Reykjavik is a perfect destination if you are looking for a city trip in Europe. After hours of flying, you find yourself in a completely different world. There is more than enough to see and do in Reykjavik itself, but the surroundings of Reykjavik in particular are breathtakingly beautiful. I’d love to tell you what you should definitely do in Reykjavik!
#1 Whale and dolphin watching
Because Reykjavik is located on the Atlantic Ocean, many different species of whales and dolphins live near the coast. We went on a special boat trip where we spotted several whales and dolphins. It was an amazing experience to see the whales and dolphins in their natural environment. Are you looking for extra adrenaline? Then opt for a whale safari by RIB boat.
Whale-watching tour from Reykjavik, Iceland
#2 Enjoy the view from the Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrimskirkja is the largest church in Reykjavik and the tallest building in all of Iceland. For 900 Icelandic kroner (about 6 euros), you can climb this church. Climbing is a big word, by the way, because there is an elevator that takes you to the top in a few seconds. On top of the Hallgrimskirkja you have a great view over the whole of Reykjavik. This is how it really stands out what a colorful city it is. What is also very striking is that you hardly see any high-rise buildings, which makes it look more like a village than a city.
#3 Visit the original shops on Reykjavik’s main street
In most European cities, the main streets today look pretty much the same. What I loved about Reykjavik is that you see many smaller and unique shops here on the main street. There are several nice gift shops and if you are looking for Icelandic fashion or Scandinavian design, you will certainly succeed here. It is also nice to walk into a supermarket, such as the Bonus. Here you will find a whole shelf full of typical Icelandic sweets, such as chocolate balls filled with licorice. This combination sounds a bit strange at first, but it is surprisingly delicious. In addition, on the main street you can post a letter to Santa every day of the year and visit a special Christmas shop.
#4 Relax in the Blue Lagoon
Do you want to relax during your city trip to Reykjavik? You will find the Blue Lagoon just 50 kilometers away. This is a world famous geothermal pool located in an old lava field. At first you may not think about walking outside in your swimwear while it is so cold, but you soon forget that when you step into the wonderfully warm water of about 39 degrees Celsius. The water has a bright light blue color because it is so rich in minerals and silicates. This would also have a healing effect. The silica mud is available as a free mask in the lagoon, so you will see a lot of white faces. We really enjoyed our visit to the Blue Lagoon and, despite the high price, I definitely recommend a visit to this special place.
#5 Visit the Sky Lagoon
In addition to the Blue Lagoon, the recently opened Sky Lagoon is also really worth a visit. This geothermal lagoon is also close to Reykjavik. The Sky Lagoon thermal infinity pool has breathtaking views of the North Atlantic Ocean. This is an amazing place, especially around sunset or in the evening when the northern lights show themselves. The Sky Lagoon has a special ‘7-step plan for rejuvenation and inspiration’, with steps such as relaxing in the lagoon, cooling off with a cold dip, soaking in the sauna and steam room, freshening up in cold mist and a rejuvenating body scrub. You will come back reborn anyway.
#6 Admire the extraordinary architecture of Harpa
You will also find a lot of unique and modern architecture in Iceland. The best example of this, in my opinion, is Harpa, a large concert and convention center near the harbor of Reykjavik. The building has already won several major prizes and awards for its special design. You can see when there are concerts and performances on the Harpa website, but you can also just walk in and just look at the building.
#7 Spot the Northern Lights
When you visit Reykjavik in the winter months, you have a great chance of spotting the Northern Lights. The nights are longer and darker. The best time to spot the Northern Lights is from October to March. The weather conditions are of great importance here. To see the Northern Lights, you need a clear sky with a small moon. You have the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights between 9 PM and 2 AM. There are special tours where you look for the Northern Lights, so that you have the best chance to see this spectacular natural phenomenon with your own eyes.
Tip: With the My Aurora Forecast app, you can see the forecasts for the Northern Lights. This app is available for Android and iOS.
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#8 Drive the Golden Circle route
If there is one day trip from Reykjavik that you should definitely make as far as I’m concerned, it’s the Golden Circle Route. This route will take you to Kerið, a huge crater lake with bright blue water. You will also visit Geysir, an area full of geysers, one of which is still active and spews boiling water up to 20 meters into the air every few minutes. Close to Geysir you will find Gulfoss, the most famous and impressive waterfall in all of Iceland. The last stop is Thingvellir National Park, which is best known for the fault line between the tectonic plates of Europe and America. In addition, you will find the largest lake in Iceland and a number of beautiful waterfalls and lava fields. You can easily drive the Golden Circle Route yourself in one day, but if you don’t have a rental car, a day tour to the Golden Circle is also a very good option.
#9 Caving in a lava tunnel near Reykjavik
Just under half an hour’s drive from Reykjavik is the Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, the 4th longest lava cave in Iceland. This lava cave was created by an eruption of the Raufarhólshellir volcano, which stood on this spot thousands of years ago. Today this spectacular lava cave can be visited. You can opt for a half-hour tour of the highlights of the tunnels, where you walk on a well-lit walkway through high and wide corridors. Want something more adventurous? Then opt for the extreme tour where you explore the entire tunnel, including beautiful lava falls and huge ice sculptures. Keep in mind that the temperature in the cave is between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius. Also, water sometimes drips from the ceiling of the cave, so wearing a waterproof jacket and shoes with good grip is recommended.
#10 Discover the waterfalls and black sands in the south of Iceland
One of the most impressive sights of Iceland are the waterfalls in the south of the country. From Reykjavik you can easily see the most important sights of the south coast in one day, such as the Seljalandfoss waterfall, the Skogafoss waterfall and the special black beaches. During a day trip you will also visit the glacier Sólheimajökull and make a stop in the village of Vík for lunch.
#11 Marvel at Iceland’s glacial lakes
One of the most special places in Iceland is Jökulsárlón, the largest glacial lake in the country. When you walk around here, it seems as if you have entered a completely different world. Large pieces of ice float in the beautiful clear blue lake and you can see huge glaciers in the background. The lake is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and if you walk on the nearby black beach you can see the ice floes floating out to sea from the lake. If you look closely you can even see seals swimming between the ice floes. The nearby glacial lake Fjallsárlón is also very impressive.
#12 Hike on a glacier in Skaftafell National Park
Do you want to admire the Icelandic glaciers up close? In Skaftafell National Park in the south of Iceland it is possible to go on a guided glacier walk on the Vatnajökull glacier, one of the largest glaciers in Europe. Experience is not required. You do get crampons, an ice axe, harness and helmet, so that you are fully prepared for this adventure. Please note that the starting point of the tour is at Skaftafell Terminal, so you will need to drive to this national park on your own.
#13 Hike on an active volcano
Another unique hiking excursion you can take from Reykjavik is on the nearby Reykjanes Peninsula. Here you will find the Fagradalsfjall volcano, which recently erupted. This makes it the youngest volcano in Iceland. As a result, you can still find living lava flows here and discover the new land created by this volcano. You can also taste the famous Icelandic chocolate lava during this excursion.
#14 Take a day trip to the Snaefellsness Peninsula
Snaefellsnes is the peninsula north of Reykjavik. It is also called Iceland in miniature because of its diverse landscape. There is a serene tranquility and there is plenty to see. If you plan your route carefully, you can visit the highlights of this peninsula in one day. During an organized day tour from Reykjavik you will visit the volcanic craters of Kirkjufell and Ljósufjöll, the black beaches of Djúpalónssandur and the charming fishing villages of Grundarfjordur, Arnarstapi and Hellnar, among others.
#15 Have a drink at the Magic Ice Bar
Fancy a drink in a very special place? Then visit the Magic Ice Bar. This bar is made entirely of ice. In the ice bar you will also find various ice sculptures made by international ice artists. These sculptures, made from over 60 tons of ice, depict Iceland’s Viking history. Upon arrival at the ice bar you will receive a warm poncho and gloves. A welcome drink, of course served in a glass made of ice, is also included. It is best to book tickets in advance to visit the Magic Ice Bar.
#16 Visit Katla Ice Cave
Are you visiting Iceland in the winter months? Then you can also admire the special ice caves. From Reykjavik, the Katla Ice Cave is a must. This cave is located at the Kötlujökull glacier, near the town of Vík in southern Iceland. A guide will pick you up in Reykjavik, make a stop in the town of Vík and then show you the beautiful ice cave. Especially the unique blue light is great to see. On the way back you also stop at the beautiful Skógafoss waterfall.
#17 Visit the Höfði house
Iceland rarely appears in our history books, but Reykjavik still has one of the most famous historic buildings from the 20th century. In the so-called Höfði house, Reagan and Gorbachev discussed the end of the Cold War in 1986, because it was on neutral territory. I actually knew the building itself mainly from Wie is de Mol, where the candidates had to negotiate in 2012, just like Reagan and Gorbachev, and eventually lost €10,000. The Höfði is located near the center and you can easily walk past it. We were there very early in the morning, but if you come a little later in the day, you can often take a look inside.
#18 Walk around Lake Tjörnin
When you walk down Reykjavik’s main street, you soon come across Tjörnin, Reykjavik’s largest lake. Several well-known buildings are located on this lake, such as the modern town hall and the Fríkirkjan cathedral. More than 50 different species of birds live around the lake. When you walk around the lake you can hardly imagine that you are in the middle of the capital. It seems like you ended up in a cute village. When you visit Reykjavik in winter, you can also ice skate on Lake Tjörnin.
#19 Enjoy the good food
Before I left for Iceland, I heard from all sides that the food in Iceland was very expensive and also quite disappointing. In the end, this turned out to be very successful. Of course there are probably expensive and bad restaurants, but especially in Reykjavik you can eat very affordable and tasty. We really enjoyed the good and cozy restaurants in the city and I would like to go back just for the food.
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#20 Watch the sunset at the Sun Voyager
On the coast of Reykjavik you will find the Sun Voyager, one of the best known and most photographed sculptures in Iceland. When you walk along the boulevard, you will automatically come across this work of art. Many people think it represents an old Viking ship, but the artist’s goal was to build a dream boat as an ode to the sun. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset. With the impressive Mount Esja in the background, this is a beautiful picture. Keep in mind that the sun does not set in Iceland in the summer months. Even then, however, it is worthwhile to walk past the Sun Voyager.
Renting a car in Reykjavik
For many day trips from Reykjavik it is useful to rent a car. That way you can easily go out on your own. I do advise you to book your rental car well in advance, as this can save a lot of money.
Staying overnight in Reykjavik
Reykjavik has the largest number of accommodations in Iceland. We slept in Reykjavik in Fosshotel Baron. This hotel is located diagonally opposite the Sun Voyager, just a two-minute walk from Reykjavik’s main street. The rooms are quite basic, but they have everything you need. Each room also has a nice and clean bathroom. You can park for free at the hotel and the delicious breakfast is included in the price. There is fresh bread, homemade tuna salad, skyr (Icelandic yogurt), various fruits and even a waffle station where you can make and decorate your own waffles. I definitely recommend this hotel if you are looking for a cheap hotel in Iceland’s capital. At the time we paid €79.89 per night for two people including breakfast. Do you have an early flight back? Then the Airport Inn Hotel near the airport is highly recommended.
Other accommodation tips in Reykjavik
- Guesthouse: Grettir Guesthouse
One of the cheapest guesthouses in the center of Reykjavik. Simple rooms with private sink and shared bathrooms.
- Apartment: Downtown Reykjavik Apartments
Modern self-catering apartments with free parking in central Reykjavík.
- Design hotel: Exeter Hotel
Beautiful design hotel in the old harbor of Reykjavík, 500 meters from Harpa. Including delicious breakfast and use of sauna and fitness room.
I thoroughly enjoyed all places and activities Reykjavik and the surrounding area have to offer and found it to be a truly special and unique destination. Despite being a big city, it feels very homely and almost feels like you are walking in a small, cute village.
