Ask a Geologist: With Its Several Hotspots, Could Reykjavík Erupt?
We asked geologist Ed Marshall, a postdoc in Mantle Geochemistry and Igneous Petrology at the University of Iceland: do Reykjavík’s several geothermal hot spots indicate that th
Fish Stew From Heaven: A Plokkfiskur-Induced Trance At Fisherman
Ah, plokkfiskur, that most reliable of Icelandic comfort foods. Take some delicious hunks of fresh white fish, mash it together with steaming-hot potatoes and a bit of butter and m
Iceland Life: Animal News Edition Ft. Blue Whales! Dogs! Seals!
Good news for seal enthusiasts: the harbour seal population in East Iceland is on the rise. The largest colony can be found around Jökulsá, with their numbers increasing from 249
Penises Pulled Off Picturesque Icelandic Mountain
After being defaced but a month ago by phallus-obsessed vandals, the Icelandic mountain of Helgafell is once again clean from any dick-related drawings. Rejoice! Yes, just this Jun
Locals On Jet-Skis Drive 100 Pilot Whales Away From Snæfellsnes Shoreline
Over the weekend, nearly 100 pilot whales were spotted off the northwest coast of Snæfellsnes peninsula, close to Ólafsvík and Rif. Locals on jet-skis herded the whales away fro
Multiple Hikers Rescued On Fimmvörðuháls Trail This Week
For the third time in five days, rescue workers were called to assist a hiker who ran into trouble on the popular Fimmvörðuháls hiking route last night. The man had […]
Ask An Expert: Why Are There No Reindeer In Western Iceland?
You probably know that reindeer are not native to Iceland; they were actually brought to the country in the 18th century. Since then, they have done well for themselves, flourishin
Mystery Solved: Icelandic Horses Probably Ate Cannabis
What was thought to be a rare nerve condition in some Icelandic horses has turned out to be the effects of having eaten cannabis, Vísir reports. The story begins in […]
Photos: Mass Pilot Whale Death in Snæfellsnes, West Iceland
A mass stranding of over 50 pilot whales occurred last week in West Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula. The event occurred on the sand island Gamlaeyri along Löngufjörur. The wha
Best Of West Iceland 2019: Best Shop
West is best! However true that sentiment rings, we’ll try a little harder to illustrate what we love about the region. The West of Iceland is a stunning place to […]
Prison and Paradise: Eminent UK Poets Share Letters With Iceland
Reykjavík’s literary world celebrated solstice with a duet of events featuring heavyweight UK poets Lavinia Greenlaw, Paul Muldoon and poet laureate Simon Armitage. As one of Ir
Ask A Lawyer: Was There Ever The Death Penalty In Iceland?
Was there ever the death penalty in Iceland? We asked lawyer and Grapevine founding member Jón Trausti Sigurðarson for the scoop. Well, of course. Until it was abolished in 1928,
All Day, Everyday: Rapper 24/7 Is Here To Stay
“Seplar ljúka,” “Hvað er planið,” and “Tvöfalt glas.” Three songs. All hits. Together racking up nearly a quarter of a million plays. The common denominator? A feat
Grapevine Playlist: Auður, Birgir, Skaði, Singapore Sling & More
What’s new in Icelandic Music you ask? Many, many things. Singapore Sling – Suicide Twist Take some classic 80s goth vocals, add a drum machine and some grunge guitars
Elín Agla Briem On Witches, Elf Rocks & The Árneshreppur Yurt
In Iceland’s rural Westfjords district of Árneshreppur, a struggle brews for the memory of the land. The unexpected tension lies between the construction of a hydropower dam and
New Research: Surtsey Island Is Blossoming With Life
Research on Iceland’s youngest island, Surtsey, shows it has been bursting with new life of all kinds, from plants to birds and even spiders. Further study of the island has
Town Guide: Mesmerising Waterfall, Local Food And Beautiful Hikes In Skógar
Situated along Route One at the foot of Skógafoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, the small town of Skógar makes for a perfect pitstop on a road […]
The Seven Best Icelandic Spas To Soak The Blues Away
You’ve probably heard about the borderline-magical healing powers of Icelandic spas. Unlike the heavily-chlorinated urban puddles of many mainland European countries and the US,
DJ Playlist: Z Is An Icelandic DJ Who Listens To The Gods
Óskar Þór Argrímsson—who performs as Z—is one of Reykjavík’s most eclectic DJs. His sets can contain anything from unfamiliar Eastern scales to brass band renditions, co
The Pepsi League: Hey, Why Have Just Two Sets Of Goalposts?
As the Pepsi League reaches the halfway point of the 2019 season, KR Reykjavík—the black ‘n’ white magpies of Vesturbær—show no signs of letting up in their domination of
Editorial: Of Monsters And Men—A Gateway Drug To Icelandic Music?
During the making of this issue, it came as a bit of a surprise to us in the Grapevine office to discover that our new cover stars, Of Monsters and […]