20 things to do in Reykjavík

See the city

1. Go up Hallgrímskirkja’s tower. You’ll have seen the church from half the city already, and the tower gives you the view back over the coloured roofs. A lift takes you up, and you pay for it at the church.
2. The old harbour and Grandi. Fishing boats, cafés, museums and food halls in the old harbour buildings.
3. Harpa and the Sun Voyager. The glass concert hall, and the steel “dream boat” sculpture on the seafront path.
4. Walk round Tjörnin, the city pond, past City Hall and the old wooden houses. There are ducks and geese whatever the season.
5. Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur. The main shopping streets, with design shops, bookstores, bakeries and the rainbow street.

Eat your way round

6. The Icelandic hot dog. Order “eina með öllu”, one with everything. How to order it.
7. Icelandic food with a local. Five surprise tasting stops on a food tour, where you only find out what you taste when you get there.
8. A bakery morning. A cinnamon bun (snúður) and coffee, which is how plenty of locals start the weekend.
9. Try a small piece of fermented shark, if you’re curious.

Do what locals do

10. Go swimming. A geothermal city pool costs much less than a lagoon, and it’s where many people here swim. Our pool guide has the details.
11. Spend a day in Laugardalur. The city’s green valley has the biggest pool, the botanical garden and the Family Park and Zoo (Fjölskyldu- og húsdýragarðurinn), with Icelandic farm animals, seals and rides. Adult entry is 2,800 ISK (2026). Good with kids.
12. The seafront path from Harpa to Höfði house, with Mount Esja across the bay.
13. Explore at your own pace. Our self-guided Local Walk web app maps places we like.
14. Say “hæ” when you walk into a shop and “takk” on the way out. That’s all.

Museums, views and days out

15. Perlan. The glass dome on Öskjuhlíð hill has nature exhibitions and a viewing deck over the whole city (paid entry). The woods around it cost nothing to wander.
16. The National Museum of Iceland. The best place to get to grips with the country’s story, from the settlement to today.
17. Kolaportið flea market. A weekend indoor market by the harbour: second-hand finds, wool, and stalls selling traditional Icelandic food.
18. Grótta lighthouse. At the western tip of Seltjarnarnes, with sea views, birdlife and sunsets. The causeway to the lighthouse can be cut off at high tide.
19. Viðey is an island a short ferry ride from the city, with walking paths, art and a lot of history for somewhere so small. The ferry runs mostly in summer, so check the timetable.
20. The northern lights. From late August to mid-April, a clear, dark night can bring the aurora over the city. Check our northern lights forecast for Reykjavík.

How long do you need?

One day covers downtown, the harbour, a food tour and a swim; our one-day stopover plan lays it out. With two or three days you can add museums, Grandi, Laugardalur and an evening in town, and use Reykjavík as a base for day trips.

Practical bits

The downtown sights are within about a 20-minute walk of each other. Laugardalur, Perlan and Grótta need a bus or a longer walk, and Viðey the ferry. Tipping isn’t expected, and cards are widely accepted. The weather changes fast, so a warm, waterproof layer is the most useful thing in your bag.

Self-catering? Our guide to Icelandic grocery stores covers where to buy food, and there’s another on alcohol and the drinking age.

Quick answers

About the author

Elfar Tjörfi Steinason, co-founder of Reykjavík Locals. Elfar was born in Reykjavík and still lives here. He has worked in restaurants and entertainment for the past 20 years, from waiting tables and cooking to running businesses.

Sources

Written by Elfar Tjörfi Steinason. We checked the facts in this article against these sources on 19 October 2026:

• New prices for pools, Ylströndin and the Family Park and Zoo, 2026 (City of Reykjavík)
• Fjölskyldu- og húsdýragarðurinn (City of Reykjavík)