Reykjavik guide | Reykjavik attractions and things to do
Despite being just two hours flying time from London, Iceland’s capital is one of the most un-european cities you could imagine, with stunning and varied landscapes and sublime wilderness. However, contrary to popular assumption, it is not excessively cold or particularly icy – at least in summer, when it is light for 24 hours a day.
Iceland was settled by Norwegian and Celtic immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries. According to folklore, Ingolfur Arnarson – the first settler of Iceland – built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavik stands today. The place was named Reykjavik – “Smoky Bay” - after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area.
Centuries later, a small town began to grow around the farm of Reykjavik, thanks to Royal Treasurer Skuli Magnusson, who established wool workshops in the area as part of his efforts to modernise the Icelandic economy. This was the genesis of Reykjavik’s urban development that has resulted in the vibrant city we know today, in which you’ll find all the trappings of a large 21st-century European city, including cosy cafés, world-class restaurants, fine museums and galleries, and state-of-the-art geothermal pools. In 2008, Iceland suffered a national economic crisis that has seen a drop in the previously prohibitive tourist prices.
Reykjavik is connected by air to destinations throughout Iceland as well as Europe and North America. Flight time is 2-4 hours from Europe and 5-6 hours from the east coast of America.
International flights operate through Keflavík Airport, 48km west of Reykjavík. There are airport shuttle services that will transfer you to the city centre, including the Reykjavík Excursions Flybus.
It is possible to get to Iceland by sea as well. There is a passenger and car ferry service that sails during the summer to Seydisfjordur, a town on the east coast of Iceland, which is an 8-9 hour bus ride from Reykjavik. The Smyril Line ferry runs between the Faeroe Islands, Norway, Denmark and the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland, making a complete journey once a week throughout the year.
For warm weather, the summer months, when the city remains light for 24 hours and the sun barely sets, are the best time to travel to Reykjavik. However, despite its position close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland’s winter climate is not nearly as harsh as its location would suggest. Thanks to the Gulf Stream that flows along the southern and western coasts of the country, temperatures average just a few degrees Celsius below freezing during these months.
Indeed, an increasing number of visitors are opting to holiday in Reykjavik during Winter. Attractions at this time of year include snow sports and the novelty of swimming in hot springs. If you want to enjoy the spectacle of the northern lights, travel to Reykjavik between September and March and keep your fingers crossed for a clear, cold night.
By day, Reykjavik offers some enjoyable sightseeing in its old city centre, and by night it offers a notoriously raucous nightlife scene.
If you come in winter, you can skate on the lake in the middle of Reykjavik, or go skiing at one of the nearby ski resorts. There are also a number of walking/cycling paths around Reykjavik.
For a glimpse into Reykjavik's past, visit the open-air Reykjavik City Museum- Arbaejarsafn, located in the eastern part of the capital.
A plethora of nightclubs and stylish cafe-cum-bars have sprung up in Reykjavik in recent years, allowing you to experience the nightlife for which the city is becoming renowned. But be warned, alcohol is very expensive in Iceland. Reykjavik also has a thriving and eclectic music scene, with Grand Rokk Bar, located in the north west of the city, at its heart.
Despite offering many of its own attractions, visitors often travel to Reykjavik to take excursions out of the city to one of Iceland’s beauty spots. The Blue Lagoon is a man-made geothermal lagoon', set in a lava field and filled with mineral-rich hot water pumped from about a mile below the surface. It is about 50km south west of Reykjavik and can be reached using the Blueline bus company.
The Haukadalur valley in Iceland's southern lowlands, where hot springs spout and mud pots bubble, is home to the mother of all geysers, the Great Geysir, from which all other such phenomena around the world have taken their name. Thingvallaleid offers a bus service from Reykjavik to Geysir, though return buses can only be caught the following day.
The National Day of Iceland has been celebrated on June 17th since 1944. The festivities in Reykjavik include colorful parades, street theatres, music, side shows and dancing.
