Reykjavik Sightseeing - Our Top Highlights

We were particularly looking forward to this city. After a wonderfully beautiful and almost perfect Iceland tour, we were now looking forward to a bit of city life and the many Reykjavik sights. And, of course, lots of coffee, because the city is an absolute showcase when it comes to coffee culture. Of the island’s almost 340,000 inhabitants, 123,000 live in the capital.

While many corners of Iceland are idyllically quiet, lonely, and remote, you can feel that very special capital city spirit in Reykjavik. In our eyes, Reykjavik is a mix of Berlin and Copenhagen, only in miniature. Many cool museums, galleries, cafés, shops, bars, clubs, and plenty of other highlights await you. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about this city in today’s guide. If you have any further tips, please let us know!

Reykjavik sights

Now we finally come to the most important part of this article, namely the sights in Reykjavik. There’s a lot to see and a lot to experience. On a city tour, you’ll be able to discover the most important highlights in just one day. As always, we went with the flow and strolled leisurely through the city center. In between, we took a break in really cool cafés, munched on delicious hot dogs, and visited cool little shops.

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Harpa Concert Hall

One of the absolute highlights in Reykjavik is the Harpa Concert Hall. Even from a distance, the building’s glass facade is a real eye-catcher. Especially in the evening, the lamps in the facade glow and offer a great photo opportunity. The glass of the facade reacts differently depending on the light, weather, and water. The building is around 43 meters high and consists of two cuboid parts. Inside the concert hall there is a large concert hall with 1,800 seats and three smaller rooms. Operas, concerts, musicals, fairs and many other events take place here.

Reykjavik Concert Hall Harpa exterior view

Hallgrims Church

The beautiful Hallgrims Church in Reykjavik, with its 73 m high tower and 1200 seats, is the largest church and It’s also the island’s landmark. The building is located right in the city center on a small hill. You can visit the church for free, only the view from the tower costs a little. From up there, you have a fantastic view of the city and the surrounding area.

The interior of the church is truly beautiful, especially the enormous concert organ, which is around 15 meters high. This organ alone weighs 25 tons and has 5,275 organ pipes. Isn’t that crazy? This organ is used in church services and concerts and is sure to offer an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, there was no mass or concert while we visited this church.

Sun Voyager – Sun Voyager

The Sun Voyager sculpture is located very close to the harbor in Reykjavik and was created by the artist Jón Gunnar Árnason in 1986. This monument is especially popular in the evening or early morning when the lighting is particularly special. The “Sun Voyager” sculpture is one of the most visited sights in Reykjavik and shouldn’t be missed during your trip.

Popular Shopping Streets

Reykjavik is a really cool, lively, and hip city. Here and there, it almost felt like we were walking through a Scandinavian version of Berlin-Kreuzberg. We encountered some really great graffiti, cool cafés, colorful houses, and stylish shops. The streets Laugavegur, Austurstraeti, Laekjargata, Bankastraeti, and Skólavördustígur are particularly popular. All of these streets are located in the city center and are easily accessible on foot. But be careful: It’s easy to get lost, as other streets constantly cross the main roads.

On the main shopping street, Laugavegur, you’ll find exclusive boutiques, souvenir shops, outdoor stores, cafés, and restaurants. Street musicians are also not uncommon here. In the evening, the streets Bankastræti and Austurstræti continue. They form the city’s party mile, so to speak. Just go with the flow and stroll through the streets; you’ll discover many cool areas. At the tourist information office, you can pick up a well-structured city map that will ensure you don’t miss any of the highlights.

Would you like to buy a typical Icelandic sweater? You’ll find numerous shops on Laugavegur Street. But be sure to compare prices and quality, as not all offers are good. We recommend the Icewear Outlet and The Handknitting Association of Iceland. Also worth a visit is the Christmas shop Litla Jólabúðin on Laugavegur Street. There’s a mailbox in front of the store, so you can surprise friends and relatives with Christmas mail from Santa Claus.

Museums & Galleries

Among the top Reykjavik attractions are the many cool museums and galleries. One of the most popular museums is the curious Phallus Museum. More than 200 penises and phallic parts are on display here. The Penis Museum displays the best pieces from 16 different whale species, as well as walruses, seals, and polar bears. And, of course, from humans. Crazy, right? The Whale Museum is also interesting. The exhibition there features 23 life-size models of whales, such as the humpback whale, the killer whale, and the blue whale.

In the Punk Museum at the end of Laugavegur Street, you’ll find many photos and objects from the 1980s. You’ll learn all about Icelandic punk from its beginnings to the New Wave movement. In the Árbær Open-Air Museum, you can see typical Icelandic houses from various eras. More than 20 buildings stand on the grounds, forming a kind of small village with a marketplace and farm. There are many other museums in the city, too. You can find an overview of the prices in the table below.

Swimming pools in the city

Iceland without a swimming pool and hot springs? That doesn’t make sense. In addition to the many natural hot springs, there are countless public swimming pools all over the island. That might sound boring at first, but believe us, the pools in Iceland are simply fantastic. Relaxing in an outdoor pool at 40°C and more is pretty cool. Plus, you’ll always get chatting to Icelanders. Unfortunately, we didn’t go to one ourselves in Reykjavik, but we’ve picked out the most popular pools for you.

Lágafellslaug | 650 ISK entry
Álftaneslaug | 600 ISK entry
Seltjarnarneslaug | 600 ISK entry
Laugardalslaug | 900 ISK entrance fee
Vesturbæjarlaug | 900 ISK entrance fee

Did you know that there’s even a beach near the capital? The Nauthólsvík beach resort on the Arctic Circle is a popular meeting place for Icelanders, especially on sunny days. While the temperature usually doesn’t climb above 13°C, the beach resort is really cool. A light sandy beach has been created here, and warm water is channeled into the lake. This means you can swim in the North Atlantic without freezing. In summer, you don’t even have to pay an entrance fee. In addition to the hotpots, there are also sand areas for chilling, volleyball courts, changing rooms, a kiosk, restrooms, and showers.

Cool and Hip Cafés

Reykjavik has a very distinctive coffee scene as well as some very cool and hip food spots. It’s incredibly fun to stroll through the streets and try a few treats here and there. Let’s start with our favorite café, Reykjavik Roasters. This hip café is comfortably furnished and designed with great attention to detail. The many vintage furniture and the cozy atmosphere are particularly cool. Not only do you get really good coffee here, but you can also get some delicious snacks for in between meals.

The colorful Café Babalú is also very cool. It has been recommended to us several times by our readers. Here you can get not only coffee and drinks but also many tasty treats, such as soups, sandwiches, cheesecake, and crepes. When the weather is nice, you can chill out on the small roof terrace and let the sun shine on your face. A cappuccino costs around €4.60 here, just to give you an idea of the approximate prices.

Stofan Café, Mokka Kaffi, The Coocoo’s Nest, and Café Kaffitár are also popular. We also highly recommend Brauð & Co. This bakery is quite popular in Reykjavik; you can usually expect a long line here, especially in the mornings. The baked goods here are absolutely delicious. Through the glass wall, you can also look over the employees’ shoulders and follow the production process.

The best hot dogs in town?

We’re not food bloggers, as everyone knows by now. We generally never make a big deal about food, partly because we never really feel like taking any photos of our food. Almost every blog recommends the famous hot dog stand Baejarins beztu pylsur. We’d like to recommend another place for you in Reykjavik, namely the Reykjavik Street Dog shop. We can’t say whether they have the best hot dogs in the city. But we’ve never eaten such delicious hot dogs before. Update 2021: The shop is unfortunately permanently closed !!!

The coolest tours through the city

Are you up for a guided tour through the city? This way, you can get a good initial overview and, along the way, learn a lot of interesting information about the people, culture, highlights, and more. So-called free walking tours are offered in Reykjavik. At the end, you simply pay what you want—a kind of donation, so to speak. These tours are offered by Free Walking Tour Reykjavik and City Walk Reykjavik.

Also offered are walking tours through the city, minibus tours, helicopter flights, beer tours, food tours, hop-on hop-off tours, and other city tours to various highlights. As always, you can book a variety of these tours through GetYourGuide.

3-Hour City Tour*
City Walking Tour*
City Sightseeing by Minibus*
Helicopter Flight with Panoramic Views & Summit Landing*
City Beer Tour*
Half-Day Capital Food Tour*
24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Ticket*

Popular Excursions in the Surrounding Area

Reykjavik is an excellent starting point for numerous tours. So, if you’re only on the island for a few days, you can still explore some of the highlights in the south and west with a rental car or a guided tour. Whether it’s whale watching, waterfalls, hot springs, or the Northern Lights—you won’t have to miss out on any of the highlights. In the following section, you’ll learn all about the options from Reykjavik.

Reykjavik Sightseeing – Golden Circle Day Tour

Are you determined to explore the famous Golden Circle? Plan at least 8 hours and head to the hot springs and waterfalls. Awaiting you are the imposing Gullfoss, the famous Geysir area with the legendary Strokkur fountain, and the historic Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. You can find out more about the Golden Circle in our separate article.

Reykjavik Sights – Excursion to the South

Would you like to see the beautiful south of the island? No problem! Grab a rental car and off you go. In the south, numerous sights and highlights await you, such as the Seljalandsfoss, the airplane wreck, the mighty Skogafoss, the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue, the black beaches of Vík and much more. All about it here: Highlights in the South of Iceland.

Reykjavik Sights – The Blue Lagoon

One of the absolute highlights around Reykjavik is a visit to the Blue Lagoon. It’s especially pleasant when temperatures drop below zero, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing dip in the 5,000 m² outdoor thermal pool at temperatures of up to 42°C. Not only is swimming in the lagoon popular, but so is the entire scenery, with its rising clouds of steam, the expansive lake, and the lava fields on the horizon.

You should definitely book tickets online in advance. Prices also vary depending on the time of day. Entrance tickets start at around €50 per person. The comfort price includes a drink, a rental towel, and a facial mud mask. You can also book a transfer to the lagoon separately. You can also book a round-trip ticket here for €38: GetYourGuide*.

Reykjavik Sights – Whale Watching

Would you like to see the giants of the sea and experience a unique adventure? Various whale-watching tours are offered from Reykjavik. For example, one departs from the harbor in Reykjavik on the whale-watching ship “Andrea.” The tour lasts around 3 hours and offers sheltered indoor seating with large panoramic windows. The crew will provide you with warm overalls. Between May and September, a German-speaking guide is also on board.

Reykjavik Sights – Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Excursions and tours to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula are even offered. You’ll need to plan a full day for these tours; they last around 11 hours. Several highlights await you, such as the spectacular mountains and the Kirkjufell volcanic crater, charming fishing villages, black sand beaches, and stunning landscapes. At GetYourGuide, you can get the tour for around €100, including transfers and a guide.

Reykjavik Sights – Northern Lights Tours

Don’t want to miss out on the beautiful and unique Northern Lights? Even if you only have a few days, you can book various tours from Reykjavik. The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the winter months between October and March, but no guarantees can be given. We recommend the website vedur.is. There you can check the daily forecasts, with the best chances of seeing them on cold, dark, and clear polar nights.

Northern Lights Tours from Reykjavik

Reykjavik Sights – Highlands, Ice Caves & Glaciers

From Reykjavik, you can also take tours to the highlands*. You can either book these tours with a transfer from Reykjavik or meet up with the group on site. Of course, you can also drive to the highlands yourself during the summer months, but you will need a 4×4 vehicle. Regular cars are not permitted on the F-roads! The excursions to the glaciers and ice caves* in the south of the island are also really cool.

Our video on YouTube

Iceland Travel Diary YouTube

Airport transfer from Keflavík

Most flights arrive at the international airport in Keflavík (code: KEV). This airport is located in the southwest of the island and is about 50 km from the capital, Reykjavik. It takes about 40 to 45 minutes via Highway 41. Most visitors pick up their rental car* at the airport, which is what we did. However, if you don’t have a car for the first or last few days, you can also take a bus or taxi to the city center.

Take the Flybus to the city center

The Flybus departs for Reykjavik every 35 to 40 minutes after a plane lands. The journey takes about 50 minutes and ends at the BSI Bus Terminal. Tickets can be purchased at the airport or online via the Flybus website. A single trip currently costs 3,299 ISK (around €24), and a round trip currently costs 6,299 ISK (around €46). Good to know: No matter when your plane arrives on the island or when you depart again, there’s always a Flybus on site, even if your flight is delayed.

Tickets are slightly cheaper at GetYourGuide*. A one-way trip costs only €20 per person. For €6 more, the Flybus will even take you to your desired hotel or accommodation. Tickets are available here*. Bus line 55 from Strætó also runs between the airport and the city. While the journey takes a little longer, you only pay 1,880 ISK (around €14) per trip. The bus leaves from the airport at the Fjörður stop, from where you take line 1 to Menntaskólinn í Reykjavik. Timetable and prices here: Strætó.

By taxi to the city center

Don’t feel like renting a car or taking the bus? You can, of course, also take a taxi from the airport to the city center. However, Iceland isn’t cheap at all; expect a taxi ride to cost 17,500 ISK, which is roughly €130. We definitely recommend the Flybus or a rental car. You can book your private ride to the city center in advance on the TaxiTender website.

Parking in the capital

Parking in Reykjavik is generally easy. However, as soon as you see a parking meter, you have to pay. There are 4 different parking zones in the city, from P1 to P4. You can see exactly which parking zone you are in by looking at the parking meters, ticket machines, and lampposts.

You pay the most for parking zone 1 in the city center, at around €2.73 per hour. This is intended to prevent the city center from being blocked by long-term parkers. Parking zones 2 to 4 are cheaper, at around €1.40 per hour. The following table shows the current times and prices for the various parking zones.

Overview of parking zones in Reykjavik

Parking garages & free spaces

There are also some parking garages where you can temporarily park your car for a fee. These are usually open between 7 a.m. and midnight. In the Stjörnuport and Vitatorg parking garages, you pay 150 ISK (1.11€) for the first hour and 100 ISK (0.74€) for each additional hour. Most other garages, however, charge 240 ISK for the first hour and 120 ISK for each additional hour. You can find all current prices for the parking garages and zones here: www.bilastaedasjodur.is.

Tip: There are no parking fees in the city on Sundays, nor after 6pm during the week. We parked for free in the parking lot in front of Hallgrimskirkja during the week. These spaces are, of course, rare, but we were very lucky. On Sundays during the fair, however, it can be very crowded. There’s also a free gravel parking lot right next to the old harbor (here on Google Maps).

Public Transport in the City

We think the city is very easy to explore on foot. Most places are within walking distance and easily accessible. If you want to go a little further, you can take the Strætó public buses. The bus network is very well developed, especially in the capital. A single trip costs around 440 ISK (3.24€). You can buy tickets on the bus, among other things, if you have enough change. It’s easier with the Strætó app, where you can buy your virtual ticket online in advance.

If you’re staying in the city for several days, we recommend the Reyjavik City Card*. With this, you can explore the city for 24, 48, or 72 hours, receive many discounts, and travel on all buses for free. You can purchase the map from GetYourGuide* starting at just €31. Tip: On this page, you can see all bus connections in Reykjavik and across the entire island.

Accommodations & Cool Hotels

There are plenty of cool accommodations in Reykjavik. We’ve done some more research and picked out some really popular ones for you. We usually book our rooms through Booking.com* or Airbnb*, as we’ve been very happy with both platforms for many years. Have you ever been to the city? If so, which accommodation can you recommend?

Best Time to Visit Reykjavik

You can visit Reykjavik all year round. However, the best time to visit is between June and September. During these months, it’s not quite as cold, and if you’re lucky, it might even be a bit warm in the summer. In the other months, temperatures range between 2°C and 8°C. We were in Reykjavik in September and had fantastic weather with sunshine and blue skies. Between May and September, there is less rainfall than in any other month. Learn more about Iceland’s climate and temperatures here: Best Time to Visit Iceland.

Travel Reading and Travel Guides

The Dumont* travel guide is highly recommended. It features 448 pages of information about Iceland. We also borrowed the Lonely Planet* and the Stefan Loose* travel guide from our local library before our trip. We found a lot of information for our trip in both books. Also very cool is the book “Iceland’s Faux-Patch Guide: In the Hot Pot with Elves and Vikings”* and the paperback “Where Elves Still Help: Why You Simply Have to Love Iceland”*.

Reykjavik Sightseeing – The coolest spots in town

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