Reykjavík, Iceland: travel guide
Iceland's capital and largest city, home to about two-thirds of the national population. A compact, colourful harbour city known for Hallgrímskirkja, the Harpa concert hall, a lively café and nightlife scene, and as the launch point for Golden Circle and South Coast tours.
- Country
- Iceland
- Currency
- ISK
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Reykjavik
- Nearest airport
- REK
Top places to visit in Reykjavík
Hallgrímskirkja
Church · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
Iceland's largest church, a 74.5 m expressionist Lutheran landmark inspired by basalt columns; take the lift up the tower for the best city view.
Harpa Concert Hall
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
Award-winning glass concert hall and conference centre on the waterfront, its honeycomb facade designed with artist Olafur Eliasson.
Perlan
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h
Glass dome atop Öskjuhlíð hill housing the "Wonders of Iceland" exhibition with a real ice cave, planetarium and a 360° observation deck.
Sun Voyager (Sólfar)
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 0.3 h
A steel sculpture of a stylised Viking ship by Jón Gunnar Árnason on the Sæbraut seafront, an ode to discovery and a favourite sunset spot.
National Museum of Iceland
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h
The country's principal museum, tracing Icelandic history from the settlement to today through the "Making of a Nation" exhibition.
Reykjavík Maritime Museum
Museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h
Harbourside museum on Iceland's fishing and seafaring heritage, including the coastguard vessel Óðinn from the Cod Wars.
Whales of Iceland
Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h
Europe's largest whale exhibition, with 23 life-size models of the whales found in Icelandic waters.
Laugardalslaug Thermal Pool
Activity · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
Reykjavík's largest geothermal swimming complex with hot pots, a 50 m pool and water slides — a slice of everyday Icelandic bathing culture.
Aurora Reykjavík
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h
The Northern Lights Center: an interactive exhibition explaining the aurora with a photo studio and forecasting tips.
Árbær Open Air Museum
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
An open-air folk museum of relocated historic Reykjavík houses, showing town and turf-house life across the centuries.
Reykjavík Botanical Garden
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
Free outdoor botanical garden in Laugardalur with around 5,000 plant species and a family park and zoo next door.
Reykjavík Old Harbour
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1 h
Working harbour turned tourist quarter with whale-watching and puffin boats, fish restaurants and the Grandi food and design district.
Things to do
- Reykjavík Whale Watching Wildlife · 3 h · from ISK 12,900 per person
- Golden Circle Day Tour Sightseeing · 9 h · from ISK 10,900 per person
- South Coast & Waterfalls Tour Sightseeing · 11 h · from ISK 14,900 per person
- Northern Lights Bus Tour Nature · 3.5 h · from ISK 8,900 per person
- Silfra Snorkelling Water Sports · 3 h · from ISK 19,900 per person
- Reykjavík Food Walk Food · 3.5 h · from ISK 18,900 per person
- Puffin Watching Express Wildlife · 1.5 h · from ISK 8,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Golden Circle Classic 8.5 h · from ISK 10,900
- South Coast & Jökulsárlón 14 h · from ISK 24,900
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula 11 h · from ISK 15,900
Where to stay in Reykjavík
- Miðborg (101 Downtown) about ISK 35,000 per night
The historic heart of Reykjavík — walkable to cafés, museums, Hallgrímskirkja and the harbour; the best all-round base.
- Laugavegur & Hlemmur about ISK 32,000 per night
Reykjavík's main shopping and nightlife strip with design shops, bars and the Hlemmur food hall.
- Old Harbour & Grandi about ISK 34,000 per night
Waterfront quarter for whale and puffin tours, seafood and the Grandi design district.
Hotels
- Hótel Reykjavík Centrum 4-star · ISK 28,000 to ISK 55,000 per night
- Hótel Borg 4-star · ISK 45,000 to ISK 110,000 per night
- Loft HI Hostel ISK 8,000 to ISK 26,000 per night
- Fosshótel Reykjavík 4-star · ISK 26,000 to ISK 52,000 per night
- Kex Hostel ISK 7,500 to ISK 28,000 per night
- Grand Hótel Reykjavík 4-star · ISK 24,000 to ISK 50,000 per night
Where to eat
- Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur Icelandic, Street Food, Fast Food · about ISK 900 per person
- Sægreifinn (Sea Baron) Seafood, Icelandic · about ISK 2,800 per person
- Grillmarkaðurinn Icelandic, Grill, Nordic · about ISK 12,000 per person
- Dill Restaurant New Nordic, Icelandic, Fine Dining · about ISK 20,000 per person
- Fiskfélagið (Fish Company) Seafood, Icelandic, International · about ISK 11,000 per person
- Kaffi Loki Icelandic, Café, Traditional · about ISK 3,200 per person
- Messinn Seafood, Icelandic · about ISK 5,500 per person
- Icelandic Street Food Icelandic, Soup, Street Food · about ISK 2,200 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Rental-car damage over-charging
Car rental desks
Some smaller rental firms invoice for pre-existing scratches, gravel chips or "sand and ash" damage after you return the car.
How to avoid it: Photograph the car in detail at pickup and drop-off, decline unnecessary add-ons, and consider gravel/SAAP insurance from a reputable firm.
Dynamic currency conversion (DCC)
Shops, restaurants, ATMs
Card terminals offer to charge you in your home currency (INR/USD) at a poor built-in exchange rate.
How to avoid it: Always choose to pay in Icelandic króna (ISK); your own bank's rate is better.
Unlicensed "cheap" tour resellers
Online / social media
Fake or unlicensed operators advertise very cheap Golden Circle or Northern Lights tours and then cancel or fail to deliver.
How to avoid it: Book through established operators or your hotel; check the operator has a Vakinn quality mark and real reviews.