Bobby Fischer’s Hideaway in Reykjavík

In 1972, the world watched as Bobby Fischer battled Boris Spassky in the legendary World Chess Championship in Reykjavík. But away from the bright lights and television cameras, Fischer often sought quietness and peace and one of his favorite retreats was Bókin, tucked away on Klapparstígur.

Locals recall the American grandmaster sitting silently among the shelves, reading through dusty chess manuals, obscure history books, and the occasional novel. He was notoriously private, but Bókin offered something rare: a space where nobody bothered him, and the books spoke louder than the world outside.

Half a century later, Bókin is still there lined with wooden shelves and the scent of old paper. You can walk through its narrow aisles and imagine Fischer in a corner, sitting in thoughts over a book and plotting his next move against his next chess opponent.