Iceland has no shortage of fun and unique things to discover. But while the massive glaciers, rocky coastlines, and hot springs may be the main attraction, the capital city of Reykjavik also deserves some attention.
This colorful city holds over half of Iceland’s population (60%), so it’s the main hub for city living. It’s packed with great restaurants, outdoor shops, cafes, and fun attractions that you won’t want to miss–including a couple that you won’t find anywhere else in the world!
Now, from experience, I know how overwhelming it can be to plan excursions around Reykjavik in advance. Besides the fact that a lot of attractions are in Icelandic on Google Maps, you’re also dealing with variables like weather, transportation, time limits, and even budget.
So, I’m here to make your life easier with some helpful tips for planning your time in Reykjavik and recommendations on where to spend your time and money!
Getting Around Reykjavik
I was pleasantly surprised at how many options we had to get around Reykjavik during our stay. Because we were there with an Exoticca tour, we were on our own for transportation within the city limits, which can occasionally get tricky. However, it was rarely a problem.
First, Rekjavik, like many European cities, is very walkable, particularly in the northwestern area. Most streets have wide, well-paved sidewalks, and there is also a thorough crosswalk system. In most cases, we chose to walk to a) save money and b) explore the town at our leisure. We loved the freedom to duck into random shops or cafes or just take little side streets because the houses looked cute.
Our second transportation of choice was the public bus system. Now, you either have to have exact change or use the Klappið app to purchase tickets, which can be a bit annoying (especially since the app is awful). But we got the hang of things pretty quickly. Each trip on the bus costs 630 kr per person, or approximately $4.50. So, each time we rode the bus, we had to pay around $9, which wasn’t ideal, but it worked out okay.
The biggest downside here was that the bus was occasionally late. For the most part, that wasn’t a problem, but we missed part of a scheduled show because our bus showed up 20 minutes later than it was supposed to.
Now, if you like to be a bit more active, you’ll also find tons of scooter rentals around the city. I was not confident in my balancing skills, so we didn’t try them out. But you just need to download an app, add your credit card info, and check out a scooter. I believe we also saw a few bike-sharing services, but don’t quote me on that.
10 Best Things to Do in Reykjavik
Reykjavik offers many different activities, from museums and art galleries to natural beauty and memorable experiences. However, if you’re looking for activities that are truly unique to Iceland, I recommend veering away from the obvious and trying these instead. It’s a great mix of active and chill, with prices ranging from free to approximately $50 USD per person.
Reykjavik Park & Zoo
For a close-up look at the animals that inhabit Iceland, head over to Reykjavik Park & Zoo! This small zoo has a fun variety of creatures, and you can get shockingly close to all of them.
The only native land animal to Iceland is the Arctic fox, which is absolutely adorable! But there are other cool creatures like reindeer, a gyrfalcon, harbor seals (my fave), and minks. The majority of the zoo’s inhabitants are farm creatures, like pigs, cows, various goats, and the famous Icelandic horses. It also has a barn with smaller creatures like bunnies, guinea pigs, chickens, and pigeons. There were plenty of cute babies when we visited, which definitely made my day! The last part of the zoo is a small shed with a variety of exotic creatures, like poison frogs, an iguana, crabs, and beetles.
During the warmer months, the zoo also has a small amusement park with a handful of rides, a playground, and a lake!
Admission is about $12.50 per person (1650 ISK), and you can tour the whole zoo in under 2 hours (not including the amusement park).
Laugavegur Street
Reykjavik’s main shopping district is Laugavegur Street, a cute avenue that runs quite a ways through town. We ended up spending quite a bit of time here, popping into shops, grabbing treats from local restaurants and cafes, and looking out for street art!
This area has a great mix of tourist spots and local shops, so you can see a bit of both sides. It also has some of the best food, so you may want to return to this area for dinner.
Hallgrimskirkja Church
The largest church in Iceland is right in the heart of Reykjavik! Hallgrimskirkja Church was designed to reflect Iceland’s harsh terrain, so it does look rather bleak with its gray concrete pillars. However, it is a grand building nonetheless.
Visitors are free to enter the main sanctuary, provided they don’t disturb any worship in progress. The sanctuary isn’t as grand as some you’ll see in Europe, but it is still lovely, and the largest organ in the country is there.
But the real gem of Hallgrimskirkja is the bell tower. For $10 per person (1400 ISK), you can take an elevator to the top of the tower and get a gorgeous view of Reykjavik. Even on an overcast day, the city is full of color from the brightly painted homes and businesses, and you can also see Rainbow Street off in the distance. Stick around long enough, and you’ll get a deafening chorus from the bells right above you, too!
Rainbow Street
Another fun and free place to visit is the Rainbow Street, officially known as Skólavörðustígur. This vibrant district is just past the end of Laugavegur Street, and you can easily access it by heading straight down the road from the Hallgrimskirkja Church.
Rainbow Street provides a fun pop of color, even on the dreariest days, so it’s a popular photo op. This area also has a number of fun souvenir shops and the popular Magic Ice Bar.
Waterfront–Harpa and Sun Voyager
For even more free entertainment, take a long stroll along Reykjavik’s waterfront. The city is located on a beautiful harbor with snow-capped mountains off in the distance, so the views are just incredible. Plus, you’ll go right by a number of interesting waterfront attractions, like the Harpa concert hall, the Sun Voyager statue, and a cute little yellow lighthouse.
The sidewalk is wide and well-paved, and the extensive crosswalk system makes it very easy to enjoy this area and return to the main city whenever you’re ready.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Of course, a trip to Iceland isn’t complete without trying their delicious pylsur, an upgraded version of hot dogs. And the most popular place to get this is from Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, a stand in downtown Reykjavik. President Bill Clinton even tried them here during a visit in 2004. However, there is an alternate location on Laugavegur Street inside a convenience store if you don’t want to go all the way to the original spot.
Pylsur is made with beef, lamb, and pork and is best served with the full toppings: raw white onions, crispy fried onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard, and remoulade. But if you want to get creative, there are additional options you can try around the country, such as crushed Doritos and garlic sauce!
And here’s one more perk: these hot dogs typically only cost about $5 USD each, which is significantly cheaper than most local fare.
Lava Show
If you’re willing to spend just a bit of money, the local Lava Show is literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tickets start at a hefty $42, but the one-hour show is worth it, in my opinion. It’s the only live lava show in the world, and you can only see it here in Reykjavik or in Vik, Iceland.
The presentation begins with a video that tells you about Iceland’s volcanic history, including recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula. These were very close to where the most recent volcanic activity has been happening in 2024. The video was made before this began, but I found it very interesting that it claimed the Reykjanes Peninsula had “awoken,” and now all this activity is happening.
After the video, the rest of the show is all about the lava. The owners collected lava rocks from a previous Icelandic eruption, and they melt it down again and again so that visitors can see live lava up close!
The lava has to be at least 1300 F to melt, so you feel the heat even from the back rows when the lava pours into the room. During this part of the show, a worker tells you all about lava and how it changes and reacts during the cooling process. She continually prods the lava with a long pole so you can see the changes in consistency and marks the temperature to help you understand each step of the cooling process. It’s really fascinating! At the end of the show, you can even hold “strings” that the lava creates.
Aurora Reykjavik
Another great educational stop is Aurora Reykjavik, a Northern Lights museum. This stop is also a bit pricey at $23 per person (3900 isk), but once again, well worth the money.
Aurora Reykjavik takes you on a fascinating journey through several aspects of the Northern Lights, from legends around the world to the science behind what causes the specific colors and intensity. It’s very well done, and numerous interactive elements, a short VR experience, and an audio guide really add to the experience.
One of my favorite parts was a small theater that continuously played footage of beautiful Northern Lights around the country. It has chairs in the back for adults and little cots with pillows and blankets for kids right in front of the screen.
For a full breakdown of this fun science center, be sure to check out my recent blog post about seeing the Northern Lights!
Omnom Chocolate Shop
When you’re in the mood for a tasty treat, head over to the Omnom Chocolate Shop, right by the Lava Show! This little shop has a great selection of chocolate bars and bonbons, plus an artistic selection of sundaes! We grabbed a licorice chocolate bar and an ice cream creation that looked like a swan, featuring mango, a macaron, and waffle wings! It was delicious and surprisingly well-priced.
Hot Springs
Last but not least, check out the local hot springs culture! Thermal pools are a big deal in Iceland, and Reykjavik has several public pools that you can visit for a small fee or for “free” with a City Card. These are much nicer than most public pools in America, but it can be tine consuming to pool hop.
So, if you want an alternative option, try the nearby Sky Lagoon. It’s just 10 minutes from downtown Reykjavik and features an incredible atmosphere, including an oceanfront infinity pool, waterfalls, and a 7-step beauty ritual. Tickets here start at $50 (versus ~$10 for a public pool), but the experience is much more elite.
You can read all about it in this blog post.
See More on YouTube!
Closing Thoughts on Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is such a fun city to explore, and it’s unique to any of the other European cities I’ve visited. While small, it does have quite a bit to offer. The people are also very friendly, and many of them speak English, making the city very easy to navigate.
However, I would encourage you to only spend a day or two in Reykjavik during your trip. Our very first day in Iceland was a free day in Reykjavik, and we managed to fit in 6 of the things on this list in just that first day. And had we not been completely jet-lagged, we probably could have done more. Of course, there’s plenty more you can do, but you’ll be missing out on much cooler experiences beyond the city’s borders.
The best parts of Iceland are out in the countryside, so don’t make the mistake of planning your trip around Reykjavik! The city should just be one stop on your journey as you explore the rest of the country, from its glaciers and waterfalls to epic cliffs and lava formations. While these are all accessible in a day trip from Reykjavik, I recommend spending your nights in local villages that put you nearer to the action and limit the time spent driving back and forth.
Thanks for joining me on this adventure to Reykjavik! I hope it was helpful and you were able to find several activities that spark your interest. If you have any questions or comments, drop them below, and don’t forget to subscribe to my free weekly newsletter to get the latest and greatest posts sent straight to your inbox.
Sign Up for Updates from Carried Away Travels
And if you want to read more about Iceland, be sure to check out the rest of my posts detailing helpful tips, itineraries, and adventures around the country.
- Everything You Need To Pack For A Week In Iceland
- 11 Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Iceland
- Is Sky Lagoon The New Blue Lagoon?
- How To Prepare To See The Northern Lights
- My Top 12 Travel Tools For Saving Time & Money
Happy travels!
Soooo interesting!! 👍👍
Thank you! Glad you think so 🙂