How to spend a weekend in Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a special city that surprises you every time. It is an unassuming place with nothing flashy or grand as you fly in. The international airport is roughly an hour away from the city, depending on time of day and time of year.
That is what makes Reykjavik so special. The city in May doesn’t feel like the same city as in September. If you only have a few days to spare for a trip to Iceland’s beautiful capital, be sure to choose your timing according to the best season for the activities you want to do.
You could experience Midnight Sun in June, able to hike behind waterfalls at 11 pm. Or you could visit in November with as little as 5 hours of daylight but high likelihood of witnessing the Northern Lights, a truly magical experience.
Some of the activities in this itinerary should change depending on the time of your visit. Check out the Best Things to Do in Reykjavik for more ideas to really make this itinerary your own.
Day 1: Get Your Bearings
Reykjavik Walking Tour
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: a walking tour is the best first activity in a new place! There are options for free tours in most major cities, or you can find a tour that is catered to your specific interests, such as a food tour, a ghost tour, a history tour, etc.
In Reykjavik specifically, consider taking a foodie tour to try the most interesting food in Iceland. The options range from fermented shark to a reindeer. You will learn about Icelandic history and culture through the food you get to enjoy. (Or not enjoy, in the case of iconic Icelandic Hákarl and Brennivín.) Start this tour in the mid-morning and the food will be more than enough for lunch.
Visit the Observation Deck at Hallgrimskirkja Church
Hallgrimskirkja is one of the most famous buildings in Reykjavik. It is the largest church in the country and has deep significance to the people of Iceland. Plus, it is still a functioning church! When services are not being held, visitors are able to take an elevator to the top of the bell tower.
The bell tower reaches 74.5 meters or 244 feet tall and offers 360-degree views of Reykjavik. Access the tower by purchasing a ticket from the church gift shop and riding the elevator to the top, where you will find (and probably hear!) the church bells, which are rung every 15 minutes during operating hours.
The Rainbow Street in Reykjavik
From Hallgrimskirkja it is a short walk to the world-famous Rainbow Street, Skólavörðustígur. Originally installed as part of a Pride celebration in 1999, the rainbow road was so popular that it became a permanent feature of the city, and of the annual Reykjavik Pride Parade.
There are shops, cafes, and restaurants along Reykjavik’s Rainbow Street. Take the opportunity to browse for some local art and treasures to take home. (But save your caffeine craving for the next stop.)
Kattakaffihusid - The Reykjavik Cat Cafe
Kattakaffihusid is the first and only cat cafe in Iceland, where you can enjoy a coffee and a pastry while cats roam free around the shop. All of the cats are up for adoption and live at the cafe while waiting for their forever home.
Day 2: Lean in to Local Culture
Walk to Scenic Reykjavik Waterfront
Start your morning with a walk along the waterfront of Kollafjörður fjord. There is a wide, paved path along the water (points for accessibility!) along which you will pass sculptures, lighthouses, and artist installations.
You should start from downtown, first passing the Harpa Concert Hall. This beautiful building is designed to represent Iceland’s dramatic nature including basalt towers and the Northern Lights. From there walking eastward, you can enjoy art installations:
- Statue of Icelandic cellist Erling Blöndal Bengtsson
- “Sun Voyager” sculpture
- “Íslandsvarðan” sculpture
- “The Shore Piece” sculpture
- The Partnership Statue
- Höfði Lighthouse
The Sun Voyager is widely known and loved by Icelanders as a symbol of Iceland’s rich Viking heritage. The walk from Harpa Concert Hall to Höfði Lighthouse will take roughly half an hour, depending on your walking speed.
Visit a Museum in Reykjavik
Reykjavik is home to a number of interesting museums, some of the most notable ones are listed below.
Aurora Reykjavik – learn about the Northern Lights. This museum also offers tours to see the Northern Lights, but they book far in advance so plan this ahead of time.
The Icelandic Punk Museum – so punk, they don’t have a website. Learn about the history of punk in Iceland in a former underground public toilet.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum – self described as “dedicated to collecting, studying and presenting actual phalluses and all things phallic.”
Hot tip: You can enter the gift shop for free, if you are looking for a quirky souvenir but don’t have the time to do the full museum experience.
National Museum of Iceland – for the history buffs!
Relax at a Geothermal Pool or Spa
Iceland is known for its dramatic landscapes and incredible natural features. This includes the multitude of geothermal pools and water features in and around Reykjavik. There are 18 public geothermal pools scattered throughout the city, as well as a geothermal ocean and – my personal favorite – a geothermal spa.
Blue Lagoon is world famous and the first place tourists think to visit when considering a geothermal spa day. While this lagoon is a fabulous option, with such a short itinerary I will always choose efficiency over name recognition. Rather than figuring out the ~50 minute commute to and from Blue Lagoon, consider visiting Sky Lagoon, which is only a few minutes from the center of Reykjavik.
Spend the afternoon at Sky Lagoon, soaking in the nutrient-rich waters. Enjoy the infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic while sipping a cocktail or mocktail from the bar. And don’t miss the 7-step Skjól ritual to reset your body, cleanse your skin, and leave you fresh and relaxed.
Day 3: Get Specific
On your final day in Reykjavik, you have a good grasp on the city center and have learned a lot about Icelandic culture. Now it’s your opportunity to dive deeper into a specific topic or experience. I am listing them below, but in no particular order – you will likely not have time to do all of these things on your last day, but create some combination that suits you best.
Whale Museum and Whale Watching Tour
Whales of Iceland is the largest whale museum in Europe with 23 life-size models of whales which are found in the oceans around Iceland. The whales are modeled after real whales in the wild, mimicking their unique features. Plus they are squishy and fun to touch. It is a very interactive experience.
In addition to the museum, the company offers whale watching tours where you embark on a boat and see the mighty creatures in the wild. This can be booked online, and be sure to prepare according to the season (time of day you want to tour, how many layers you pack, etc. And don’t forget the sunscreen!)
Lava Show
The Lava Show is a relatively quick experience where visitors sit in a room and watch a live action recreation of a volcanic eruption. There is no other place in the world where you can sit in a room with flowing molten lava!
FlyOver Iceland
Warning – if you experience motion sickness, plan to sit this one out.
FlyOver Iceland is so unique and unlike anything I have experienced outside of Disneyworld. Visitors strap into a seat with their feet dangling. The seat moves and sways as an enormous, wrap-around screen plays drone footage of jaw-dropping Icelandic landscapes. The experience is 4-dimensional, with wind blowing in your face and scents being sprayed as you fly over fields of flowers.
You can book a package tour to combine the Lava Show and the FlyOver Iceland experience!
