
461 461This is a small typical country side cafe. Don´t expect to get the meal of a lifetime here, but if is sweet for what it is, and more importantly, it is conveniently located and you can buy some of the most basic necessities there. Thus if you for example just need milk and don´t want to drive into town, you can stop by Kaffi Kjós.
See http://www.kaffikjos.is/en/
This is a cute little local cafe/restaurant in Mosfellsbaer.
See https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1414014-d2269473-Reviews-Alafoss_Cafe-Mosfellsbaer_Reykjavik_Capital_Region.html
I think it is cute, but it depends on what you are after. Most of the places in Mosfellsbaer are fast food restaurants that you can find easily and I do not highlight here on the Airbnb website as I think our guests are probably not that interested in KFC etd. This cafe, however, has a different ambiance, as you can see on the Trip Advisor website.
Having said that, if you would like some really good food, the City is the best for that.
Kaffihúsið Álafossi
ÁlafossvegurThis is a cute little local cafe/restaurant in Mosfellsbaer.
See https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1414014-d2269473-Reviews-Alafoss_Cafe-Mosfellsbaer_Reykjavik_Capital_Region.html
I think it is cute, but it depends on what you are after. Most of the places in Mosfellsbaer are fast food restaurants that you can find easily and I do not highlight here on the Airbnb website as I think our guests are probably not that interested in KFC etd. This cafe, however, has a different ambiance, as you can see on the Trip Advisor website.
Having said that, if you would like some really good food, the City is the best for that.
Entertainment & Activities
Arctic Surfers (see http://arcticsurfers.com/) do different kinds of trips, for example stand up paddleboarding (SUP). If you are up for a SUP adventure, on the fjord, I know that they can come to the house and bring all the equipment with them... boards, wet suits etc. But of course you could also go to any other place with them. However, I know that they are happy to come to you as well.
15 yerel halk öneriyor
Hvalfjörður
Arctic Surfers (see http://arcticsurfers.com/) do different kinds of trips, for example stand up paddleboarding (SUP). If you are up for a SUP adventure, on the fjord, I know that they can come to the house and bring all the equipment with them... boards, wet suits etc. But of course you could also go to any other place with them. However, I know that they are happy to come to you as well.
See information about Laxnes horse farm here - an established horse rental place with guided tours on Icelandic hourses.
See here http://www.laxnes.is/
and
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1414014-d1785048-Reviews-Laxnes_Horse_Farm-Mosfellsbaer_Reykjavik_Capital_Region.html
34 yerel halk öneriyor
Laxnes Horse Farm
See information about Laxnes horse farm here - an established horse rental place with guided tours on Icelandic hourses.
See here http://www.laxnes.is/
and
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1414014-d1785048-Reviews-Laxnes_Horse_Farm-Mosfellsbaer_Reykjavik_Capital_Region.html
Everything Else
The public swimming pools are a big part of Icelandic culture. Every town has one, every neighborhood in Reykjavik has one etc. We have marked the one in Mosfellsbær. They are heated with the abundant warm water that we have in Iceland due to the volcanic activity and thus they are just as nice in the winter. They are used a bit differently from what I have gotten used to in other countries, where you may have a lap pool, or a kids pool separately, or an entertainment park or. I would maybe compare the Icelandic pools to parks in the US, where some people go to exercise, kids are playing, others are relaxing in the hot tubs, but all in the same pools. A pool may just sound like a pool, but you would really be taking part in a very Icelandic activity.
56 yerel halk öneriyor
Lágafellslaug
1a LækjarhlíðThe public swimming pools are a big part of Icelandic culture. Every town has one, every neighborhood in Reykjavik has one etc. We have marked the one in Mosfellsbær. They are heated with the abundant warm water that we have in Iceland due to the volcanic activity and thus they are just as nice in the winter. They are used a bit differently from what I have gotten used to in other countries, where you may have a lap pool, or a kids pool separately, or an entertainment park or. I would maybe compare the Icelandic pools to parks in the US, where some people go to exercise, kids are playing, others are relaxing in the hot tubs, but all in the same pools. A pool may just sound like a pool, but you would really be taking part in a very Icelandic activity.
Many people drive from Thingvellir, on to Gullfoss Waterfall, and Geysir geothermal area. On the way you pass Laugavatn lake. There you can go to the Fontana natural steam baths.
See
http://www.fontana.is/en
119 yerel halk öneriyor
Laugarvatn Fontana
LaugarbrautMany people drive from Thingvellir, on to Gullfoss Waterfall, and Geysir geothermal area. On the way you pass Laugavatn lake. There you can go to the Fontana natural steam baths.
See
http://www.fontana.is/en
See information about the Blue lagoon here
http://www.bluelagoon.com/
213 yerel halk öneriyor
Blue Lagoon
See information about the Blue lagoon here
http://www.bluelagoon.com/
Arts & Culture
Gljúfrasteinn was the home and workplace of Halldór Laxness (winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955). It is now a museum, unchanged from when Laxness lived.
See http://www.gljufrasteinn.is/en/home
Note that at the time this is written the museum is closed due to renovations. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016.
Gljúfrasteinn
Postbox 250 ÞingvallavegurGljúfrasteinn was the home and workplace of Halldór Laxness (winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955). It is now a museum, unchanged from when Laxness lived.
See http://www.gljufrasteinn.is/en/home
Note that at the time this is written the museum is closed due to renovations. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016.