It was in 1885 that the Reykjavík town council approved the construction of Laugavegur, a street leading from the city centre eastward to the washing springs in Laugardalur and then continuing as the main road out of town. Before long, the street became Reykjavík’s main shopping avenue, holding that status until the turn of the 21st century, when commerce and services shifted to shopping centres and districts like Skeifan in the eastern part of the city.
Today, Laugavegur is filled with souvenir shops—and more souvenir shops—hotels, bars, and restaurants. Few Icelanders visit it for shopping or services anymore. However, since a large portion of the street is pedestrianized, it is teeming with tourists year-round.
Icelandic Times strolled up and down Laugavegur to capture the atmosphere as it is now, in the middle of January. Yours truly encountered not only tourists but also a few polar bears, two rams, one sheep, and countless puffins. After all, the puffin has become something of a national symbol—perhaps even more emblematic than Gullfoss or Geysir.
Reykjavík – January 15, 2025 – A7C R – FE 2.5/40mm G
Images & Text: Páll Stefánsson
