Things to Do in Reykjavik | Your Quick Guide

When it comes to size of European capitals, Reykjavik is up there with the most compact and quaint. In fact, most tourists here aren’t here to explore the city. They’re here for tours, day trips and excursions to explore the wilderness of Iceland. However, there are still plenty of things to do in Reykjavik and you can easily spend a few days pottering about here if you wish. The attractions range from places to rival the beauty of the Icelandic wilderness, to just plain bizarre. Here is everything you need to know.

Things to Do in Reykjavik | Your Quick Guide

Visit Hallgrímskirkja Church

Let’s start off with Reykjavik’s most iconic landmark. Hallgrímskirkja Church really does tower over the city’s skyline and walking up to it along Skólavörðustígur (the rainbow street) is one of the prettiest views of the city.

In terms of major churches in Europe, Hallgrímskirkja pales in comparison to others when it comes to size and history. However, what it does have is some of the best views. Taking the lift up to the top of the tower is easily one of the best things to do in Reykjavik. You’ll be amazed at just how much you can see, including the colourful rooftops of the surrounding houses, the nearby mountains and the ocean.

If you are in Reykjavik during the winter, I’d head here during the longer golden hour. The views will be made even more magical.

Explore the City Centre

Reykjavik’s city centre is walkable, vibrant, and full of character. Most of the shops, cafés and bars can be found along Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur streets. On both streets you’ll also find different murals and street art, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled! In the run-up to Christmas, you’ll also find projections of the famous Yule Lads and their family.

Laugavegur

I would say that the vast majority of things are found on Laugavegur. The most popular type of shop – by far – are those selling outdoor gear or souvenirs. In particular, you’ll find lots of the same Icelandic jumpers and hats, which to be fair are perfect for staying warm on colder days. These are rather pricey (around £120 per jumper), but are really lovely and high quality.

Along this street you’ll also find some great places for coffee and baked goods. We really enjoyed Baka Baka and Te & Kaffi. Both of these delivered excellent hot drinks during cold mornings before tours, and Baka Baka in particular did amazing pastries (and also transformed into a pizzeria during the evening).

In the evening, you also have a choice of different bars and restaurants to choose from. Because Iceland is incredibly expensive, we opted for an apartment with a kitchen so that we could cook (and didn’t need to pay for meals out). However, we did regularly go out for drinks and Kaffibrennslan was one of our favourites for atmosphere.

Skólavörðustígur

This is the famous ‘rainbow street’ which takes you from Laugavegur up towards Hallgrímskirkja. If I’m honest, there isn’t much which is different to Laugavegur here apart from the road and, of course, the very impressive positioning of the church on top of the hill. However, it is definitely worth walking up to get to Hallgrímskirkja and stop in various shops along the way. I particularly liked Mjúk; a shop where you can build your own customised bauble hat – I love mine and can’t get over how high-quality it is.

Visit the Old Harbour & Waterfront

If you go whale watching in Reykjavik, you’ll probably go to the Old Harbour to begin your voyage. Whilst this is definitely one of the best day trips from Reykjavik, I would say that visiting the Old Harbour by itself is one of the best things to do. The area is incredibly atmospheric and you have nearby museums and attractions to visit too.

From the Old Harbour, you can walk along the waterfront towards the city centre. In the winter, you can see the snow-topped mountains just across the water and you’ll get some truly magical pastel colours from across the bay.

Along the promenade, you’ll come across the Sun Voyager (Sólfar) sculpture. It celebrates the nordic explorations and discovery, and is particularly photogenic when the sun is low. In the distance, you’ll be able to see Mount Esja and the waters here are incredibly calm, making the surface seem almost velvet-like.

Discover Harpa Concert Hall

Once you’ve seen the waterfront, I’d then suggest going to the Harpa Concert Hall. This is easily one of the best things to see in Reykjavik, and there are some fun things to do inside.

Firstly, Harpa has plenty of concerts, shows, events and exhibits which run throughout the year. You can see what is going on through the official Harpa website, but also by just popping in and seeing. If you go to the basement, you’ll also find the Volcano Express. This is multi-dimensional cinematic technology truly immerses you in the geological history of the island. It is almost like a simulator ride at a theme park and uses real footage from recent eruptions. It’s a world-first and definitely worth seeing.

Even if you don’t want to be here for a concert or a show, just stepping foot inside Harpa is worth the trip. It has to be one of the best designed buildings in Iceland and is genuinely impressive when you step inside.

Relax in a Geothermal Pool

Swimming is a way of life in Iceland and visiting a Geothermal Pool is a famous pastime. Whilst the Blue Lagoon is a good 50 minutes away, Reykjavik also has its own geothermal pools which are open to the public year-round.

Perhaps the most famous is the newly-finished Sky Lagoon. This is a luxurious option which rival the Blue Lagoon, both in experience but also in price. To spend the day here, a couple will be looking at easily £200.00 between them.

If you just want to go swimming and forgo the luxury, then consider Laugardalslaug. This is the biggest pool in Reykjavik and also features hot baths and saunas. It is open to the public and attracts far more locals than tourists, but still gives you that lovely warm water. Alternatively, check out Sundhöllin. This is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland and is the no-frills option.

Swimming is a way of life in Iceland, and Reykjavik’s geothermal pools are a must-do experience.

Explore Grandi District

The Grandi District is near the Old Harbour and you’ll likely pass through it as you head towards a whale watching tour. Whilst it was once an industrial fishing area, Grandi is now one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the city. It is also far less touristy than the city centre, especially during the middle of the day where everyone else is on a day trip.

In Grandi, you’ll be able to find plenty of shops and restaurants dotted along the outcrop of the Old Harbour, as well as museums such as Whales of Iceland. This is also home to the famous Lava Show (the only show to use real lava in the world) and also the Northern Lights Centre.

Tip: If you are also into street art, this is one of the best places to hunt around for it.

Learn Iceland’s History & Culture

I’ve already mentioned a handful, but Reykjavik has plenty of museums to learn about the country’s rich history and culture. Here are some of my favourites to go to:

• National Museum of Iceland – tells you the history of Iceland and its rich cultural heritage. There is plenty to see and you could easily spend a morning or afternoon exploring.
• Perlan – this has to be one of the best things to do in Reykjavik and features all of the key geographical elements you expect from the country in an interactive format. You have an ice tunnel, volcano show and even an aurora display.
• Saga Museum – this specialises in an immersive storytelling of Viking history, using waxwork figures to show how Icelandic people used to live.
• Reykjavik Maritime Museum – learn how the sea has shaped the culture and history of the Icelandic people. This museum is found on the Old Harbour and houses exhibits showing traditional fishing methods to modern innovation.
• Árbær Open Air Museum – This open-air museum showcases historic Icelandic buildings relocated from around the country. Expect to see traditional turf houses, costumed interpreters, and a glimpse into old Icelandic life.

Hunt for Street Art

I’ve already mentioned this in previous sections, but hunting for street art has to be one of the best things to do in Reykjavik. In fact, during our day or so exploring the city, we found countless murals and paintings across the city, sometimes spotting one which we had walked past earlier.

If you wanted to spend a day doing this, you could narrow it down to Laugavegur, Hverfisgata and Grandi as the main areas.

Walk Around Tjörnin Pond

One things that really surprised me in Reykjavik was Tjörnin Pond, in particular, just how many birds there were here! What made it even better though were the colourful houses and public buildings which lined the pond which, under the sunset light, made it an incredibly pretty place to be.

When you’re in Reykjavik, I’d definitely recommend walking around the pond early in the morning or in the evening. I think it’s the perfect way to begin or end a day with a hot drink from Baka Baka.

Experience Reykjavik’s Food Scene

Before I visited Iceland, I’d seen people online say that the foodie scene isn’t there in Reykjavik. I actually disagree. It could be that as my mother has come from Northern Poland, I’m used to similar flavours and tastes, but I really enjoyed Icelandic food and dived into the modern Nordic cuisine.

The main thing to try here have to be the fresh seafood. The Icelandic take their seafood very seriously and eating fresh fish is a must-do when in Reykjavik. I’d also recommend the local Icelandic lamb as a deliciously warming dinner. If you like yoghurt, be prepared for Skyr. This locally-made thick yoghurt literally reinvents the whole food-group; it is seriously delicious and it is a shame we can’t buy the proper stuff in this country.

Lastly, as I’ve mentioned above, the Icelandic coffee scene is growing. In fact, in Reykjavik city centre there are so many different places to choose from to have a good coffee. I know that this is a worldwide-trend, but Iceland’s coffee culture is particularly strong.

Tip: In the winter, be prepared to wait for your coffee. A lot of the coffee shops won’t open until at least 08:00.

Enjoy Reykjavik’s Nightlife

Whilst not really my scene, Reykjavik has an almost-legendary nightlife, especially on weekends. From spending time there and speaking to different people, there are definitely things for everyone.

One place that we went to was the record store Smekkleysa which is owned by Icelandic legend Bjork. A friend of ours actually saw her DJ there when visiting years ago. There are plenty of other places which have multiple lives in Reykjavik and become truly alive after dark. I’d also add that Icelandic locals don’t tend to start the party until late, so make sure that you pace yourself.

Go Northern Lights Hunting (Winter Only)

If you haven’t been able to book a tour, or they just are too expensive, you can see the northern lights from Reykjavik. From our hotel, Hotel Fron, we could see the lights very clearly from our terrace. We were high up, but we were also right in the centre of the city.

On clear winter nights, head up to a high point nearby or towards the Sun Voyageur. You should be able to see them if you look Northward. If you aren’t sure, hold your phone camera up towards the faint light – if you can see a faint colour there it is more than likely them.

Tip: I would always recommend a tour to see the aurora. Whilst we did manage to see the lights, we were very lucky. You want it to be as dark as possible.

Take Day Trips Beyond the City

One of the best things – if not the best – to do in Reykjavik is to take a day trip! We spent almost our entire time out exploring the country and seeing the best that Iceland has to offer.

For inspiration and planning, don’t miss our guide to the Day Trips from Reykjavik, which covers the Golden Circle, South Coast, and other must-see routes.

How long to stay in Reykjavik?

Wondering how long you need in the city? Reykjavik works beautifully as both a short city break and a longer base for exploring Iceland.

If you’re planning your itinerary, check out our detailed guide to 4 Days in Reykjavik for a balanced mix of city highlights and epic excursions.

Final Thoughts | Things to do in Reykjavik

There are so many different things to do in Reykjavik and any time in Iceland should include at least a day or two exploring this gorgeous city. Whilst it is smaller and quainter than other European capitals, it definitely has an old-school charm which you just can’t beat.

I hope that you found this guide helpful for exploring Reykjavik. If you have any other questions please do ask me. I always love hearing from you.