Reykjavík: what's actually worth it
When Ingólfur Arnarson tossed his high-seat pillars into the sea in 874, he didn’t just find a fishing village; he laid the foundation for a capital that feels intimately human despite its volcanic origins. Reykjavik breathes with a quiet resilience, where neighbors chat warmly outside colorful wooden houses and the air smells faintly of geothermal steam and fresh baked goods. Today, it is less a sprawling metropolis than a cozy, walkable hub of design-forward cafes and historic landmarks, perfectly sized for those who prefer connection over congestion.
Top things to do in Reykjavík
Hallgrimskirkja
Church · ★ 4.6 (28,685 reviews)
Inspired by Icelandic traditions, this modern cathedral, consecrated in 1986, has a 73m-high tower.
Check tours & tickets →Perlan
Museum · ★ 4.5 (11,106 reviews)
Futuristic revolving glass-domed fine dining restaurant in park setting, with cocktail bar.
Check tours & tickets →Sun Voyager
Sculpture · ★ 4.5 (10,343 reviews)
Huge 1990 stainless-steel sculpture of a boat by Jón Gunnar Árnason, set on granite beside the sea.
Check tours & tickets →FlyOver Iceland
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.7 (5,557 reviews)
Attraction with motion seating & a wraparound screen, simulating flight over mountains & glaciers.
Check tours & tickets →Raufarhólshellir
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.6 (3,675 reviews)
Lava tunnel cave with natural ice sculptures & stalactites, accessible via guided tours only.
Check tours & tickets →National Museum of Iceland
Museum · ★ 4.5 (4,091 reviews)
Objects from the Settlement Age to the present, 20th-century photography & temporary exhibitions.
Check tours & tickets →Where to eat
Icelandic Street Food
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (6,874 reviews)
Pint-sized, local cafe offering an array of hearty Icelandic comfort dishes in a cheerful setting.
Website →Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Hot Dog Stand · ★ 4.4 (9,249 reviews)
Signature hot dogs are cooked up at this renowned little food stand dating to 1937.
Website →Íslenski Barinn - The Icelandic Bar
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (5,057 reviews)
Down-to-earth restaurant offering unique seafood & meat dishes including shark, reindeer & whale.
Website →Café Loki
Restaurant · ★ 4.5 (6,594 reviews)
Cozy place with cathedral views serving traditional fare including fish, meat soup & rye bread.
Website →Old Iceland
Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (2,984 reviews)
Laid-back, family-run eatery offering traditional dishes from locally sourced produce.
Website →Messinn
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,602 reviews)
Website →Svarta Kaffið
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,499 reviews)
Website →Reykjavík Kitchen
Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (2,292 reviews)
Website →Tours worth booking ahead
Tours & Activities in Iceland - Troll.is
point_of_interest, establishment · ★ 4.8 (5,708 reviews)
Check tours & tickets →Icelandic Street Food
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (6,874 reviews)
Pint-sized, local cafe offering an array of hearty Icelandic comfort dishes in a cheerful setting.
Check tours & tickets →Get outside
Thingvellir National Park
National Park · ★ 4.7 (24,461 reviews)
Protected beauty spot with dramatic rocky scenery, lakes & ridges plus a national historical shrine.
Website →Arctic Adventures
Tour Agency · ★ 4.6 (4,919 reviews)
Website →Thingvellir National Park Visitor Center
National Park · ★ 4.7 (3,331 reviews)
Website →Glymur Waterfall
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.8 (1,130 reviews)
Reached via a rugged trail, this waterfall cascading into a canyon is the second highest in Iceland.
Elliðaárdalur
Park · ★ 4.8 (460 reviews)
After dark
Íslenski Barinn - The Icelandic Bar
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (5,057 reviews)
Down-to-earth restaurant offering unique seafood & meat dishes including shark, reindeer & whale.
Website →Lebowski Bar
Bar · ★ 4.5 (3,648 reviews)
Website →The Irishman Pub
Irish Pub · ★ 4.6 (928 reviews)
Website →Dillon Whiskey Bar
Bar · ★ 4.4 (1,223 reviews)
Dark, laid-back watering hole offering 170+ whiskeys, plus live bands, DJ'd music & outdoor seats.
Website →More guides
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