An LGBTQ Guide To Reykjavk With Queer Choirs Hugrn Sk Bjarnadttir

Chair of the first and only LGBTQ choir in Iceland, Hugrún Ósk Bjarnadóttir knows the friendliest, most inclusive institutions, bars and food halls in Reykjavík.

LGBTQ choir Hinsegin kórinn, or the Reykjavík Queer Choir, launched in Reykjavík in August 2011. The mixed SATB (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) choir sings everything from traditional Icelandic choir music to modern-day pop songs. According to its chair, Hugrún Ósk Bjarnadóttir, its aim is to “increase the visibility of queer people in the community, as well as create beautiful harmonies together with people of different ages and different backgrounds”. With 60 members, the choir is a force to be reckoned with, and an example of the progressive attitude that prevails in Reykjavík and the rest of Iceland.

The choir aims to increase the visibility of queer people in Reykjavík

Bjarnadóttir has lived in Reykjavík for 37 years, and thinks it’s a great city for members of the LGBTQ community. “In day-to-day life, I don’t experience any prejudice at all. We still have some way to go before the law is inclusive of everyone in the LGBTQ+ community and provides people with the same rights as non-queer persons. But the general public is very welcoming most of the time, and the majority of queer people are able to live their life with support and acknowledgement from society,” she says.

Reykjavík is a historical city with a progressive attitude and welcoming spirit

KIKI is the most popular LGBTQ bar in Iceland’s capital

Reykjavík Pride is one of the biggest annual events in the city. Families come together to celebrate diversity and show their support for the LGBTQ community – and the choir always participates in some way.

The choir always gets involved in the Reykjavík’s Pride celebrations

As well as the festival, Reykjavík has a number of important LGBTQ venues. “There’s the National Queer Organization’s current community centre, as well as the place where [it] was founded,” says Bjarnadóttir. “For bars, the most popular LGBTQ+ place is KIKI in downtown Reykjavík. It is also located in a building that holds historical importance for our community.”

Another bar that Bjarnadóttir likes is Skúli, which she tends to visit with her friends from the choir. “They have a good selection of craft beer on draft and I love tasting new types of beer.”

The choir members sometimes go for a beer at Skúli

Something that might surprise first-time visitors to Reykjavík is that it is home to a number of food courts. “My favourite is Grandi Mathöll, situated by the old harbour,” Bjarnadóttir says. The food hall – a refurbished fish factory – has a wide selection of restaurants, serving traditional Icelandic food as well as international cuisine.

Guests enjoy the harbour view at Grandi Mathöll

Bjarnadóttir also knows where to go for an all-vegan lunch: “Jömm. It has the best vegan burgers and potatoes in the city!”

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.