Attraction
Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavik's landmark Lutheran church on Skólavörðuholt hill, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, with a lift up the tower for views across the city and bay.
Most of the things to do in Reykjavik are within a compact, walkable centre, and the city also makes a convenient base for day trips into Iceland's volcanic landscape. The old town, known as Miðborg, runs from the harbour up to Hallgrímskirkja on its hill, with Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur lined with shops, cafés and bars. Harpa concert hall stands on the waterfront, Tjörnin lake is surrounded by museums and government buildings, and the Old Harbour and the Grandi district to the west have become a lively area for restaurants, whale-watching boats and galleries. Geothermal swimming pools and lagoons are part of daily life here.
The food scene mixes Icelandic traditions, such as lamb, langoustine, skyr and very fresh fish, with modern Nordic cooking and casual spots such as the famous harbourside hot dog stand. Evenings are long and sociable in summer, while winter brings the chance of the northern lights. Two or three days is enough for the city itself; four or five lets you add the Golden Circle, the south coast or the Blue Lagoon.
Attraction
Reykjavik's landmark Lutheran church on Skólavörðuholt hill, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, with a lift up the tower for views across the city and bay.
Attraction
Reykjavik's glass-fronted concert hall on the harbour, home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, with a facade designed with artist Olafur Eliasson and four performance halls.
Attraction
Glass-domed nature museum on Öskjuhlíð hill, built over the city's hot water tanks, with an indoor ice cave, a northern lights planetarium show and a 360-degree…
Attraction
Iceland's national museum on Suðurgata, telling the country's story from the Viking-age settlement to the present day through around 2,000 objects in its permanent exhibition.
Attraction
The Reykjavik Art Museum's contemporary art venue in a converted harbour warehouse on Tryggvagata, with a permanent showing of works by the pop artist Erró.
Attraction
The shallow lake at the heart of central Reykjavik, beside City Hall, visited by dozens of water bird species and ringed by footpaths, museums and old…
Café
Small specialty coffee café of Reykjavik Roasters near Hallgrímskirkja, serving coffee from beans the company imports green and roasts itself, open every day from 08:00.
Café
Long-running family bakery on Laugavegur, now run by the fourth generation of master bakers, known for its daily sourdough, cakes, tortes and pastries.
Café
The original Brauð & Co. bakery, opened in 2016 on Frakkastígur, baking organic sourdough, croissants and its famous cinnamon buns in full view of customers.
Café
Breakfast café on Hverfisgata serving homemade bread, pancakes and its signature Trukkinn plate every morning from 08:00 until early afternoon.
Café
Ice cream parlour in the Grandi harbour district with a wide choice of flavours, open until 23:00 every day and a favourite stop on a harbour…
Café
Neighbourhood café and bistro in the residential Laugarnes district, serving brunch and dinner, a short walk from the Laugardalur pool and park.
Hotel
Five-star harbourfront hotel beside Harpa with 253 rooms and suites, the TIDES seafood restaurant, a rooftop bar and a social spa looking out over the bay.
Hotel
Historic Art Deco hotel on Austurvöllur square, opened in 1930 as Iceland's first luxury hotel, with 99 rooms, a Tower Suite and the Borg Spa.
Hotel
Classic four-star hotel in the quiet Þingholt district, established in 1965 and home to what it describes as Iceland's largest private art collection.
Hotel
Boutique hotel with 78 rooms on Laugavegur, Reykjavik's main shopping street, with contemporary artwork, a gym and a complimentary breakfast buffet of fresh bread and pastries.
Hotel
Four-star tower hotel in Borgartún with 320 rooms over 16 floors, the Haust Bistro, a beer garden bar and views across the bay and harbour.
Hotel
Large mid-range hotel on Ingólfstorg, the oldest square in Reykjavik, with more than 200 rooms, a bar with a daily happy hour and meeting rooms.
Bar
Laugavegur beer bar pouring the Icelandic Kaldi house beers alongside 12 taps, with a daily happy hour, a big gin list and an award-winning atmosphere.
Bar
Landmark café by day and bar by night just off Laugavegur, open since 1993, with DJs every night, no cover charge and a role in the…
Bar
Reykjavik's oldest café, open daily on Bankastræti since 1951, serving as a café by day and a hip-hop bar supporting young underground music by night.
Bar
Big Lebowski-themed bar and diner on Laugavegur, open since 2012, known for its many White Russians, Icelandic beef burgers, live music midweek and DJs at weekends.
Bar
Reykjavik's queer bar and dance club on the upper floors of a rainbow-painted 1905 timber house on Laugavegur, with karaoke on Thursdays and drag and dancing…
Bar
Rooftop bar and terraces on the third floor of Gamla Bíó, a historic 1926 cinema building on Ingólfsstræti, with views over the rooftops of central Reykjavik.
Restaurant
Pioneering New Nordic restaurant on Laugavegur, opened in 2009 by Gunnar Karl Gíslason and the first restaurant in Iceland to win a Michelin star.
Restaurant
Restaurant reinventing traditional Icelandic food with a seasonal menu of local produce, wild herbs and seaweed, named after a classic Icelandic cookbook and recognised by the…
Restaurant
Central Reykjavik grill restaurant cooking produce bought directly from Icelandic farms over charcoal and wood, with steaks, reindeer, Arctic char and a chef's tasting menu.
Restaurant
Modern Icelandic seafood restaurant with an Asian twist on Aðalstræti in the old town, with an omakase menu, a private room and the Uppi wine bar…
Restaurant
Smart-casual restaurant and cocktail bar on Austurstræti blending Icelandic and European cooking with an Argentinian charcoal grill, plus weekend brunch and inventive cocktails.
Restaurant
Warm French-Danish bistro and bar on Óðinstorg serving daily brunch and classic dinner dishes with a carefully chosen wine list, a short walk from Hallgrímskirkja.
Thing to do
Geothermal lagoon on the Kársnes shore just outside Reykjavik, with an infinity edge facing the Atlantic and a seven-step bathing ritual of hot, cold, sauna and…
Thing to do
Iceland's famous milky-blue geothermal spa in a lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula, a popular half-day trip from Reykjavik and close to Keflavík Airport.
Thing to do
Iceland's largest swimming pool, in the Laugardalur valley, with a 50-metre outdoor pool, hot tubs, a steam room, water slides and children's pools, open early until…
Thing to do
All-weather flying ride in the Grandi harbour district that suspends you before a 20-metre spherical screen for a virtual flight over Iceland's landscapes, with wind, mist…
Thing to do
City-run beach on the southern shore of Reykjavik where geothermal water warms a sheltered sea lagoon, with hot tubs, a steam bath and golden imported sand.
Tour operator
Family-run whale-watching company sailing from Reykjavik's Old Harbour, also offering puffin trips, northern lights cruises, sea angling and the ferry to Viðey island.
Tour operator
Long-established Icelandic tour and transport company based at the BSÍ bus terminal, running Golden Circle, south coast, Blue Lagoon and northern lights tours and the Flybus…
Tour operator
Icelandic adventure tour company operating since 1983, running glacier hikes, Silfra snorkelling, ice caves, snowmobiling and Golden Circle trips from Reykjavik.
Tour operator
Reykjavik walking tour company whose pay-what-you-want city walk starts at Austurvöllur square, with small-group, private and street food walks also available.
Tour operator
Old Harbour bike shop running guided cycle and Segway tours of Reykjavik since 2013, with city, coastal, food and mountain bike routes and a large rental…
Two or three days covers the main sights, museums and a geothermal pool or lagoon, while four or five days leaves time for day trips such as the Golden Circle and the south coast
Miðborg, the central district between the harbour, Laugavegur and Hallgrímskirkja, is best for first-time visitors as almost everything is within walking distance, while the area around Hlemmur and Borgartún is a little quieter and still close to the centre
Keflavík Airport is about 45 minutes by road from Reykjavik; scheduled airport buses such as the Flybus run to the BSÍ bus terminal in time with flights, and taxis and hire cars are also available
Yes, Reykjavik is one of the more expensive cities in Europe, especially for eating out and alcohol, but free sights, public swimming pools, hot dog stands, bakeries and happy hours help keep costs down
Reykjavik is generally a very safe city; the main risks for visitors come from weather and nature, so follow local advice on road conditions, waves on beaches and walking on ice