A FIRST-TIMER’S GUIDE TO VISITING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital and largest city, and also the northernmost capital in the world. It sits on the southwestern coast of Iceland and is known as one of the safest, cleanest, and greenest cities (the government plans to make Iceland carbon neutral by 2040) on the planet!

According to legend, Ingólfr Arnarson was the first Norse settler who arrived in Reykjavik in 874 AD. Reykjavik was a small town for 900 years, until Denmark (who had ruled Iceland since 1380) turned it into a city in 1786. On June 17, 1944, Iceland gained its independence.

In this in-depth First-Timer’s Guide to Visiting Reykjavik, Iceland, I will introduce you to its vibrant art and music scene, unique museums and architecture, awesome restaurants and cafés, and colourful attractions! You’ll also find out Where to Stay, how to Get Around the city, and if this an Expensive Place to visit!

I stayed in the cosmopolitan city of Reykjavik for seven days in June 2024 and loved it! Although it’s tiny compared to many other European cities, Reykjavik is full of life, no matter what time of the year.

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

The Best Things to See and Do in Reykjavik

The Icelandic Punk Museum

Address: Bankastræti 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

The Icelandic Punk Museum is Reykjavik’s quirkiest attraction, mostly because it used to be an underground public toilet from the 1930’s to 2000! It tells the story of Iceland’s Punk and New Wave music that peaked here in the late 1970’s.

The museum opened in 2016 and Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols even came for a visit! While walking down the flight of stairs, the Punk music that was playing and graffiti on the walls made me excited to dive into Iceland’s Punk history!

As you walk through the door, Svarti Álfur, the owner and an elder Punk, is here to greet you! Every inch of the small museum exhibit is covered in large Punk history paper shavings, posters, pictures, and more!

A few examples of Icelandic punk bands are Fræbbblarnir, Utangarðsmenn (The Outsiders), and KUKL, one of Björk’s first bands!

The three original bathroom stalls are still here, too! At the end of the tour, visitors can listen to Icelandic Punk music through dangling headphones from the ceiling, try on a leather jacket, pick up a guitar from the wall, or sit behind the drums!

The Icelandic Punk Museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is 1,500 ISK.

Hallgrímskirkja (Hallgrim’s Church)

Address: Hallgrímstorg 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Beautiful Hallgrímskirkja is a popular attraction thanks to its distinctively curved spire and side wings. At 74.5 meters (244 ft), it’s the tallest church in Iceland, so you can spot its tower throughout the city! This Lutheran parish church was built between 1945 and 1986.

What makes the church unique is that it’s supposed to resemble the basalt lava flows in Iceland! You also can’t miss the statue of Leifur Erickson (the first European who arrived in America) in front of Hallgrímskirkja. Visitors can go inside at no extra cost.

The outside and interior of Hallgrímskirkja. Photo #2 is by Nathalie on Unsplash.

Or take up the elevator to the top (at 1,400 ISK) and get rewarded with awesome 360° view of Reykjavik and its surrounding mountains! The top of the tower is fully covered, so you can go in any kind of weather.

There’s a carillon of 29 bells at the top of the church tower that ring every hour between 9 am to 9 pm.

Hallgrímskirkja is open daily from 9 am to 8 pm (May 20 to August 31, 2024) and 10 am to 5 pm from September 1 to May 19, 2025.

Join Reykjavik’s legendary Nightlife Scene

While in Reykjavik, you should experience its epic Nightlife scene at least once! Whether you’re into barhopping, clubbing, pub crawls, or live music, Reykjavik won’t disappoint you. Plus, you’ll find most bars, clubs, and pubs on or close to Laugavegur, the main shopping street in downtown.

Most pubs and bars in Reykjavik open in the afternoon. But it’s busiest during midnight and 2 am, especially on weekends, when many venues don’t close until 4:30 am or even 5:30 am!

Icelanders are quite easy going, so there’s no need to dress up for partying in Reykjavik – unless you want to! The legal drinking age is 20, and be sure to bring an ID with a photograph and your birth date on it.

Hús Máls og Menningar (Laugavegur 18, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland) caught my attention while walking around Reykjavik. It’s a coffeehouse/bookstore by day and a bar/live music venue by night! They have live music every night and Happy Hour is from 12 pm to 6 pm.

The Bookstore Band (the house band) was playing a great mix of rock cover songs and locals and tourists got swept up in the music by dancing and drinking beer together!

I also heard about LEMMY (Austurstræti 20, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland), a Punk/Metal bar that’s inside one of Reykjavik’s oldest houses. This bar/restaurant also hosts live music and festivals quite often. I’m planning to check it out on my next Reykjavik visit!

Another popular party spot (that my hostel friends went to) in Reykjavik is Lebowski Bar (Laugavegur 20a, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland). It’s an American-style diner inspired by “The Big Lebowski” and they serve many versions of their specialty drink, White Russian!

Admire Reykjavik’s Colourful Street art

Wherever you are in Reykjavik’s downtown district, you’ll be guaranteed to spot some awesome street art and murals. In my opinion, they add to Reykjavik’s positive and welcoming energy!

Here are just a few examples of amazing street art in Reykjavik:

Soak at Sundhöllin Swimming Pool for a While

Address: Barónsstígur 45a, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

If you like to relax like a local, check out Sundhöllin! It has an indoor saltwater pool, several outdoor pools (including a hot tub), sauna, and a second open-air hot tub on the roof! It’s only a few minutes from downtown Reykjavik.

Fun fact: The architect Guðjón Samúelsson, who designed Hallgrímskirkja, was also working on Sundhöllin Swimming Pool back in the 1930’s! Plus, it’s the oldest indoor swimming pool in the city. Admission is 1,330 ISK and visitors can rent a towel or swimsuit from the service desk as well.

The National Museum of Iceland

Address: Suðurgata 41, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland

The National Museum of Iceland is the perfect spot to learn about Iceland’s history and culture! The most detailed and impressive part of the museum is the permanent exhibit “Making of a Nation – Heritage and History in Iceland”.

Here visitors can travel back in time, from the first Viking settlements, to Iceland being ruled by Denmark and Norway in the Middle Ages and in modern times, until the country gained its independence in 1944 and beyond.

This exhibit features around 2,000 objects (e.g. cooking utensils, weapons, jewelry, bones, tools, and clothing) from the first settlement until the present day. Besides, you can look at about 1,000 photographs from the 20th century.

The exhibit also talks about religion in Iceland (first Paganism, then Christianity from 1000 AD) and societal problems, like the Black Plague. Plus, did you know that Iceland was very much involved in farming and fish trading back in the Middle Ages?

There’s a lot to learn inside the Making of a Nation exhibit, so I recommend taking 2 to 3 hours to see everything. The National Museum of Iceland is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and admission is 2,500 ISK.

Harpa Concert Hall & Conference Centre

Address: Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Harpa Concert Hall & Conference Centre is another iconic Reykjavik landmark that shouldn’t be missed! Opened in 2011, Harpa often hosts concerts, plays, exhibitions, and conferences such as the Reykjavik Jazz Festival on August 31st, 2024. It’s next to the beautiful waterfront.

Besides, Harpa is the home of the Icelandic Opera, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and the Reykjavik Big Band. Its award-winning shimmering glass facade is organized in a honeycomb pattern, which often change colours to reflect the sky and the ocean.

You’re welcome to go inside Harpa Concert Hall at no cost and buy some locally made souvenirs at Rammagerdin Store, grab a bite at Hnoss Restaurant or La Primavera Ristorante, and watch the coastline and nearby mountains.

Harpa Concert Hall & Conference Centre is open Monday-Thursday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and 10 am to 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Walk on Skólavörðustígur (Rainbow Street)

Address: Skólavörðustígur 101, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Vibrant Rainbow Street is probably the most Instagrammable spot in Reykjavik! It was put up as a symbol that represents the friendliness and acceptance towards the LGBTQ+ community in all of Iceland.

Since 1999, Reykjavik is proud to celebrate Pride in early August. Besides, many citizens of Reykjavik, including the mayor, helped painting stunning Rainbow Street in 2019! It’s 147 meters (485 ft) long.

It’s in the touristy part of downtown and runs from Hallgrimskirkja to Laugavegur, so it can get quite busy here. There are colourful souvenir shops, galleries, cozy cafés, restaurants, and clothing boutiques on both sides of Rainbow Street as well.

Visit The Whales of Iceland Museum

Address: Fiskislóð 23-25, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

The Whales of Iceland Museum is a great place to visit for the whole family, especially on a rainy day! It’s Europe’s largest whale museum. Their exhibit features life-sized replicas of the 23 whale species that live in or close to Icelandic waters.

Whale replica examples include the Blue Whale (the largest mammal in the world!), Sperm Whale, Orca, Beluga Whale, and the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Visitors are allowed to touch the whale replicas as well!

From left to right: Beluga Whale, Sperm Whale, and the Blue Whale.

There’s an information board for every whale, with its length, weight, life expectancy, and what makes them special. Other cool things to look at are whale skeletons, baleen plates, teeth, bones, and skulls!

Finally, don’t miss the award-winning whale documentaries at the Fin Whale Theatre. As of August 2024, they show two movies several times a day: Whale Wisdom (starring Sir David Attenborough) and Sonic Sea. There’s also a café selling freshly made drinks and pastries next to the whale exhibit.

While I loved looking at the whales and learning about the museum’s efforts to protect the environment, I found the admission fee of 4,300 ISK (~42 CAD/31 USD) quite steep! But if you have the Reykjavik City Card, you’ll get a 30% discount for this place.

The Whales of Iceland Museum is open daily (except December 25th) from 10 am to 5 pm. The museum is fully accessible and guided tours can be booked, too.

Hang out by the Waterfront and Check out Sólfar (Sun Voyager Sculpture)

Address: Sæbraut, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

After all this excitement, it’s a good idea to chill by the waterfront and listen to the waves coming in! There’s a good chance that you’ll see stunning Mt. Esja, Engey Island, and Viðey Island in the distance.

The gleaming stainless-steel Sólfar (Sun Voyager) sculpture was completed by the Icelandic sculptor Jón Gunnar Árnason in 1990. While you might think it’s a Viking boat, it’s actually a dream boat and ode to the sun that represents light, progress, freedom, and hope.

Although the Sun Voyager sculpture looks great whether it’s rain or shine, I think that it does look best when being photographed at sunrise or sunset!

Visit Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum

Address: Flókagata 24, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland

Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum is one of three art museums that are located in Reykjavik. It was built to honour Jóhannes S. Kjarval, one of Iceland’s most important painters of all time. Visitors can look at his artwork in the permanent collection of Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum.

Besides, the museum exhibit features paintings and sculptures by other Icelandic and international artists, such as Erró and Ásmundur Sveinsson. You can also grab a cuppa Joe at the museum café and browse around the design-and-bookstore.

Rock concerts happen sometimes at Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum as well! Finally, you can stroll around beautiful Klambratún Park next to the museum after your visit.

Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and admission cost is 2,350 ISK. The museum area is fully accessible and handicapped visitors get in for free.

Shop ’til you Drop in Reykjavik’s Downtown district

If you like shopping, you’ll surely find something great in Reykjavik’s downtown district! The majority of stores are on Laugavegur, including souvenir shops (e.g. Icewear, Woolcano Gift Shop, and Iceland Memories shop), bookstores, and clothing boutiques.

You can find plenty of shops on nearby streets, like Lækjargata, Bankastræti, and Grettisgata, too. Reykjavik has two shopping malls, Kringlan Mall and Smárilind Mall. Some stores sell items made in Iceland as well.

Bonus Tip: Meet some Cats of Reykjavik!

While roaming the streets or browsing inside a store in downtown Reykjavik, you may be surprised by a random cat that’s hanging out there!

It seems like their owners let them out a lot, and most kitties are thrilled to get some love and attention by friendly visitors!

Where to Stay in Reykjavik

As a popular place to visit, Reykjavik has accommodation options for every budget.

I stayed at Hostel B47 (Baronsstígur 47, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland) that is only 10 minutes of a walk from downtown Reykjavik.

Everything was very clean, with cozy vibes, and the staff was super accommodating! You can choose between staying in a dorm or private room.

There are two kitchens and common areas and don’t miss the drawings on the wall close to the elevator! A simple, but tasty breakfast (i.e. bread, fruit, coffee/tea, and cold cuts, cheese, and Nutella/jam) is available at a small cost.

Hostel B47 is also wheelchair friendly and they have gender-neutral bathrooms, so everybody’s welcome! 🙂

Where to Eat & Drink in Reykjavik

Reykjavik is proud of its versatile restaurant and café scene that has something for everyone!

Traditional Icelandic foods include fish (e.g. Hákarl (cured shark meat), haddock, halibut, and herring), Hangikjöt (smoked lamb), skyr yogurt, and surprisingly, hot dogs! Old Iceland Restaurant (Laugavegur 72, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland) has some of these on their menu and it sounds like a nice place to eat and drink.

Fortunately, Reykjavik offers great vegan/vegetarian restaurants as well, and most regular restaurants have veggie options!

Here are my favourite restaurants and cafés in Reykjavik:

Vegan World Peace

Address: Aðalstræti 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Vegan World Peace is a 100% vegan restaurant (they are a part of Loving Hut) and is perfect if you’re craving a mix of Western and Asian cuisine in a casual setting! You can choose from Wonton soup, Yellow Curry, Vegan Banh Mi, Vegan Burger, Pho, Grilled Vegan Fish, and more!

Plus, the prices are quite affordable and they often host vegan buffets! Their hours are Monday-Saturday 11 am to 9 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm on Sundays.

Mama Reykjavik

Address: Bankastræti 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Mama Reykjavik is another great restaurant in Reykjavik, only a few steps from the Icelandic Punk Museum. Their menu features mouthwatering vegan food (e.g. Dhal stew, Chili Sin Carne, sandwiches, salads, and Umami stew) and the sitting area is very inviting and cozy!

Besides, what sets Mama Reykjavik apart is that they often host events (yoga, concerts, cacao ceremonies, etc.) at The White Lotus event room in the same building. They also care about recycling, preventing food waste and plastic use, and using local and seasonal ingredients.

Mama Reykjavik is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

Reykjavik Chips

Address: Vitastígur 10, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Burger lovers looking for a good and affordable meal cannot miss Reykjavik Chips! While the restaurant interior is not fancy, the Belgian chips (or fries) are super crispy and you can go for meat and fish burgers, a Vegetarian Burger, and a Vegan Burger!

So this is a great place if you’re vegan or vegetarian. The potatoes are fried in vegetable oil and you can order vegan mayo, ketchup (of course!), and satay sauce for dipping!

Reykjavik Chips is open daily from 11:30 am to 11 pm. So it’s a great spot to grab a bite before hitting the clubs and bars of Reykjavik!

Víkinga Pylsur Hot Dog Stand

Address: Frakkastígur 25, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

If you’re hungry after your visit to Hallgrímskirkja, stop by Víkinga Pylsur hot dog stand! While they sell classic hot dogs, as well as Pulled Pork, Pulled Lamb, or Bernaise, there’s a vegan one, too! It has veggie grounds in it and was quite cheap as well!

Víkinga Pylsur is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

The Laundromat Café

Address: Austurstræti 9, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

A very popular and unique breakfast/brunch spot in Reykjavik is The Laundromat Café. Only here you can find yummy food, old laundromat photos and world maps, red vinyl booths, and an actual public laundromat in the same place!

Their menu features various brunch options (a vegan/vegetarian one is available), e.g. pancakes, bacon, sausages, acai bowls, yoghurt, eggs, cereal, tofu scramble, chia pudding, and so much more! Later in the day, they serve burgers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts as well.

Kattakaffihúsið Cat Café

Address: Bergstaðastræti 10a, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

If you’re a cat lover like me, there’s no way to miss Kattakaffihúsið, Iceland’s One and Only Cat Café! This is a perfect spot to relax and recharge with adorable kitties (that are up for adoption) while exploring Reykjavik!

Kattakaffihúsið Cat Café is famous for their vegan cakes and pastries, sandwiches, waffles, and of course, coffee and tea! The cool paintings on the wall also add to the cozy and welcoming energy of the café.

They are open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

How to Get to and Around Reykjavik on Public Transit

Keflavík International Airport is the main gateway to Iceland for international travelers. Booking a seat on FlyBus is the quickest way to get to BSI Bus Terminal near the city centre in 45 minutes. Tickets starts at 3,999 ISK and the buses are clean, safe, and offer free Wi-Fi.

Once you arrive in Reykjavik, you’ll notice that the city centre is very compact, so you can walk anywhere within 20-25 minutes. Guided walking tours are available, too.

If you prefer cycling around the city, Reykjavik Bike Tours (Hlésgata 01, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland) can help you with renting a bike or joining one of their bike tours.

Or you can hop on the local bus (Strætó) that takes you pretty much anywhere in and close to the Reykjavik. Single tickets are 650 ISK and cash payment on the bus is fine, but drivers don’t give change.

There are no trains in Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland.

When is the Best Time to Visit Reykjavik?

Honestly, the Best Time to Visit Reykjavik depends on what you prefer to do on your trip!

October to March is perfect for seeing the Northern Lights in Reykjavik, but there’s very little daylight. There are fewer tourists though! While Reykjavik does get snow, it rarely gets super cold in the winter (2°C/35°F on average).

This is thanks to the Gulfstream bringing warmth from the Caribbean. Besides, Iceland is surrounded by lots of geothermal activity (e.g. geysers, volcanoes, hot springs, mud pools, and occasional earthquakes) that adds to its mild climate as well.

Summer is the opposite, when the sun is out almost the entire day! There are no Northern Lights though. You can also visit festivals and the weather is mostly pleasant (12°C/54°F on average).

When I visited Reykjavik in late June 2024, the sun was only gone between 12 and 3 am, which was amazing! But the weather can change quickly in Reykjavik, so be sure to bring layers and rain gear on your trip.

Is Reykjavik an Expensive City?

Yes, unfortunately, Reykjavik (and the rest of Iceland) is very expensive to visit. Why? Well, taxes are quite high and there’s a high standard of living. Besides, most foods need to be imported because of Iceland’s remote location.

I found eating out and alcohol the most expensive during my Iceland trip. On average, I spent 3,000 ISK (~29 CAD/21 USD) for a meal and 1,800 ISK (~18 CAD/13 USD) for a beer! But the quality was superb and the servers were always super friendly.

Here are some tips on how to get the best bang for your buck during your Reykjavik visit:

Buy groceries at Bónus or Krónan and cook meals at your accommodation. Both stores have a great selection and there are multiple locations of each one in Reykjavik. But I recommend avoiding the 24-hour 10-11 stores, because they are the most expensive.

If you eat out, order tap water with your meal. Same as in North America and some other countries, it’s free! Also, tipping is very uncommon in Iceland, so no need to worry about it!

I also heard that many tourists buy booze after arriving from the Duty-Free store at the airport instead of in Reykjavik, as it’s 40% cheaper. Or take advantage of Happy Hours at the bars!

Avoid visiting Reykjavik during the busy tourist season from June to August. Accommodation is most expensive then, so I suggest going in the Shoulder Season (March-May and September-October) or low season (November-April) instead.

Lastly, buy the Reykjavik City Card for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Starting at 5,040 ISK for 24 hours, it includes free or discounted admission to many museums, local bus transit (not valid for airport buses), and free entry to all public swimming pools in the city!

Is Reykjavik a Safe City?

Yes, Reykjavik is a very safe city to visit. I never had to worry about safety here as a solo female traveler, no matter what time of the day. The crime rate is very low and bad or sketchy neighbourhoods don’t exist in Reykjavik.

Families with children should feel very safe in Reykjavik, too. Plus, Reykjavik (and the rest of Iceland) are very welcoming towards POC and LGBTQ+ travelers.

Still, it might get a bit rowdy outside the bars in downtown sometimes. So it’s recommended to use common sense, e.g. keeping an eye on your drink at a bar, not walking back drunk to your accommodation by yourself, and not leaving your luggage unattended.

Other Tips for Your First Visit to Reykjavik

Here are a few more tips to make your First Visit to Reykjavik even better:

There’s no need to be fluent in Icelandic. Everyone I talked to in Reykjavik spoke very good English. But if you go somewhere less touristy in Iceland afterwards, it may be good to know a few basic words or sentences in Icelandic. Or download the Google Translate app just in case. 

Credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere. Icelanders rarely pay with cash, so you don’t need to worry about bringing a bunch of cash. But I recommend to withdraw a small amount at an ATM (which are found a lot in Reykjavik) to be on the safe side.

Take advantage of Iceland Air’s stopover option. If you’re traveling in Europe and going back to North America (or vice-versa), it’s a good idea to add a stopover in Iceland! For many years Iceland Air has offered this stopover option for up to seven days at no extra cost.

For example, I flew with Iceland Air from Germany to Reykjavik, and after my stay, I continued on back to Canada. How great is that?

Conclusion

Well, that’s a wrap on my First-Timer’s Guide to Visiting Reykjavik, Iceland! I hope it has inspired you to check out this charming and vibrant city soon.

From visiting fascinating museums, enjoying a bird’s eye view of Reykjavik from Hallgrímskirkja, to partying with welcoming locals, trying great food, and relaxing by the waterfront, I’m positive that Reykjavik will knock your socks off!

My favourite things to see and do were The Icelandic Punk Museum, taking tons of pictures of Hallgrímskirkja, admiring the Sun Voyager statue and street art, dancing to live music, petting all the cats, and eating lots of yummy vegetarian and vegan food! 😀

I also liked Reykjavik’s compact size (it felt like a small town rather than a big city), so it was easy to get around on foot. Public transit was clean and efficient as well. Although it’s an expensive place, I wouldn’t let this scare me off, as there are quite a few ways to save cash in Reykjavik.

Here’s a map of all of Reykjavik’s cool attractions:

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