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A lot of people dream about visiting Iceland, but Reykjavik doesn’t quite get the credit it deserves.
Most people will only spend a few days here, either at the start or end of their trip, and often it is seen as a transition rather than an experience.
I’d argue that you could travel to Iceland on a layover just to explore this city.
There is also a misconception that Iceland in the winter is dark, gloomy, or just not worth it. I’d argue the opposite. My two trips to Iceland have been in the winter, and I’ve loved every moment, even though I despise the cold. With a bit of preparation and the right gear, you really don’t have to struggle.
Plus, you can avoid the high prices of the summer, since we know that Iceland has quite a high cost of travel.
If you’re coming to Iceland, I urge you to give Reykjavik the time it deserves, rather than just a few hours at the beginning or end of your trip.
In this guide, you’ll find different options for things to do and see in the capital of Iceland. I also update these guides regularly every time I visit, adding new ideas and experiences.
🥳 TESTED TOP PICKS FOR ICELAND
- 📲 Best eSIM: Ubigi eSIM (my top pick for convenience and stability) 10GB for 7 days for $11 – Also get 10% your plan with discount code BACHELORTRAVEL
🏨 Best hotel in Reykjavik: KEX HOSTEL – awesome location, great prices for private and shared rooms
🚌 Airport transfer: Keflavík Airport → Reykjavík Bus (Flybus) — cheapest and most straightforward way to get into the city after landing
🍽️ Food experience: Reykjavík Food Walk (guided foodie walking tour) — if you only do one tour in Reykjavik choose this one! Plus, all the food you need to try in Iceland here.
Quick Reykjavik Options for Things to Do
- What are the most highly rated or best things to do in Reykjavik?
There are a lot of good options but I would recommend you start with these.
- What are good things to do in Reykjavik with kids?
I would suggest Perlan again, one of the local swimming pools which are much cheaper than thermal spas, and you can get access for a good price with the City Card. The Saga Museum is also a fun option where you can dress up. You might also be interested in the Whales of Iceland exhibit.
- What can you do in Reykjavik without spending money?
Walk along the harbor and waterfront to see Harpa Concert Hall, then move towards Rainbow Street for photos before heading to Tjörnin around the lake to observe the birds.
👉 Since you’re doing your list for things to do in Iceland, I also highly recommend reading my guide with 20+ things you need to do in Iceland that will give you more ideas for things to see in the country.
1. Visit Hallgrímskirkja Church
Every, or almost every, guide to Reykjavik starts with this quirky church. In addition to being quite hard to pronounce, like most Icelandic names, it is the landmark that helps orient most visitors.
For a country that is not very religious, it is quite ironic that a Lutheran church is the starting point. However, I would argue that its presence and architecture tell you a lot about the landscape of Iceland. It was designed to mimic the volcanic basalt formations you see across the country.
You can go up to the top for around $10 to admire the city from above, or you can simply walk inside to take in the interior.
2. Walk around Rainbow Street
Skólavörðustígur Street, also known as Rainbow Street, is the colorful road that leads up to the church. It is a relatively new addition, but it has become a big part of the feel of Reykjavik. It was designed in 2015 to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride.
It intentionally leads up to the church and has become a symbol of acceptance in the city.
It is probably one of the more expensive streets, but there are a few well-known spots worth checking out, like the ice cream and crepes at Eldur og Ís and the Handknitting Association of Iceland further up.
📍 I recommend shopping for knits here if you are looking for a cute souvenir.
3. Explore Reykjavik’s street art and harbor
While walking around, make sure to look for and photograph the murals and street art. For such a small city (less than 150,000 people) Reykjavik sure does a lot in terms of its diversity and art.
Once you start to pay attention, you’ll see they are everywhere.
I also think that Reykjavik is one of the few places, where the street art seems to blend into the town, and has a lot of cultural messages and significance so it doesn’t feel forced.
What do you think? Let me know if you do visit.
4. Do a guided tour
I have two options to recommend here:
- a food tour
- a guided walking tour
Both offer slightly different experiences, so it depends on what you’re looking for.
The Food Tour of Reykjavik
This walking tour is highly rated and very popular, and I would also recommend it. It is a great way to explore the city, get local insights, and try Icelandic food.
It also helps you get an idea of where to splurge on food later on the trip. I did this trip this year, and would totally do it again. You can read a bit more about it, together with all my food recommendations for Iceland in general.
A Walking Tour
The second option is a traditional walking tour.
There are free walking tours that run daily and operate on tips like this one.
But also this paid tour is very well priced, and will take you through the main sights of the city with more structure.
Whichever you choose, you’ll quickly notice Icelandic humor and sarcasm coming through in the guides. It’s something I personally enjoy, but it might not be for everyone.
Expect a few jokes about politics, food, and the fact that there is an app people use to check if they are related before dating. Yes, really. It’s a small country. What can you do. The walking tours usually cover trolls, legends and folklore, which is one of my favorite aspects to learn more about.
🌟Book the Reykjavík Food Walking Tour here 🌟
5. Walk around Tjörnin
Most walking tours don’t come this way, so it helps to mention it on its own.
You will feel like a local walking around this charming neighborhood by the lake. It sits right in the center of the town, with colorful houses all around.
In the winter, the lakes freezes over, so you can walk on some parts, and it’s always full of birds and beautiful swans.
If you are into photography, you will also want to spend time here especially early morning or sunset.
6. Walk to Þúfa
Another area, that won’t be covered during a walking tour is the end of the harbor, past Harpa Concert Hall and after the Maritime Museum.
This is a slightly random but fun stop. A small hill near the harbor that you can walk up.
If you are visiting the Lava Show or the Whales of Iceland, it is easy to combine them.
Otherwise you can also take this opportunity to stop for a treat Omnom Chocolate, which is famous for its good quality chocolate and fun toppings.
7. Shop for knits
Icelandic wool is famous for its good quality and cultural patterns.
You will find a lot of popular brands like Icewear, catering to outdoor gear, but if you are after a warm cute sweater here are my two favorite spots:
The Kolaportið Flea Market open on weekends only though
- The Red Cross stores (there are two)
One more option to check out is the The Handknitting Association of Iceland shop that also stocks lots of wool to bring home.
8. Check out the opera or live theatre
Harpa Concert Hall isn’t just for photos—it hosts the Icelandic Symphony and other performances. You can often catch live theatre in English or with subtitles.
If you are a fan of comedy, I recommend checking out the “How to Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes” show that runs all the time at Harpa.
It has been running since 2012!! and it’s a classic for a reason.
While I haven’t had a chance to catch the show yet (it’s usually on during summer months), it is on my list of things to do at some point.
Tickets are 6450 ISK or about $53 USD which is pretty decent for a night out even in Reykjavik.
You can use the Harpa website to book tickets to shows right here.
9. Get curious about Icelandic politics
The Parliament House (Alþingi) in Reykjavík is worth a walk-by, and there are small exhibitions around the city that explain how Iceland’s government and justice systems evolved. It’s more interesting than it sounds. There are a lot of scandals and interesting stories here as well.
Even if you don’t do a walking tour (they usually explain a bit about politics) I think it is fun to read on the way the country operates and the political system and crisis of past years.
It is also an important way to understand how prices have come to be this expensive, or how tourism contributes to the country’s development.
A few of my favorite scandal stories, if you want to be entertained are:
- The comedian that became a mayor and run on issues like “free towels” but openly said “we’ll break our promises”… and then won!
- The whole Panama Papers fiasco that showed the Prime Minister at the time had offshore accounts and he eventually resigned
- Or the Minister of Education and Children that resigned in 2025 after it was revealed she had a kid at 22 with a 15 year old boy.. .maybe it’s because this is recent or maybe it’s because it’s a woman, but I’ve had more than a few guides talk about this scandal like an “oops” and say she shouldn’t have resigned.
10. Go to Perlan
So far, I’ve been recommending a lot of cheaper or non-paid activities to show you that it is possible to see Reykjavik without spending a lot of money.
Reykjavik also has a LOT of museums, considering its size. But I think if one museum is worth the quite high price tag, that is Perlan.
In the beginning, I scoffed at the idea of paying $55 for it, but after visiting I can certainly see the appeal.
For starters, you get to see a short film about the Aurora, and there are a couple interactive experiences including a volcanic eruption simulator. It really offers such a different insight into the landscape and weather/phenomena of the country.
The other highlight is the artificial ice cave they’ve created, for visitors that won’t get to go to one in real life. It is very well done. Even after visiting various sights around the country and talking to geologists, volcanologist and other experts, going to Perlan added another layer of awe and appreciation for nature.
I would recommend it even higher if you are traveling with children.
Grab a ticket right here.
11. Hunt for Northern Lights
You might have heard that seeing the Aurora from Reykjavik is pretty rare, and you would be right. But it is possible.
Even if you don’t get a sighting in the city, you can book tours to take you on a boat ride across the water, or a jeep ride outside the city, where your chances of seeing the Aurora in the winter on a clear night, is much higher. You should also download the My Aurora app (plus all these apps) to monitor the sky on your own, and set your alarm for late at night.
This Northern Lights Bus Tour departs from Reykjavik pretty much every day during the winter season (unless the weather is bad) and it is an affordable option.
12. The Lava Show
Even though I’m a self-proclaimed tour enthusiast, that will overspend on GetYourGuide activities, every chance I get…. I try to recommend things that I genuinely think most people will enjoy.
The Lava Show is another such case (like Perlan) where I think your money will be well spent.
For starters, there is no other place in the world, where you can see a live lava show indoors.
Just the mechanics and research that went into engineering this setup is crazy.
Secondly, this local organization does a lot to support continuous education of Icelandic nature.
Anyway, the experience in itself is mesmerizing. From the short educational video (fantastic) to the moment the lava starts to come in.. you will be enthralled. The moment it flows, your whole body gets warmer and the feeling of standing so close to it, is hard to describe. It instantly makes you think of what it would be like in real life, with intense heat, and flowing vast quantities everywhere.
The original location is in Vik (in the South Coast of Iceland that you should also explore at some point) but the Reykjavik location is very handy.
Just make sure to book tickets as soon as you have your flights, since they get consistently sold out.
13. Have a hot dog
Even though I’ve mentioned the food tour (where you get to try a hot dog), I think it is good repeating, how much of a staple Icelandic hot dogs are.
These are usually made of lamb and have crispy onions on top, as well as various sauces.
It is also the cheapest meal you can get in Reykjavik.
Personally, I recommend both the popular Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (expect a line) but also the one by the church – Víkinga Pylsur.
If I’m being completely honest, I prefer the latter a bit more.
14. Whale watching on the harbor
Okay.. I have some opinions about these tours.
I’ve tried to book whale watching tours a few times, and luck wasn’t on my side in terms of my planning and weather.
But it is definitely on the list of things to do in the future.
There quite a few companies, but the one I have looked into and would suggest is
- Elding Adventure and their Classic 3-hour tour departing from the harbor
- But if you are there in the summer, you can also try the RIB boat Whale and Puffin Tour
Main thing to keep in mind is that you are not guaranteed a sighting, even though they do offer to reschedule you if you don’t.
Some people get disappointed if they don’t spot them, but these are wild animals, so I think it’s unreasonable to feel that way. 🤷♀️
15. Nightlife and beer
I’m not a drinker or a partier but the bar and nightlife scene in town is supposed to be really good.
Even though, alcohol is veery expensive, so make sure to keep that in mind.
From local guides, I’ve gotten good recommendations to try out KALDI (for the beer), and MÁL OG MENNING for the live music every night.
16. Check out the local hot springs
If you want the hot water experience, without the price tag of the fancy thermal springs, then you have a lot of local options.
The local swimming pools (there are 8 just around Reykjavik) are included in a bundle with the Reykjavik City Card or cost about $10-$12 per person.
If you plan on visiting multiple places, the card makes sense.
Here are a few of the options to choose from:
- Sundhöllin: right next to city center. There is a swimming pool, hot pool (in the rooftop) and cold plunge.
Vesturbæjarlaug: very close to National Museum and very popular with families (there are some waterslides for kids here)
- Nauthólsvík: This is more of a beach (manmade) with sand!! It is close to Perlan and the hot tubs are fed by geothermal water so they are nice and warm.
Few things on swimming pool etiquette:
- Local swimming pools are less polished than thermal spas (which is expected)
- Icelanders visit the pools all year-round and they are a social and relaxing place
- It is very much expected (and important) to shower naked before entering these pools (the water is not chlorinated, so it helps to keep it bacteria free). Yes, showering naked is a bit weird, if you’re not used to it, but everyone does it and nobody cares.
- If you’ve been to thermal spas (Sky Lagoon, Blue Lagoon) the nakedness rule is not enforced, but here it very much is.
- You can usually rent bathing suits and towels on the spot, or bring your own
- You don’t usually need a swimming cap
- Phones and taking pictures inside is very much prohibited
- Most places have FREE tickets for kids, so this is a great family activity.
17. Go to the museums
I said just above that Reykjavik has 8 local swimming pools. Well it also has… 🥁 20 notable museums and exhibitions.
Isn’t that pretty incredible for such a short city? Since, I’ve already mentioned the City Card, it is worth stating the other perks.
In addition to free entry to the pools you get:
- access to 17 museums (some are just discounted rather than free)
- free public transport inside Reykjavik (but doesn’t cover the FlyBus or public bus to Keflavik)
- Discounts for Perlan, the Aurora Experience (not to be confused with the Aurora activity at Perlan), Saga Museum, Phallological Museum, Whales of Iceland exhibition and more.
If you’re planning to go to a few of these museums, plus a swimming pool and use the bus, then the 24 or 48 hour pass might be a good option for you.
Of all the free museums on offer, I personally love and would prioritize:
- The National Museum of Icelandz
- Árbær Open Air Museum
- Maritime Museum
- and the Settlement Exhibition.
Things to do Close to Reykjavik
Of course there are also a few activities that are juuuust outside, or require transport, but often find themselves in these lists.
I have to agree that they are worth it, but transport is an issue here.
Unless you are renting a car, expect taxis to be insanely expensive, so always book activities with providers that offer a transport add-on.
This list doesn’t include the popular tours you can do for:
- Golden Circle
- Southern Coast
These are full day tours and not just a small add-on.
Instead, here is what I would recommend just outside:
If you don’t have a car:
If you don’t have a car, then you’ll require transport add-ons for activities.
The one’s that work really well are:
- Blue Lagoon: insanely popular, world famous and a top experience for a lot of people. Also quite pricey. It is quite close to Keflavik so you can plan it for the day you are flying in or out to make the 45 minute drive to the area. Book tickets with transport here.
- Snorkeling or Diving Silfra: Diving between tectonic plates? Insane visibility? Cold but worth it? If you enjoy adventurous things or if you are a scuba diver, then it is a no brainer. You can book the option with pick up from Reykjavik here
- Horse riding through Lava Fields: If you want an introduction to Icelandic horses, and to explore the lava fields, then you can combine the two. It includes about 2 hours of riding total. There is a weight limit to protect the horses (check in advance)!
- Sky Lagoon: Sky Lagoon is much closer to Reykjavik than Blue Lagoon and some people say.. better! They are famous for the 7-step spa ritual. This package includes transfer and you can book it from anytime between 10:00 AM and 19:00.
If you have a car:
When you have a car, you can obviously be more independent and flexible on locations.
Some of the activities mentioned above, are easy to drive to on your own without paying the transfer fees.
But the activities below, are less easy to organize transfers to if you don’t have a car at all. They are also quite close to Reykjavik and don’t require hours to get to.
- Bridge Between Continents: Here you can stand where the two tectonic plates meet. There is a short hike up to the bridge and you can also explore the area around.
- Grindavik: This small town next to the airport, used to be a popular spot but it is now abandoned. After the 2023 eruption, Grindavik is mostly a reminder of nature’s power. While you can technically book tours to the area (ATVs or private mini-bus) you have more flexibility to stop and see the area with a car. There is also a small exhibition in the center of the town, where you can learn about the efforts to save the town, the lava flow and what has been done since.
- Reykjanes Lighthouse: While on the same area, you might also want to check out the Lighthouse. This area is one of the windiest and roughest of the whole country. The power and force of the elements can be insane on some days, so please make sure to check the road apps (here are all of them) because if the wind is high, you won’t be able to drive that way.
On the other side going East…
- The Geothermal Exhibition: One of the best places to visit if you have kids that are interested in volcanoes or science in general. Great educational material and you can see inside the power plant. There is also a self guided audio tour. You can book that directly from GetYourGuide here.
Where to Stay in Reykjavik
I’ve stayed in a few different areas around Reykjavik, and I would not recommend staying outside the City Center. Especially if you are only visiting for 2-3 days.
I just don’t have the patience for buses everyday, and most of the activities and sights are walkable from the center.
This of course means.. pricier options for hotels.. but it’s not all terrible, if you book in advance.
Probably my favorite low cost option is KEX, not so for the rooms (they are well designed and nice but nothing crazy) but for the combination of location, social atmosphere and design.
Other options I would recommend are:
- Center Hotels Plaza: If you get a room overlooking the square, it is very nice. The location is excellent right on the square and breakfast is good.
- Fosshotel Baron: I quite like the skylights in the rooms here, but overall it’s a decent, well kept hotel in a good location.
- Reykjavik Marina: This is a more fancy establishment, down by Reykjavik 101 (the harbor) so closer to where the Whale Tours depart from or the Lava Show experience. The price doubles during peak season, so really good to stay here in the colder months. Stunning views!
🔥 TOP CHOICE
Photo Credit: Booking.com
KEX
There are not alot of budget friendly places with a good vibe, good location and great amenities. KEX is one of them. You will love the quirky decor, well set up common spaces and location.
More articles on Iceland:
- 12 Apps That Will Save Your Iceland Trip (What I Use Every Time)
- What & Where to Eat in Iceland to Save Your Budget (2026 with Prices)
- How to Get from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík (2026 + Prices)
- Best eSIM Options for Iceland (Tested) 2026
- What to Expect at the Secret Lagoon in Iceland — 2026 Review
- 20+ Best Things to Do in Iceland (For First-Time Visitors and Repeat Trips)
- 16+ Packing Tips for Iceland Bus & Road Trips (Cold Season Edition)
- Glacier Walk in Vatnajökull: What to Expect, Cost & Is It Worth It? (2026 Guide)
Ready to book? Top Iceland recommendations
📲 Best eSIM for Iceland: Easiest option is Ubigi — reliable across the country and super easy to set up before landing. Check full review here.
🚌 Airport transfer: Book the Keflavík Airport → Reykjavík bus (Flybus) — cheapest and easiest way into the city after landing. Here are all the options and why I chose this one.
🏨 City hotel option: I’d stay somewhere central in Reykjavík for the first day or 2-3 days if you want to see everything. I love KEX Hostel out of all the hotels I’ve tried. Super interesting design, social space, amazing location.
🎟️ Top Iceland activities:
There are so many good activities and tours to do in Iceland. Here are some of my favorites:
- From Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour
- Reykjavik: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with 6 Tastings
- Skaftafell: Blue Ice Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull
- Reykjavik: the Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour (I have had this tour cancelled on me a few times due to weather, but I will get it next time.)
🚗 Car rental: If you’re doing the Ring Road, compare prices on DiscoverCars — this is what gives you the most flexibility
👚Packing list: Iceland is safer and easier with the right gear. Pack these things.
