Holidays to Reykjavik
Reykjavik highlights
Walk the shore
One way to make it a cheap holiday to Reykjavik is to spend time walking the city’s north shore. The stroll takes you past the impressive glass dome of Harpa concert hall. Pause at the Sun Voyager sculpture, overlooking the postcard-worthy Kollafjordur fjord. End your trek at the Laugarnes peninsula, an archaeological site that was once a Viking settlement.
See live music
Use your city break in Reykjavik to explore the city’s outstanding music scene. Check out up-and-coming Icelandic acts at Hurra or the musicians’ favourite venue, Graeni Hatturinn. There’s a good chance you’ll catch a touring folk act (as well as some tasty comfort food) at the intimate Cafe Rosenberg. For a schedule of the city’s concerts, pick up a copy of the Reykjavik Grapevine.
Catch the Northern Lights
If you’re visiting between September and April, you have a good shot at seeing the Northern Lights. Dark, cloudless skies and rural areas away from Reykjavik’s light pollution offer prime conditions for viewing the phenomenon. You could hire a car and head out alone, but you might consider taking a guided tour if you want to be led to the best viewing spots.
Reykjavik: Know before you go
| Language | Icelandic |
|---|---|
| Currency | Icelandic krona (kr) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| High season | June – August |
| Low season | November – January |
Find the best time to go to Reykjavik
Weather in Reykjavik
March – May: Spring welcomes clear, sunny days alongside cold, windy ones. Waterfalls like Gullfoss and Skógafoss are especially impressive thanks to seasonal snowmelt.
June – August: Summer is the most popular time to visit, with temps hitting around 13°C and near-endless daylight. It’s also prime time for hiking and whale watching. Book accommodation in advance.
September – November: Autumn brings pretty foliage and a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Temperatures dip to 5°C in October and around 1°C in November.
December – February: Winters are milder than you’d expect, with temperatures usually hovering around freezing. Days are short and dark, but it’s the best time of year to see the Northern Lights.
Events in Reykjavik
Winter Lights Festival (February): Bringing a little sparkle to winter, this festival features a light trail, free late-night museum entry and free evening swims at local pools.
Reykjavik Art Festival (May to June): Held every two years, this festival showcases cutting-edge visual art, video installations, live music and dance performances.
Reykjavik Pride (August): Nicknamed ‘the world’s biggest small Pride’, this colourful celebration of LGBTQ+ culture has attracted over 100,000 guests in recent years.
New Year’s Eve (December): Icelanders can only buy fireworks from 28 December to 6 January. Watch in awe as over 500 tonnes of explosives are unleashed into the night skies on New Year’s Eve.
The best neighbourhoods in Reykjavik
Vesturbær
Vesturbær is where to stay in Reykjavik if you want the charm and convenience of the city centre without the foot traffic. Book a whale-watching trip at the harbour, then get back to shore for a meal at one of the growing number of restaurants and cafes in the neighbourhood. Explore the city’s seafaring past at the Reykjavik Maritime Museum.
Good for: Harbour, whale watching, restaurants
Laugardalur
Laugardalur is the city’s playground, especially during the warmer months. Located east of the city centre, it’s Reykjavik’s main recreation area, home to a geothermally heated swimming pool. Browse plant life at the Reykjavik Botanic Garden, or catch a soccer match at Laugardalsvollur Stadium. You’ll see locals hiking and biking through the district’s namesake park, and in winter it can seem like everyone comes to skate at the Laugardalur Ice Rink.
Good for: Swimming, ice skating, soccer
Hlíðar
This mostly residential district is the best neighbourhood to stay in Reykjavik for a slice of local life. Wander the leafy streets, taking in architecture from the 1930s, when the district sprung to life. You’ll find a collection of casual restaurants, including a famous food hall, as well as indie boutiques. Check out sculptures and paintings from Icelandic artists at Reykjavik Art Museum. Then climb the Öskjuhlíð hill, and visit the nature museum at Perlan.
Good for: Restaurants, markets, museums
Things to do in Reykjavik
Family friendly things to do
A trip to the geothermal swimming pool at Laugardalslaug is one of the best things to do with family in Reykjavik. It’s more convenient than the Blue Lagoon and close to an abundance of playgrounds and picnic areas. Marvel at models of the world’s largest mammals at the Whales of Iceland exhibit or interact with life-size Viking mannequins at the Saga Museum.
Shopping
Laugavegur is the main street for high-end shopping in Reykjavik. Explore the dynamic Icelandic music scene at record stores like Lucky Records, and find high-quality Nordic furniture at Akkurat. Satisfy your sugar cravings at Vinberid sweet shop. For deals, try vintage clothing boutiques like Spuutnik Reykjavik. Or head to Kringlan and Smaralind to shop in Iceland’s largest malls.
Take in the culture
The National Museum of Iceland is a can’t-miss attraction in Reykjavik, home to 2,000 artefacts dating back to the Viking era. See modern Icelandic sculptures at the Reykjavik Art Museum, or learn the science behind the Northern Lights at Aurora Reykjavik. For something completely different, explore counter-culture music at the Icelandic Punk Museum.
Nightlife
At night, Laugavegur turns from a shopping street into ground zero for the city’s nightlife scene. You’ll stumble upon everything from dive bars to local microbreweries. Craft cocktails dominate the drinks menu at Vedurbarinn, just as hip-hop dominates the dance floor at restaurant/nightclub Prikid. Things don’t get going here until late, with most clubs remaining empty until midnight.
Places to eat
It’s super easy to get lured into sampling Reykjavik’s regional treats. Most mornings start with ‘skyr’, a thicker, creamier cousin to yoghurt. The delicate fish and chips are a must at Kaffivagninn, Iceland’s oldest operating restaurant. And you can try Nordic-themed small plates at Mat Bar or splurge on upscale eats at gourmet eateries like Dill Restaurant and Brut.
Free things to do
Taking an obligatory photo at the waterfront sculpture ‘Solfar’ (Sun Voyager) is one of the top free things to do in Reykjavik. Admire the mountain-shaped Hallgrimskirkja Church, where you can pay a small fee to climb the tower for unblocked skyline views. Then explore Althingi, the parliament area where Iceland’s government has met since the 1800s. To bone up on the city’s neighbourhoods, join a free CityWalk tour (donations accepted).
Get ready for Reykjavik
Budget
Iceland can be expensive for travellers. But cheap holidays to Reykjavik are possible if you visit in the off-season, prioritise free natural attractions and use discounts like the Reykjavik City Card. An inexpensive meal costs around 3,000 Icelandic krónur (kr), while a beer is kr1,500 and a coffee kr750. Short taxi rides start at about kr1,100.
Day Trips from Reykjavik
This is the perfect base for exploring Iceland’s awesome nature. Drive one hour north of the city to the Glymur Waterfall, a dramatic cascade down the Hvalfjörður. Closer to the city, wander through the rock formations and birch woodlands of Þingvellir National Park. Travel a couple of hours northeast to tackle the impressive Sólheimajökull Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in Iceland.
Getting Around Reykjavik
Reykjavik is small and very walkable. Explore most of the city on foot, and use the Reykjavik City Card for unlimited rides between districts on Strætó buses. You can also take advantage of wide bike lanes and dedicated bike paths through Reykjavik to pedal almost anywhere.
