20 Best things to do and see in Reykjavik

Are you visiting Iceland soon? Are you wondering whether you should include Reykjavík in your trip? Or don’t know how much time you should spend in this city? This blog will help you plan your visit to Iceland’s capital. Take out your notepad and start writing down the best things to do and see in Reykjavik!

Reykjavik: Interesting facts

Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is also the most northerly capital city in the world. It is so close to the Arctic Circle that during the winter it only gets 4h of daylight.
The population of Reykjavik is around 233.000 people, approximately two-thirds of Iceland’s population.
Reykjavik got its name from the steam that rises from the hot springs around the area. The name Reykjavik translates as “Smoky Bay”.
Did you know that dogs were banned from Reykjavik between 1920 and 1984? The reasoning behind this decision was that dogs were better off in nature. As a consequence, Reykjavik is full of cats!

When is the best time to visit Reykjavik?

Good news! You can visit Reykjavik all year round! However, there are a few things that you will only be able to do depending on the time of year that you visit.

Summer: If you choose to visit Reykjavik during the summer you will be able to experience the midnight sun (if the weather conditions allow it). Also, you will have higher chances of seeing puffins since Iceland’s capital is home to a major Puffin breeding colony!
Winter: On the other hand, visiting Reykjavik during the winter will translate to a higher probability of seeing the Northern lights.

How much time should you spend in Reykjavik?

Based on my experience, you should plan to stay in Reykjavik for 1 to 2 days.

If you are only planning on visiting the main tourist attractions, 1 day in Reykjavik is more than enough.
If you want to include in your itinerary other activities like whale watching or relaxing in one of the geothermal spas, then I recommend staying for 2 days.

Where to stay in Reykjavik?

Accommodation in Reykjavik, the same as in all of Iceland, is expensive. If you are traveling on a budget, the best options are:

Rent a camper van and overnight in Reykjavík Eco Campsite.
Sleep in a hostel with a shared bedroom and/or bathroom, for example, Kex Hostel.

If you have a bigger budget, then you can book a hotel with a private bathroom. Despite this, I recommend booking as much in advance as possible. This will ensure that you get the best deal possible.

I stayed at the Reykjavik Downtown Hotel. This hotel was basic but it had a private bathroom and location-wise, it was perfect. It is less than a 1-minute walk to Hallgrimskirjka.

Top places to visit in Reykjavik

1. Visit the Sun Voyager statue or Sólfar in Icelandic. The sun voyager is a statue in the shape of a boat by the artist Jón Gunnar Arnason. It symbolizes the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress, and freedom.

This statue is located in the old port of Reykjavik very close to the city center. It is the perfect spot to relax while you admire the statue with the sea and mountains in the distance as a backdrop.

2. Admire the architecture of the Harpa Concert Hall. The building has received several awards for its unique design. It has a glass façade as a reference to various natural phenomena and the unique light conditions in Iceland.

If you want, you can also see a performance there. Here you can find the show calendar!

3. Learn about Icelandic history and culture at the National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands in Icelandic). This museum details Iceland’s history and culture from the earliest settlements to the modern day.

You can find all information about opening hours and prices on its website.

4. Walk around Tjörnin Lake and relax in Hljómskálardur Park.

Around Tjôrnin lake you can find many important buildings from Reykjavik such as the Reykjavik Art Museum, the Supreme Court of Iceland, the Parliament Building and Reykjavík City Hall, the Fríkirkjan, etc. In the winter, the lake gets completely frozen and it is possible to ice skate on it.

The nearby Hljómskálagarður Park is the perfect place to relax and have a picnic. There is a series of sculptures all created by female Icelandic sculptures.

5. Visit the Reykjavik City Hall and get impressed by the 70m wide 3D model of Iceland.

6. Near Tjörnin Lake, you can also visit the National Gallery of Iceland (Listasafn Islands). This museum has an emphasis on 20th and 21st-century Icelandic art although there is some international art featured as well.

Check their website for opening hours and ticket prices.

7. Contemplate the Imagine Peace Tower. This is a memorial to John Lennon conceived by Yoko Ono located on the nearby island of Videy.

It is a Tower of Light that emanates wisdom, healing, and joy. It is lit only between October 9th and December 8th and on a few additional dates during the winter. During these dates, you can see it live on this link.

8. Admire Hallgrimskirjka church, the most iconic place in Reykjavik! This Lutheran church is the largest in Iceland at 74,5m. It was designed by a renowned architect in Iceland, Gudjón Samúelsson. He based his design on elements of Icelandic nature like glaciers, mountains, and lava formations, particularly the hexagonal basalt columns that are found around the country.

It is possible to go up its tower to watch the view of Reykjavik from above. To do this, you have to take an elevator. Admission to the church is free but not for the tower. You can find ticket prices on their website.

9. Wonder around downtown Reykjavik admiring the cute colourful houses and streets. The architecture in Reykjavik is full of ironclad houses painted in all sorts of colours. These houses will catch your eye, not only for their colours but as well for their material which is not very often seen for houses.

In addition, many of the main commercial streets have colourful rainbows and children’s games painted on the pavement. A clear example of this is the famous Laugavegur Street or Rainbow street.

10. Chill at Austurvöllur square and public park. This is a popular place for Icelanders to gather and sunbathe during the warmer summer days. In the middle of the square, you can find a statue of Jón Sigurðsson, a national hero in Iceland.

Top activities in Reykjavik

11. Admire Reykjavik’s Harbour from Thufa (Þúfa in Icelandic). This is a work of art that consists of a large, grassy dome with a walking path encircling it to reach the top. The artist wanted to create a place of serenity and meditation.

It is located at the beginning of Old Reykjaviks Harbour, just across the water from The Harpa, making it the perfect viewpoint to admire the harbour.

12. Another panoramic viewpoint of Reykjavík is the one you get from the Perlan Observation Deck, on top of the Perlan Museum. This deck rotates, offering a 360º view of Reykjavik.

13. Go shopping in Laugavegur Street. This is one of Reykjavik's main commercial streets and it is full of shops, restaurants, and bars.

14. If your budget doesn’t allow you to shop in Laugavegur, then you might want to have a look at the Kolaportið flea market. It is located next to the Harbour and it is only open during the weekends.

15. Join one of the many tours departing from the old harbor to go whale watching! The tour will take between 2 to 3 hours and will take you to Faxaflói bay on the search for whales and dolphins.

16. If you are into simulators and virtual reality, then you can try the FlyOver Iceland simulator. You will be suspended inside a 20-meter spherical screen and with special effects, you will get the sensation of flying over Iceland.

Here you can find all the information about this experience!

17. Relax in the most famous geothermal spa near Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon. Located only 30 minutes drive from the city center, this spa is famous for its baby blue water rich in silica and sulfur that has many benefits for your skin.

If you are planning to visit the Blue Lagoon, make sure to book your tickets in advance as it is very popular and gets sold out. You can book your tickets at this link.

If you can’t find a booking for the Blue Lagoon since 2021 there is a new spa near Reykjavik that is also becoming very popular, the Sky Lagoon.

Top places to eat in Reykjavik

Despite being not such a big city, Reykjavik has some very good restaurants and cafés where you will eat amazing food.

18. Enjoy the delicious pastries of Braud Bakery. They are famous for their cinnamon rolls but I tried a few of their baked goods and I can’t decide which one was better. On top of their delicious pastries, their building is very original and colorful. The only downside to this bakery is that it is only take away

19. Have a fantastic breakfast at Sandhold Bakery and Eatery. This was one of the best brunch-style breakfasts I have ever had.

20. If you are looking to enjoy some delicious local cuisine, then you can try one of these restaurants. All of them were recommended by someone I know living in Reykjavik.

Forréttabarinn
Fiskfélagið
Fish Market

Hope you enjoyed my list of the 20 best things to do and see in Reykjavik. Let me know in the comments which one was your favorite!