← All guides

Things to do in Reykjavík, sorted by locals.

The best things to do in Reykjavík, sorted the way locals would sort them: sights, museums, pools, food, nights out, free things, rainy days and kids. Every price is checked for 2026, and nothing here is on the list just because it pays for an advert. Reykjavik (or Reykjavík, if your keyboard allows it) is small enough to walk, so most of this fits into a few days.

Published 25 September 2026 · Icebreaker · Curated with The Reykjavík Grapevine

The short version

Reykjavík is a small capital with a lot packed into it. You can walk the whole centre in 20 minutes, and most of what is worth doing sits between Hallgrímskirkja on the hill and the Old Harbour on the water. If you only do five things, make them these:

1. Go to a public pool. The cheapest, most Icelandic thing in the city. About 1,500 ISK.
2. Walk Laugavegur down to the harbour, past Harpa and the Sun Voyager.
3. Go up Hallgrímskirkja tower on a clear day for the view over the rooftops.
4. Eat a hot dog and then something better. The city's food has come a long way.
5. Do one big paid thing: whale watching, the Lava Show, Perlan or a lagoon.

Reykjavík attractions: sights and landmarks

Hallgrímskirkja

The concrete church at the top of Skólavörðustígur, 74 metres tall and visible from nearly everywhere. The church itself is free to walk into. The lift up the tower costs about 1,500 ISK for adults and 200 ISK for children aged 7 to 16. Worth it when the sky is clear, less so in low cloud when you pay to look at grey.

Harpa

The glass concert hall on the harbour. You can walk in for free, ride the stairs up for harbour views and sit in the foyer out of the wind. At night the facade lights up. If there is a concert on, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra plays here, and tickets are often easier to get than you'd think. Check live events for what's on.

Sun Voyager (Sólfar)

The steel ship-skeleton sculpture on the Sæbraut seafront, a ten-minute walk east of Harpa. Free, always open, always someone taking a photo. Go early in the morning or at sunset in winter and you may have it to yourself. Mount Esja sits across the bay behind it.

Laugavegur and the downtown streets

Laugavegur is the main shopping street, running from Hlemmur down into the old centre. Skólavörðustígur, the one with the painted rainbow, climbs up to the church. Between them you get bookshops, wool shops, record stores, bakeries and bars. Tjörnin, the city pond by City Hall, is a five-minute walk from the bottom of Laugavegur and full of ducks, geese and swans.

Old Harbour and Grandi

The Old Harbour is where whale watching and puffin boats leave from, with seafood restaurants along the docks. Keep walking west and you reach Grandi, the old fishing district. The warehouses now hold FlyOver Iceland, the Lava Show, Whales of Iceland, the Maritime Museum, a food hall, an ice cream shop with a queue and a few galleries. It is the easiest place in town to fill a whole afternoon.

Perlan

The glass dome on top of hot water tanks on Öskjuhlíð hill. Inside is Wonders of Iceland: a man-made ice cave, glacier and volcano exhibits, a planetarium aurora show and a 360-degree viewing deck. Adult tickets are from about 7,100 ISK online and a little more at the desk, children 5 to 12 from about 5,100 ISK. The viewing deck is included in admission and not sold separately. Plan two to three hours.

Whale watching from the Old Harbour

Boats leave from the Old Harbour all year, around three hours on the water in Faxaflói bay. Adult tickets run from about 14,500 ISK. Summer (roughly April to October) brings calmer seas and more reliable sightings of minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins and, in season, puffins. Winter trips are shorter on daylight and rougher. Many operators offer a free second trip if you see nothing. You can book whale watching through Icebreaker, and our whale watching guide compares Reykjavík with the north.

FlyOver Iceland and the Lava Show

Two indoor, paid, one-hour things in Grandi, both good for a bad-weather day. FlyOver Iceland is a flight-simulator ride over the country, with your feet dangling in front of a huge dome screen. Adults from about 5,700 ISK, kids 12 and under from about 3,700 ISK. Lava Show melts real rock to around 1,100 °C and pours it in front of you. Adults from about 6,600 ISK, children 12 and under from about 3,600 ISK. Both are bookable on Icebreaker.

Museums in Reykjavík worth the ticket

• National Museum of Iceland (Suðurgata 41). Twelve centuries of Icelandic history in one permanent exhibition. Adults about 3,300 ISK, under 18s free. Open daily 10:00–17:00.
• The Settlement Exhibition (Aðalstræti 16). A 10th-century longhouse excavated where it stood, under a downtown street. Small, clever and about an hour. Adults from about 2,900 ISK, children free.
• Icelandic Phallological Museum (Kalkofnsvegur 2, Hafnartorg). Yes, that one. Over 300 specimens from over 100 species, presented with a straight face and a pun-heavy gift shop. Adults about 2,750 ISK.
• Whales of Iceland (Grandi). Over 20 life-size whale models, good for kids. Adults about 4,000 ISK.
• Reykjavík Art Museum. Three branches: Hafnarhús downtown for contemporary work, Kjarvalsstaðir by Klambratún park, and Ásmundarsafn for sculpture. One ticket covers all three on the same day.

Pools and lagoons in Reykjavík

If you do one thing on this list, do this. Icelanders go to the pool the way other people go to the pub: to sit in a hot pot and talk about the weather, politics and each other. A single adult entry to a city pool is about 1,500 ISK, children 0 to 9 with a guardian go free, and ages 10 to 17 pay about 400 ISK. You can rent a towel and swimsuit at the desk. See all the options on our pools page.

• Sundhöllin (Barónsstígur). The city's oldest indoor pool, from 1937, with newer outdoor hot tubs and a steam room. A five-minute walk from Hallgrímskirkja.
• Vesturbæjarlaug (Hofsvallagata). The west-side neighbourhood pool where half of 107 Reykjavík seems to go every morning. The real local experience.
• Laugardalslaug. The biggest pool in the city, with a 50-metre outdoor lane, waterslide and plenty of hot pots. Best for families.

Sky Lagoon

A cliffside infinity lagoon in Kársnes, Kópavogur, about 15 minutes from downtown by car or bus. Its selling point is the seven-step Skjól ritual: cold plunge, sauna with a sea view, cold mist, body scrub, steam, shower. Passes start from roughly 13,000 ISK and rise with the package and the time slot, so check the current price when you book. Nobody under 12 is allowed in, and 12 to 14 year olds must come with an adult. Book ahead for weekends and sunset slots. For how it compares to the Blue Lagoon and the rest, read our lagoons guide.

What to eat and drink in Reykjavík

Reykjavík is expensive to eat in, but it is no longer the land of dried fish and not much else. The food halls are the easy win: Hlemmur Mathöll at the top of Laugavegur, and Grandi Mathöll down by the harbour, both with a spread of stalls and prices somewhere between a hot dog and a proper dinner.

• Hot dogs. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur near the harbour, open since 1937. Order eina með öllu, one with everything. Under 1,000 ISK.
• Lamb soup and fish stew. The two warming classics. A bowl with bread is one of the better-value lunches in town.
• Bakeries. Kanilsnúður (cinnamon bun) and coffee for breakfast is standard practice.
• Skyr and ice cream. Icelanders eat ice cream year-round, in the snow, and don't see the problem.
• Cheap eats. Soup, bakeries, food trucks and lunch offers. Our cheap eats list is updated with places that won't hurt.

For the full rundown on dishes, see what to eat in Reykjavík. For the restaurants, bars and cafés that won in The Reykjavík Grapevine's annual awards, go to Best of Reykjavík.

Reykjavík at night

Nightlife here starts late and ends later. On Fridays and Saturdays nobody serious goes out before 22:00, and the downtown bars around Laugavegur, Bankastræti and Austurstræti fill up after midnight. Weeknights are quieter and better for live music, quiz nights and conversations you can actually hear.

• Happy hour is how locals drink. A beer at full price costs a lot. Most bars run a happy hour in the late afternoon or early evening with pints at a discount. The happy hour list shows who's running deals right now.
• Live music and events. Gigs at small venues, concerts at Harpa, club nights, comedy and theatre. See what's on this week on events.
• Northern lights. From September to April, the best thing you can do on a clear night is leave the city lights. See below.

Grótta lighthouse for the northern lights

Grótta, at the tip of the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, is the closest properly dark spot to downtown: about 15 minutes by car or a longer bus ride and walk. Face north over the sea and there is little light to wash out the aurora. There is a small geothermal foot bath, Kvika, on the shore by the car park, free to use. Check tonight's aurora forecast before you head out, and read how to use it in our northern lights guide.

Free things to do in Reykjavík

Reykjavík is not a cheap city, which makes the free stuff more valuable. A good day can cost almost nothing:

• Walk into Hallgrímskirkja and Harpa. Both free inside. Only the church tower costs.
• The Sun Voyager and the seafront path. The walk along Sæbraut from Harpa east is flat, free and has Esja across the water.
• Tjörnin and City Hall. The pond, the birds, and a large 3D relief map of Iceland inside City Hall.
• Kolaportið flea market. Weekends only, 11:00–17:00, in the old customs house by the harbour. Second-hand wool jumpers, old records, and the fermented shark counter if you're brave. Looking is free.
• Grótta and the Kvika foot bath. A walk along the shore with a free hot soak at the end.
• Öskjuhlíð woods. The forested hill around Perlan. Walk up for the view and the walk back down to Nauthólsvík beach.
• Street art. Big murals around the centre, especially near Hlemmur and in the side streets off Laugavegur.

Free vs paid things to do in Reykjavík, side by side

Approximate 2026 prices, from the venues' own sites and booking pages, September 2026. They change. See how much Iceland costs and the budget planner for the full picture.

Viðey island

A short ferry ride from Skarfabakki pier, Viðey is a mostly empty, grassy island with walking paths, Iceland's second-oldest church, sculpture by Richard Serra and Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower, which is lit up on set evenings each year. The return ferry is about 2,500 ISK for adults, and free with the City Card. From mid-May to the end of August it runs daily, with a couple of summer departures from the Old Harbour too. The rest of the year it only runs at weekends, a few times each afternoon, so plan around that.

What to do in Reykjavík on a rainy day

It will rain. Sideways, usually. The good news is that Reykjavík was built by people who know this, and the city does indoor well.

• Go swimming anyway. Sitting in a hot pot while cold rain lands on your head is a top-five Iceland experience. Locals don't cancel the pool for weather.
• Museum afternoon. The National Museum and the Settlement Exhibition are a 10-minute walk apart.
• Grandi under one roof. FlyOver, the Lava Show and Whales of Iceland are within a few minutes of each other, with the food hall in between.
• Perlan. The ice cave is indoors, which is the point.
• Kolaportið at the weekend, then lunch at a food hall.
• Harpa foyer with a coffee, watching the weather hit the glass.

If you want to know what's coming, our Reykjavík weather by month guide explains what each season actually feels like.

Reykjavík with kids

Reykjavík is an easy city with children: short distances, safe streets and pools everywhere. Kids under 10 swim free with an adult at the city pools, and under 18s get into many museums free.

• Laugardalslaug for the waterslide and the shallow warm pools.
• Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo in Laugardalur. Icelandic farm animals, seals, reindeer and a play park. Around 1,500–1,700 ISK for adults, less for kids.
• Whales of Iceland and Perlan, both a hit with anyone who likes big things.
• The Lava Show, short and loud enough to hold a seven-year-old's attention.
• Feeding the ducks at Tjörnin. Free, and all ages agree on it.

Sky Lagoon is out for under-12s, so plan a pool instead. For more family ideas and what's on for kids this week, see Reykjavík with kids.

Day trips from Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the base for most of the classic day trips. You can drive them yourself or take a tour. If you drive, check road conditions before you set off, especially from October to April.

• Golden Circle, done properly: the order to do it in and where to stop.
• The South Coast: waterfalls, black sand and the beach that needs respect.
• Ice caves and glacier hikes: always with a certified guide, and ice caves only in season.
• Best tours in Iceland: which ones earn their price.

If you have more than a few days, see things to do in Iceland for the rest of the country.

FAQ

What is the number one thing to do in Reykjavík?

Go to a geothermal public pool. Sundhöllin or Vesturbæjarlaug cost about 1,500 ISK, and sitting in a hot pot with locals is the most Icelandic thing you can do in the city.

How many days do you need in Reykjavík?

Two days covers the city itself: the sights, a museum or two, a pool, the harbour and a night out. Add a day for each day trip, like the Golden Circle or the South Coast.

What are the best free things to do in Reykjavík?

Walk into Hallgrímskirkja and Harpa, see the Sun Voyager, walk around Tjörnin pond, browse Kolaportið flea market at the weekend, and soak your feet in the free Kvika foot bath at Grótta.

What can you do in Reykjavík when it rains?

Go swimming anyway, since the hot pots are best in bad weather. Otherwise the National Museum, the Settlement Exhibition, Perlan, FlyOver Iceland, the Lava Show and Whales of Iceland are all indoors.

Can you see the northern lights from Reykjavík?

Yes, from September to April on clear, dark nights with enough solar activity. Strong displays are visible from the city, but you will see more at Grótta lighthouse, about 15 minutes from downtown, away from the streetlights.

Is Reykjavík good for kids?

Very. Distances are short, children under 10 swim free at city pools with an adult, and the Family Park and Zoo, Perlan, Whales of Iceland and the Lava Show all work for families. Sky Lagoon does not allow children under 12.

Is the Reykjavík City Card worth it?

It is if you visit two or more museums and a pool in a day. The 24-hour card costs about 6,100 ISK and also covers city buses and the Viðey ferry. If you only plan one museum, pay as you go.