I'm a City Girl

When I moved from Reykjavík to London in 1992 I thought I was never coming back. Not that I didn't love all that gorgeous wilderness, the endless summer nights and the excitement of raging snow storms in winter when electricy sometimes got cut off.

My problem: I'm a city girl. Fourteen years ago there were 3 bars in Reykjavík. There were maybe three museums, three (hugely expensive) restaurants and from Monday until Friday there wasn't a soul in the streets. No-one went out for lunch , nothing went on during the week, and citizens ended up freaking out on a Saturday night in total debauchery.

Things couldn't be more different now. The change to this small capital has been extraordinary in recent years. The city vibrates with creative energy. Up here its all about art, music, fashion: excellent restaurants, crazy bars, and an endless plethora of events. Reykjavik now has that magical buzz that epitomized New York in the seventies and Berlin in the eighties. The tourist numbers just visiting Iceland for a stay in the capital of cool are constantly on the rise.

Reykjavík is all about inspiration, energy and a whole lot of attitude. And that's what we hope to bring to you with reykjavik.com and reykjavikmag - your guide to a good time in the city where it's all happening.

Anna Margrét Björnsson