Roavina

Country guide

Iceland

A photograph of Iceland
Photograph · Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0

Iceland holds roughly 395,000 residents, about 35% of them in Reykjavik, which makes it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. It lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, on the rift between two tectonic plates, and that fact is the itinerary: geysers, frequent volcanic eruptions, and an interior of volcanic plateau, sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers that no one crosses casually. Almost everything a visitor reaches sits on the coastal lowlands, threaded by glacial rivers running to the sea. The Gulf Stream keeps the climate temperate at a latitude just south of the Arctic Circle, which in practice means chilly summers rather than mild winters.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Icelandic
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+354
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Icelandic króna (ISK)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Cold mains water is the normal drinking supply

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

53 places match

Category

Historic monuments 3 Museums 20 Places of worship 5 Nature sites 11 Viewpoints 3 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 1 Entertainment 1 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 2 Art and culture 5 Activities 2

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 27 1 to 2 hours 26

Interests

History 5 Art 1 Museums 4 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Hallgrímskirkja Hallgrímskirkja
    01 30 min

    Hallgrímskirkja

    Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík’s striking working church, rising above the central streets on the city’s uphill side.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Reykjavik
  2. Harpa Harpa
    02 1 hour

    Harpa

    Harpa is Reykjavík’s distinctive concert hall and conference centre on the city’s waterfront, immediately beside the central harbour.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Reykjavik
  3. The Sun Voyager The Sun Voyager
    03 1 hour

    The Sun Voyager

    Sólfar

    Sólfar, widely known in English as Sun Voyager, is a steel sculpture on Reykjavík’s waterfront, east of the Old Harbour.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Reykjavik
  4. National Museum of Iceland National Museum of Iceland
    04 1 hr 30 min

    National Museum of Iceland

    Þjóðminjasafn Íslands

    The National Museum of Iceland, known in Icelandic as Þjóðminjasafn Íslands, is a museum west of Reykjavík’s compact old centre. Its main purpose is to interpret Icelandic history through museum galleries and cultural presentation.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  5. Perlan Perlan
    05 2 hours

    Perlan

    Perlan is a museum and exhibition destination on Öskjuhlíð hill in Reykjavík. Its glass dome rises above former hot-water storage tanks, giving the building a distinctive profile.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  6. the Settlement Exhibition the Settlement Exhibition
    06 1 hr 30 min

    the Settlement Exhibition

    Reykjavík 871±2

    The Settlement Exhibition, Landnámssýningin, is an archaeological museum in central Reykjavík. Its main attraction is the preserved remains of a Viking Age longhouse discovered during excavation at the site.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  7. Reykjavik Old Harbour Reykjavik Old Harbour
    07 2 hours

    Reykjavik Old Harbour

    Gamla höfnin

    Reykjavik Old Harbour, known locally as Gamla höfnin, is a working harbour and visitor district on the northern edge of central Reykjavik.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Reykjavik
  8. Reykjavik Art Museum Reykjavik Art Museum
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Reykjavik Art Museum

    Listasafn Reykjavíkur

    Reykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus is one of three sites comprising Listasafn Reykjavíkur, the Reykjavik Art Museum. Located at Tryggvagata 17, this harbour house occupies a former warehouse and offices building dating from the 1930s.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  9. Sky Lagoon Sky Lagoon
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Sky Lagoon

    Sky Lagoon is a coastal geothermal bathing destination south-west of central Reykjavík, built around warm water, open air, and Iceland’s changing weather.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Reykjavik
  10. Laugavegur Laugavegur
    10 2 hours

    Laugavegur

    Laugavegur is Reykjavik's principal shopping street and one of Iceland's best-known urban thoroughfares. Running through the heart of the capital's downtown district, it functions as the city's commercial and social spine.

    • Must see
    • Activity
    • Reykjavik
  11. Tjornin Pond Tjornin Pond
    11 2 hours

    Tjornin Pond

    Tjörnin

    Tjörnin is a prominent pond in central Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. The local name Tjörnin translates to the pond or the lake in Icelandic.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  12. Whales of Iceland Whales of Iceland
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Whales of Iceland

    Hvalasýningin

    Whales of Iceland is Reykjavík’s dedicated indoor whale exhibition in the harbour-side visitor area. Its signature experience is an encounter with life-sized whale models, giving visitors a clear sense of the animals’ immense scale at close range.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  13. FlyOver Iceland FlyOver Iceland
    13 1 hour

    FlyOver Iceland

    FlyOver Iceland is a ticketed immersive flight-ride attraction located in Reykjavik. The experience uses motion seating and sweeping aerial visuals to simulate flying over Icelandic landscapes.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
    • Reykjavik
  14. Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center

    Aurora Reykjavík is an educational museum and exhibition centre in Iceland's capital dedicated to the science and cultural significance of the northern lights.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  15. Reykjavik Maritime Museum Reykjavik Maritime Museum
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Reykjavik Maritime Museum

    Víkin

    The Reykjavik Maritime Museum, known locally as Sjóminjasafnið í Reykjavík, is a museum dedicated to Iceland's seafaring heritage. It is located in the Grandi harbour district of Reykjavik.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  16. Saga Museum Saga Museum
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Saga Museum

    Saga Museum in Reykjavík presents Icelandic history through lifelike historical figures and reconstructed scenes arranged as a narrative visitor route.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  17. Icelandic Phallological Museum Icelandic Phallological Museum
    17 1 hr 30 min

    Icelandic Phallological Museum

    Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn

    The Icelandic Phallological Museum is a highly specialised Reykjavík museum devoted to phallological material and its biological, historical, and cultural interpretation.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  18. Árbæjarsafn Árbæjarsafn
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Árbæjarsafn

    Árbæjarsafn is Reykjavík’s open-air museum in the Árbær district, where historic buildings are arranged across an outdoor setting instead of gathered inside one gallery.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  19. Einar Jónsson Museum Einar Jónsson Museum
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Einar Jónsson Museum

    Listasafn Einars Jónssonar

    The Einar Jónsson Museum, locally known as Listasafn Einars Jónssonar, is an art museum in Reykjavík dedicated to the works of Iceland's first major sculptor, Einar Jónsson.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  20. National Gallery of Iceland National Gallery of Iceland
    20 1 hr 30 min

    National Gallery of Iceland

    Listasafn Íslands

    The National Gallery of Iceland, known locally as Listasafn Íslands, is a major art museum in Reykjavik. It serves as the country's principal institution for collecting, preserving, and exhibiting Icelandic art.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  21. Culture House Culture House
    21 1 hr 30 min

    Culture House

    Safnahúsið

    The Culture House, or Safnahúsið, is a museum and cultural venue in central Reykjavík. It belongs naturally in a city day built around museums, historic streets and other central attractions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  22. Höfði Höfði
    22 1 hr 30 min

    Höfði

    Höfði House is a historic building in Reykjavík, Iceland, best known as the site of the 1986 Reykjavík Summit between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  23. Althing Parliament House Althing Parliament House
    23 2 hours

    Althing Parliament House

    Alþingishúsið

    Alþingishúsið is the seat of Iceland's national parliament, the Althing, which traces origins to 930 CE at Þingvellir. The current building dates to 1881 and stands on Austurvöllur square in central Reykjavík.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Reykjavik
  24. Reykjavík Cathedral Reykjavík Cathedral
    24 30 min

    Reykjavík Cathedral

    Dómkirkjan

    Reykjavík Cathedral, or Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík, is the cathedral church of Iceland’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. It stands beside Austurvöllur in the compact historic centre, where its modest scale feels closely tied to the city.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Reykjavik
  25. Ráðhús Reykjavíkur Ráðhús Reykjavíkur
    25 45 min

    Ráðhús Reykjavíkur

    Reykjavik City Hall, known locally as Ráðhús Reykjavíkur, is a public municipal building situated on the northern shore of Tjörnin pond in central Reykjavik.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Reykjavik
  26. Klambratún Klambratún
    26 1 hour

    Klambratún

    Klambratún is a public green space in central Reykjavík, used for everyday recreation, walking and time outdoors.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  27. Nauthólsvík Nauthólsvík
    27 1 hour

    Nauthólsvík

    Ylströndin í Nauthólsvík

    Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach is a purpose-built bathing beach on Reykjavík’s coast. Its lagoon uses geothermal heating to make seawater suitable for beach-style recreation despite Iceland’s cool climate, creating a distinctive combination of open coast and warm water.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  28. Imagine Peace Tower Imagine Peace Tower
    28 45 min

    Imagine Peace Tower

    Friðarsúlan

    The Imagine Peace Tower is an outdoor memorial light installation on Viðey Island, reached from Reykjavík across the water. Yoko Ono conceived it as a tribute to John Lennon and a gesture for world peace.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Reykjavik
  29. Reykjavík Park and Zoo Reykjavík Park and Zoo
    29 1 hour

    Reykjavík Park and Zoo

    Fjölskyldu- og húsdýragarðurinn

    Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo, known locally as Fjölskyldu- og húsdýragarðurinn, is a family-oriented attraction in Iceland's capital. The facility combines recreational parkland with animal exhibits featuring domestic and farm animals typical to Icelandic rural life.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  30. Reykjavík Botanic Garden Reykjavík Botanic Garden
    30 1 hour

    Reykjavík Botanic Garden

    Grasagarður Reykjavíkur

    Grasagarður Reykjavíkur, the Reykjavik Botanical Garden, is a municipal botanical garden in the Laugardalur valley of Iceland’s capital. It is both a calm green space and a living collection designed for education, research, and recreation.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  31. Vesturbæjarlaug Pool Vesturbæjarlaug Pool
    31 1 hr 30 min

    Vesturbæjarlaug Pool

    Vesturbæjarlaug

    Vesturbæjarlaug is a public geothermal swimming pool in Reykjavík’s Vesturbær district. It offers a direct way to experience Iceland’s neighbourhood bathing culture, where outdoor swimming and warm communal pools are part of everyday life.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Reykjavik
  32. Öskjuhlíð Öskjuhlíð
    32 20 min

    Öskjuhlíð

    Öskjuhlíð is a wooded hill rising in central Reykjavík, Iceland's capital. The hill stands as one of the city's most distinctive landmarks, crowned by Perlan, a landmark glass-domed building constructed on top of hot water storage tanks.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Reykjavik
  33. Kolaportið Kolaportið
    33 45 min

    Kolaportið

    Kolaportið is Reykjavík’s indoor flea market in the old harbour area, close to the city centre. The market occupies a converted industrial building, making it a useful stop when rain, wind, or cold weather makes outdoor sightseeing less comfortable.

    • Must see
    • Market
    • Reykjavik
  34. The Marshall House
    34 1 hour

    The Marshall House

    Marshallhúsið

    Marshall House, known locally as Marshallhúsið, is a cultural venue in Reykjavik's Grandi harbour district. The building has been repurposed to serve as a contemporary arts and creative space.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Reykjavik
  35. Nýlistasafnið
    35 1 hour

    Nýlistasafnið

    The Living Art Museum, or Nýlistasafnið, is a Reykjavík contemporary art museum dedicated to experimental and innovative artistic practices. It provides a setting for artists working across media and for visitors interested in ideas that sit beyond conventional museum categories.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Reykjavik
  36. Reykjavík Museum of Photography Reykjavík Museum of Photography
    36 1 hr 30 min

    Reykjavík Museum of Photography

    Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur

    The Reykjavik Museum of Photography, locally known as Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur, is a photography museum located in Iceland's capital city. It is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting photographic works with particular emphasis on Icelandic photography and photographers.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  37. Landakotskirkja Landakotskirkja
    37 30 min

    Landakotskirkja

    Landakotskirkja is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Reykjavík and an active Catholic church in the western part of the city center. Completed in 1929, it was designed by Icelandic state architect Guðjón Samúelsson.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Reykjavik
  38. Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík
    38 30 min

    Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík

    Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík is a Free Lutheran church beside Tjörnin, the pond at the heart of Reykjavík. Its green exterior and tall spire make it one of the city centre’s most recognisable waterside landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Reykjavik
  39. Kópavogskirkja Kópavogskirkja
    39 30 min

    Kópavogskirkja

    Kópavogskirkja is a modern parish church in Kópavogur, a separate municipality within the Greater Reykjavík capital area. Its curved concrete architecture gives it a distinctive silhouette and sets it apart from traditional church forms found elsewhere in Iceland.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Reykjavik
  40. Gerðarsafn Gerðarsafn
    40 1 hr 30 min

    Gerðarsafn

    Gerðarsafn is an art museum in Kópavogur, part of the Greater Reykjavík area, dedicated to the work of Gerður Helgadóttir, a pioneering Icelandic sculptor and stained-glass artist.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  41. Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs
    41 1 hr 30 min

    Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs

    The Natural History Museum of Kopavogur, known locally as Náttúrufræðistofa Kópavogs, is a municipal natural history museum in Kópavogur, the municipality immediately beside Reykjavík.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  42. Hafnarborg Hafnarborg
    42 1 hour

    Hafnarborg

    Hafnarborg Centre of Culture and Fine Art is a cultural institution in Hafnarfjörður, part of the Greater Reykjavík capital area. The centre serves as a venue for visual arts exhibitions and cultural programming.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Reykjavik
  43. Byggðasafn Hafnarfjarðar Byggðasafn Hafnarfjarðar
    43 1 hr 30 min

    Byggðasafn Hafnarfjarðar

    Hafnarfjordur Museum, locally known as Byggðasafn Hafnarfjarðar, is a cultural institution serving the Hafnarfjordur area adjacent to Reykjavik. The museum preserves and presents local heritage through its collections and exhibitions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  44. Rauðhólar Rauðhólar
    44 1 hour

    Rauðhólar

    Rauðhólar is a cluster of distinctive red pseudocraters located on the southeastern outskirts of Reykjavík, Iceland.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  45. Úlfarsfell Úlfarsfell
    45 20 min

    Úlfarsfell

    Úlfarsfell is a mountain located on the eastern edge of Reykjavík, offering accessible hiking terrain with views across the capital area. The peak rises prominently above the suburban districts of Grafarvogur and Úlfarsárdalur.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Reykjavik
  46. Esja Esja
    46 20 min

    Esja

    Esja is a mountain range situated north-east of Reykjavik, visible from much of the capital area on clear days.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Reykjavik
  47. Eiðsgrandi
    47 1 hour

    Eiðsgrandi

    Eiði Coastal Path is an open shoreline walking area in the Reykjavík region. The route brings visitors close to North Atlantic water, broad skies, and the rugged coastal character associated with Iceland.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  48. Akurey Akurey
    48 1 hour

    Akurey

    Akurey is a small island located in Kollafjörður fjord near Reykjavik, Iceland. Known locally as Akurey, this uninhabited island serves as an important seabird habitat, particularly for puffins during breeding season.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  49. Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
    49 1 hr 30 min

    Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum

    Listasafn Sigurjóns Ólafssonar

    Sigurjon Olafsson Museum presents the work of Icelandic sculptor Sigurjon Olafsson in his former studio and residence. The setting connects the collection with the place where the artist lived and worked, giving the visit an intimate scale.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  50. Arnarhóll Arnarhóll
    50 1 hour

    Arnarhóll

    Arnarhóll is a municipal outdoor recreation area above Kvosin and Lækjargata in central Reykjavík. Reykjavík City describes the hill as an old farm site that is now an open area with walking paths and benches.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  51. Gljúfrasteinn
    51 1 hr 30 min

    Gljúfrasteinn

    Gljúfrasteinn is the former home of Halldór Laxness, Iceland’s only Nobel Prize laureate in Literature, who received the award in 1955.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Reykjavik
  52. Víðistaðatún
    52 1 hour

    Víðistaðatún

    Víðistaðatún is an outdoor sculpture park and public green space in the Reykjavik area. Its appeal comes from encountering art in an open landscape rather than inside a museum.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik
  53. Hellisgerði Hellisgerði
    53 1 hour

    Hellisgerði

    Hellisgerði is a public park situated in the Hafnarfjörður area near Reykjavík, Iceland. The park is known for its association with local folklore, particularly beliefs surrounding elves and hidden folk in Icelandic tradition.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Reykjavik

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Iceland be?

Seven to ten days supports Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and south coast; the full Ring Road deserves at least a week of driving and preferably longer. The Westfjords or highlands should be separate additions because weather and road class can transform journey times.

What entry documents are needed for Iceland?

Iceland is in Schengen, but visa need still depends on nationality and travel circumstances. Use Iceland’s official government guidance to identify where to apply and which documents are required; verify the rule before routing through another Schengen state.

What is the best way to travel around Iceland?

Keflavík Airport is outside Reykjavík and is connected by coach. Scheduled buses reach selected towns, but many natural sites require a tour or rental car; check road.is and weather information before departure, and use an appropriate vehicle only where F-road access permits.

When is a practical time to visit Iceland?

Summer offers long daylight and broader road access, while winter provides dark skies but shorter days and more disruption risk. Shoulder-season plans need the same daily road checks: a forecast for Reykjavík cannot establish conditions on a pass or exposed coast.

What money and payment basics apply in Iceland?

Icelandic króna is the currency, and card payment is common even for small purchases. Keep an alternative payment method for unattended or remote services, verify fuel-station card requirements and read the ISK total before accepting conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Iceland?

The emergency number is 112 and sockets are Type C and F at 230 V. Mains tap water is recorded as safe; at remote facilities follow posted notices, and download road and weather information before entering areas with weak mobile coverage.