Reykjavik is such a fun and unique city to explore. Iceland’s capital, while small in size, has so much to do and see and should absolutely be on every traveler’s bucket list. A trip to Iceland isn’t complete without spending at least a day in Reykjavik. While there is a lot to see and do, there are several things that really can’t be missed. Let’s get right into the best things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland on your trip!
Hotels & Hostels – Where to Stay in Reykjavik
When thinking about where to stay in Reykjavik, my biggest piece of advice is to stay somewhere centrally located where you can easily walk around the city. While there is street parking and parking garages available, there’s something so nice about stepping out of your hotel and being right downtown.
Reykjavik has an impressive amount of hotels, hostels and inns for a small city, so you’ll certainly be able to find one in your budget that fits your needs.
A few of my top favorite hotels in Reykjavik include:
- Alda Hotel
- Reykjavik Residence Hotel
- Sand Hotel by Keahotels
- Hotel Von
- CitiHub Reykjavik
- Loft HI Hostel
The Best Things to do in Reykjavik
1: Go Shopping on Laugavegur Street
Reykjavik has an impressive main shopping street filled with a variety of stores. You’ll find handmade wool clothes, art shops and galleries, chocolate shops, classic souvenir shops and more.
While there are great shops all around Reykjavik’s downtown, many shops are concentrated on Laugavegur Street. This is a great street to walk down and do some shopping while in Reykjavik. You’ll definitely find anything you need and more!
2: Embark on a Walking Tour
Whenever I visit a new city I always love to go on a walking tour. This is such a great way to see hidden landmarks in a city I otherwise may not have visited (or known about) and to learn more about the history and culture of a city from a local.
There are so many great walking tours in Reykjavik for a variety of interests! On my first trip to Reykjavik, I went on a fantastic walking tour and it was such a great way for me to get acquainted with the city. I also felt like I learned so much about Reykjavik, and Iceland in general, and it made me want to keep coming back to explore more of the country.
Fun Walking Tours of Reykjavik:
- Reykjavík Small Group Walking Tour
- Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour: Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland
- The Reykjavik Cat Walking Tour
- Funky History Walking Tour in Reykjavik – With Local Storyteller
3: Tour Hallgrimskirkja Church and the Towers
Hallgrimskirkja is a colossal church located on a small hill in Reykjavik. The church, which is the second tallest building in the whole country, sits looking down on the city.
The modern architecture is very unique and it’s beautiful inside and out. While it’s free to visit Hallgrimskirkja, visiting the towers requires a small fee. It is 100% worth it to head up to the towers. The views are absolutely incredible and some of the best, if not the very best, you can see of Reykjavik.
4: Check Out the *Interesting* Museums
Reykjavik is home to several interesting museums! Depending on what you’re interested in, there’s likely one you’ll enjoy checking out. Most are also located very centrally downtown, so they’re easy to add into any itinerary without having to drive.
This is a great activity for a rainy day or if you want to warm up when it’s very cold and windy.
Museums to check out in Reykjavik:
- National Museum of Iceland
- A bit of a walk from downtown (15-20 minutes) but it’s a beautiful walk! This will also allow you to see the University of Iceland as the museum is basically on campus.
- Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús
- Whales of Iceland
- An entire exhibit dedicated to regional whales, complete with life size models.
- The Icelandic Phallological Museum
- This is one of the more unique museum options. It’s educational and not “silly,” but is probably best for those very interested in biology.
- Lava Show Reykjavik
- This isn’t a museum, but this lava show (with real molten lava) is a very cool thing to do in Reykjavik!
If you’re planning on visiting several museums during your time in Reykjavik, getting the Reykjavik City Card for 24, 48 or 72 hours is worth it to see several attractions for one set price.
5: Sample Unique & Delicious Icelandic Food
Traditional Icelandic food is known for being quite unique. Because of the weather and landscapes, produce farming is not as prevalent as it is in most countries. While there are greenhouses that allow for vegetables to grow, traditional Icelandic cuisine is less vegetable heavy and more meat heavy. Fresh fish, of course, is also very popular and very delicious.
While in Iceland, a few must-try dishes include:
- Fish & Chips
- A couple of my favorite fish & chip places in Reykjavik are Reykjavik Fish and Reykjavík Chips.
- Fish & Lobster Soup
- Icelandic fish stew and lobster soup are two very popular and delicious options!
- Ice Cream
- Icelanders, much like Vermonters (where we’re from!), love ice cream year round. In Reykjavik, my favorite ice cream shop is Valdis.
- Snúður
- These are Icelandic cinnamon rolls and they are so, so good. Braud & Co has the best cinnamon rolls in Reykjavik, in my opinion!
- Icelandic Hot Dogs
- Icelandic hot dogs are made with lamb and are very popular. While in Reykjavik, be sure to check out Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, a famous grab & go hotdog stand dating back to 1937!
- Fermented Shark
- I wasn’t brave enough to try this one.
- If you’re hoping to try some other exotic meats, it’s possible to find puffin, horse and reindeer on some menus. While these are less commonly consumed now, they are part of traditional Icelandic cuisine.
If you’re a foodie, I absolutely recommend going on a food tour while in Iceland! Checking out some traditional Icelandic spots with a guide is such a fun and delicious way to sample and learn more about Icelandic cuisine.
Fun Food Tours:
- Reykjavik Food Walk – Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland
- Private Food Walking Tour in Reykjavik
- Reykjavik Food and Drink Adventure – Local Evening Experience
6: Try Some Sweet Pastries
Icelandic pastries are really, really good. Snúður (cinnamon rolls) are my favorite treat when visiting Iceland. Like I mentioned above, the best place to get them is Braud & Co! Expect a line, but they’re so worth it.
Other Icelandic pastries you’ll want to try include:
- Kleina
- These are twisted fried dough doughnuts!
- Vínarbrauð
- A buttery pastry that can be filled with custard or jam and is often topped with icing.
- Pönnukökur
- Thin, crepe like pancakes. They can be served with jam, yogurt, powdered sugar or stuffed with a variety of fillings.
- Rúgbrauð
- Sweet rye bread.
One of my favorite things to do in Reykjavik is to check out the bakeries and try a variety of delicious sweets. Paired with a coffee, tea or hot chocolate, these are the perfect treats!
A few of my favorite bakeries in Reykjavik include:
If you have a sweet tooth (like I do!) then definitely consider this awesome Icelandic Sweet Tooth Tour!
7: Explore the Old Harbor Area
The Old Harbor area of Reykjavik is really beautiful and a lovely place to walk around. You’ll walk past this area to get to many museums and exhibits, like Whales of Iceland and the Lava Show.
Harpa Concert Hall is also on the Old Harbor Waterfront and is definitely worth seeing. Its facade is almost entirely glass and it’s really beautiful to check out.
8: View the City from Tjörnin Lake
Tjörnin Lake, in addition to being a nice place to walk, offers beautiful views of Reykjavik. From the Old Harbor area, this lake is a quick 15-20 minute walk.
9: Go on an Epic Northern Lights Tour
If you’re visiting Reykjavik during Northern Lights season (late August- April) then a Northern Lights tour is a must-do!
Sometimes you can see Northern Lights right in Reykjavik, but it’s always better to get away from city lights to see them more clearly/have a better chance of seeing them.
There are tons of different types of Northern Lights tours to choose from while in Reykjavik. You can go on a boat tour, a Jeep tour, small group tours or private tours. There’s really something for everyone!
On your tour, your guide will take you to a variety of spots outside of Reykjavik where you have the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights that night. They use special equipment to track the Northern Lights and see where they’re the strongest!
I recommend going on a Northern Lights tour early on in your trip, as many tour providers will let you go again for free if you’re unable to see the Northern Lights on your original tour. I made the mistake of booking for my last night in Reykjavik on my first trip and I was unable to see the Northern Lights that time, which was a bummer.
Awesome Northern Lights Tours in Reykjavik:
- Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik with PRO photos
- Northern Lights Superjeep Tour from Reykjavik
- Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik
- Private Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik
10: Go on a Once in a Lifetime Experience
One of the best things to do while in Reykjavik is to go on a tour to a nearby attraction! There are tons of very interesting tours that leave from Reykjavik and include pick up and drop off.
When thinking about which tour to choose, I always like to choose something that I probably wouldn’t do on my own. On my first trip to Reykjavik I went on a guided evening hike to Fagradalsfjall Volcano. This is something I absolutely wanted to do with a knowledgeable guide and it was an incredible experience!
While I 100% recommend going on the Fagradalsfjall Volcano hike, there are other amazing options to choose from as well, like visiting a nearby hot spring, going horseback riding, whale watching and more!
A few other great tour options from Reykjavik include:
- Lava Tunnel Tour
- Helicopter Tour with Mountain Summit Landing
- Buggy Lava Field Adventure
- Glacier Snowmobiling
Q&A: The Best Things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland
- How many days in Reykjavik is enough?
- One full day exploring Reykjavik is enough to see the city’s major sites, eat some great food and get a feel for the capital. However, I do recommend basing yourself in Reykjavik for at least 3 days of your Iceland trip, as it’s a very central location that’s perfect for many of the day trips you’ll want to take!
- Is it difficult for Americans to drive in Iceland?
- No, driving in Iceland is very easy and straightforward. You drive on the same side of the road as in the US, and many roads are easy, two lane roadways.
- I absolutely recommend renting a car while in Iceland and driving around the country to explore.
- In my opinion, the most “difficult” part of driving in Iceland is that it can sometimes be a little difficult to find good street parking in Reykjavik. But this is a minor inconvenience.
- What is the best month to go to Reykjavik?
- The summer months, June-August, are considered the “best months” in Reykjavik as the weather is the warmest of the year and there are nearly 24 hours of daylight.
- However, I love visiting during the shoulder seasons (April-May and September-November) as there are fewer crowds and also better opportunities to see the Northern Lights.
- Are the Northern Lights in Reykjavik?
- Yes, you can sometimes see Northern Lights in Reykjavik, but getting away from the lights of the city to a more rural environment allows for better viewing opportunities.
I hope you enjoyed reading about the best thing to do in Reykjavik, Iceland on your trip! If you have any questions, or anything you’d like to add to this post, please let me know in the comments.
Be sure to check out my other Reykjavik and Iceland Guides to keep planning your trip!
- How to Spend 1 Day in Reykjavik
- 20 Essential Iceland Travel Tips for the Best Trip
- Iceland in November: Everything You Need to Know for Your Trip
- Best Places in Iceland to Visit on Your Trip
- Itinerary for a Perfect Weekend in Iceland
Lastly, follow us on Instagram for tons of mini-guides and photo and video inspo, @twosistersabroad.
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♡Kate
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