Top Things To See In Reykjavik Iceland

Iceland is a beautiful country filled with stunning landscapes, majestic mountains, and epic waterfalls. If you need to break up your trip and spend a day in the city, Reykjavik is the place to go! Iceland’s population is around 350,000 and Reykjavik is home to about 60% of that population.

Reykjavik is not your average city. It does not have that over-crowded feel and you are not constantly stuck in traffic. It is a quiet city and one of the most peaceful to walk through.

One of my favorite parts to walk through was the ‘Neighborhood of the gods’. Around Skolavorduholt Hill, fifteen streets are named after Norse Mythology gods. In 1906, Óðinsgata (Odin’s Street) was the first street in this part of the city to be named after the gods. Others included Thor, Freyja, Loki, and many more. At one point they even thought to name the place Asgard (one of the nine worlds in Norse Mythology), but the name did not stick.

How To Get There:

We drove from our Airbnb to the University of Iceland, right outside Reykjavik. Parking is free on Sundays, so we took full advantage of that! We found a spot at the University gravel parking lot. It was just a short walk over a bridge and up a hill (not too steep) that led directly to our first stop: Hallgrímskirkja

Top Things To Do:

1. Hallgrímskirkja:

Named after an Icelandic preacher, the structure is said to resemble the unique shapes and forms created when lava cools into basalt rock similar to Svartifoss. We were able to visit Easter morning and heard the bells right on the hour!

• Entry to the tower: adults: ISK 1000 & children 7-16 years old: ISK 100
• The tower is closed on Sundays from 10:30 am – 12:15 pm

Directly in front of the Church is a statue of Leifur Eiriksson. He is known as the first European to discover America, landing 500 years before Christopher Columbus. The statue was a gift from the United States in honor of the 1,000th anniversary of the establishment of Iceland’s parliament in 930 AD.

2. Laugavegur:

The main shopping street in Reykjavik! If you are wanting to spend the day visiting all the best shops in Reykjavik, you must walk down Laugavegur. There are plenty of souvenir shops, fashion stores, and home goods, you will have to budget your time wisely! There are also music shops and a Blue Lagoon shop where you can find some of the best skin care products!

3. Harpa:

A social and cultural center right in the heart of the city! It is a stunning building with even more stunning views of Reykjavik and the Atlantic Ocean! Free to get in and explore, Harpa offers concerts, cafes, and even movies to watch! You cannot miss this beautiful concert hall!

4. Old Harbor:

Just a short walk from Harpa is the Old Harbor of Reykjavik. The harbor was originally used for fish trading, and in more recent years turned to tourism.

There are many tours that leave from the harbor including, whale watching, puffin tours in the summertime, and on occasion northern light tours! Check out this great website to learn more!

Museums:

There are also several museums to visit along the Harbor.

The Whales of Iceland exhibition – this is a fantastic museum that features 23 real-size models of different species of whales! The interactive features bring these magnificent creatures to life! Learn all about their home in Iceland.

• Adults – 2,900 ISK & Children 7 – 15 years – 1,500 ISK

The Volcanic House – Learn all about the volcanos in Iceland and how they have affected the way of life over the years! Get lost in the two documentaries that emphasize Iceland’s most famous eruptions!  Explore the Volcano House Boutique and take home a piece of Iceland!

• Adults 17+ ISK 1,790 & Children Free admission

The Reykjavík Maritime Museum is the best place to learn about the history of Iceland’s fishing trade and more about the history of the settling of Reykjavik.

• Adults 18+ – 1,700 ISK & Children Free admission

Óðinn Coast Guard Vessel – From the Maritime Museum you can buy tickets to explore the Óðinn Coast Guard Vessel! The Odinn is a decommissioned vessel formerly used by the Icelandic Coast Guard and she is the oldest ship in the Coast Guard’s fleet!

• Óðinn Guided Tour – 1,300 ISK

Another great museum to visit is Viking World! This is closer to the Keflavik airport, but a great stop for right after you land in Iceland. They offer breakfast starting as soon as they open. It is a fairly small museum but you get to sit in a real Viking ship which I thought was awesome!

5. Solfar:

Another great item you must see when visiting Reykjavik is Solfar or the Sun Voyager. Most believe this is a representation of a Viking ship, however, the artist Jon Gunnar intended it to be an ‘ode to the sun, symbolizing light and hope’. This is a great place to watch the sunset, especially with Mt. Esja in the background!

Places to Eat:

Of course, I had to add in the bonus point of the best places to eat in Reykjavik! There are many wonderful places to choose from, but here are some of our favorites!

Café Loki – Stop by Café Loki to enjoy some traditional Icelandic meals! We order the Loki Platter that included smoked salmon, lamb, mashed fish, and the infamous fermented shark! There are many other options available as well if you feel your stomach can’t handle the shark.

Braud & Co – if you need a late-day snack or simply want a sweet treat, head to this bakery! From bagels to chocolate chip bread you will not be disappointed no matter what you choose!

Iceland was one of our favorite countries to visit! There is so much rich history and beautiful places to explore! We just touched the surface and were in awe. If Iceland is not on your travel list, I hope this blog has convinced you to add it!

Until the next destination!

If you are thinking of traveling outside the city, we highly recommend visiting the Golden Circle or heading south to the stunning black-sand beaches of Vik! An easy drive from Reykjavik or book a bus tour through this website!

If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!

Also, if this blog was helpful or you would like something more, please do not hesitate to comment. We would love to improve our blog and get as many helpful hints as we can!

Struggling with what to pack for Iceland? Check out this guide!