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Places to visit in Reykjavík

Places to Visit in Reykjavík

Places to Go in Reykjavik

Hallgrímskirkja Church, Downtown, Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall, Thermal Pools, The Settlement Exhibition, Mount Esja, Perlan Museum of Icelandic Natural Wonders, National Museum of Iceland and many more

Often referred to as the oasis of peace, a location filled with richness and history and home to numerous scenic abodes, one will find many beautiful places to visit in Iceland Reykjavik. No matter whether you amble down the downtown streets, go out for a sightseeing excursion or dip in thermal hot springs, you will get the best moments to ever live in your life.

Many places to go in Reykjavik like the Mount Esja and the Videy Island are known to offer a proper natural encounter. With their splendid beauty and array of activities on exhibit, these places have been attracting flocks of tourists throughout the world. Even after being a small city, Reykjavik remains home to more than 400 cathedrals and around 65 parks. The colorful coastal homes, vibrant art and culture, and the rich Viking history will definitely startle you. This city is a mecca of contemporary architecture and cultural fusion which can be easily seen at most beautiful places in Reykjavik .While most of its area remains closer to the coast, you will alway remain in a close vicinity of a beach and will surely enjoy numerous water based adventures.

Here's the list of best places to visit in Reykjavik:

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15
Places to visit in Reykjavík
Hallgrímskirkja Church
About: The Hallgrímskirkja Church is one of the most notable places to visit in Iceland Reykjavik. Enjoy the immersive building that offers a blend of beauty, history, and magnificent architecture. Located in the heart of the city, the Hallgrímskirkja Church dominates Reykjavik's skyline.

The iconic church was built as an homage to the Icelandic poet, Hallgrímur Pétursson. It seems omnipresent from anywhere in Reykjavik. The 25-ton pipe organ is a majestic piece to see. Don’t miss the chance to visit the unique white-concrete statue when you are here. Look for the elevator to climb up 74 meters to the turret to get a splendid view of the city.

Location:
Hallgrímstorg 1, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Price:
$8 entree fee (adults).

Timing:
9 AM to 5 PM (Winter) & 9 AM to 9 PM (Summer).

Best Time to Visit:
June to August.
Downtown
Plan your visit to Downtown Reykjavik to feel the ambiance of a small town filled with wonky little houses and comfy restaurants. The place is home to stand-alone boutiques selling exquisite items like Icelandic wool clothing and volcanic rock pottery. Don’t miss the palatable servings from the exotic eateries here.

Go for a walk through the evening to feel the ocean breeze at the waterfront walkway. The fine art and architecture will just cheer you up. As it gets dusky, hurry up for the solfar sculpture to see the most exuberant sunsets you will ever see in Iceland.

Location: Centre, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.

Price: $100-$251 per day per person.

Timing: 10 AM to 8 PM.

Best Time to Visit: June to August.
Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall
Harpa is a one-stop cultural and social center in the middle of the city. The concert hall is a tantalizing destination for riveted travelers and has enticed over 10 million guests since its inception in 2011. The concert hall displays an artistic honeycomb exterior that is a delight to the eyes.

It serves dualistic purposes for the visitors, extraordinary in the daylight, and changing windows with rainbow colors mesmerizes the nighttime explorers too. Explore a range of options of Nordic design, flowers, and other eminent gift items at the Harpa shops when you are here.

Location: Harpan, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.

Price: $5

Timing: 8 AM to 12 AM.

Best Time to Visit: July to August.
Thermal Pools
When it comes to finding the prominent places to visit in Iceland Reykjavik, thermal pools are the best pick for you. Walk through the city to find the best geothermal pool for yourself.  The city of Reykjavik has 17 thermal pools around the city filled with natural geothermal water springs.

These pools are community socializing spots and offer a natural healing therapy for the body, mind, and soul. Immerse yourself into the soaking custom of bathing into thermal pools. The open community pools form an inevitable part of the Icelandic culture and offer exceptional healing qualities. Go for the Blue Lagoon trip to take back an enthralling pool experience for your home.

Location: Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, Iceland

Price: $41 per person

Timing: 6 AM to 11 PM

Best Time to Visit: October to April
The Settlement Exhibition
It is a great stop for curious globetrotters willing to learn more about the early settlers of Iceland. The exhibition walks tourists through an excavated farmhouse dating back to 871 AD. Take the interactive display tour and artifact cases to gain more insights into the Viking settlement life.

Digital interactive displays help you see the primitive Icelandic life and instill a note of appreciation for the Viking influences. The preserved artifacts will serve you with enough evidence to delve deeper into the Vikings' story. The Settlement Exhibition is located at the Adalstraeti 16. It rests near the Viking longhouse archaeological site. 

Location: Aðalstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Price: $15 per person.

Timing: 9 AM to 6 PM.

Best Time to Visit: September to mid-April.
Mount Esja
The majestic aura of Mount Esja Makes it one of the most beautiful places in Reykjavik that you could ever find during your Iceland trip. Mountain Esja is the crown jewel in Reykjavik’s skyline and is known for offering a hiking turf for both locals and tourists alike.

For tourists, Esja is a natural workout station, with acute slopes testing your strength in every step, and its majestic views making it all worthwhile. The flat-topped 914 meters high mountain is 6.21 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik. The mountain hike is for both casual and pro hikers. However, limit yourself to going above the Steinn point. As beyond this point, it is a choice limited to experienced climbers and hikers only.

Location: Þverfellshorn ranges, Iceland.

Price: $282 entree fee.

Timing: 6 AM to 5 PM.

Best Time to Visit: November to March.

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National Museum Of Iceland

The National Museum of Iceland is a modern and progressive experience that provides an insight into Iceland‘s past 1200 years of cultural history. The museum was opened on 24th February 1863 as Antiquarian Collection and was housed in several buildings in Reykjavik, before being housed in the current building at Suðurgata Street in 1944.

Arbaer Open Air Museum
Fun, mesmerizing, and full of surprises, this living museum walks you on a journey of time. Arbaer Open-Air Museum is a small village outside the city. It takes over an hour from Reykjavik to reach but is worth visiting. You can find the old houses at the museum and understand the lifestyle of the old Reykjavik.

Don’t miss the Arbaer turf farm, the only existing turf farm in the capital city. Enjoy the history of Reykjavik preserved in more than 20 restored historical old homes. The museum is open all year round to take guided tours in it.

Location: 4, 110, Kistuhylur, Reykjavík, Iceland.

Price: $13 (adults).

Timing: 10 AM to 5 PM.

Best Time to Visit: January to December.
Sun Voyager
The Sun Voyager (Sólfarið) is a large steel carving of a ship, definitely worth a visit for voyagers. It is the most touristic display where flocks of people come together to see the sun reflection in the steel model. Located on the Sæbraut road, the seaside model of central Reykjavik displays a perfect blend of art and nature.

The stunning display offers a great photo opportunity with the sea all over and mountains at the back. The monument displays, “the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress, and freedom.” Include Sun Voyager in your bucket list of places to go in Reykjavik.

Location: Sæbraut, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Price: $12 (entree fee).

Timing: 4 PM to 7 PM.

Best Time to Visit: Mid-May to late-July.
Snorralaug

Snorralaug is a historical geothermal pool nestled in Reykholt, Iceland. Regarded as the oldest known hot springs in the country, it boasts a rich history that dates back to the medieval era. The pool is named after a popular Icelandic poet, historian, and chieftain named Snorri Sturluson, who belonged to the 13th century. Earlier, Snorri used the hot spring for different rituals and bathing as it offered endless healing possibilities. When you travel to Snorralaug, there is a circular stone pool surrounded by a well-preserved stone wall, adding more to its glory. 

Old Harbour Area
The Old Harbour area will give you a glimpse of Icelandic culture as this part of the city offers amazing sights of bays and Mount Esja. Here, you can enjoy the eclectic views of the ocean from any of the water-faced restaurants, the boats, the gusto of a working harbor, and the aura of the sea.

This cosmopolitan area is a hub of sumptuous seafood bistros, fancy design boutiques, souvenirs, and coffee shops, and all these factors make it one of the most beautiful places in Reykjavik. In the Old Harbour Area, you can enjoy pre-dinner drinks and meals trailed by the whale and birdwatching tours. It is quite easy to reach the Old Harbour area within a few minutes of walking from the city center. 

Location: Geirsgata 5c, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Price: $26 - $50 per person.

Timing: 8 AM to 9 PM.

Best Time to Visit: June to August.
Videy Island
An island where art, history, and nature fuse together to finally present the visitor with a peaceful surrounding.The island offers a blend of esthetic views, historical remains, and modern art pieces all within a small vicinity from each other.

The Videy island sits off the coast of Reykjavik with beautiful artworks and intrinsic natural beauty. Due to its smaller size, the island is easy to explore on foot and by bike. You can even take a short boat ride to enter another dimension of peace and joy. The place is an exotic destination for photographers and artists to explore the abundance of wildlife and vegetation.

Location: Videy, Iceland.

Price: $35 - $50 (entree fee).

Timing: 8 AM to 6 PM.

Best Time to Visit: April to September.
Bruarfoss Waterfall
Bruarfoss is one of the most beautiful places in Reykjavik due to the serenity which surrounds it. Bruarfoss, is named after the stone archway that crisscrossed the river once and this waterfall is famed for radiating an oceanic blue color.

In fact, it is celebrated as “Iceland’s Bluest Waterfall.” To get here, you have to cover a round-trip hike of 7 km (4.4 miles) towards the west of Iceland, which is over an hour’s journey from east of Reykjavik. The hike offers an array of smaller waterfalls on display, however the Bruarfoss is clearly the big show here.

Location: Brekkuskógur, Road 355, Iceland, Reykjavik.

Price: $50 per person.

Timing: 9 AM to 4 PM.

Best Time to Visit: June to September.
Grotta Lighthouse
Grotta Lighthouse is a nature reserve on the top of the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. The place offers a great place to take a casual walk and move out from the hustle and bustle of Reykjavik city. Quite popular for the amazing Northern Lights, make sure to catch hold of the glimpses of it.

The spot is home to a variety of bird species, making it an ideal place for birdwatching. Grotta Lighthouse is on the outskirts of Reykjavik city and is a prime sightseeing location. Access the lighthouse during low tides, as it is hard to reach the spot during high tides. 

Location: Grótta Island Lighthouse, Iceland, Seltjarnarnes, Iceland.

Price: $4 (bus ticket).

Timing: 6 PM to 12 AM.

Best Time to Visit: June to August.

Reykjavík Reviews

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Reviewed: 03 Oct 2024
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Reykjavík FAQ's

Which are the best places to visit in Reykjavik?

1. Golden Circle: Golden Circle 300 km area of the city in which three major places to visit in Iceland Reykjavik are covered - the Gullfoss Waterfall, Pingvellir National Park, and the Haukadalur geothermal hot springs and geysers.

2. Harpa: Cherish the stunning architectural beauty of Harpa and immerse yourself in the live shows and concerts for an entire day. It offers exquisite boutiques and lavish dining options, putting it under the chart of top places to go in Reykjavik.
 
3. Akurey: Take a short trip to Akurey for bird watching. Enjoy the native blend of Icelandic species with glimpses of puffins and various other seabirds like gulls, terns, and fulmars.
 
4. Reykjanes Peninsula: This peninsula is full of active lava fields, hot springs, and volcanic craters. In addition to this, one will also find numerous museums and churches with amazing landscapes which are considered to be some of the best Reykjavik places to visit in Iceland.

What can you do for free in Reykjavik?

1. Take a walking tour of the city: One of the best ways to explore any city is by taking its walking tour and covering major tourist attractions on foot. While in Reykjavik, you can easily cover locations like Videy Island, Grotta Lighthouse and Sun Voyager easily. 

2. Explore a beach: Being a coastal city, Reykjavik will bestow you with a million chances to stay close to the beaches and enjoy seaside activities on your own. For more fun, you can choose to sit by seaside and gaze into the uninterrupted views of the setting sun. 

3. Blue Lagoon Dip: Take a dip at the blue lagoon to enjoy the geothermal spa experience in thermal pools and waterfalls. 
Blue Lagoon is a top choice among tourists on the list of Reykjavik places to visit.

4. Watch Northern Lights: You can take your personal vehicles to various spots where watching the Northern Lights is easy to enjoy this free activity. The coasts are the best places to offer a clear sky and broad horizon perfect for viewing aurora light experiences.

Which are the places to visit in Reykjavik for Northern lights?

1. Reykjavik Boat Cruise: Take a boat trip from the harbor to view the dancing lights on top of the ocean. Clear skies and quiet seas are a must-have combo for it. Dropping the boat trip from the list of Reykjavik places to visit is unthinkable.

2. Pingvellir National Park: Go to the National Park of Pingvellir to see the aurora experience. The place offers minimal light pollution and a clear sky.

3. Jokulsarlon: Include the glacial lagoon trip on your bucket list to feel the unique landscape and explore the northern lights. This is a must-visit place for artists and photographers.

4. Reynisfjara Black and Sand Beach: Take out some time from your trip to discover the dramatic views and sound of the waves. The basalt stacks offer a front-row seat to the extraordinary light show. This sandy beach is a few of the unique places to visit in Iceland Reykjavik, and in the whole of Europe.

Is Reykjavik expensive to visit?

Reykjavik is an expensive city with higher travel costs for tourists. For an adult, the average cost for a trip to Reykjavik can cost anywhere between ?100,000 to ?160,000 for a week. This amount will include a stay, food, travel and transportation costs.

What is famous in Reykjavik?

Reykjavik, the coastal city of Iceland is known for its thriving nightlife, vibrant culture and rich history. This place is also known for offering a plethora of on land and water based activities to the tourists. Having a smaller area, the places to visit in Iceland Reykjavik make it easy for bar crawlers to have fun while bar hopping.

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