20 Places to Visit in Reykjavík , Tourist Places & Attractions

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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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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Perlan or ‘The Pearl’ is a landmark display of a museum and rotating glass dome in the capital city of Reykjavik. Perlan has been a multi-utility center with a viewing platform, sassy restaurant & cafe, and a newly turned educational site flaunting countless exhibitions and displays.

Sitting on top of the Öskjuhlíð hill and forests, the site is on the top of six water tanks that store 24 million liters of Reykjavik's hot water. The Glacier Exhibition of Iceland is a fresh display of a 100-meter long ice tunnel where visitors experience the past, present, and future of Iceland’s mighty glaciers. 

Location: Öskjuhlíð hills, Perlan.

Price: $536 (adults) & $296 (children between 6-16).

Timing: 9 AM to 7 PM.

Best Time to Visit: May to September.
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The National Museum of Iceland is a storehouse of a whopping 2000 artifacts. They showcase firm evidence of the rich Icelandic history, taking you through medieval times to current contemporary culture. Settled beside the University of Iceland, it offers creative displays of Iceland’s rich history and vibrant culture.


The iconic piece in the museum’s collection is the 1150 AD built carved pine door, the Valpjofsstaour church door. The ornately carved church door highlights a Lion-Knight legend displaying a knight slaying a dragon to rescue a lion. It has a separate display of swords, drinking horns, and a bronze-made Thor figure too.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ytri Tunga Beach near Reykjavik, Iceland, is a picturesque coastal gem renowned for its stunning landscapes and seal colonies. This serene stretch of shoreline offers visitors a tranquil escape, with golden sands and breathtaking views of the North Atlantic. Nature enthusiasts flock to witness seals basking on the rocks, adding to the allure of Ytri Tunga as a must-visit destination in the Reykjavik region.

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Sightseeing Tours Explore All (29)
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Reykjavik City Hall, located on the northern shore of Lake Tjörnin, is an architectural gem in Iceland's capital.

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People Also Ask About Reykjavík

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
Newly Added Reykjavík Experience
Excellent
All investment we had on this tour truly worth everything any way the beauty of the place already worth every penny we spend. The itinerary of the trip was very rich, fulfilling, and satisfying right from day one till the last day of our trip... The hotel they provided for us was luxury and everything was well arranged and on time... All the day tours were amazing and we covered it all as mentioned on the itinerary... Every day we had an awesome day with lots of amazing expereince... Nice people and breathtaking place this Will definitely worth recommending others...
Excellent
It was really the top and memorable place we had visited till now and we had a great time on this tour... Which is with no regret will always recommend this trip to everyone especially to all the traveller this is the best place you'll find so much amazing views with lots of natural scenics beauty everywhere... Really I am in love with the place each sightseeing we visited truly gave us surprises and good photos... The accommodations were great and the hotel staffs were very professional and helpful... We get to learn about the culture and history of the place which was very interesting... The picked-up and dropped-off were on time really all the arrangements exceeded our expectations. The visiting to volcanoes, waterfall, black sand beached and lava centre had made us excited... 10 days spent in Iceland was really a mind-blowing experience we had once in a lifetime...
Excellent
I was thrilled with my trip, Not sure where to start but this trip we choose again this time with Thrillophilia was quite an interesting and exciting one...The trip was pre-planned way ahead of time to accommodate our vacation for the lasts 4 months before the date of travel while planning our trips they make sure and informed us everything with new ideas about the trip which we are happy with their plan...On this trip since our landing on this place, we were received by a professional and punctual driver...The trip went so smooth and we were guided by the professional who was helpful and great at rectifying situations...We had been looking out for the entire trip to make sure that we are comfortable with the trip we had and also that we discovered all the major attractions as per the planned decided...The place is truly breathtaking and has lots to see which was truly worth-seeing...The Self-drive trip was the best part of our trip being in a different country but still, we roam the place like a local that's the biggest expereince we had...Overall all the arrangements were taken care of nicely and we love everything provided to us...
Excellent
The overall service provided by Thrillophilia was Excellent!!! Coordination of the overall trip in Iceland was superb and their choice of hotel was met with our expectation... The team were totally helpful and kept us informed at each step of the planning phase and keep in touch with us all the time... Local driver arranged for us was on time and courteous... The place is truly beautiful as all the places we covered were truly lovely and gave us stunning pictures with great background... We thoroughly love this trip... 14 days explored the place was more than enough for us
I was totally in love with this trip, It was so well-organized and well-executed, all arrangements were beyond our expectations, the place has natural beauty everywhere which gave us good pictures in life for a lifetime memory, All the sightseeing places were truly interesting and each sight simply wow us, I worked with Thrillophilia agents over several months and they remained very pleasant and kind throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend booking with Thrillophilia as they take care of everything and you get to enjoy your vacation...Thank you so much for everything will get back with your team
Excellent
We booked this tour and were completely dependent on the planners and team regarding everything. Would recommend others too, Thrillophilia you are completely reliable!
Excellent
Iceland is one amazing place to visit. I visited with my friends and it was an experience one could never forget. Would definitely visit with the team again, admirable work.
Excellent
We booked this tour to Iceland and as we arrived the driver was waiting for us right there! Later as we traveled we got to know that Iceland has variety of places to visit like it has mountains, landscapes, seas everything. It has beautiful surroundings and nature. Also the accommodation and the staff there were really helpful and and friendly. Totally recommendable!
Excellent
We booked this tour to Iceland.We being the nature freaks this tour is a blessing for us,as it included the mountains, wildlife. It included everything the pick-up and drop were done on time by the driver and the accommodation was really good. The tour guide had enough knowledge of the places which always made us more curious.
Visiting South & West Iceland that with a self-drive tour for the span of 8-days was such a great tour we had...It will be complicated and you should ideally book everything months in advance since it was a long tour and it took time to planned and put all together what you are looking for on the trip...Thrillophilia was helpful in securing everything we needed...The place we discovered was breathtaking like waterfalls, glaciers, national parks, and lots more...The pre-booked hotel and transport were exactly as we wanted...The team was service-minded...My friends and I had a great time at this place.....

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