Reykjavik is not just Iceland’s capital city, it’s also its largest. It has been a popular spot for holiday makers for many years. Hardly surprising with all the amazing sites that you can see when there. This popular tourist location is the home to some beautiful places that you might want to consider if you plan to explore Reykjavik or Iceland in general. In this post, we look at the Best Things to Do in Reykjavik to help guide about some of the best cultural landmarks there.
Best Things to Do in Reykjavik
Reykjavik’s Old Town
This picture perfect old town is a popular place for visitors to explore with its cobblestone streets and bright colourful houses. Austurvöllur Square can be found at its centre and has been a gathering space for locals and tourists since 1930. This square is surrounded and contains various landmarks from the city’s cultural history. These include the statue of Jón Sigurðsson (leader of Iceland’s independence movement), the Parliament building, Reykjavik‘s stunning cathedral Dómkirkjan (their oldest church) and also the historical Borg Hotel. You’ll also find plenty of cafes and restaurants, some with outdoor seating so you can sit and enjoy the view of the square which is especially pretty and also can be quite busy over the warmer months.
Nautholsvik Beach
This beach is man made using imported golden sand. The water is geothermally heated. The water temperature averages between 15 and 19 degrees during the summer months. You should note that there is a fee to access the beach of just over £5 per person. For this you can use the beach, changing facilities, showers, hot tubs and steam baths. Many enjoy swimming in the cool waters of the man made lagoon and then moving onto the warm thermal pool waters.
Whale Watching
If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of these beautiful creatures. The best time to do this is between April to early October. There is up to a 95% chance of seeing a whale from certain locations during these months. There are a number of tours that depart from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour and there is a chance to see a few different species. Be selective with which company you choose to do your tour. Some companies will offer an option to go on another tour if you don’t see any whales. Not all will follow up on this promise and will claim whales were seen, so check reviews on Trip Advisor etc before booking.
Braud and Co Bakery
This an amazing artisan bakery with a few locations across the city. They’re rated #1 out of all the coffee and tea places in the city and have a 4.8 out of 5 star rating. Braud and Co use old traditions and the best quality ingredients to make their products. Expect lines outside the bakery as it is that good and well worth the wait. They do breakfasts, a range of breads and patisseries and it might be useful for some to be aware they have vegetarian and and vegan options available too. Here you may try the best cinnamon buns you’ve ever had the pressure of devouring. Word of advice, buy at least 1 spare if you’re on your own, adding another for each additional person with you.
Find The Sun Voyager Sculpture
The Sun Voyager Sculpture ( designed by Jón Gunnar) was created to celebrate Reykjavik’s 200th birthday and represents hope, progress and freedom. This “dream boat” is made of metal and is located on the shore front between the old and new harbour, next to the Harpa Musical Hall . It is a great attraction for tourists attracting many during the course of the day who’ll stop to take photos. From here there are beautiful views of the bay and a mountain as a backdrop. The best time to go is early morning as there are very few people. The best time for photos is when the sun is setting. There is easy access to the site and you don’t need to pay to see it. As it is an open area it can get windy.
See the Harpa Concert Hall
This unique architectural building with its award winning design is a must see. The building is made up of geometric glass structures. These mirror the rocky basalt landscape of Iceland. It also captures and refracts the light in a kaleidoscope of colours. This is visually captivating and it also plays a significant role in the building’s energy efficiency. Over colder months it captures sunlight to warm the building interior.
Concerts, theatre productions and events are all held here. There are interactive music workshops, concerts for all of the family to enjoy. They also have educational tours exploring the building’s unique architecture and environmental features.
You will find plenty of shops as well as places to eat on the site. Entrance is free.
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Explore Hallgrímskirkja
It’s free to visit the church but you will be charged if you wish to also explore the tower. The charge to visit the tower is minimal at under £6 for an adult and almost 60p for a child. The church is one of the most visited sites in Iceland. It’s best to check if they are holding any activities or concerts as the church will close for these. This large white concrete church is 74.5 meters tall and is one of the tallest structures in the country and the highest church in Iceland. From the tower you can see beautiful views of Reykjavik.
The Northern Lights
Also known as the aurora borealis, this has people flocking to Iceland each year. Visitors of Reykjavik will have a good chance of seeing this, more so between September to early April. Although it can also be seen in the summer months, it may not look so pronounced with the longer day light hours. Timing is important. The lights are most visible at around midnight when the sky is darkest. Weather conditions and luck can also affect your chances of seeing this natural light show.
Hiring one of the premium camper vans from Cosy Campers can be a great option for those looking to follow the Northern Lights especially outside of the city where there is far less light pollution. Their vans are built with the Icelandic weather in mind to ensure that your aurora hunting experience is comfortable even in the cold weather.
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I hope you enjoyed reading my post, Best Things to Do in Reykjavik. These are just some of the activities to consider when visiting Iceland. Look out for more posts the cover some more of the great places to visit whilst in Iceland.
Have you ever been to Reykjavik or Iceland before? If not, what would you like to do if you get the chance to visit?
Other Posts You Might Like:
Planning the Perfect Family Holiday
Visiting Torremolinos: What You Need To Know!
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Reykjavik is such a fun city to explore! I went the first time this last February, and found it was very easy to navigate, get around, and see everything important.
There are so many great things to see. It’s well worth revisiting to see other parts too.
I love the city of Reykjavik! There are so many cool little nooks to explore here, like galleries and museums, but also shops and hidden natural getaways so close to the city limits.
It is a gorgeous place with so much to see and do.
Wow, Reykjavik is simply stunning not just in terms of architecture but in culture and food. There’s definitely something for everyone but for me, I’d love to see the Northern Lights and explore their old town.
Maureen
The lights are a great draw but can’t always be seen or don’t always have as big an impact as you might sometimes see on photos. It is a great place to visit x
Love it when a post introduces me to cool places! Never thought of Iceland, and now I’m intrigued by the man-made beach with imported golden sand and geothermally heated water. With hot tubs and steam baths for only £5? YES please!
It’s tempting isn’t it. Such a great place to visit x
I really admire Iceland! It may have harsher terrain than other Nordic regions, but it’s definitely a place worth visiting at least once – if not more. Maybe I’m just biased.
It is a really beautiful place with lots to see.
WOWWWW, Reykjavik looks like a beautiful place to explore. I love to spend some time at the beach and checking out the Sun Voyager Sculpture, that is such a unique piece!
It certainly is and is very popular with tourists. Enjoy x
This city has a lot fun activities and views to offer. I can easily say that the city will give a vibrant and joyful to the people who will visit there.
It certainly does. It is a really lovely place to visit.
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All looks amazing – I want to try the bakery too. Beautiful place
It is a must if you visit!!
Wow it sounds stunning there. I Would love to go one day!
It is a beautiful country with so many naturally beautiful areas.
I would love to visit Reykjavik and reading your post has made me more determined to try and visi
Hope you have an amazing time!!
Ive always wanted to go,so much to see and do,i loved it when it appeared in from Europe up above
It is such a lovely place to visit. I hope you get to go.
I enjoyed Reykjavik for a weekend but Not sure I would return. The food and drink was really expensive and I think We covered the main attractions.
There are plenty of free attractions there to see like the sun voyager sculpture. Food can be pricey depending on where you go.
Reykjavik is every traveler and adventurer’s dream! There is so much to see and do. In fact, we are planning on visiting again.
and this time will take your word and make sure to try Braud and Co.
Make sure you try the cinnamon buns!!!!
I’ve always wanted to go to Reykjavik and this post has made he want to go even more! Great tips!
It is a really lovely place with lots for all the family.
Missed out on this city so it’s good to read about.
It’s such a beautiful place to visit.