We fought for our right to party!

01/03/2021 08:03

In Iceland, surprisingly, beer was prohibited during most part of the 20th Century. In 1908 Icelanders voted in favor of a ban on all alcoholic beverages and the ban went into effect 1915. The ban was partially lifted in 1921 because Spain refused to buy Icelandic fish if Iceland didn’t purchase Spanish wines. Then in 1935 alcohol was again legalized EXCEPT for beer (with alcohol content of more than 2.5 %) and the argument was that beer would lead to more debauchery due to it’s low price. What!?

During the time of the prohibition smuggling of alcohol and underground brewing was not uncommon and many pubs would often serve light beer (pilsner) with strong liquor like vodka added to it. But soon that was also banned by the minister of justice.

The beer prohibition lasted 74 years and finally ended on March 1, 1989. This is why Icelanders celebrate Beer Day on March 1st. (We had to fight for our right to party!)

Today beer has become the drink of choice for most Icelanders and the Icelandic beer brewing industry is prospering fastly and several new breweries focusing on craftsmanship in beers started their operations offering the widest selection of local beers Iceland ever had.

So if you like beer; then let’s honor the day by grabbing a cold Icelandic brew.

Skál!

Parking in Reykjavik Made Simple: Tips and Tricks for a Hassle-free Experience

02/11/2023

Are you planning to rent a car during your visit but feeling uncertain about where to park and how much it might cost? Fear not, as we've compiled some helpful tips to streamline your parking experience in Reykjavik. Additionally, for those staying at any of the Center Hotels properties, we have included specific information about parking options at each location.

5 Nature spots in Reykjavik, the capital´s green spaces.

19/10/2023

At Keflavík Airport, tourists are often asked to take part of a survey. One of the questions of this survey is why the chose to come to Iceland and about 80% of those who answered said that the nature was their main reason. Nature is something we have in abundance here in Iceland and our capital is no exception. We would like to invite you to take a look at 5 of these accessible nature spots in the country´s capital.

Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland

03/10/2023

Northern lights, that elusive magical moment in the sky that many feared or revered in the past as either an omen of bad things to come or as a sign the ancestors were watching over us. Perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle, Iceland offers a front-row seat to one of nature's most breathtaking performances.

Falling for Reykjavik: Discover the Fall Season.

07/09/2023

Fall marks the end of our short summer, and it's time to bring out those cozy coats from hibernation and mentally prepare ourselves for the wild winter storms. But don't fret, because even though fall is fleeting, it's packed with its own unique charm.

Culture night

18/08/2023

Reykjavik city is celebrating its birthday and invites you to join the fun! Menningarnótt or Culture night takes place on 19th of August full of events and activities that shed light on our local culture. Enjoy a day full of celebrations and take part in one of the biggest festivals in Reykjavik, Iceland.