Reykjavík City Guide: What to See, Eat, and Do in Iceland’s Capital
If you haven’t already read my other Iceland posts, I’ll start by saying I’m quite the Iceland fan. I’ve been four times and always leave wanting to return. On my most recent trip, we did a stopover before heading to Finland. My friend and I had both been multiple times, so we decided to spend a few days in Reykjavík to relax and fulfill our fantasy of pretending we lived there.
Iceland is an insanely gorgeous country, with endless natural beauty that changes at every turn. While I wouldn’t recommend only visiting Reykjavík—since the true magic lies hours down the road—it’s a sweet city with plenty to see and do. Icelandair offers stopovers to numerous other countries, so many travelers only have a few days to explore the land of fire and ice.
Reykjavík isn’t a major metropolitan area, despite being the capital. Keep in mind that the entire country has a population of just under 390,000, with 64% living in the capital region. Though the city has office buildings and tourist traps (yes, there’s a Hard Rock Cafe), it still feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle—while offering some of the conveniences of city life.
See
Icelandic Phallological Museum – I can now say I’ve been here three times. When I visited, families were there with their children, as there are no age restrictions. It’s not a raunchy museum—it truly is just a place that houses over 300 animal penile specimens (and one human…). The first time I went in 2019, it was just a single room with penises plastered floor to ceiling on the walls. They’ve since moved into a more traditional museum setup!
Hallgrímskirkja Church View – This is the iconic church at the heart of Reykjavík. You can walk inside or pay around $10 (cash) to climb to the top for a view of the city. As someone who isn’t typically into lookouts, I’ll say—this one is worth it. The view over the colorful rooftops is beautiful!
Lake Tjörnin – This peaceful lake sits just outside the main tourist area. A local told us to feed the birds, and I’m still not sure if they were joking because those birds were vicious! That said, it was the perfect spot to sit, relax, and eat lunch. You’ll pass it on the way to a few nearby museums.
Sun Voyager – This sculpture is just off the main street and easily walkable. It can be pretty windy, but the views along the water make it a worthwhile stop.
Eat
Valdís Ice Cream - This is just a small ice cream shop, but we went back several times as it was just so good. There are several flavors that are made with skyr - an Icelandic staple food filled with protein that tastes like an extra creamy yogurt. Something about having ice cream even in chilly weather is incredibly satisfying!
Reykjavík Roasters - This is a tiny coffee shop but I am OBSESSED! Truly the most hygge coffee shop I’ve been to. It was all locals, and we were lucky enough to find a place to sit and enjoy our morning chia pudding with ABBA on the record player. There are three locations, but my favorite is KÁRASTÍGUR, only a few minutes walk from the main Reykavik rainbow road. Note that because of the limited seating, it is almost always packed. I recommend going right when they open - a great way to start off your day.
Cat Cafe (Kattakaffihúsið) - Right off the main road there’s a very sweet cat cafe! I very much enjoyed my latte, and it only furthered the hygge vibes in the city.
Reykjavík Röst - Yes, another cafe! Iceland’s cozy vibes really lend to wanting to curl up in a corner with a hot drink, so the more the merrier! Reykjavík Röst is along the water, right outside where most of the boat tours (puffin, whale, night northern lights) launch from - only a short walk from the Sun Voyager sculpture. The water view alone makes it worth a visit. They have tasty light food options on their menu, along with an array of warm beverages. Most recently, I discovered their cocktails which were some of the best I’ve had!
Do
Blue Lagoon - This a classic Iceland attraction and is quite literally blue due to the way the sky reflects off of the silica in the water. Even with the most basic ticket, you get a silica mud mask included. Your skin feels amazing after time in the pool, however keep hair out as it reacts with the minerals in the water!
Sky Lagoon - This attraction opened shortly after Covid, so I only recently visited. WOW! What an experience! We bought the ticket with the 7-step ritual which I think really made the experience. The pool was massive and had a gorgeous view looking over the water. I could’ve stayed in there forever. The prices at the swim-up bar weren’t bad for a main attraction, so we had a few glasses of Prosecco.
Blue Lagoon versus Sky Lagoon - Geothermal pools are the best way to relax and escape the cold while in Iceland. Both Blue and Sky Lagoon sell out, so be sure to book in advance. Blue Lagoon is closer to the airport, so I love using it as a post-flight pick me up as many airport transfer companies offer it as a stop. Sky Lagoon is only 15 minutes from Rekavik city center, which makes it easy to visit while you’re already in the city. Do note that taxis and the (scarce) Ubers are incredibly expensive - it cost us $35 to go the 15 minutes from city center to Sky Lagoon one way. While I truly do love both and can’t wait to return to Sky Lagoon again, if you only have time for one I would recommend Blue Lagoon as the water is something you can’t experience anywhere else in the world.
Local Pool - This is of course only something I would recommend if you have extra time to kill. Iceland is known for its geothermal pools, which also means that naturally their water is really warm. Icelanders love going to their pools! Someone we met took us to their nearby pool which was pull of Icelanders just hanging out in the warm water. Even the normal pool feels like a hot tub temperature! The one we visited in town was $5 for entry, but note that you either had to buy or bring a towel.
Reykjavík Yoga - After a long day of travel, I found taking a yoga class really helped set a positive tone for the rest of my trip. This studio is located only about a minute walk away from Reykjavík Roasters, and they teach the classes in English! Their studio has a high ceiling and the teacher cultivated a very calming atmosphere.
“Þetta reddast”
