Things to see & do in Reykjavik, Iceland
The world’s northernmost capital is in fact more like a regular town in size and population. Established by a 9th century Norse chieftain and isolated for centuries by its remote location, the city is now Iceland’s centre not only of power, but of culture, too. It also soaks up the majority of tourists coming into the country on planes and cruise ships, and suffers from overtourism.
Our Iceland Holidays
Northern Lights photography holiday in Iceland, coast & ice
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
From
£3150 to £3250
10 days
ex flights
Iceland holiday, small group
Delve into the ancient land of Vikings and volcanoes
From
£2135 to £2468
10 days
ex flights
Highlights of Iceland self drive holiday
Discover the best of Iceland along the ring road in 11 days
From
£1500 to £2500
11 days
ex flights
Northern Lights & orca photography holiday, Iceland
Incredible photographic trip in stunning West Iceland
From
£2500
7 days
ex flights
Iceland birds & landscapes photography tour
Fabulous Birds and Landscapes photo tour Arctic Iceland
From
£3450
10 days
ex flights
East Iceland photography tour, Fjords, puffins & blue ice
Superb photography in beautifully remote Midsummer Icelandic fjords
From
£3400
11 days
ex flights
Northern lights and whale watching cruise in Iceland
A cruise and coach journey to see whales & northern lights
From
£1760 to £4222
7 days
ex flights
West Greenland photography tour
Incredible photographic adventure in stunning West Greenland
From
£3250
8 days
ex flights
Iceland Highlands photography tour, waterfalls & canyons
Superb photo tour into Iceland's incredible wilderness areas
From
£3200
12 days
ex flights
Horse riding holiday in Iceland, 5 days
Tolt on the Icelandic horse in the land of 'Ice and Fire'
From
£1555
5 days
ex flights
Iceland hiking holiday, Fjallabak
Amazing trek behind the mountains and off the beaten path
From
£2300
8 days
ex flights
Iceland cruise, Circumnavigation
An unforgettable journey around the island of fire and ice
From
£2265
10 days
ex flights
Iceland self drive holiday, whale watching & horse riding
2 days horse back riding and self drive to discover Iceland
From
£1500 to £3000
7 days
ex flights
Laugavegur Trail trekking holiday in Iceland
Few trekking routes can match the striking vistas on offer here
From
£2579 to £2679
8 days
inc UK flights
Northern Lights photography tour, waterfalls & landscapes in Iceland
Incredible Winter photography trip to Iceland's remote North
From
£2900
8 days
ex flights
Horse riding holiday in Iceland
Ride in a hidden nature reserve surrounded by glaciers.
From
£1375
5 days
ex flights
Highlands of Iceland small group holiday
Discover the heart of Iceland, off the beaten track
From
£2390
9 days
ex flights
Iceland walking holiday, Laugavegur
Join us for the famous Landmannalaugar - Thorsmork trek
From
£1500
6 days
ex flights
Scotland to Iceland sailing holiday
Awe inspiring sailing & exploration, Scotland to Iceland.
From
£2275
16 days
ex flights
Iceland small group holiday
Dip into geothermal pools and soak in the stunning Icelandic scenery
From
£2399 to £2899
10 days
inc UK flights
Wellbeing holiday in North Iceland
A self-drive tour where you can visit and pamper yourself
From
£1100 to £5000
8 days
ex flights
Cruising Iceland's Wild West Coast
Discover a different side of Iceland
From
£2935
8 days
ex flights
Iceland new year holiday, Northern Lights explorer
Hunt the northern lights in Iceland At New Year
From
£965
5 days
ex flights
Iceland photography holiday and Northern Lights
Photograph Iceland's stunning landscapes and Northern Lights
From
£2600
8 days
ex flights
Iceland small group tours
See glaciers, geysers and geothermal hot springs in Iceland
From
£805 to £835
5 days
ex flights
Iceland holiday, Valentine's Day special
Adventure and romance in the northernmost capital
From
£1100 to £3000
6 days
ex flights
Greenland voyage cruise and northern lights
The world's longest fjord & spectacular Aurora Borealis
From
€3450
8 days
ex flights
So if you’re planning to visit Iceland’s capital, on a short break or as part of a longer exploration of the island, try to visit during quiet months – July and August remain peak season – and once here, evade the crowds by strolling off the main tourist drags, often lined with souvenir shops and little else. Reykjavik lends itself to exploration on foot. If booking through a responsible holiday company, they will help you discover hidden gardens and parks, colourful houses clad in corrugated iron, waterfront routes where locals jog and cycle, and dramatic views of the mountains that rise up just beyond the city’s boundaries. For a brush with Iceland’s wilder side without leaving the city limits, explore Ellidaardalur Valley, popular with walkers and cyclists, and Laugardalur (Hot Spring Valley) to the east of the city centre, the capital’s go-to spot for sports and recreation.
Explore
the past
the past
Explore the city’s past
Reykjavik’s reputation as a fun, cool place for a whistlestop weekend has grown up since the banking crisis of 2008, when prices dropped and visitors were invited in with open arms, but it hardly does justice to the long and rich history of this city. If you’re spending time in Reykjavik, show it the respect it deserves by investigating its past. Mug up on life in Viking times at the Settlement Exhibition, built around a carefully excavated longhouse from the 10th century or at the National Museum, which romps through Iceland’s history, from the Vikings right up to contemporary times. Families will appreciate the Saga Museum, which recreates key moments in Iceland’s history and helps kids imagine how life was once lived on this remote, volcanic island.
Capital culture
Enjoy some capital culture
As well as being geothermally active, Iceland is a veritable hothouse of creativity, with Reykjavik its epicentre and its museums and galleries a window onto the island’s unique cultural life. Reykjavik Art Museum and National Gallery is a great place to start, with shops featuring cutting edge Icelandic design, and do swing by the big statement modernist centrepiece that is Harpa Concert Hall, too.
Our top Iceland Holiday
Northern Lights photography holiday in Iceland, coast & ice
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
From
£3150 to £3250
10 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 20 Oct
2020: 9 Feb, 21 Feb, 1 Mar, 30 Sep, 30 Oct
2019: 20 Oct
2020: 9 Feb, 21 Feb, 1 Mar, 30 Sep, 30 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Iceland or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Then be sure to make time for a potter through the city’s quieter streets, popping in and out of small galleries, independent shops and contemporary spaces to see what’s happening at grass roots level. Keep your camera handy, too, so you can snap some of the sensational graffiti gracing the city’s walls and be sure to extend your stroll to include sculpture ringed Tjornin Pond and the waterfront. Here, you’ll find the Sun Voyager sculpture, which looks like a Viking ship, but was created by sculptor Jón Gunnar Arnason as a dream boat and ode to the sun. As you explore, stop off for a coffee or a snack in small, neighbourhood cafes, placing your tourist money directly into local hands, where it’s most appreciated.
Reykjavik has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature – the first non native English speaking city to receive this prestigious title. Discover some of its original medieval manuscripts at the Culture House, including the Poetic Edda, a collection of old Norse poems brimming with important Nordic mythology. Bring some more up to date reading with you, too; the Reykjavik based crime novels of Arnaldur Indridason would be ideal.
Festivals
Take in a festival
Reykjavik hosts a huge number of festivals – they’re hard to miss, so join in. Film, food, jazz and blues, literature and children’s literature, a Viking festival and winter lights events all keep the capital hopping throughout the calendar. As the first country in the world to elect an openly gay head of state, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir in 2009, Iceland also hosts a wonderful Pride festival in August each year.
Strip off
for a dip
for a dip
Strip off for a dip
Thermal baths pepper volcanic Iceland and the most famous is the Blue Lagoon, a large pool and spa which is fed by the futuristic Svartsengi geothermal plant. It’s certainly beautiful and otherworldly, but it’s also one of the most visited attractions in Iceland, conveniently located close to Keflavik airport. To avoid contributing to its crowds, dip into an equally warm and wonderful experience, and a more authentic one, too, by visiting one of the many public pools in Reykjavik. Here, for a few krona you can enjoy a swim, sauna, steam room and hot pools heated to various temperatures alongside locals who come here every week. Just be sure to have a full shower before diving in, to ensure the water stays perfectly clean.
Out of town
Get out of town
Reykjavik is tiny, so you’re never far from the great outdoors. Dramatic mountains, stormy seas and populations of puffins exist just on its fringes and although two thirds of Iceland’s population lives here, they remain intimately connected to this wilderness on their doorstep, which informs their art, culture and lifestyle.
Even if you are only in Reykjavik for a short time, try to travel beyond its boundaries. You’ll have the joy of seeing extraordinary landscapes in clear, clean light, while also easing the pressure on the busy capital. The best option is to join a guided tour. Many of these head to the famous Golden Circle, which includes Thingvellir National Park, where two tectonic plates meet, regularly spurting Geysir and the waterfall Gullfoss. This is very much a go-to day trip circuit, but a good local guide will lead you to lesser known viewpoints and know when the crowd numbers drop, so you can have a more intimate experience of these rightfully popular spots.
Better yet, seek out a tour that takes you to lesser known places within striking distance of the capital, to walk, explore and learn more about the landscape from an in-the-know local guide. If you prefer to drive yourself, choosing an organised self drive holiday rather than just hiring a car is the best option. You’ll benefit from carefully planned routes designed with insider knowledge, that lead you away from overtourism hotspots and towards little visited treasures.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: MartinPutz] [Remarkable Reykjavik : Rose Breen]
[Reykjavik street and shops: Ruth Hartnup]
[Explore the city's past: Jessica Simpson]
[Enjoy some capital culture: David Phan]
[Reykjavik graffiti: Emmanuel Eragne]
[Take in a festival: Orlyguyr Hnefill]
[Strip off for a dip: Luke Flitter]
[Get out of town: Theo Crazzolara]
[Gullfoss waterfall: KLMNT!]
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