Wondering what to see and do in Reykjavik, the world’s most northern capital city? You’ve come to the right place! Even though Reykjavik is tiny, with a population of only 140,000, it’s definitely worth a visit. My first visit to Iceland was in 2011, and have returned several times to uncover the best things to see and do, plus a few hidden gems. Follow this itinerary to spend the perfect day in Reykjavik.
Heading to Iceland; check out my itinerary for what to see and do in Reykjavik.
While I love Reykjavik, would recommend spending no more than a day or two in the capital. Iceland’s dramatic landscape, from waterfalls to lava fields and glaciers, is what makes this country incredible. Consider Reykjavik a terrific starting point or final day of your Icelandic adventure.
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What to See and Do in Reykjavik: Itinerary
How to Get to Reykjavik and Where to Stay
Take the Flybus from the airport and explore Reykjavik on foot. Also, suggest that you stay in downtown Reykjavik and not the suburbs.
For information on the Flybus, Accommodations, Car Rentals and more, check out my post, The Best 11 Travel Tips for a Phenomenal Trip to Iceland. For your convenience, I’ve listed below my three favourite places to stay in Reykjavik.
These guesthouses are all basic but clean, allowing you to splurge on sightseeing. Blue House B&B is a bit further out, but it’s a good option if you have a rental car and need parking. Snorri and Sunna are very central, and you can walk pretty much anywhere in a few minutes.
9 am – Breakfast
Even if your accommodation offers breakfast, a must-try food while in Iceland is Skyr. This ultra-thick and creamy yogurt has been an Icelandic staple for nearly a thousand years. I’m a fan of Ísey Skyr, especially their Dark Chocolate & Vanilla Bean flavour. Their Blueberry is also excellent.
The best and cheapest place to buy Skyr is at one of Iceland’s discount grocery stores, either Bonus or Kronan.
Most itineraries of what to see in Reykjavik don’t include a trip to the grocery store. But if you’re heading out on the Ring Road to discover the rest of Iceland, remember to grab your car snacks.
For breakfast, lunch, snacks or stocking up for a self-catered road trip, head to one of Reykjavik’s best bakeries, Brauð & Co. and Sandholt.
Both offer delectable baked goods and incredible bread. Try vínarbrauð, a long, flaky pastry with either jam or custard in the middle and dusted with sugar, almond slices or a drizzle of icing. Brauð & Co’s sourdough bread is excellent!
Sandholt Bakery & Eatery opens at 7:30 am. It’s a cozy spot to eat after an overnight flight before you can get into your hotel room.
10 AM – Sun Voyager & Harpa
Stroll down to the waterfront and take in the majestic Sun Voyager, a stainless steel sculpture that many think resembles a Viking ship, but artist Jón Gunnar Árnason intended it to be a dream ship and a tribute to the sun.
This is one of my favourite photo spots in Reykjavik, and it looks stunning at any time of day or season.
Walk along the shore to Harpa, Reykjavik’s concert hall. Warning: This stretch is one of the city’s windiest, but you can take a break inside Harpa.
Harpa’s award-winning design was created to look like it was made out of 3D basalt crystal columns. To truly appreciate Harpa’s beauty, walk around and take a look at it from different angles as it changes with the light. Then, head inside to view Reykjavik through the geometric glass bricks that form the building. Spoiler Alert: This itinerary has you returning at night when Harpa mesmerizes with green and purple lights meant to resemble the Northern Lights.
11 AM – Hallgrímskirkja
The next stop on the itinerary of things to see in Reykavik is to take a stroll up Skólavörðustígur to Hallgrímskirkja. The lower part of Skólavörðustígur is called Rainbow Street, which is a pedestrian street lined with charming shops. Take time to window shop; an iconic Icelandic souvenir is one of their gorgeous wool sweaters. My favourite place for authentic Icelandic woollen goods is The Handknitting Association of Iceland at Skólavörðustígur 19.
Before the church’s entrance, you’ll be greeted by a towering bronze statue of Leifur Eiríksson, the first European to set foot in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.
It’s impossible not to notice Hallgrímskirkja when you visit Reykjavik. Set on a hill, the church is one of the tallest buildings in the country. But until my last trip, I’d never gone up the bell tower. And wow! What a view!
An elevator takes you to the clock level. You can climb a few sets of stairs to the bells and get an even better view. Buy a ticket to go up. There is a booth to the left when you enter the church.
Noon – Lunch & Perlan Museum
The Perlan is my favourite museum in all of Iceland. If you are just doing a stopover in Reykjavik, go here and experience all of Iceland in one place.
The observation deck provides panoramic views of Reykjavik and its surroundings. The ultimate time to be up here is at sunrise. If you happen to be in Reykjavik in November, when sunrise is around 10 am, change up the itinerary and head here first to the Perlan when it opens. Go straight to the observation deck. The golden light is phenomenal.
This is also a great place to enjoy lunch under the spectacular dome before heading to the Ice Cave and Glacier Exhibit. After an introductory video, head into the very realistic ice cave. Warning: it’s chilly; bring your hat and mitts.
Many people dream of seeing the Northern Lights when they visit Iceland. This isn’t the easiest bucket list item to accomplish. While this itinerary includes a Northern Light Cruise, there’s no guarantee that you’ll see them, even when conditions are perfect. That’s why Perlan’s Áróra Northern Light Show is such a gem. The 25-minute show allows you to experience the Northern Lights at any time of year. It’s so worth it and included in the museum’s entrance price.
Note: The Perlan is approximately a 30-minute walk from downtown and a bit uphill. Grab a cab if you’re not up for the walk, or if it’s too chilly.
4 pm – Retail Therapy
Downtown Reykjavik is charming and colourful. Admittedly, it is a pricey place for retail therapy, but you’ll love all of the unique designs in its cute boutiques. The main shopping street is Skólavörðustígur, which you would have walked up to get to Hallgrímskirkja. At the base of Skólavörðustígur is Laugavegur, which is partially a pedestrian street.
A couple of my favourite shops include: Mjúk Iceland, a family-run shop with the cutest pom-pom hats you’ll ever see. Inga Elín Galleri creates the most beautiful coffee cups, elegant and iconic. Fotografi is a tiny little photography shop, where I always browse. Bought a couple of Icelandic sheep prints here years ago, and I still adore them. Fischersund is a scent shop with unique and wonderful perfumes, candles and fragrance oils. I LOVE this shop!
5 pm – Swans at City Hall
Visiting Tjörnin is one of my favourite things to see and do in Reykjavik. This small lake in the heart of Reykjavik is another great photo spot. The City Hall rests at one end, and it’s home to swans, ducks and pink-footed geese.
My tip is to bring some bread from breakfast to feed the swans. Both the swans and geese are very used to being fed by locals. So don’t be surprised when they haul themselves out of the water for a feeding. They aren’t shy! But in my experience, they’re not aggressive, although they did try to follow me in hopes of more!
6 pm – Dinner in Reykjavik
If you are going to splurge on dinner while in Iceland, Reykjavik is the place. This is NOT to say that you can’t find incredible food outside of Reykjavik; it’s just that your options become more limited.
I am a huge fan of food tours, and take one in almost every new city I visit. In Iceland, there are some weird foods, such as fermented shark (which I tried but wouldn’t recommend). But don’t be deterred by a few unusual options; this Foodie Walking Tour was fun, delicious, and informative.
Pósthús Food Hall & Bar is in the old post office, right downtown. Loads of choices and a lively vibe, if you’re with a group, everyone can order from a different restaurant and still eat together. I also love Forréttabarinn, located close to the harbour. More of a local spot, but amazing food and cocktails!
An Evening in Reykjavik
This is where the itinerary gets interesting because if you visit Reykjavik in the summer, you really won’t have an evening, just an endless day. So some things, like seeing the Northern Lights, won’t be possible. But I am here to give you options!
Northern Light Cruise (or Midnight Sun)
The ultimate thing to see and do in Reykjavik is a Northern Lights Cruise, but conditions need to be just right. Here are the conditions needed to see the Northern Lights:
- Darkness: Peak Northern Lights season is from late September to late March. If you go in June and July, the sun never sets.
- Clear Skies: Unfortunately, this can be a challenge, as the weather in Iceland is constantly changing; however, you won’t see the Northern Lights on a cloudy night.
- Solar Activity: It can be dark with clear skies, and still NOTHING if there isn’t some decent solar activity, which means solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
The best advice is to trust an expert. I’ve had excellent experiences with Elding. I’ve been on their Northern Light Cruise and their Whale Watching Tour.
In both cases, they have experts to help you hunt the Northern Lights and seek out the whales. In the summer, they even offer a Midnight Sun and Whales Cruise.
I’ve also done the Northern Lights by Yacht. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the Northern Lights that night, but I had a great time being out on the water. There was a lounge inside to warm up, and blankets were provided for those who simply wanted to sit outside and watch the sky—magical.
There are also very good Northern Light bus tours. Your chances of seeing the Northern Lights increase because the buses may drive further to spot them. It can also be a very long night, but if you see them, you’ll never forget it.
While no tour company can guarantee Northern Lights spotting, most tours by bus or boat offer a complimentary tour the following night for a second chance to spot them.
Harpa at Night
It is totally worth a visit at night when Harpa transforms with waves of purple and green lights. Do this on your way to or back from the Northern Lights cruise.
Or check out Harpa’s What’s Happening. It depends on when you visit, but you might be able to catch a performance by Iceland’s Symphony Orchestra. I love their show, How to Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes. So funny, and you learn a lot about the culture.
Harpa also have a new show, Volcano Express, which I am dying to see — next visit!
If you loved this itinerary, please check out my 7 Hidden Gems in Iceland’s Golden Circle. You might also find I Booked My Flight to Iceland, Now What? very helpful!
