The Ultimate Reykjavik Travel Guide

Most people’s Iceland trip starts and ends in Reykjavik, whether they mean it to or not; it’s simply where the airport bus drops you and where the Ring Road eventually loops back to. But treating it purely as a stopover would be a mistake. Reykjavik works two ways at once, a proper destination in its own right, with enough packed into a small downtown grid to fill several days, and the obvious base for everything else, day trips, groceries, gear, one last meal before you head home. Here’s our travel guide to Reykjavik…

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If you’re putting together a Reykjavik travel guide of your own, here’s what this one covers: how to actually get here, where to stay and in which part of town, how long you honestly need, the things worth doing in the city itself, a couple of Icelandic experiences that depart right from the harbor, where to buy groceries, where to eat traditional Icelandic food, where to get a decent cocktail or a pint, and finally, where to go once you’re ready to leave the city behind. This covers things to do in Reykjavik in one place, so you’re not juggling sixty different browser tabs to plan a couple of days.

How to Get to Reykjavik

Most visitors land at Keflavík International Airport, about 45 minutes southwest of the city, not actually in Reykjavik itself, which is a common early surprise. (There is a domestic airport called Reykjavik, but that’s not where international flights arrive)  Getting from the airport into town is straightforward, whether by shuttle bus, private transfer, or rental car, and I’ve covered the whole process, timings and all, in my guide to getting from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik.

Where to Stay to Explore Reykjavik

Where you base yourself to explore Reykjavik comes down to how much you want to walk versus how much you want to pay. 101 Reykjavik, the downtown postcode, puts you within walking distance of nearly everything in this guide: restaurants, bars, Hallgrímskirkja, the harbor, but it’s also the most expensive part of town and can get noisy on weekend nights. The outer neighborhoods, further from downtown, tend to be quieter and cheaper, though you’ll be relying on a car or the Strætó bus system to get in and out.

We stayed just off Snorrabraut in a quiet residential area – just a 7-minute walk from Hallgrimskirkja.  For us it was perfect; we were able to park our rental car for free on-street parking.  (this was the apartment we rented and I wouldn’t hesitate to rent it again).  Before we selected Jon’s apartment, we’d narrowed down a shortlist, and here it is.

Downtown Apartments:  I do feel that I have to mention that when you’ve had a hard day exploring, having a sofa to slump on is a delight.  And waking up and being able to make a cup of coffee or tea without wandering into a shared kitchen.  Yeah, that’s a requirement for us. This place was high up on our list; you can see why here.

Guesthouse Pavi:  Free parking – Reykjavik was at the end of our trip, and so we hung onto the rental car to take it back to the airport, so free parking was important to us.  Be sure to opt for a private bathroom here.

Iceland Comfort Apartments:  If you don’t mind being a bit further out, then this was our final option for Reykjavik.  There’s a variety of different apartment sizes and comfort levels, and again, free parking. See the different apartments here.

How Long to Visit Reykjavik for

Two full days is enough to cover the highlights properly without rushing. A fast-paced single day can work if you’re tight on time, but you’ll be picking and choosing rather than seeing it all. If you’re using Reykjavik purely as bookends to a Ring Road trip, plan on one night at the start and one at the end, rather than trying to squeeze it into a single day.  As our trip to Iceland was focused on the outdoors, we left Reykjavik to the end; just in case we had problems, we wanted to make sure that our bucket list Iceland items were early on in the trip.

The Top Things to Do in Reykjavik

Once you’re here in Reykjavik, then park the car and leave it. Everything in this section is walkable from downtown, and driving between them will actually take you longer than walking would.

Hallgrímskirkja

Iceland’s largest church dominates the skyline from almost anywhere downtown, its façade modeled on the basalt columns you’ll see all over the country. The inside is simple and free to look around, but the real draw is the elevator ride up the tower, the best view of Reykjavik’s colorful rooftops you’ll get without a helicopter.

This Lutheran church is not only the largest in Iceland, but its tower is also the highest point in Reykjavik, and the building houses the largest church organ in the city. Work began on the organ in 1945, and it took 50 years to complete. This building isn’t just a church; it’s also a National Monument dedicated to Iceland’s most renowned poet, Hallgrímur Pétursson.

• How to get to Hallgrímskirkja: Hallgrímskirkja is right in the heart of downtown, a 10-15 minute walk from the harbor area.
• How long to spend at Hallgrímskirkja: 30-45 minutes, longer if there’s a queue for the tower or if (like us) there was a free organ recital taking place.
• Entry Fees for Hallgrímskirkja: The church itself is free; tower elevator 1,500 ISK for adults, 200 ISK for children aged 7-16.

Harpa

Reykjavik’s concert hall is located right on the water; its glass façade is built from a honeycomb of colored panels designed by artist Ólafur Elíasson, and it looks different depending on the light and time of day you catch it. You don’t need a ticket to a show to go inside; the lobby and public areas are open to wander, and there’s a café here too.

• How to get to Harpa: Harpa is on the waterfront, about a 5-minute walk from Old Harbour.
• How long to spend at Harpa: Plan on spending 20-30 minutes at Harpa just wandering, longer for a guided tour or performance.
• Entry Fees for Harpa: Harpa is free to enter and wander; guided tours cost 5,200 ISK per adult, and are free for children 12 and under; students/seniors/groups of 10+ pay a reduced rate.

Reykjavik Old Harbor

The Old Harbor is where Reykjavik’s working fishing fleet and its tourist boats sit side by side; whale watching tours, sea angling trips, and puffin cruises all leave from here. Even if you’re not booking a tour, it’s a nice place to walk, with a handful of restaurants and food trucks dotted around.

There’s a fascinating display of information boards here about shipwrecks around Iceland, as well as an old train engine used here at the docks.

• How to get to the Old Harbor: The Old Harbor is a short walk north from downtown, along the waterfront.
• How long to spend at the Old Harbor: Plan on spending 30-45 minutes at the Old Harbor, more if you’re grabbing food or booking a tour.
• Entry Fees for the Old Harbor: The Old Harbor is free to walk around; tours are ticketed separately.

Laugavegur

Laugavegur is Reykjavik’s main shopping street, running from downtown up toward Hallgrímskirkja, lined with everything from Icelandic wool sweaters to record shops to some of the city’s better restaurants. It’s as much a people-watching activity as a shopping one.

• How to get to Laugavegur: Laugavegur runs through the center of downtown.
• How long to spend at Laugavegur: Plan on spending an hour or more at Laugavegur, depending on how much you want to browse.
• Entry Fees for Laugavegur: Laugavegur is free; it’s a street.

Sun Voyager

The Sun Voyager is a steel sculpture on the waterfront, shaped like a Viking ship’s skeleton, and despite looking like it should be ancient, it was only installed in 1990. It’s meant to represent the promise of undiscovered territory, and it’s one of the more photographed spots in the city, especially with the mountains across the bay behind it.

• How to get to Sun Voyager: Sun Voyager is on the waterfront path, a 10-minute walk from Harpa.
• How long to spend at Sun Voyager: Plan on spending 10-15 minutes at Sun Voyager; it’s a photo stop.
• Entry Fees for Sun Voyager: Sun Voyager is free.

Reykjavik’s Civic Centre

Reykjavik’s City Hall doubles as an actually good rainy-day option, mostly thanks to a huge relief map of Iceland covering the floor of one room, showing the whole country’s mountains, glaciers, and fjords in three dimensions. It’s one to save for a wet afternoon rather than a clear one. From inside, there’s a glorious view of the tranquil Tjörnin lake. There’s a café here and free public toilets. (Want to know how to find a public toilet in Iceland? Check out the Krapp.is app; it’s one of the key apps to download before you get here.)

On the opposite side of the building to the Tjörnin lake, there’s a small pond, and it reflects the lava- and moss-inspired wall, which looks just lovely whatever the weather.

• How to get to Civic Centre: Civic Centre is by the lake (Tjörnin), a short walk from downtown.
• How long to spend at Civic Centre: Plan on spending 20-30 minutes at Civic Centre.
• Entry Fees for Civic Centre: Civic Centre is free.

Höfði House

Höfði House looks unassuming, a white wooden building overlooking the bay, but it’s where Reagan and Gorbachev met in 1986 for a summit widely credited with helping end the Cold War. It’s also, according to local legend, haunted. You can’t go inside; it’s used for official city functions, but it’s worth the walk past.

• How to get to Höfði House: Höfði House is along the waterfront, a bit further out than Sun Voyager, about 20 minutes on foot from downtown.
• How long to spend at Höfði House: Plan on spending 10 minutes at Höfði House; it’s an exterior-only stop.
• Entry Fees for Höfði House: Höfði House is free; you can view from outside only.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur

This hot dog stand by the harbor has been serving the same recipe since 1937, and it’s become something of a Reykjavik institution; Bill Clinton famously ordered one here. You should, though, do a taste test, as allegedly the same brand of hot dogs used here are also available at any N1 gas station around the country, worth knowing if you’d rather skip the queue at the famous stand itself. Na, I’m joking, come here and stand in the rain as we did for a true taste of Iceland. And then go to an N1 gas station as well. There are more money-saving options in my guide.

Want to know why hot dogs, these ones in particular, are so famous in Iceland? Then read my food guide and what to eat in Iceland here.

• How to get to Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is downtown, near the harbor.
• How long to spend at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: Plan on spending 10 minutes at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur.
• Hot Dog Costs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur costs around 880 ISK for one “with everything,” as of 2026, up considerably from the 450 ISK it cost a decade ago.

The Black Cone

Officially titled the Monument to Civil Disobedience, this black cone-shaped sculpture near Austurvöllur square was created by Spanish artist Santiago Sierra. The shape is a deliberate nod to the tall black hats once worn by the Spanish Inquisition, and the monument itself honors Iceland’s own history of civil disobedience, most notably the 2008-2009 “Pots and Pans Revolution,” when Icelanders banged kitchen pots outside Parliament in protest over the country’s financial collapse. And it is, of course, right in front of Parliament, the Alþingishús building.

• How to get to The Black Cone: The Black Cone is right by Alþingishúsið, on or near Austurvöllur square.
• How long to spend at The Black Cone: Plan on spending 5 minutes at The Black Cone.
• Entry Fees for The Black Cone: The Black Cone is free; it’s an outdoor public sculpture.

The Alþingishúsið (Parliament House)

The Parliament House is a small, unassuming basalt building overlooking Austurvöllur square, home to the Althingi, Iceland’s parliament, in continuous existence since 930 AD, one of the oldest surviving parliaments in the world. The building itself dates to 1881, though the institution long predates it. If you want to see where it all started, the original site of the Althingi is at Þingvellir, part of the Golden Circle, covered in our Golden Circle guide. I do suggest that you also take a peek in the garden at the back of the Alþingishús building. It’s the oldest Icelandic public park and has been preserved since 1894. You can read here about how it came about, and it’s a lovely little bit of peace here in downtown Reykjavik.

• How to get to Alþingishúsið (Parliament House): Alþingishúsið is on Austurvöllur square, right in the center of downtown.
• How long to spend at Alþingishúsið (Parliament House): Plan on spending 10 minutes at Alþingishúsið; you can explore the exterior only, unless visiting during a public tour.
• Entry Fees for Alþingishúsið (Parliament House): Alþingishúsið is free to view from outside; guided tours inside are also free, run 45-60 minutes, but need to be arranged in advance directly with Alþingi rather than dropped into on spec.

Þúfa

Þúfa is a spiral turf mound built up over an old harbor area, with a small wooden fish-drying hut perched on top, a nod to Reykjavik’s fishing history. It’s an odd, quiet spot, and one that most visitors walk straight past without noticing.

It’s not ancient, despite looking like it, but was commissioned in 2013 by the HB Grandi fish factory and designed by Icelandic artist Ólöf Nordal. There’s a wooden frame on top where fish is dried.

• How to get to Þúfa: Þúfa is near the harbor, a short walk from Old Harbour.
• How long to spend at Þúfa: Plan on spending 10-15 minutes at Þúfa.
• Entry Fees for Þúfa: Þúfa is free.

Steinbryggjan / The Stone Pier

Steinbryggjan is what’s left of Reykjavik’s original stone harbor pier, mostly buried under later land reclamation and development, with a small marked section still visible near the modern harbor. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stop, more historical curiosity than must-see, but worth a glance if you’re already walking past. You can learn more about Steinbryggjan by downloading the (free) Guidemate audio tour of Reykjavik.

• How to get to Steinbryggjan / The Stone Pier: Steinbryggjan is near the Old Harbour.
• How long to spend at Steinbryggjan / The Stone Pier: Plan on spending 5 minutes at Steinbryggjan.
• Entry Fees for Steinbryggjan / The Stone Pier: Steinbryggjan is free.

Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street

Skólavörðustígur runs from Laugavegur up to Hallgrímskirkja, and the pavement’s been painted in rainbow colors since 2015, originally for Reykjavik Pride, now kept as a permanent fixture. It’s one of the most photographed streets in the city, lined with small shops and cafés on either side.

• How to get to Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street: Skólavörðustígur connects Laugavegur to Hallgrímskirkja.
• How long to spend at Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street: Plan on spending 15-20 minutes at Skólavörðustígur, longer if you’re stopping in shops.
• Entry Fees for Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street: Skólavörðustígur is free.

Museums in Reykjavik

Reykjavik has an actually strong museum scene, and rather than cover each one in shallow detail here, they’ve each earned a proper writeup of their own. The National Museum of Iceland covers the country’s full history under one roof, Whales of Iceland is a life-size model exhibition of the whales you might see on a harbor tour, the Saga Museum brings the Icelandic sagas to life with lifelike figures, the Settlement Exhibition sits on top of an actual Viking-age longhouse excavated beneath the city, and the Northern Lights Center covers the science and mythology behind the aurora, useful if you’re visiting outside prime viewing season. Our full guide to Iceland’s museums covers all of these properly.

Key museums you might want to add to your list here in Reykjavik:

• The National Museum
• The Saga Museum
• The Settlement Museum
• Whales of Iceland
• The Punk Museum
• The Icelandic Phallological Museum

Map of Things to Do in Reykjavik

Here’s our map of everything in this guide, plotted across downtown Reykjavik; you can also see the map here.

Icelandic Experiences from Reykjavik

A couple of proper Icelandic wildlife experiences depart right from the Old Harbor; no need to travel further afield. Whale watching tours leave multiple times a day, year-round, and often combine with a puffin detour in summer; our full whale watching guide covers timing, boat types, and what to expect. If you’re building out day trips beyond the city limits too, our day trips from Reykjavik guide covers the rest.

Grocery Shopping in Reykjavik

Bónus (look for the pink piggy logo) and Krónan are the two budget supermarket chains you’ll want; both have several locations around the city, and prices are noticeably lower than the smaller convenience-style stores downtown.

We shopped in both Bónus and Krónan throughout our Iceland explorations, as well as downtown here in Reykjavik. They’re much of a muchness, although you can check pricing and product availability with Krónan here.

Restaurants for Traditional Icelandic Food

If you want to actually try traditional Icelandic food rather than just read about it, here’s where to go in Reykjavik specifically. For the fuller picture beyond the capital, our Iceland food guide covers what to expect country-wide.

Icelandic Street Food

A small, unpretentious spot that leans hard into home-style Icelandic dishes- lamb soup, fish stew, that sort of thing- with a free-refill policy on the soups that makes it good value on a cold day.

• Address of Icelandic Street Food: Lækjargata 8, 101 Reykjavík
• Website: icelandicstreetfood.com
• Icelandic Street Food Hours: open daily, 11:00-22:00

Café Loki

Right across from Hallgrímskirkja, Café Loki specializes in traditional Icelandic dishes done properly. This is one of the few places where you can try fermented shark (hákarl) without committing to a full meal built around it. 

• Address of Café Loki: Lokastígur 28, 101 Reykjavík
• Website: loki.is
• Café Loki Hours: open daily, 08:00-22:00, kitchen closes at 21:30

Íslenski Barinn (The Icelandic Bar)

Íslenski Barinn really leans into traditional Icelandic home cooking with a modern twist, and it’s as much a bar as a restaurant, a good option if you want a proper meal alongside a drink rather than picking one or the other.

• Address of Íslenski Barinn: Ingólfsstræti 1a, 101 Reykjavík
• Website: islenskibarinn.is
• Íslenski Barinn Hours: Sun-Thu 9:30-01:00, Fri-Sat 9:30-03:00, kitchen open daily until 22:00
• Price range: mid-to-upper, expect somewhere around 4,000-6,000 ISK per person for a proper meal

Sjávargrillið

Sjávargrillið, the Seafood Grill, sits midway between Hallgrímskirkja and Laugavegur, and focuses on fresh Icelandic seafood done well; worth booking ahead for, it’s popular enough that walk-ins aren’t a given.

• Address of Sjávargrillið: Skólavörðustígur 14, 101 Reykjavík
• Website: sjavargrillid.is
• Sjávargrillið Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30-14:30 & 17:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 17:00-22:00

Hafnartorg Gallery

It’It’s not traditional Icelandic, and I’ll say that upfront, but the Hafnartorg Gallery is a properly lovely food hall near Harpa, a good option if your group can’t agree on one cuisine; everyone picks their own stall, and you all sit down together.

• Address of the Hafnartorg Gallery: Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík
• Website: hafnartorggallery.is

Cocktails and Beer

Reykjavik’s bar scene is small but decent, and it’s worth knowing that happy hour is less of a courtesy here and more of a necessity; alcohol in Iceland is expensive enough that timing your drinking matters. The Barhopp app tracks live happy hour deals across the city’s bars, and its worth downloading before your first night out. For more on drinking in Iceland generally, our alcohol guide covers pricing and where to buy for self-catering.

Microbar

Microbar is one of the originals for craft beer in the city, a proper walk-in pub rather than anything fancy, with a rotating selection of Icelandic craft beers on tap.

• Address of Microbar: Laugavegur 86, 101 Reykjavík
• Website: gaedingur.beer/pages/microbar-reykjavik

Little Dubliner

Little Dubliner is the smaller of Reykjavik’s two Dubliner pubs (the original, bigger one is at Naustin 1), and it’s not the place to go for craft beer; it’s a straightforward Irish pub, but the cocktail list is better than you’d expect from the setting.

• Address of Little Dubliner: Frakkastígur 9, 101 Reykjavík
• Website: dubliner.is
• Happy Hour at Little Dubliner: 11:00-21:00 daily, per the bar’s own account, though a few third-party listings quote slightly shorter windows, so it’s worth a quick check on arrival.

Day Trips from Reykjavik

Once you’ve covered the city itself, Reykjavik makes an easy base for exploring further out; the Golden Circle, the South Coast, and further afield are all within reach for a day trip. Our full guide to day trips from Reykjavik covers the options properly.

FAQs on Visiting Reykjavik

Got questions about visiting Reykjavik? Here are quick answers to what we’re asked most.

How many days do you need in Reykjavik?

Two full days cover the highlights properly. If you’re purely using it as bookends to a Ring Road trip, one night at each end works fine.

Is Reykjavik walkable?

Yes, almost entirely. Everything in this guide is walkable from downtown, and driving between them will actually slow you down more than walking would.

What’s the best neighborhood to stay in?

101 Reykjavik, the downtown postcode, if you want to walk everywhere. It costs more and can be noisy on weekend nights, so if that’s not your thing, look at the quieter outer neighborhoods instead; just budget for a car or the bus.

Is Reykjavik expensive?

Yes, by most standards. Food, alcohol, and accommodation all run higher than you’d expect, though grocery shopping at Bónus or Krónan and using the Barhopp app for happy hours both help take the edge off.

Do I need a car to explore Reykjavik itself?

No, and you’re actually better off without one downtown; parking is limited, and everything worth seeing in the city center is walkable.

Is Reykjavik worth visiting if I’m mostly doing the Ring Road?

Yes, even just for a day or two at either end. It’s not just a stopover; there’s enough here to justify its own time, separate from whatever else you’ve got planned.

Is Reykjavik a good base for visiting Iceland?

For a first trip, yes, particularly if you’re not planning to circle the whole Ring Road. Day trips to the Golden Circle and South Coast are both easily done from here without needing to change hotels.

Final Words on Visiting Reykjavik

Reykjavik is actually a really nice spot for both the quick visitor and for lingering. Treat it as a one-night stopover, and you’ll still walk away with a decent sense of the place, Hallgrímskirkja, the harbor, a hot dog. Give it two or three days properly, and it turns into something else, a small, strange, properly likeable capital city that’s worth exploring on its own terms, not just as the start and end point of a bigger trip.

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