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Latest update: 24 December 2024
Reykjavík in Iceland is the northernmost capital in the world. It is a compact, quiet city. There are a handful of sights, street art, and several museums. You can spot whales and even see the Northern Lights – if you’re lucky! I’m happy to share fun things to do in Reykjavík, so read on.
City trip to Reykjavík
Most people will visit Reykjavík as part of a longer Iceland trip. But nowadays, there are also cheap stopovers in Reykjavík if you fly to the US from Europe. So who knows, your visit might be a short city trip after all.
Because the center of Reykjavík is so tiny, I would recommend renting a car for a day (try DiscoverCars or Rentalcars.com) and driving the Golden Circle. I think Iceland is a real ‘outdoor’ country. There is so much beautiful nature! So get out and about. There are also a lot of tours that you can join to expand on your city trip to Reykjavík. Check the options out.
Walking on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula
After all the vast nature in Iceland, where we encountered very few people, my best friend and I start with a walk on the peninsula near Reykjavík to acclimatize a bit. We hope to make the transition to city life a little easier.
We walk along the edge of the water of Seltjarnarnes, around a golf course, and past the Grótta lighthouse. The round trip is about 5.5 kilometers long. We see many mountains in the distance, and birds like to come here. It may not be the most inspiring place to walk compared to Iceland’s other natural wonders, but being able to stretch your legs near the capital is nice. The residents of Reykjavík also like to come here for a walk, a run, or to walk the dog.
We start at the parking lot at the Kvika hot spring, or actually: the Kvika foot bath. There is a small thermal bath in a huge stone. Just big enough to warm your feet.
Walking tour in Reykjavík
So. We are ready for the city. Bring it on. A good way to get to know Reykjavík is via a walking tour with a local. Unfortunately, I can’t fit it into my program, so I will explore by myself. If it suits your schedule though, you can try a free walking tour from Freetour – of course, you have to tip the guide!
With a city walking tour, you will get to see the most important sights of Reykjavík, such as the Hallgrimskerkja, the Harpa concert hall, and the Sun Voyager artwork. Be sure to look around you well because you will discover street art everywhere in Reykjavik.
To the top of Hallgrimskerkja
The Hallgrimskerkja is a large modern church on the edge of the center of Reykjavík. In churches, I always like checking out the organ, which is very pretty in this church. It has no less than 5275 pipes. And, lucky me, there is an organist present because a wedding is about to start. He’s already practicing, and it sounds great.
You can take an elevator up so you have a beautiful view of the city center from a height of 74 meters. It’s a pretty sight, all those colorful houses from above. To do this, you must buy a ticket (ISK 10,000 in 2024) and carefully check the opening hours. On Sunday morning, we can go up at 10 am, and there is already a line!
The rainbow street of Reykjavik
In the shopping area of Reykjavik, on the way to the Hallgrimskerkja, lies the Regnbogagatan. Or: the rainbow street. It is a well-known picture, so if you are nearby, you should come and take a picture. You will mainly find many local shops in the shopping area, including many souvenir shops and vintage shops. I go into a few, find everything too expensive, and stick to coffee shops and bars, haha.
Ridiculously expensive perfume (but by Sigur Ros)
One of the band members of the Icelandic band Sigur Ros owns a very fancy perfume shop in Reykjavik. It’s called Fisherund, and they also have a guided tour. They spray scents on your wrist, and you can describe what you smell. They read a card with memories that fit the scent so that you can get a deeper feel for the scents. For me, it’s all way too expensive, but it doesn’t hurt to take a look.
Sculpture & Shore Walk with the Sun Voyager
The walking path along the coast is called the Sculpture & Shore Walk. Yes, more walking in Reykjavík. The highlight is the Sun Voyager by Gunnar Arnason, a steel dream ship that pays tribute to the sun. The coastal walk takes you past a few more works of art, but the view of the mountains is already reason enough to stretch your legs. I also think the Höfði Lighthouse is worth a quick stop. The small yellow lighthouse stands out beautifully against the blue water. Fun fact: it cost 150 million ISK to build this lighthouse – almost a million euros.
Award-winning concert hall Harpa
At the end of the Sculpture & Shore Walk (or at the beginning, depending on where you start), you will find Harpa. This is Reykjavík’s concert hall. It is made of glass and steel that looks like glass bricks stacked on top of each other. Quite special. The concert hall is said to be beautiful inside, so maybe there’s a nice performance during your visit so you can check it out?
See the Northern Lights in Reykjavík
You can even see the Northern Lights in Reykjavík! That’s really cool, right? You can try your luck along the coastline, but then there’s a chance that there’s too much light pollution. So the best thing to do is to go to the Reykjavík peninsula. It has a Northern Light Viewpoint. By car, that’s ten minutes from the center. Unfortunately, my Aurora app indicated that my chances were zero, so I didn’t get to experience it. Hopefully, you will!
Did you know you can also do Northern Lights tours from Reykjavík? It increases your chances of seeing it. Check out the different tours.
Tip! The city center of Reykjavík is called Miðborg or District 101, and the part near the old western part is Vesturbær. Make sure you visit those districts. If you have time left, you can go to the suburbs. For example, visit the island of Viðey, the Reykjavík Botanical Garden, the Sky Lagoon, or something else.
Whale tour: spotting baleen whales, humpback whales and dolphins
If you plan to also travel a bit further north in Iceland, you have plenty of opportunities to book a whale tour. However, we stay in the south and west of Iceland, which makes Reykjavík the perfect place to do a whale tour.
Because it is still really cold in Iceland at the beginning of April, we are going on a slightly more expensive tour in a better boat. If I say so myself, it is a brilliant move. It is really terribly cold when I scan the water on the deck in search of a glimpse of a whale. My fingers can hardly hold my phone anymore. And so I quickly slip back inside to ‘my’ spot on the Amelia Rose yacht. The staff will shout over the loudspeakers as soon as something is visible, so why would I voluntarily freeze myself? Tip: sit on the upper deck in the covered area. Lovely, relaxed benches, nice and warm.
There are 23 species of whales living in the waters around Iceland. The guide tells us we have the best chance of seeing a white-beaked dolphin because they sometimes want to swim with the boat. And, after a long, long sail, we see baleen whales and humpback whales. They are beautiful. A ‘blow’ from a humpback whale goes five meters in the air, and the animal eats 1.5 tons per day. Wow, that’s crazy! Taking a good photo with my mobile phone is almost impossible, so you should go and see this with your own eyes. As you may have noticed, I am enthusiastic about this whale tour:
Punk museum in the toilet
A punk museum in the toilet? Yes, you read that right. The Icelandic Punk Museum is in a former underground public toilet. Why not? The urinals have not even been removed. It is a funny little museum with an enthusiastic owner who is also the only staff member. There is a lot to read about the history of punk in Iceland and there are many, many photos of bands. Of course, a whole section is dedicated to the Icelandic singer Björk and her former band. You can listen to music on headphones at the end of the visit. The entrance fee is ISK 1500 (in 2024).
More museums in Reykjavík
I focused more on the outdoors, so I didn’t visit any Reykjavík museums besides the Icelandic Punk Museum. But you do have options! If you plan to visit multiple museums, buying the Reykjavík City Card is smart because you get a discount. For example, there is the National Museum of Iceland about the history and origins of the country, the Icelandic Phallological Museum with a whole collection of penises of all kinds of animals, and the Reykjavík Art Museum, which has no less than three locations.
Forest walk in Heiðmörk
A half-hour drive from the city center is the Heiðmörk nature reserve. A popular place for Icelanders who like to come here for jogging and walking. It is kind of on the route to the Blue Lagoon. So before we go there, we choose a shorter route of 4.1 kilometers (starting point on Google Maps).
To the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is not in Reykjavík but more towards the airport. Because it is only a 45-minute drive and there are many tours to the Blue Lagoon, I will mention it in this Reykjavik blog. It is a bit of a must, isn’t it?
We go there for a few hours before flying home. I like it more than expected. It is screamingly expensive and I fear masses of tourists, but it is all very spacious. So actually, I would have liked to stay a bit longer. Read all about the Blue Lagoon in Iceland here.
Before you book, compare prices via Get Your Guide, Viator, and Tiqets. There may be a special offer. Otherwise, I can give you a 5% discount on your booking at Tiqets. This is the discount code for the Blue Lagoon: KIMOPREIS22. Enter this code at the checkout.
Where to stay in Reykjavik: KEX Hostel
The KEX Hostel is a super nice, large hostel with dormitories and private rooms. You will also find a reasonably clean kitchen on the third and fourth floors with a strict refrigerator policy. There is a large bar with seating, and there is often something to do, such as a quiz or a performance. But don’t worry: it closes at 11 pm so you will get enough sleep. Outside, there is a large space to chill on sunny days.
Our private room is colorful and decorated with old-fashioned paintings and photos. You will surely be amazed by everything in the hostel: lots of items on the wall, cozy seating areas, and striking room numbers. The KEX Hostel is truly a top spot in a top location.
View the rooms and availability.
More Iceland inspiration?
Useful links for your Iceland trip
- Accommodation. Favorite remains Booking.com. Would you rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. Book the best tours and activities at GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. ‘Free’ walking tours can be booked at Freetour.com or GuruWalk.
- Car rental. If you want to compare more prices, try Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Guidebooks. I like paper travel guides to flip through, available for sale Amazon and others.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Trip, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? See what Expedia or CheapOair has on offer.
- Yoga retreat or horseback riding vacation. Or treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Iceland or a horseback riding vacation.
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First published: August 2024 The article has been updated since.
