One step away from the Arctic Circle, Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is a city where nature is truly the main protagonist. An ideal destination for adventurous tourists looking for new places to explore. Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, the northernmost in Europe. It has only 120,000 inhabitants but is at the same time very dynamic and interesting to visit.
- What to visit in Reykjavik: places of interest
- 1 Hallgrim Church
- 2 Icelandic National Museum
- 3 Old Harbour of Reykjavik
- 4 Maritime Museum
- 5 Perlan Museum
- 6 Austurvollur Square
- 7 Adalstraeti Museum
- 8 Reykjavikk what to do
- Quick info: where to sleep in Reykjavik, how to get there, what to eat.
- 9 How to get around Reykjavik
- 10 How to get to Reykjavík
- 11 Where to eat in Reykjavík
- 12 Where to sleep in Reykjavik
It is a green and evocative place, bright in summer and extremely dark in winter, offering sunrises and sunsets that will leave you speechless. Through our guide, we want to take you on a journey to discover these magical places and suggest what to see in Reykjavik.
What to visit in Reykjavik: places of interest
There are really many things to do in Reykjavik. We created this guide precisely to suggest the best and most important ones.
1 Hallgrim Church
The Hallgrim Church is the main one in the city and is the symbol of Reykjavik. Also known as Hallgrímskirkja, it is visible from every corner of the city.
2 Icelandic National Museum
The Icelandic National Museum is the cornerstone gallery of the history of Iceland. It houses numerous works from the 9th century AD to the present day, including several Viking boats. It is among the important things on the list “Reykjavik things to see”.
3 Old Harbour of Reykjavik
The Old Harbour of Reykjavik is the heart of the city and it is from there that you can walk to reach the most interesting points of the capital.
4 Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum is located near the Old Harbour of Reykjavik and every year it becomes bigger and more important. Inside, it is possible to observe works related to the maritime history of the Icelandic capital.
5 Perlan Museum
The Perlan Museum is a particular and modern building, equipped with a dome from which it is possible to observe Reykjavik from above. It houses one of the city’s main museums: the Viking Saga Museum. Visiting this museum is among the main activities on the list “Things to do in Reykjavik”.
6 Austurvollur Square
The Austurvollur Square is the main one in the city, surrounded by gardens and trendy places.
7 Adalstraeti Museum
The Adalstraeti Museum occupies one of the oldest buildings in the historic center of Reykjavik and is recognizable by the color of its facades, completely black.
Reykjavik is also very special for its natural attractions. Here is a list of the three excursions you should absolutely not forget to include in your list “Reykjavik things to do”.
8 Reykjavikk what to do
- Visit the Blue Lagoon: it is a real thermal pool 40 km from the center of Reykjavikk and is among the main attractions of the Icelandic capital. A must-see!
- Photograph Lake Tjörnin: a small but very famous lake. At sunset it becomes the ideal place to take your souvenir photos.
- Walk in the Laugardalur Valley: it is the area of geysers located about 100 km from the center of Reykjavikk. It is a fenced area due to the hot water springing from the pools. A mandatory stop on your Icelandic tour.
For your day trips, the best thing to do to get around is to take advantage of Reykjavikk rent car services, so you can reach the chosen areas quickly and with total autonomy.
Quick info: where to sleep in Reykjavik, how to get there, what to eat.
9 How to get around Reykjavik
If you are wondering how to get around Reykjavik we recommend doing it on foot, to fully enjoy the many small details this city has to offer.
10 How to get to Reykjavík
Once you reach Reykjavík airport, you can easily get to the city center using one of the 2 available bus services or by taking a taxi. The distance is about 50 km.
11 Where to eat in Reykjavík
We suggest choosing typical restaurants to taste the true traditional Icelandic cuisine in Reykjavík. Among the various unmissable dishes, remember to try: pylsur, a classic Icelandic street food hotdog; Fiskisúpa, a fish soup, a staple of Icelandic cuisine; Skyr, which resembles yogurt.
12 Where to sleep in Reykjavik
For choosing your hotel in Reykjavik, we recommend the Old Harbor area; staying there you will be able to comfortably reach all the main attractions of the city.
Given the high rainfall and low temperatures of Reykjavik, we recommend organizing your clothing before departure to enjoy your stay in the green Iceland without discomfort.
