Reykjavik City Guide - What To Do In Reykjavik, Iceland 2023
/Welcome to Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland, and home to 122,141 (2015) people. This colourful little nordic city is the most northern capital in the world and has been my home for a couple of years now.
Back in February 2016, I followed my heart and relocated to Reykjavik to join my Viking, Ingimar (now husband). A new city, and a new adventure - so I decided to keep a weekly video diary in the form of vlogs on my YouTube channel.
Over the last years, I’ve made Reykjavik my home and consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by such dramatic and picturesque landscapes, living under the northern lights and escaping for day trips to chase waterfalls, be amazed by the dreamy moss-covered lava fields, glacier, and other magical sights.
I’m guessing you're lucky enough to be planning a visit or adding to Bucket List research, so let’s get into my Reykjavik City Guide.
DIY Walking Tour
There are a few free walking tours in Reykjavik or you can go off and do your own.
Start at the Sun Voyager and walk along the coast to Harpa, then head towards the Parliament and its public square. If you're hungry, on the way you can try the local Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for yummy hot dogs, or a bowl of lobster soup at nearby Sægreifinn on the harbor, or for more of a family-friendly spot then head to the recently reopened The Laundromat Cafe (free coffee refills & kids play area in the basement). The pond is lined with cute Icelandic houses and on the opposite side, you will see the very Scandinavian-looking church of Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík and the modern City Hall which had a huge topographical map of Iceland in it - worth a look. From here you can either wander around the downtown area and check out some bars and shops, or head up towards Hallgrimskirkja.
From here, cross Fríkirkjuvegur and walk up the side street (taking in the street art). Walking around you might spot some little statues and superheroes on the street signs too. Keep going until you arrive at the magnificent Hallgrímskirkja church, inspired by flowing lava and buildings such as the Chrysler Building in New York City. Here you can buy a ticket to gain access to the top of the spire by lift for views across the city, alternatively, drive up to the city water towers at Perlan for a free view from their cafe - their exhibition is great, especially the Aurora Planetarium.
Finally walk down the main street of Skólavörðustígur which joins the main shopping street of Laugavegur before you'll arrive back near Harpa.
EDIT: Summer 2019 Perlan is no longer free to access the viewing deck but the cafe on the floor above is nice and the view is free
local swimming pools with hot tubs
The pools in Iceland are fabulous and the main reason I survive living here in winter. Make sure to end a busy day by chilling out with the locals in a “hot pot” at a local swimming pool. The biggest and most popular one is Laugardalslaug, by the national football stadium. Make sure to wander around and try out all of the different hot pools here, including a saltwater pool right at the end. And yes, you do have to shower off before entering the pool or the ‘changing room police’ will get you!!
Adult 18+ 1000 ISK / Kids 160 ISK (under 6 & Senior Citizens free)
Laugardalslaug | a local pool with a huge indoor lanes pool, outdoor pool, kids flume, and a variety of hot pools - including a saltwater pool. Make sure to walk around and try out all the different round pools as they offer different temperatures. Steam room too.
Vesturbæjarlaug | a good outdoor pool and a big hot tub where locals meet to chat, and where I've previously spotted Bjork - twice.
Sundhöllin | a downtown pool with both indoor and outdoor pools, and a hot tub. Cool building and very handy if only spending a short time in Reykjavik.
Árbæjarlaug | a great pool (yes, it’s my fave) mainly because you can swim from the indoor pool to the outdoor and then get straight into a hot tub. There’s a kids pool inside and out, the slide and lanes pool is outdoor. Steam room too.
Breiðholts | a very local pool offering an outdoor lanes pool, kids pool, slides, and hot tubs.
Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool
Sundlaugavegur 30, 105 Reykjavik
Look for bus number 12 and 14 (stop near Laugardalslaug)
Mondays - Thursdays: 6:30am - 10pm
Fridays: 6:30am - 10pm
Weekend: 8am - 10pm
Grótta lighthouse and hot pool
Ever fancied a stroll along a black sand beach? Watch the sun set with your feet in a natural hot tub? Get all bundled up watching the northern lights with the reward of a hot chocolate after?! Head to Grótta, an easy 10 minute drive along the coast from Reykjavik's Harbour and take in the view across to Esjan.
If it's sunny, why not grab an ice cream from Valdi in Grandi on your way there.
Botanical Gardens - Free admission
I’m adding the Botanical Gardens in because I love them, we are often walking here as a family and the cafe here is just beautiful and offers some delicious treats.
If the weather allows, you can spend a morning wandering the paths of the botanical gardens and heading towards the allotment where you'll find a fantastic Café Flora (open May 1st - September 30th and open at weekends in December, closed Dec 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st, Jan 1st) where you can sip a coffee and nibble on a homemade treat in the beautiful greenhouse cafe.
Botanical Gardens - Free admission
Laugardalur, 104 Reykjavík
Summer (May 1st - September 30th) 10am - 10pm
Winter (October 1st - April 30th) 10am - 3pm
Viðey Island
A short ferry ride (1,500ISK) from Reykjavik harbor is the island of Viðey (summer ferries leave daily from Skarfabakki, Harpa, and Aegisgarour pier and in winter ferry from Skarfabakki weekends only). The island was where the 'father of Reykjavík' Skuli Magnusson constructed his home and a church in the 12thC and has archaeological remains from the early 10th C.
On this island is the Imagine Peace Tower, a beam of light that shines high into the night sky from a wishing well bearing the words "imagine peace" in 24 languages. Designed by Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, it is lite annually between his birthday and his death: 9th Oct - 8th Dec.
