Top 25 Must-Do Activities in Reykjavík, Iceland

The capital of Iceland is a youthful, culturally vibrant city that also serves as a gateway to the magnificent natural wonders long sought by many.

Like any dynamic location, Reykjavík continually evolves, particularly evident in the Grandi Area by the Old Harbour.

In this district, fish processing plants have been transformed into aesthetically appealing visitor hotspots, vibrant murals embellish the walls, and innovative Nordic restaurants have emerged.

The waterfront is home to the Harpa concert hall, a symbol of 21st-century Reykjavík, featuring a captivating facade designed by Ólafur Elíasson.

Visitors can choose to bask in the charm of Reykjavík or venture into the surrounding landscape to witness the geothermal marvels of the Golden Circle or observe whales in Faxa Bay during the summer.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Reykjavík:

1. Hallgrímskirkja

Both a parish church and Iceland’s national sanctuary, Hallgrímskirkja figures prominently in Reykjavík’s skyline.

Designed in the early 1940s by Guðjón Samúelsson, construction lasted 41 years, culminating in its consecration in 1986. The 74.5-meter tower is flanked by cascading columns that mimic Iceland’s basalt formations, creating the illusion of a rocket launch.

At the church’s entrance stands a statue of Leif Eriksson, the Norse explorer recognized as the first European to arrive on American soil around the 11th century.

Inside, a noteworthy sight is the grand organ measuring 15 meters in height and weighing 25 tons, crafted by German master Johannes Klais.

For ISK 1000, visitors can also ascend the tower for impressive panoramic views of the capital.

2. National Museum of Iceland

For a comprehensive understanding of Iceland’s 1,200 years of human history, the National Museum of Iceland is the premier destination.

Established in 1863 and relocated to its current unassuming building in 1950, the museum conceals remarkable exhibits across two levels.

The highlight of the collection is the Valþjófsstað door, an early 13th-century artifact.

This pine wood relief narrates the story of Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, a Medieval Arthurian narrative.

This is just one of many intriguing items featured in the permanent “Making of a Nation” exhibition, which encompasses over 2,000 artifacts and 1,000 photographs, chronicling Iceland’s history from a longboat to a contemporary airport.

3. Harpa

As a stunning modern landmark in Reykjavík, Harpa serves as a concert hall and conference center located on the waterfront at the Old Harbour.

Construction began in 2007 and concluded in 2011, delayed due to the financial crisis.

Harpa was envisioned by Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen, with its ethereal facade inspired by Iceland’s famous basalt, crafted by Ólafur Elíasson.

Harpa hosts the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera, and features numerous festivals, including the trendy Sónar Reykjavík in March.

Typically, visitors can enjoy the café, restaurant, and shop, view free exhibitions, and watch a 15-minute 360° film about Iceland’s natural beauty at the Iceland Expo Pavilion.

4. Árbæjarsafn

No Nordic capital would be complete without a Skansen-style open-air museum, illuminating the traditions, labor, and domestic lives of earlier generations.

Árbæjarsafn was established in 1957 on a former farm to safeguard a fragment of old Reykjavík amid the intense urban development occurring at the time.

Most of the museum’s structures are authentic, primarily dating back to the 19th century.

Exhibits include a blacksmith’s house, a stable, a worker’s cottage which displays life during the Great Depression, a general store, a gold-mining drill, and much more.

The museum operates from June to August, along with a special Christmas program in December.

5. The Settlement Exhibition

A captivating archaeological site located at Aðalstræti in Reykjavík 101, the Settlement Exhibition preserves the remnants of one of Iceland’s oldest residences.

This hall dates back to the Settlement Age, around the 10th century, while the nearby wall is even older, dating before 871. These remains can be dated accurately due to a volcanic eruption in 870 at Torfajökull, which deposited a layer of tephra extending to Greenland.

The layer became trapped under ice, serving as a natural timeline.

Attached to the excavation site are informative presentations on Viking construction techniques, featuring models and interactive displays that illustrate lifestyle patterns of that era.

Items unearthed at the site include axe heads and glass beads sourced from as distant as India, alongside recreations of settlers’ beds, weaponry, and the early Scandinavian Tafl board game.

6. Viðey Island

Situated in the Kollfjörður almost adjacent to the city’s waterfront is the quaint Viðey island.

The Elding ferry service provides regular crossings to Viðey, celebrated for its historical architecture and contemporary cultural aspects.

Visitors can explore the island by foot or bike, seeking out one of the country’s oldest churches, as well as Viðey House, which was the first stone structure built in Iceland.

Set against the island’s rugged heathland are modern installations such as Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower light monument.

From October 9 (Lennon’s birthday) to December 8 (anniversary of his death), this radiant column is visible from the mainland.

The beam ascends as high as four kilometers on a clear night from its cylindrical stone foundation.

Another notable environmental artwork is Richard Serra’s Milestones, located on the west side of Viðey, which consists of basalt columns that reference Iceland’s geological and topographical features.

7. Reykjavík Maritime Museum

Founded in 1947, this fish freezing facility at Reykjavík’s Old Harbour was transformed into the Reykjavík Maritime Museum in 2005. The historic fish-processing hall features an impressive exhibition detailing Iceland’s nautical history, complemented by a specially constructed wooden pier with flowing seawater beneath.

Visitors access the pier via the reconstructed deck of the MV Gullfoss, a ferry that connected Iceland, Denmark, and Scotland during the mid-20th century.

The exhibition titled “From Poverty to Abundance” elucidates the significant changes brought about by technological advancements in Iceland’s fishing industry throughout the 20th century.

Docked outside is the ICGV Óþinn, a coast guard vessel that participated in all three “Cod Wars” between Iceland and the UK in the 1960s and 70s.

Aboard the vessel, exhibits include a trawl warp cutter used to sever the nets of UK trawlers encroaching on Icelandic waters.

8. Saga Museum

Adjacent to the Maritime Museum in the Grandi area, the Saga Museum features wax figures that depict notable figures from Iceland’s past.

Accompanied by a multilingual audio guide, the museum covers over a thousand years of Icelandic history.

This narrative includes the adversity experienced during the island’s settlement from the 9th century AD, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and disease. What distinguishes the Saga Museum from typical wax exhibitions is the exceptional skill and attention to detail involved in each display.

The clothing, weaponry, furnishings, tools, and jewelry are all crafted utilizing time-honored techniques.

9. Street Art

Consistently vibrant, Reykjavík boasts a lively street art scene that has evolved since at least the 1990s, gaining new dimensions in recent years.

Captivating murals grace the facades of buildings around the Old Harbour and Grandi, resulting from a partnership between the Iceland Airwaves music festival and the Berlin-based Urban Nation art initiative.

Collectively titled “Wall Poetry,” these murals draw inspiration from individual songs by artists such as Mercury Rev, John Grant, or Gus Gus, representing genuine collaborations between street artists and musicians.

They evoke a now-vanished period when visual artistry played a fundamental role in album creation.

Wall Poetry merely scratches the surface of Reykjavík’s commissioned street art, which includes expansive photorealistic works by Guido Van Helten and whimsical pieces by Sara Riel, adding a sense of enchantment to the urban landscape.

10. Perlan

Situated atop Öskjuhlíð hill, the Perlan building is an iconic landmark in Reykjavík.

Established in 1991, this innovative structure incorporates six cylindrical hot water tanks topped with a reflective dome.

The first museum opened here in summer 2018, and Perlan continues to introduce new exhibitions and attractions. The main feature is the groundbreaking Glaciers and Ice exhibit, where visitors don cold-weather attire to traverse a 100-meter ice cave, exploring its crevasses and learning about the millennia of volcanic ash contained within.

The upper floor offers an interactive journey through Iceland’s glaciers, featuring a 360° portrayal of the renowned Vatnajökull.

An observation deck on the fourth floor, outfitted with telescopes and informational panels, provides views of the glaciers, Atlantic Ocean, mountains, and volcanoes.

11. Tjörnin

Reykjavík reveals its most charming character around this pond located at the heart of the city.

The green banks of Tjörnin are adorned with painted houses, rows of trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds, creating a serene backdrop for leisurely walks in warmer months or ice skating during winter.

The north shore houses the City Hall and a whimsical Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat, sculpted by Magnús Tómasson: the lower half depicts a suited man holding a briefcase, while the upper half remains an unsculpted block of stone.

This pond is conveniently situated near the Supreme Court, the Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík church, the National Theatre, and an array of museums including the Living Art Museum, National Gallery of Iceland, and the national Museum.

A unique feature of Tjörnin is its resident population of ducks, geese, and swans, which thrive year-round due to the slight geothermal warmth.

12. Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach

While cold-water swimming may seem daunting, this practice has been a fixture in Icelandic heritage since settlement around 1,000 years ago.

In 2001, a sea wall was constructed to create a safe bathing area known as a lagoon, situated just south of the airport and university.

Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach features beautiful golden sands and is replenished by the sea, supplemented with its own geothermal waters, making its temperature a few degrees warmer than open waters.

During summer, temperatures can reach a mild 19°C, whereas in winter, depending on tide levels, the lagoon may range from just above freezing to 10°C. For the daring, there is a communal hot tub heated by a geothermal source and a steam room within a short walk.

13. Hafnarhús

As the largest of the three locations for the Reykjavík Art Museum, Hafnarhús is a former fishery office and warehouse on the harbour, which was converted into a gallery in 2000. Visitors can explore avant-garde and experimental temporary exhibitions featuring prominent figures in contemporary art.

At the time of writing, there were exhibitions focused on contemporary art from Denmark, a summary of Icelandic contemporary art, and a showcase of sculptor and installation artist Páll Haukur.

Additionally, there will always be a permanent exhibition featuring works from Icelandic pop artist Erró, who generously donated a significant portion of his oeuvre to the museum in 1989.

14. The Sun Voyager

This abstract stainless steel sculpture representing a ship has become a popular photo opportunity since its installation in 1990, marking the city’s 200th anniversary.

The sculpture is positioned on a small artificially created headland off Sæbraut road.

Despite its name, the ship is oriented northward toward Esjan mountain, although it was originally intended to face the sunset in the western part of the city.

Designed by Jón Gunnar Árnason, the creator was nearing the end of his life when he completed this reflective work and did not live to see its unveiling.

15. Einar Jónsson Museum

Among the most celebrated Icelandic artists, the 20th-century sculptor Einar Jónsson holds a prominent place in history.

Due to the scarcity of modeling clay, Jónsson primarily utilized plaster, which allowed him to dedicate considerable time to individual pieces, some spanning nearly a decade.

His art is richly dramatic, depicting contemporary figures alongside historic and mythological Icelandic and Nordic heroes.

In 1909, he undertook a remarkable gesture by donating all his works to the Icelandic State, contingent upon the establishment of a dedicated museum.

Jónsson personally selected the site atop Skólavörðuhæð and designed the striking Eclecticist building, completed in 1923. He had both a studio and home within the museum, which now features bronze casts of his notable works in its gardens.

16. Whales of Iceland

Enhancing the family-friendly attractions in the Grandi area, Whales of Iceland focuses on the 23 species of cetaceans that populate the waters surrounding the country.

This museum features life-sized models set against immersive backgrounds complemented by ambient lighting and sound, the result of a collaboration between a whale watching company and the Marine Research Institute of Iceland.

Models of the blue whale, sperm whale, humpback whale, fin whale, minke whale, orca, and dolphins are not only impressive but are paired with detailed information regarding their behavior and migration patterns.

Additionally, an interactive station allows you to track the movements of whales in real time.

17. Nightlife

While Reykjavík may appear intimidating with its trendiness, the city’s bar scene is welcoming and sociable, even during winter’s chill.

Although alcohol prices can be steep, Reykjavík has been renowned for over two decades as a premier destination for nightlife.

The nightlife is concentrated in the 101 area of the city center, featuring a plethora of intimate bars, each with unique themes and atmospheres.

There is even a bar dedicated to the Coen Brothers’ film, The Big Lebowski.

Most establishments host live music, and cover charges are infrequent, typically only applied when a band is performing.

On weekends, bars in Reykjavík can remain open until 05:00, and the customary approach is to enjoy a drink or two at one venue before moving on to the next.

18. Nordic House

Located at Vatsmýrin, less than a ten-minute walk from downtown Reykjavík, the Nordic House serves as a cultural establishment founded in 1968 to foster Iceland’s connections with fellow Nordic countries.

A distinguishing aspect of the Nordic House is its design by acclaimed Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto.

Aalto conceptualized his architecture as a Gesamtkunstwerk (total art work), and he, along with his wife Elissa, meticulously handled every detail, from fittings to furniture and decoration.

This attention to detail is apparent at the Nordic House, where guests can view exhibitions focused on Nordic design, explore Aalto’s exceptional library, shop in the design store, and dine at the AALTO Bistro.

The head chef, Sveinn Kjartansson, is a well-known figure in Iceland.

19. Kjarvalsstaðir

Set within a Nordic modernist hall, Kjarvalsstaðir is another branch of the Reykjavík Art Museum, inaugurated in 1973, just one year after the death of one of Iceland’s most beloved painters, Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, whose work is permanently showcased here.

Kjarval’s landscapes defy classification within a single artistic movement; many of his pieces are rooted in Symbolism, while he later embraced abstraction.

Additionally, Kjarvalsstaðir hosts works by Erró and sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson.

The gallery also features up to 20 temporary exhibitions annually, showcasing established names in international modern and contemporary art.

20. Northern Lights

Aurora Reykjavík serves as an information center, assisting you in experiencing the Northern Lights in their full glory.

The majestic Aurora Borealis, triggered by charged particles from the sun colliding with the upper atmosphere, is observable around Reykjavík during the winter months.

However, one’s chances depend significantly on having a clear night.

Planning your visit around aurora forecasts, available online, can prove beneficial.

Furthermore, it is necessary to move away from the city’s light pollution, whether by boat, along the coast, or in the countryside.

If conditions are favorable, you may witness one of nature’s great spectacles, as swirling bands of pale green transform into pink, yellow, and blue across the sky.

21. Golden Circle

This 300-kilometer route encompasses three of Iceland’s most breathtaking natural landmarks, taking you from Reykjavík into the southern highlands.

The first destination is Þingvellir National Park, situated just over an hour east of the city. This UNESCO World Heritage site features a canyon formed by the rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, and is also the site of Alþingi, the oldest parliament in the world, established in 930. The journey continues to Gullfoss, a spectacular double waterfall that cascades 32 meters high, and the Haukadalur valley, home to hot springs, mud pots, and geysers like Strokkur, which erupts every 5-10 minutes.

Guided tours generally begin from Reykjavík between 08:00-10:00 and 12:00-14:00 and return by evening.

For those seeking more flexibility, renting a car is an option.

Eager adventurers can even set off at night during summer, experiencing these attractions illuminated by the midnight sun, with the opportunity for camping in Þingvellir National Park.

22. Esjan

For those with limited time to experience Iceland’s magnificent landscapes, the 914-meter Esjan peak lies a mere 10 kilometers from the city.

Framing the cityscape from the sea, Esjan is accessible via public transportation.

Simply take the 15 bus from the Hlemmur terminal, then switch to the 57 at Háholt in Mosfellsbær, which will take you to the hiking center at the mountain’s base.

Numerous marked trails lead to the summit or around the slopes, rated for difficulty with a boot icon, ranging from one to three.

During summer, the starting point is a vibrant green meadow dotted with purple wildflowers, but the final ascent for the peak is demanding and intended for experienced hikers only.

If you are among the few who reach the summit, do not forget to sign the guestbook.

23. Whale Watching and Puffin Tours

Reykjavík is undeniably one of the premier locations in Iceland for whale watching, as it resides in Faxa Bay—a congregation point for a variety of species during the summer months.

From April to September, over 20 cetacean species can be observed in the bay, with minke and humpback whales being the most common.

Daily tours depart from the Old Harbour aboard predominantly small vessels that offer a personal touch.

The likelihood of witnessing a humpback or minke whale breach is high; however, attendees may also catch glimpses of Akurey, known for its significant puffin population.

The picturesque vistas of Reykjavík and its mountainous backdrop from the bay are unforgettable, with the occasional sighting of seals, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises.

Be sure to have your camera ready!

24. Horseback Riding Tours

The Icelandic horse is the only breed present in the country and is subject to stringent regulations: the importation of horses is strictly prohibited, and any Icelandic horse that has been exported is not permitted to return.

Characterized by its long mane and pony-like size, this versatile breed is long-lived, suffers from few health issues, and is employed for racing, herding, and leisurely riding.

While horseback riding is typically a rural activity, there are numerous stables on the outskirts of Reykjavík that offer lessons, leisurely trails, or extended adventures.

In the nearby area, you could ride along the Golden Circle, explore the stratovolcano Hekla, or trek across the stunning Snæfellsnes peninsula on the western coast.

Viking Horses, Laxnes Horse Farm, Icelandic Riding, and Ishestar Horse Riding Tours are just a few of the businesses located within reach.