We don’t really love big cities, Mr. Family Trip and I. We love seeing them, we love experiencing them, but after a few days, we’re usually ready to see land and space. So it was a pleasant surprise to us to experience Reykjavik – this smaller, northernmost capital city.Â
We spent three full days in Reykjavik and found it a delight. It felt clean, safe, and easy to navigate. (We actually could have spent more time here.)
Understanding that Iceland is very popular right now, particularly for Americans, we’re sharing what we did and loved in Reykjavik.
Table of Contents
Go on a Guided Food Tour
This was my favorite thing to do in Reykjavik by far! We used this company for our food tour and loved the experience.
We did this the day we arrived in Reykjavik. And while we’re usually big fans of free walking tours and have done them all over the world (Belgium, Portugal, Washington, D.C., just some examples), we decided to try something different (see what I did there?) this trip since it was just the two of us.
This was so much fun!Â
First, it got us acquainted with the city while we were loopy from jet lag and lack of sleep.
Second, we were able to see a lot of Reykjavik (Harpa Concert Hall, the waterfront, the Flea Market) while wandering around following our guide.
Third, our guide was a woman who had lived in Iceland her whole life and was such a valued resource to us. She was smart, fun, and energetic. She gave us tips for how to get the most out of our time in Iceland and whenever we followed her advice we had a great experience.
Looking for a Reykjavik Tour Guide and Other Excursions?
Check Out This Resource:
We were added to a small group tour and everyone on our tour was American. In general, we found a lot of Americans when we were in Reykjavik, but when we went South to Skaftafell, the tourist crowd was much more diverse.
PROÂ TIP: Go hungry! This is a LOT of food. You do have to buy any specialty beverages you want, but the food is plentiful. We did this late afternoon and managed to use it for both a late lunch and an early dinner.
PRO TIP: It may seem expensive at first blush, but when you factor in how much food you get, we felt it was worth it.
(Oh, and try everything! Even the fermented shark followed up by the brennivin!)
Traditional Icelandic food we tried included:Â
- Arctic char baked in honey, butter and lemon with cherry tomatoes and almonds
- Plokkfiskur: boiled cod mashed with potatoes, onion, garlic, celery, lime, white wine, cream and butter
- Icelandic rye bread with butter
- Icelandic hot dog with Icelandic ketchup, Icelandic mustard, remoulade sauce, deep-fried onion and raw onion
- Traditional Icelandic meat soup
- Fermented shark
- Fish jerky
- Systir White Ale
- Soft taco with deep-fried langustine, served with garlic sauce, spinach, pickled red onion, date purré, coriander and parmesan
- Kleina Icelandic Pastry & Coffee
- Rye bread ice cream with whipped cream and caramelized rhubarb syrup
Go to the Top of the Cathedral
Our Food Tour ended next to Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral. We took advantage of the clear weather and blue skies to visit.
While Mr. Family Trip was adamant about not climbing the steps to the top (we were, after all, still struggling with jet lag and travel fatigue) it turns out there is an elevator that zoomed us straight up.
There is a fee to go the top, but we thought it was worth it. If you head to our Instagram stories, you’ll see that we were even in the cathedral when the bells tolled the hour (which, we learned from our Food Tour guide, is done remotely by an app).
While the views from the cathedral go on for days and are beautiful, I also found the inside of the church unique and refreshing. Rather than the gothic, art-laden churches of traditional Europe, this was very Scandinavian in design. Soaring ceilings, exposed wood, and simplicity set this church apart.
PRO TIP: You do not have to buy tickets in advance if you want to do this.
PRO TIP: They close to tourists during religious services so if you do want to see this church, be sure to time your visit appropriately.
Visit a Swimming Pool
The swimming pool is apparently a large part of the Icelandic culture and community, and it isn’t what you think!
These community buildings are all over town and are available for a day visit with a small payment.
Each one is unique, but inside there are various pools at a range of temperatures all warmed by geothermal heat. People of different ages, walks of life, interests, and localities come here to enjoy themselves. There is also a plunge pool, steam room, sauna, and lap pool if those interest you.
While they aren’t luxurious but more utilitarian in nature, we loved sitting in the hot pots on the roof of the pool we went to and watching the different groups come and go.
You can find a great guide to swimming pools and their locations in Reykjavik here.
PRO TIP: Bring a swimsuit, but towels are available for rent. Know that you will have to shower naked in a same-sex locker room before putting on your suit and entering the pools.
Have a Fancy Dinner
We managed to get last minute reservations at a newer restaurant in downtown Reykjavik (most everything you want to do in the city will be off of Laugavegur street). It was delicious but there are a lot of places to try.
If you want to get into some of the best restaurants featuring Scandinavian cuisine, you do need to book a reservation in advance.
However, while in the city, go try some of the local fare at a sit-down dinner.
Restaurant recommendations from our Food Tour guide include:
- ReykjavÃk Kitchen (Address:Â
RauðarárstÃgur 8, 105 ReykjavÃk) - Matarkjallarinn (Foodcellar) (Address:Â
Aðalstræti 2, 101 ReykjavÃk) - Fjallkonan (Address: Ingólfsstræti)
- Icelandic street food (Address: Lækjargata 8, 101 Reykjavik)
Walk the City, Find the Sun Voyager
Downtown Reykjavik felt safe, clean, and friendly to walk. Like a lot of European cities, there are cafes and tables dotting streets closed off to automobiles.
We had fun wandering around, popping into shops, looking at buildings, and stopping for coffee or a beer whenever we wanted.
We also walked along the waterfront, where the reality of how exposed Reykjavik is to the harsh seas hits hard. Being down by the harbor or standing at the Sun Voyager sculpture, which looks like an ant ready to do battle against Poseidon, I felt acutely how remote and dangerous the location of this city could be. While Icelandic history and trade centers around the sea, that big body of water can be friend or foe. Walking around Reykjavik helped us understand and feel the centuries of history (and potential heartbreak) here.
Get Unique Tips from the Trip Delivered
Visit a Bakery
The smell of sugar and yeast wafts around this city. Croissants here were so fluffy they felt more like cotton candy on the tongue than anything breadlike.
On a recommendation from an acquaintance, I found my way one rainy morning to Sandholt in downtown Reykjavik.
While they do have a sit-down restaurant, it gets packed and the line can go out the door. I, however, grabbed a deliciously bitter coffee and four different pastries to go. Those pastries fueled many morning breakfasts outside our campervan, and I have no regrets.
Other bakeries recommneded by our Food Tour guide:
- Kattakaffihúsið (
Bergstaðastræti 10a, 101 Reykjavik) - Brauð og co (16 FrakkastÃgur, 101 Reykjavik)
Experience the Nightlife & the Cafe Culture
In addition to the cafe culture, downtown Reykjavik has a vibrant nightlife. Remember: this city is way far north, and in the summer, darkness doesn’t even happen. So many Icelandic people head out for dancing and bar-hopping around 11:00 p.m.
And, since darkness never falls, the body clock can get incredibly confused. It’s easy to find yourself still out at 1:00 a.m. feeling as though it is only 7:00 p.m. and the night is just getting started.
While articles and commentary express concern that Icelandic people drink too much and alcoholism is prevalent due to the dark winters, I can neither confirm nor deny that. The Icelandic people we spoke to while in the city scoffed at that idea. There were plenty of people out imbibing, some sloppiness, when we explored downtown Reykjavik on a Saturday night. But then, it’s a big city full of a lot of tourists on vacation, so who is to know?
We had a blast at a bar called The Old Bookstore. This was basically heaven to me. Walls lined with books for sale and to read, two bars serving strong coffee during the day and stronger brennivin at night… and when cocktail hour hit, a live band took to the stage to play all my favorite singalong hits. Generations were dancing alongside one another, making new friends, and singing at the top of their lungs. Obviously, I loved it.
Other recommended bars:
- The English Pub (Austurstræti 12, 101 ReykjavÃk)
- The Drunk Rabbit (Address: Austurstræti 3, 101 ReykjavÃk)
- Loft – HI Hostel and Bar (Bankastræti 7, 101 Reykjavik)
- Einstök bar (Laugarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavik)
- The Dubliner (Tryggvagata 22, 101 Reykjavik)
Walk on a Glacier
I am no stranger to the glacier hike/walk, but it is an experience that is always worth having. Each glacier is so different, and, of course, it hits me every time I see one how the earth is changing and how these ice rivers may no longer exist by the time my grandkids visit.
We opted to drive (and camp) in Skaftafell to enjoy Europe’s largest glacier. But that’s not feasible as a day trip from Reykjavik. Fortunately, there are smaller glaciers closer to the city that visitors can enjoy.
Arctic Adventures offers a tour of the Sólheimajökull glacier.
There is a glacier even closer to Reykjavik, Langjökull, but the tours here are snowmobiling and ice cave walks. (To be honest, I am not an advocate of snowmobiling for a variety of reasons, but do highly recommend a hike or walk in the crampons.)
PRO TIP: DO go with a licensed tour guide when you head to the glaciers. These are moving rivers of ice that change daily and require special knowledge and safety equipment.
More from Arctic Adventures:
Have a Smoothie and Put on a Face Mask in the Blue Lagoon
A visit to the Blue Lagoon is simply a necessary Iceland visit. It is a place that becomes a tourist destination in its own right because it really is that cool. While entry is not cheap, the place is gorgeous to behold, has all the showering and locker amenities you could need, and the general admission allows for one free beverage of choice (wine and beer included) and one free face mask. Bonus? You can stay as long as you want!
PRO TIP: Blue Lagoon is on the peninsula next to Keflavik International Airport. Many make this their first or last stop on their Iceland vacation. (We did this on a separate morning as we wanted time to really enjoy it.)
PRO TIP: DO get reservations in advance. And go either as early as you can or as late as you can. It gets pretty crowded starting around 11:00 a.m.
Do a Driving Tour
There are so many geothermal and icy wonders to see on this island country. Rent a car and spend a day taking a drive.
As we shared, driving in Iceland was easy. By renting a car, you allow yourself plenty of time to stop at the sites you want to see.
Options for drives include the Reykjanes Peninsula (which is what we did as it includes the lava field and volcano – BONUS: this is also where Blue Lagoon is), the Golden Circle (which we did in parts, which I highly recommend), or, further afield and requiring more driving time, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
See the Volcano & Lava Field
Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula is the active volcano right outside of Reykjavik: Fagradalsfjall.
This volcano was actively exploding in 2022 and, as of the writing of this article in July 2023, is active again.
While there wasn’t any lava coming out during our visit, the lava fields were fresh, overwhelming, and still hot.Â
Visiting this area was easy enough to get to (there is a parking lot that does require a payment by app). But once there, it bears a moment to follow all safety precautions. We saw people walking on the lava fields but, also, saw areas of the lava field that had collapsed in on itself because it was hollow and hot. Consider going with a guide.
Once in the area, hiking trails will take you up or take you around. We stayed low to the ground due to the weather and were absolutely mesmerized by the changing formations and the general otherworldliness of the area.
It is best to stay up to date and current on volcanic activities if this is on your itinerary.
Take a Hike
There are so many places in Iceland to get outside and take in the scenery – to get away from crowds and see the country silent, solo, and awed.
There is everything from easy, paved, more urban paths to waterfall and mountain hikes. We hiked Glymur waterfall (which I’ll share in more detail soon), but that is not for those who aren’t comfortable hiking or have a fear of heights.
Other Fun Ideas
We didn’t make it to these, but they came recommended by our tour guide and seconded by other travelers:
- Icelandic Saga: a 75 min play of the Icelandic story
- Bullseye ReykjavÃk: they call themselves the world’s largest dart bar
- Perlan Interactive Nature Museum: it sits on a hill outside of Reykjavik, with lots of immersive exhibitions and views of the city
- The Penis Museum: nope, not a typo! (maybe skip this if you’re with the kids)
- Snorkel or SCUBA the Silfra fissure: take a page from the Amazing Race, which featured this adventure last season! This super clear (although super cold!) body of water is in Thingvellir National Park outside of Reykjavik and is where two tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart