Unmissable Attractions in Reykjavik

Dominating the edge of Reykjavik with its glass-panelled facade is the Harpa Concert Hall. Home to the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, the building won the 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, cementing its place among the most famous Icelandic landmarks. The mesmerising crystalline design reflects light off its glass windows, making it a treat to see from the inside and out. More than just an impressive architectural wonder, the concert hall is open all year round offering theatre, music and comedy shows.

During the warmer summer months, thousands of whales migrate to the waters surrounding Iceland. Located in a warehouse in the Grandi district, the Whales of Iceland exhibition is dedicated to educating visitors about these gentle giants, their anatomy, swimming patterns and mating habits. With the help of virtual-reality headsets, visitors can observe whales in their natural habitat, and spot 23 scale models of all whale species found in Icelandic waters hanging from the ceiling.

Overlooking the city from the highest point in Reykjavík, this iconic concrete church can be seen from anywhere in the city. The unusual architectural style represents the basalt columns that are found throughout the Icelandic countryside, and appears to be pixellated when viewed in low light, as each column casts a shadow onto the next. Though it’s free to enter Hallgrímskirkja, it’s highly recommended that you pay the fee to take the lift up to the top of the building as it offers one of the best views of the city. Open year-round, you can see the snow-capped Snæfellsnes glacier on sunny days; however, watch out for the cold winds blowing at the top, even on the warmest days. A visit during the summer means that you’ll be able to catch a concert during the international organ festival when musicians from all over the world come to play on the Hallgrímskirkja pipe organ.

The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most well-known attraction, with its milky-blue hot springs set in a beautiful setting of black lava bedrock. Some may call it a tourist trap, but what a lovely place to be trapped; aside from the picturesque location, the Blue Lagoon offers pool massages, a swim-up bar and silica masks for impromptu facials. Easily accessible from Keflavik airport, the geothermal pool is also easily reachable from the city centre, with multiple bus connections departing from Reykjavik on a daily basis. Most people do this world-famous attraction on their last day in the city as the perfect Icelandic send off.

Even if you’re visiting during the summer when the midnight sun prevents them from showing, there’s still a chance to see the Northern Lights. This small but dedicated museum near Reykjavik’s Old Harbour celebrates this mystical display of nature, exploring the science as well as the myths and legends that surround them. You can even find out how to best capture the vivid display of nature with your camera by visiting their photography section.

The most popular piece of public art in Reykjavik, the Sun Voyager is a curving sculpture of shining steel that forms the shape of a boat. It was designed by the late Icelandic artist Jón Gunnar Árnason. Viewed from the right angle it seems to float above land and sea, offering the perfect foreground subject for photos of Mount Esja or a stunning Icelandic sunset. You can find it on the edge of the ocean, close to downtown Reykjavik.

The Einar Jónsson Museum, dedicated to Icelandic sculptor Einar Jónsson, houses a collection of beautiful artworks. What most people are not aware of is that behind the museum there is a garden, open all year round, that also exhibits some remarkable sculptures. It was originally designed by Jónsson himself, although parts of the garden have now been changed and redesigned. It is a pleasant place in which to stop and take in some of Iceland’s culture – even better, there are no entrance fees.

Reykjavik has some pretty good theater productions, although visitors are often not aware of them since much of the focus of visiting Iceland is on wandering around the beautiful natural landscapes and not really on exploring its cultural activities. However, the shows that are put on at The North Pole theater are well worth a watch, and some of them have a very international feel about them. The theater is situated in the Seltjarnarnes area, and is, for now, one of the city’s hidden gems.

A bizarre market if there ever was one, Kolaportið has it all; antiques, toys, clothes, food, candy and much, much more. This market is located by the famous Old Harbor in Reykjavik, one of the most famous parts of the city. After exploring the area and seeing some of the most important sites, such as the Harpa building, travelers should definitely stop by this indoor market. It is open during the weekends, and it is very entertaining to search through the mountains of objects and find a unique treasure.

The main street in Reykjavík extends all the way from downtown to the trendy district of Hlemmur. Known as the city’s main shopping street, Laugavegur is one of the oldest roads in Iceland and was once the route that women took to wash clothes in the hot springs centuries ago. Home to a number of fashion boutiques, vintage stores and puffin gift stores, Laugavegur turns into a pedestrianised street in the summer with local residents making it their main route for pub crawls.

Reykjavík has upped its game in recent years to provide premium entertainment for visitors. The latest attraction to offer a stunning visual experience and give tourists a taste of the wider countryside is FlyOver Iceland. Easily accessible in the Grandi harbour area, visitors are able to take a virtual flight over the Icelandic landscape, flying over waterfalls, black sand beaches and glaciers. Suspended with your feet dangling, the ride comes with special effects to give visitors a surreal experience.

What used to be a cluster of geothermal water tanks on top of Öskjuhlíð hill has been transformed into one of Reykjavik’s must-visit museums. Step inside and you’ll find exhibitions covering Iceland’s diverse and powerful natural wonders, from volcanoes and glaciers to geothermal energy and wildlife. At Perlan, you can catch an immersive short film about the Northern Lights, and using using virtual-reality tools you can walk inside an artificial ice cave or observe sea birds on the cliffs around the country. When you’ve finished exploring the museum, go up to the observation deck on the top level for panoramic views of Reykjavik.

The Marshall House (Marshallhusið) opened in 2017 in a rapidly transforming part of Reykjavik. Named after US Marshall aid to Iceland during WWII and once long empty, is now a powerhouse of artistic energy. With a bar and restaurant on the ground floor, the three upper floors each feature a different exhibition space/studio. On the first floor is NÝLO (Nýlistasafnið) or The Living Art Museum, a non-profit, artist-run museum and association as well as venue space. On the third floor is Kling og Bang, established in 2003, also by local artists whose works challenge creative thinking. On the fourth floor is an open studio exhibition space of Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, whose research-oriented conceptual art combines the best of visual art and science.

Marshallhúsið | Courtesy of Nýlistasafnið/Photo by Lilja Birgisdóttir.

This scenic lake in the centre of downtown Reykjavík is home to 40-50 species of birds. In the summer the area swarms with Arctic terns swooping to catch flies in the evenings, and during wintertime, you can hear Hooper swans taking turns to honk at each other. As the lake freezes in the winter, the pond becomes the main place for ice skating in the city. Meanwhile, the council pumps hot water into one end of the lake to ensure the birds are still able to swim there.

Iceland’s rich history and heritage are brought to life in the city’s modernised National Museum, which displays an impressive collection of artefacts from the era of the very first Viking settlers to the present day. Browsing through the 2,000 objects and 1,000 photographs of Making of a Nation, the museum’s permanent exhibition, is a good way to acquaint yourself with Iceland’s treasures. For a more diverse cultural experience, the museum also hosts an impressive range of temporary exhibits that showcase the work of contemporary artists, offering an intricate panorama of Icelandic life.

To get a taste of just how different things are up north, a visit to the Nauthólsvík geothermal beach is a must. Geothermally heated water from Perlan spills out into a small artificial lagoon filled with colder seawater, creating a slightly warmer-than-normal bathing experience in the Icelandic ocean. Luckily, there’s also an artificial hot spring on-site, so do as the locals do and take a quick dip at the beach before retreating to the comfort of the long rectangular pool by the changing rooms.

The Settlement Exhibition explores the challenges faced by Iceland’s first settlers | Courtesy of Reykjavik City Museum | Courtesy of Reykjavik City Museum

This restaurant serves one of the meanest burgers in Reykjavik, but it is not really advertised on most tourist guides, so the clientele is largely local. The Forget-me-not burger is one of a kind and truly a specialty burger, and the blue cheese burger is a Icelandic favorite. The buns, the meat, the fries, the sauces and all the extra ingredients merge together to make an unforgettable dining experience, great for fueling a day of sightseeing in the capital.

Elliðaárdalur is a stunning part of Iceland’s capital, with woodlands, waterfalls, rivers and wildlife. Visitors can even expect to see rabbits darting in and out of the bushes. Here tourists can take a relaxing stroll exploring nature, watching salmon swim in the river and animals roam the woods, until they reach the open-air museum. The site has over 20 buildings and recreates a town, showing what the architecture and way of life was like in Iceland centuries ago. Afterwards, a visit to the incredible Árbæjarlaug swimming pool is a great way to end a calm evening.

From the Hlemmur Bus Station in Reykjavik, take a 20-minute bus ride to the hiking centre at the foot of Mount Esja. There are a few different paths to choose from to get to the top, but all of them offer beautiful scenery. A rather steep climb in places, it is still a very popular running route. Once at the top, enjoy the view of Reykjavik and the surrounding northern Atlantic Ocean.

Tourists in Iceland can go their whole holiday without seeing a coin or a banknote, since nowadays pretty much everything on the island can be paid with a credit card. Those who are interested in learning a bit more about the Icelandic currency should pay the Central Bank of Iceland a visit. The lower floor has an exhibition with over 20,000 coins and 5,000 notes from Iceland and other countries. Admission here is free and it is open throughout the week from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

The Culture House is located in a historical building in downtown Reykjavik that was formerly a Danish government building. Inside you can find the entire space devoted to the ongoing exhibition Points of View which looks at different aspects of Icelandic culture through visual art from Icelandic art history, crafts, design, and literature. This is definitely the place to get a very well rounded view of Icelandic visual culture.

Iceland is historically a seafaring nation, so it makes sense that they have cultivated some great ways to prepare seafood. You can wander from the harbor restaurants to the Kolaportið flea market where you can buy fresh seafood to prepare yourself at home. There are many great seafood shops and markets in the capital area such as Fiskbúðin on Sunlaugavegi, Fiskikóngurinn, and Fiskibúðin Vegamót in Seltjarnarnes. Here you can find prepared seafood dishes in a variety of herbs and spices such as curried catfish with cashews or marinated cod in sundried tomatoes, garlic, and pepper.

A peaceful escape from the streets of Reykjavik, the city’s Botanical Gardens show off a surprising number of plants that flourish in the subarctic climate. Paths meander through the well-kept gardens, and a café serving up light meals and snacks made from produce grown on-site can be found in the centre of the garden. Nearby is Reykjavik’s humble zoo, where you will meet the local domestic animals such as reindeer, rabbits and goats, and Laugardalslaug, the city’s biggest swimming pool and sports complex.

Despite the dreary weather that plagues Reykjavik for most of the year, residents love going out for a walk or jog whenever possible. Located at the remote tip of the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula northwest of the city, Grótta nature reserve is a favourite place to do so. A great spot to watch the colourful Northern Lights thanks to minimal light pollution, you’ll also be treated to unimpeded views towards the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Snæfellsjökull, the glacier-covered volcano at its tip.

The National Gallery of Iceland, Listasafn Íslands, was founded in 1884 and is located by the picturesque pond in downtown Reykjavik. The main focus is on 19th and 20th-century Icelandic art, including the most valuable pieces of Icelandic art in the country. Exhibitions feature a rotation of works by both Icelandic and international artists. Most recently the museum acquired the archive of the pioneers of video art, Steina and Woody Vasulka, which is on view in the Vasulka Chamber, which opened in 2014 and aims to be a centre for electronic and media art, the only one of its kind in Iceland.