The appearance of Reykjavík is progressively changing with the ascent of the tourist industry. Visitors must have a roof over their heads and many prefer the old center. An example of this transformation is the quiet little residential street named Lokastígur in the center of Reykjavík; a street that has changed quite a bit in the last couple of years, with newly renovated and freshly painted houses, some with new additions built to them and guesthouses have even opened in a few. Lokastígur is a small and rather hidden one-way street parallel to Skólavörðustígur and today one house in five standing by the street is occupied by year-round short term renting to visitors with at least five apartments on Airbnb. A total of thirty hoses are in the street along with a few sheds and smaller buildings, this is including all the houses standing by Lokastígur and three houses on the crossing of Baldursgata, in addition to one house which belongs to Skólavörðustígur. Six of the houses are full-blown hostels or hotels, the rest is Airbnb and other such short term rent.
