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The Reykjavik Edition, Reykjavik

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Reykjavik

Updated 1 October 2026 · 15 things to do

Pictured: The Reykjavik Edition

Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital and one of its smallest, which is exactly the charm. You can walk from one end of the centre to the other in half an hour, past rainbow-painted streets, corrugated-iron houses in every colour, a church shaped like a basalt cliff and a harbour that smells of salt and fresh coffee.

It's also a very good base. Geysers, waterfalls and the Blue Lagoon all start from the city, and the best way to spend a rainy afternoon is in a steaming outdoor pool alongside the locals. Give it two days for the city itself, and a few more for what lies beyond.

Don't miss

  1. 1Hallgrímskirkja
  2. 2Sun Voyager
  3. 3The Old Harbour
  4. 4The Blue Lagoon
  5. 5The Golden Circle

The big sights

A compact city, with the landmarks all within a short walk.

  1. Hallgrímskirkja

    Landmark

    The stepped concrete tower of Hallgrímskirkja church
    Photo: Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Reykjavik's skyline is dominated by this church, whose stepped concrete tower was inspired by Iceland's basalt columns. It stands at the top of the hill, with a statue of the explorer Leifur Eiríksson out front.

    Take the lift up the tower for a sweep of coloured rooftops, the bay and the mountains beyond. It's the single best view of the city.

  2. Harpa

    Landmark

    The concert hall on the waterfront is wrapped in a honeycomb of glass panels, designed with the Icelandic-Danish artist Ólafur Elíasson, that glitter and shift with the light. It opened in 2011 and is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

    You don't need a ticket to wander the foyer, where the view across the bay to Mount Esja is superb.

  3. Sun Voyager

    Landmark

    The Sun Voyager steel sculpture on the Reykjavik seafront
    Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A gleaming steel sculpture on the seafront that looks like a Viking ship, though its creator, Jón Gunnar Árnason, called it an ode to the sun. It faces the sea and Mount Esja, and on a clear evening it makes a fine place to watch the light go.

    Tip: It is a pleasant walk along the waterfront from Harpa: make it part of an evening stroll.

  4. Perlan

    Landmark

    A glass dome set on top of old hot-water tanks on Öskjuhlíð hill, with a viewing deck, exhibitions about Icelandic nature and a café. The views over the city are wide and clear.

Old town and waterfront

  1. The Old Harbour

    Neighbourhood

    Boats moored in Reykjavik's Old Harbour
    Photo: Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Reykjavik's working harbour is now a lively mix of fishing boats, seafood restaurants, small museums and ticket booths for boat trips. The nearby Grandi area has a food hall and creative studios.

    It's where the city's sea-facing character is clearest, and a good place for a fish supper.

  2. Tjörnin and the city hall

    Nature

    The Tjörnin lake beside Reykjavik city hall
    Photo: Mario Falcetti, CC BY 4.0

    The little lake in the middle of town is full of ducks, geese and swans, with the glass-walled city hall at its edge and the cathedral and parliament nearby. A circuit takes under half an hour and gives a good taste of old Reykjavik.

  3. Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur

    Neighbourhood

    The rainbow-painted section of Skólavörðustígur leading up to the church
    Photo: APK, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Laugavegur is the city's main shopping street, lined with Icelandic design, wool, record shops and cafés. At the top of the hill, Skólavörðustígur runs up to the church, with a stretch painted in rainbow colours that everyone photographs.

    Wander off onto the side streets for galleries, bakeries and wall art.

Soak and swim

Geothermal water is a way of life here.

  1. The Blue Lagoon

    Activity

    The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa with Þorbjörn mountain behind
    Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Iceland's most famous spa lies in a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula, roughly between Keflavík airport and the city. The water is milky blue, naturally warm and ringed by steam, and you can smooth on a silica mask and sip a drink at the water's edge.

    Tip: Book your slot in advance. It is a popular first or last stop on a trip.

  2. Laugardalslaug

    Activity

    The city's largest swimming complex is where locals actually go: outdoor lap pools, a row of hot pots at different temperatures and a water slide. Spend an hour chatting in the hot tubs and you'll understand Icelanders a bit better.

    Tip: Pool etiquette: you must shower thoroughly without your swimsuit before getting in.

  3. Nauthólsvík

    Beach

    A small city beach in the south of Reykjavik where the sea is warmed with geothermal water, so you can swim in the North Atlantic without freezing. It has a hot tub and a sheltered lagoon, and is at its liveliest in summer.

Eat and shop

  1. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

    Food

    The Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog stand in Reykjavik
    Photo: Wilhelm Thomas Fiege, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Reykjavik's famous hot dog stand by the harbour has been serving since 1937. Order 'eina með öllu', one with everything, and you get a lamb-based sausage in a bun with raw and crispy onions, ketchup, sweet mustard and remoulade.

    It's cheap, quick and a local institution, with queues to match.

  2. Kolaportið

    Market

    The city's flea market fills a hall by the harbour at weekends, with second-hand clothes, books and curios alongside stalls selling traditional Icelandic food, including dried fish and the infamous fermented shark. Brave, or at least curious, visitors can try a sample.

Days out from the city

  1. The Golden Circle

    Day trip

    A rainbow over Gullfoss, one of the three Golden Circle stops
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Iceland's classic day out links three sights: Þingvellir, where the continental plates meet and the world's oldest parliaments once gathered, the erupting Strokkur geyser, and the huge Gullfoss waterfall.

    It's a loop of about a day by car or on a tour from the city. Set off early and the stops are quieter.

  2. The south coast

    Day trip

    Beyond the Golden Circle, the road east passes the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss and the black-sand beach at Reynisfjara. It's a long day from Reykjavik, but the scenery is the most dramatic within reach.

    Tip: Stay well back from the sea at Reynisfjara: waves can surge much further up the beach than you expect.

  3. Viðey

    Day trip

    The Imagine Peace Tower on the island of Viðey near Reykjavik
    Photo: Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland, CC BY-SA 2.0

    A short ferry ride from the harbour, this small island has walking trails, old buildings and the Imagine Peace Tower, Yoko Ono's memorial to John Lennon, which sends a beam of light into the sky on certain dates, starting on Lennon's birthday in October.

Where to stay in Reykjavik

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Reykjavik →

Getting around

The centre is small enough to walk, and buses cover the rest of the city. Day trips need a hire car or a tour, and many hotels can arrange one. Keflavík airport is around three-quarters of an hour from the centre by road, with regular coaches into town.

When to go

Summer brings very long days and easy roads. Winter has short days, cosy cafés and a chance of the northern lights. The weather is changeable all year, so pack layers and a waterproof.

Questions about visiting Reykjavik

What is Reykjavik best known for?
Its colourful, compact centre, the landmark church Hallgrímskirkja and the Harpa concert hall, geothermal pools, and being the base for the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon and the northern lights.
How many days do you need in Reykjavik?
Two days cover the city itself. Add two or three for the Golden Circle, the south coast and the Blue Lagoon.
Is Reykjavik worth visiting?
Yes. It's small, safe and full of character, and it puts some of Europe's wildest scenery within day-trip distance.
What is there to do in Reykjavik with kids?
Swimming at Laugardalslaug, geothermal pools and the beach at Nauthólsvík, a ferry to the island of Viðey, and day trips to geysers and waterfalls.

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