If you are going to Iceland, you are probably going to Reykjavik. Whether you are in Iceland for a short amount of time, or stopping on your Ring Road trip (a route that circles Iceland), Reykjavik is great city to get a feel of the Icelandic city life. Why? Because it is pretty much the only city in Iceland.
Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital and largest city, which makes it the heart of Iceland’s culture, economics and government. Also, Iceland is the cleanest, greenest and safest country in the world… It is ironic that it was founded by Vikings.
The city is a canvas of beautiful street art and murals.
What to Do
There is so much to see and learn about Iceland and Reykjavik, so you should look into a tour. I recommend the FREE City Walk tour. Yes, I did say FREE. The tour is a walking tour (2 km or 1.3 miles, 2 hours long) guided by History Graduate students, who are all delightful and attractive.
Simply sign up for their tour online and meet them at the Parliament building during your assigned time. The tour guide walks you around until you end up at the beautiful pond in the center of the city. You have the chance to see Iceland from a native’s perspective and get a feel of their pride for the country.
The country's Parliament building.
During the tour, I learned so much about the history, country and the people. After you are done with the tour, you pay whatever you think the tour is worth as a tip, either in cash or online with a credit card. Trust me, this tour is worth it.
While you stroll through the city streets, take a look into the some of their local culture. Over the weekend, there is the Kolaportid Fleamarket with various meats, fish, treats and crafts.
Not your style, perhaps take some amazing snaps at the top of the Hallgrimskirkja, which is a church in the center of the city. You can go to the top for a small fee and see the entire city from there. Both of these places will give you a taste of the Icelandic culture.
Hallgrimskirkja is a sample of Reykjavik's architecture.
Speaking of tastes, make sure you enjoy the Reykjavik’s eats. Iceland has some of the best food I have ever had. If you love homemade bread, fresh seafood, organic meat and warm soups, this cuisine is for you too. Check out my post on the Eats and Treats of Reykjavik for my suggestions of restaurants.
The city is located right on the ocean. This is one of the views from our restaurant.
One of the most popular activities for tourist and natives in Iceland is taking a dip in thermal pools. No matter the time of year, you can soak and relax in one of these heated pools. A few in the city include: Laugardalslaug, Vesturbaejarlaug and Aebaejarlaug.
Depending on the time of year you visit, you may have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The best time to see this natural phenomenon is September/October and February/March. As the day gets darker, consider taking a tour out to have a chance of spotting the lights.
Of course, you do not have to take a tour and can try to find them on your own (Tip: Try using this forecast), but you may want to go with an expert that knows common areas to see the lights and has communication with other tour groups on the hunt for them. We went on a Northern Lights tour when we were in Reykjavik. It took us a few hour and multiple locations, but we finally caught them.
After this busy day, go back to your hotel, camper, tent, igloo or whatever you decide to sleep in, and get a good night’s sleep. Because chances are, if you are not heading to the airport the next morning, you are off on your next amazing adventure in Iceland.
It is not like your typical city centre.
