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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
City guide · Iceland
Reykjavik
Reykjavík's old centre lies between Tjörnin and the harbour, with Hallgrímskirkja rising uphill to the east. Museums and waterfront architecture extend along the shore, while Laugardalur and outer neighbourhoods sit beyond the compact core. The Golden Circle, Reykjanes peninsula and south coast are regional routes outside Reykjavík itself. Weather and daylight can change how much of even a short urban route is practical.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Practical information
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
Turn this list into a plan
Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.
Planning a visit
- Suggested stay
- Not recorded
- Getting around
- Walking and Strætó bus
- January: recurring difficult conditions
- February: recurring difficult conditions
- March: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- April: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- May: good time to visit
- June: best time to visit
- July: best time to visit
- August: best time to visit
- September: good time to visit — current month
- October: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- December: recurring difficult conditions
- Best time
- Good time
- Viable with trade-offs
- Difficult conditions
Sources
- worldweather.wmo.int Checked 2026-08-28
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
27 places match
27 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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02 1 hourHarpa
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
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03 1 hourThe 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
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04 1 hourFlyOver 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
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05 30 minReykjavík 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
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06 45 minRáðhús 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
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07 1 hourKlambratún
Klambratún is a public green space in central Reykjavík, used for everyday recreation, walking and time outdoors.
- Must see
- Nature site
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08 1 hourNauthólsvík
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
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09 45 minImagine 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
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10 1 hourReykjavík 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
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11 1 hourReykjavík 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
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12 20 minÖskjuhlíð
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
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13 45 minKolaportið
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
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The Marshall House 14 1 hourThe 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
-
Nýlistasafnið 15 1 hourNýlistasafnið
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
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16 30 minLandakotskirkja
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
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17 30 minFríkirkjan 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
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18 30 minKópavogskirkja
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
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19 1 hourHafnarborg
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
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20 1 hourRauðhólar
Rauðhólar is a cluster of distinctive red pseudocraters located on the southeastern outskirts of Reykjavík, Iceland.
- Must see
- Nature site
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21 20 minÚlfarsfell
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
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22 20 minEsja
Esja is a mountain range situated north-east of Reykjavik, visible from much of the capital area on clear days.
- Must see
- Viewpoint
-
Eiðsgrandi 23 1 hourEiðsgrandi
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
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24 1 hourAkurey
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
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25 1 hourArnarhóll
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
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Víðistaðatún 26 1 hourVíðistaðatún
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
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27 1 hourHellisgerði
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
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
How the city is laid out
Walk the old centre, Tjörnin and the harbour as one compact circuit, allowing for the climb toward Hallgrímskirkja. Place Laugardalur or an outer museum in a second block reached by bus. Do not count a Golden Circle, Reykjanes or south-coast tour as spare time around Reykjavík: each leaves the urban area and is vulnerable to road and weather conditions.
Checked 2026-08-26
Getting around
Central Reykjavík is primarily explored on foot, with Strætó buses linking Laugardalur, outer districts and transfer points. The city has no urban rail network, so a missed bus can materially change an outer-neighbourhood plan. Consult Strætó's current timetable and ticket information before boarding. Regional tours and airport journeys are separate services and should not be inferred from the city-bus route map.
Checked 2026-08-26
Common questions
How many days should I spend in Reykjavik?
No official city-wide duration is recorded. Give the old centre, harbour and central museums priority, then add Laugardalur or an outer district. Regional Iceland routes require additional time beyond the Reykjavík visit.
How should I organise sightseeing in Reykjavik?
Make one walking circuit around Tjörnin, the old centre and harbour, with Hallgrímskirkja on the uphill side. Use a separate bus-led block for Laugardalur or an outer museum.
How do I get around Reykjavik?
Walk through central Reykjavík and use Strætó for districts beyond the core. Check the current bus timetable and ticket instructions directly, since there is no urban train alternative when a connection is missed.
Can I explore Reykjavik mainly on foot?
The old centre, harbour and major central landmarks form a manageable walk. Laugardalur and outer neighbourhoods are better reached by bus, especially when wind, rain, snow or limited daylight affects the route.
Which Reykjavik trips need separate planning?
The Golden Circle, Reykjanes peninsula and south coast are separate regional journeys. Check road conditions, daylight, pickup arrangements and the return plan rather than attaching one to a central sightseeing schedule.