The Best Ways to Spend a Day in Reykjavik

Reykjavik, the northernmost capital in the world, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a small-town feel. The city got its name, which means “Smoky Bay,” due to the steam the arose from the many hot springs in the area. There are still great thermal pools to enjoy, but a newer kind of hot spot exists today. Downtown Reykjavik has a thrumming arts scene and is the nucleus of Iceland’s café culture and nightlife. There are hundreds of ways to spend a day in Reykjavik. Here are just a few.

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Take a Whale Watching Cruise

Set sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor on a relaxing cruise to discover the aquatic wildlife of the area. Watch for up close encounters with whales and dolphins as you admire the gorgeous coastline.

The best time to go whale watching is April – October when over 20 different kinds of whales flock to the North Atlantic, but whales are still around in the colder months for those visiting November-March.

Be sure to dress warmly – especially in the winter months! You only think it is cold in the city. It is always a few degrees chillier on the water. But don’t let the cold keep you from this great adventure. You won’t regret it!

There are various whale watching options available to cater to everyone’s taste. Check these out:

Check Out the Local Landmarks

There are several interesting landmarks in and around Reykjavik. Visiting these sites and areas are a great way to spend a day in Reykjavik.

Hallgrímskirkja Church

Hallgrímskirkja is both a parish church and a national sanctuary. Its stepped concrete facade is a reminder of the Icelandic landscape. Hallgrímskirkja is one of the most visited places in Iceland with thousands of visitors daily. Keep in mind, Hallgrímskirkja is an active Evangelical-Lutheran Church and sometimes closes to tourists without notice.

Alþingi – Parliament House

Parliament House was built on Austurvöllur Square in 1880–81, with annexes added in 1908 and 2002. It was built of Icelandic stone, and the exterior stones are barely dressed while the interior is plastered. On the north side roof, you will find the crown and crest of King Christian IX. Look under the eaves to find the date 1881 in metal numerals interspersed with stars. Also look for Iceland’s guardian spirits depicted in low relief: a giant, a great bird, a bull, and a dragon over four of the second-floor windows. The adjacent garden is Iceland’s oldest public garden and dates from 1893–95.

Old Harbor

The Old Harbor area, known as Grandi, is truly the heart of the city. The excellent natural harbor was a key reason the first settler of Iceland, Ingólfur Arnarson, chose to settle in Reykjavík. The city grew up around the harbor and it became one of the centers of the Icelandic trawling industry in the early 20^th century.

Today, the harbor is a tourist mecca with whale watching vessels, shops, and cafes. Checking out the stores, cafes, and museums of the Old Harbor is a great way to spend a day in Reykjavik. The area retains its dockside charm even with its modern twist. The old harbor is one of the most exciting neighborhoods in Reykjavík.

Visit the Museums

Reykjavik is overflowing with museums catering to every interest. Check these out!

The National Museum of Iceland provides insight into Icelandic cultural history.

The Perlan Museum houses a modern exhibition, an indoor ice cave, 4K planetarium show featuring the northern lights, a 360° viewing platform, nature exhibition, and much more.

The Saga Museum brings history to life as it recreates key moments in Icelandic history.

The Settlement Exhibition portrays theories of what the daily life of the first settlers was like based on the excavation of the original settlement site.

The Árbær Open Air Museum consists of buildings which formed the town square, a village, and a farm. The buildings were relocated from central Reykjavik.

The Reykjavík Maritime Museum collects and displays items and accounts that tell the story of the fishing industry as the foundation of prosperity in Iceland.

The Whales of Iceland Exhibition consists of 23 man-made life size models of the various whale species found in Icelandic waters throughout its natural history.

The Hafnarfjörður Museum displays the cultural area of the town of Hafnarfjörður and surrounding region.

Art Museums and Galleries

Reykjavík Art Museums – Check out one, two, or all three locations linked to the Reykjavik Art Museum.

Reykjavík Museum of Photography houses 6.5 million photographs dating from 1860 to present times.

Hafnarfjörður Centre of Culture and Fine Art features exhibits full of historical and contemporary Icelandic art as well as regularly scheduled chamber music and concerts.

A Couple Not So Ordinary Museums

The Icelandic Punk Museum salutes the Icelandic punk and new wave scene that started in Iceland in 1978.

Icelandic Museum of Rock n Roll celebrates the history of popular music in Iceland.

The Icelandic Phallological Museum oddly houses the worldʹs largest collection of penises from various species.

Visit a Park or Garden

Visit in the warmer months to find an array of parks and gardens to wile away your day in Reykjavik. And even visiting in winter, you will want to brave the elements to check out some of these family friendly sites.

Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo is great fun all year round. You can get up close and personal with arctic foxes, reindeer and seals, plus a few more exotic animals.

The Island of Grótta and Gr ótta Lighthouse is a unique experience in the western part of the capital region. The birdlife is very diverse with about 106 species. From the beach, you can traverse to the island on foot.

The Pond and Hljómskálagarðurinn Park is a greatly loved area by the locals. It is an important area for outdoor activities and games. The rich lakeside ecosystem, especially the multifaceted birdlife, is a major attraction.

The Reykjavik Botanical Garden is a living museum in the open air. Founded in 1961, it preserves about 5,000 plants in eight museums.

Laugardalur Valley and Park is without a doubt the most popular outdoor area of Reykjavik. It is a great location for outdoor activities, is sheltered and luxuriant, and contains with well-organized hiking and biking paths.

Relax With a Spa Day

Iceland is filled with fabulous thermal spas and pools. Immerse yourself in the warmth of a geothermal lagoon. Watching the sun rise in the morning or the night skies dance in the evening from one of the many pools is a wonderful way to spend a day in Reykjavik.

For a low-key experience, check out the Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach with its sandy beach on the bay and facilities for outdoor activities. But for a more luxurious experience, check out one of these great spas in, and near, Reykjavik:

Sky Lagoon Iceland
Blue Lagoon

Enjoy a Food Tour

Downtown Reykjavík is Iceland’s nucleus of Iceland’s culture and arts scene. By day, the café culture rules supreme, with the lively hum of conversations. As evening arrives, people start filing into the city’s excellent restaurants, where local ingredients are served with fresh delicious lamb, seafood or wild game. To ensure you get a good mix of Icelandic cuisine, check out one of the many food tours available:

Pursue the Northern Lights

No winter day in Reykjavik would be complete without seeking the mesmerizing Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). This amazing light show is one of the world’s greatest natural phenomena. You will need to get away from the city lights and into the darkness-cloaked countryside to experience this wonder but it is totally worth it.

There are numerous different options to choose from when pursuing the Northern Lights. Most tour itineraries devote a night to this pursuit but if you want more than one chance to marvel at the skies, you can book trips via motor coach, small-group tours, watch from a geo-thermal bath, and cruise tours. No matter how you fancy getting there, pursuing the Northern Lights is the absolute best way to end a day in Reykjavik.

Other Ways to Spend a Day in Reykjavik

There are many diverse activities you can experience:

You can also take day trips to: The Golden Circle, The Snaefellsnes Peninsula, The South Coast, Skaftafell National Park, and The Porsmork Valley.

How to Get Around Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a very walkable city (if you can handle the chill factor). Everything is close by, including museums, galleries, parks, cafés and spas. For this reason, many of the city and food tours are walking tours. Those who may want to hit the highlights of the city without walking might consider a Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus tour or a bus tour. There are also endless tours that will take you to the areas outside the city center and easy Airport/Hotel Transfers.

How Do You Want to Spend a Day in Reykjavik?

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