Háaleiti is a district that developed in Reykjavík from the early fifties up until the late nineties in the twentieth century. A period when the growth of Reykjavík produced a demand for service on a larger scale than before, as the number of inhabitants was increasing. Obviously, the districts of Vesturbær and City Center could not expand further, and development had to head to the east part of Reykjavík. Accordingly, many significant institutions and services are located in the Háaleiti district. It is a combination of a commercial area and residential neighborhoods.
District in Reykjavík that combines homes and commercial activity
A large portion of the region, Háaleitis- and Hvassaleitis neighborhoods, were developed for relatively large four to five-story apartment buildings. So compared to other older neighborhoods and districts at that time, the population was dense. The neighborhood Bústaðarhverfi located in the southern part of the district, is more like a neighborhood with single-family houses and is considered one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city, at least if you want good weather.
Háaleiti is the home of Kringlan, the only shopping mall in Reykjavík
One of the biggest enterprises in the eighties in Iceland was the development and construction of the shopping mall Kringlan. It was a development initiated by a company in the private sector on a larger scale than Icelanders had ever seen before. Up until that time, such property and land development had more or less been arranged by the government or the city of Reykjavík. The enterprise and the building, located in the Háaleiti district, were a tremendous success, and today Kringlan is one of the major landmarks in Reykjavík. A few years earlier, another large project in the district of Háaleiti was the building of the City Hospital. Building to house the National radio and television service was also built in Háaleiti.
One of the busiest districts in Reykjavík
The district is a very active, busy, and important part of Reykjavík as most of the main traffic in the city go through Háaleiti day and night.
For the residents of Háaleiti, all the neighborhoods have always provided excellent services. There are good preschools as well as good quality primary and secondary schools, as Icelanders have always valued care for children and education highly. The district has a few sports centers, mostly attached to the schools, and good sports clubs for children. The whole district has always been considered a good part of Reykjavík to live in. For accommodation for tourists and visitors, it is a good option as the district has good public transportation and is for most people within walking distance of the City Center.