Reykjavik Holidays

Whale-watching boats leave from the Old Harbour and spend their time searching the waters of Faxaflói Bay. Minke whales are regularly associated with these trips, with humpbacks also seen at times. There are no guaranteed sightings, of course, and that uncertainty is very much part of being out on the water.

Silfra lies in Þingvellir National Park, where crystal-clear water runs through a deep fissure in the landscape. Snorkelling here means drifting between rocky walls in a dry suit, with remarkable visibility beneath the surface. Diving is also possible for those with the right qualifications. The water stays extremely cold throughout the year, but that is all part of the experience.

Looking across the water from Reykjavík, Mount Esja is difficult to miss. It is a popular hiking spot for locals, with several routes climbing its broad slopes and opening up views over the capital and coastline. Conditions on the mountain can be very different from those in the city, so this is one walk where checking the weather beforehand matters.

Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss form the well-known Golden Circle route. At Þingvellir, paths cross a landscape shaped by tectonic movement. Geysir brings steaming ground and erupting Strokkur, while Gullfoss sends the Hvítá river down a series of powerful drops. It is a busy route, but there is a reason so many first-time visitors take it.

The South Coast is a longer day out, with plenty happening between Reykjavík and Vík. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are usually among the first big stops, followed by glacier scenery around Sólheimajökull and the black-sand coastline farther east. Expect an early start and a full day rather than a quick excursion.

The Icelandic horse has been part of life here for centuries and is noticeably smaller than many other riding breeds. Trips around Reykjavík often head through open countryside and lava-covered terrain, with rides available for different experience levels. The breed is also known for the tölt, a smooth four-beat gait distinctive to Icelandic horses.

Northern lights tours are largely dictated by the weather. After dark, guides head away from Reykjavík’s street lights and adjust the route according to cloud cover and viewing conditions. Sometimes the aurora appears quickly; other nights involve a lot more patience. There is no reliable way to promise a sighting.

Raufarhólshellir gives a very different view of Iceland’s volcanic landscape. Instead of looking across lava fields from the road, guided tours head inside an actual lava tube, passing coloured rock, rough walls and volcanic formations. During colder months, ice can form close to the entrance and add another layer to the scenery.

Snæfellsnes needs a full day, but the drive covers an impressive amount of ground. The peninsula brings together fishing villages, lava fields, beaches, sea cliffs and mountain scenery, with Kirkjufell drawing plenty of cameras along the way. It feels noticeably different from the busier Golden Circle and gives a good look at Iceland’s western coast.

Beneath central Reykjavík are the remains of a Viking Age longhouse, uncovered during archaeological work in the city. The Settlement Exhibition was created around the site rather than moving the finds elsewhere. Displays explain how the earliest settlers built their homes, found food and dealt with life in a landscape that was very different from Reykjavík today.

For the bigger picture, the National Museum is a good place to start. Its collection follows Iceland from the settlement era through centuries of religious, social and political change. Clothing, tools, household objects and archaeological finds help fill in the everyday details that are easy to miss at smaller historic sites.

Árbær feels more like stepping into an old Reykjavík neighbourhood than visiting a traditional museum. Historic houses from around the city have been moved here, while the original Árbær farm buildings still stand on the site. Furnished homes, workshops and farm buildings offer a glimpse of what everyday life in Reykjavík once looked like.

In Austurvöllur, Parliament House is surprisingly understated. The dark stone building dates from the 19th century and remains the home of Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament. Its central location also places it close to streets and squares that have played an important role in the country’s political life.

Höfði House looks fairly ordinary from the outside, but its history is anything but. In October 1986, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met here for the Reykjavík Summit. The meeting ended without a formal agreement, yet the discussions became an important step towards later nuclear arms reductions during the final years of the Cold War.

Fishing shaped Reykjavík long before tourism became part of the city’s identity. The Maritime Museum, housed in a former fish-freezing plant by the Old Harbour, tells that story through boats, equipment and exhibitions about life at sea. It is a useful reminder of just how much Reykjavík’s growth depended on the fishing industry.

The Saga Museum goes for storytelling rather than display cases. Life-size figures, costumes and reconstructed scenes recreate people and events from Iceland’s sagas and early settlement years. It is more theatrical than an archaeological museum, which makes it an easy introduction to the stories behind some of Iceland’s best-known historical characters.

Held each February, the Winter Lights Festival brightens Reykjavík with illuminations, cultural events and special activities across museums, swimming pools and public spaces.

Taking place in May, DesignMarch celebrates Icelandic and international creativity through exhibitions, talks and installations covering architecture, fashion, furniture, graphic design and more.

Every year on 17 June, Reykjavík celebrates Iceland’s National Day with parades, live music, street performances and family activities across the city centre.

Held in August, Reykjavík Pride brings concerts, cultural events and colourful celebrations to the city, building towards a lively parade through the centre.

Each August, Culture Night fills central Reykjavík with free concerts, exhibitions, performances and activities, with celebrations continuing into the evening.

Running from late September into October, RIFF brings Icelandic and international films to cinemas across Reykjavík, alongside talks, workshops and filmmaker appearances.

Held in November, Iceland Airwaves brings emerging Icelandic musicians and international artists to concert halls, bars and smaller venues across Reykjavík.

On 31 December, Reykjavík welcomes the New Year with neighbourhood bonfires, gatherings across the city and a huge display of fireworks around midnight.

Reykjavík has a long relationship with books and storytelling. Independent bookshops, readings and literary events are common, while the Icelandic Sagas still have a visible place in exhibitions and local culture. Its UNESCO City of Literature status feels especially fitting in a city where literature is still part of daily life.

For locals, a trip to the swimming pool is as much about unwinding and socialising as it is about exercise. Sundhöllin, Vesturbæjarlaug and Laugardalslaug are well-known places to swim, sit in the hot tubs and catch up with friends. Cold weather rarely gets in the way, which says a lot about how deeply pool culture is woven into Reykjavík life.

Art in Reykjavík is not limited to formal galleries. Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn each offer something different, but murals, sculptures and smaller exhibitions also appear across the city. It is the sort of place where you can come across interesting work simply by walking through the centre.

Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur show off Reykjavík’s creative side particularly well. Alongside murals and colourful shopfronts are independent stores selling Icelandic knitwear, jewellery and locally made pieces. Rainbow Street adds another splash of colour on the approach to Hallgrímskirkja.

Reykjavík’s everyday food is much broader than the unusual Icelandic dishes visitors often hear about first. Lamb, fresh seafood and dark rye bread are common choices, while Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur remains one of the city’s best-known stops for an Icelandic hot dog. The food is often simple, filling and closely connected to local ingredients and traditions.

Harpa is one of Reykjavík’s standout buildings, even if you are not there for a show. The glass façade catches the changing light from the harbour, while inside the programme covers everything from orchestral performances and opera to comedy, theatre and contemporary music. It is also well placed for a walk along the waterfront before or after a performance.

Most of the nightlife sits around Laugavegur and the nearby streets, so there is little need to plan a complicated route between venues. Kaffibarinn, Gaukurinn and Lemmy are well-known names on the local scene, and weekends bring the liveliest atmosphere, with DJs, live bands and bars staying busy late into the night.

Bíó Paradís is a good choice for something away from mainstream cinema, with Icelandic films, independent releases and arthouse screenings on the programme. The National Theatre offers a more traditional night out. During RIFF, the city’s film scene gets an extra boost from screenings, talks and appearances by visiting filmmakers.

FlyOver Iceland is built around the feeling of flying over the country without leaving Reykjavík. A huge curved screen, moving seats and effects such as wind and mist turn the experience into more of a ride than an exhibition. It is in Grandi, making it an easy indoor stop if the weather takes a turn.

The first thing you notice at Whales of Iceland is the sheer size of the models. The life-size displays make it much easier to understand just how large Iceland’s whale species really are. It works particularly well before a whale-watching trip, but it is just as useful when rough weather keeps boats in the harbour.

This is one of Reykjavík’s more unusual museums and probably one of the few places where the name tells you exactly what to expect. The collection centres on mammalian specimens, with folklore and cultural oddities mixed in. It is compact, curious and far more informative than many visitors expect.