UltimateCity Guide Reykjavík
Our favourites
Reykjavík at sunset from Perlan, with the spire of Hallgrímskirkja against the bay and the mountains Reykjavík at sunset from Perlan, with the spire of Hallgrímskirkja against the bay and the mountains The northern lights over the Sun Voyager and the bay at Reykjavík Reykjavík City Hall and the old houses reflected in the still Tjörnin Boats in the Old Harbour of Reykjavík on a still day, with Harpa behind

The city guide to Reykjavík, Iceland

Best of Reykjavík

Hallgrímskirkja on its hill and Harpa on the harbour, DILL and ÓX on Laugavegur, the geothermal pools and Sky Lagoon, whales and the northern lights from the Old Harbour, and the Golden Circle a morning away: Reykjavík, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyPrime neighbourhoods, agents, new developments and how buying works

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the world’s northernmost capital: a small city of coloured roofs between the North Atlantic and Mount Esja, with geothermal pools on every corner and some of Europe’s wildest landscapes a day’s drive away. Here are the hotels and the 2026 MICHELIN stars, the museums, music and pools, the areas from the old centre to Kópavogur, and day trips to the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon, the south coast and Snæfellsnes. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Reykjavík, the city between sea and fire: the back story

In depth

Between sea and fire

Reykjavík·In depth

Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa and Perlan, the sagas in the museums and the whales and northern lights from the harbour: how to read the world’s northernmost capital.

Read the story

Reykjavík by area

From the old centre of postcode 101 to the harbour, the hills of Hlíðar, Laugardalur’s green valley, the west end, Seltjarnarnes and the towns of Kópavogur and Hafnarfjörður: each area has its own guide.

The painted rainbow street of Skólavörðustígur, leading up to HallgrímskirkjaArea guideMiðborgThe old centre, 101Boats in the Old Harbour of Reykjavík on a still day, with Harpa behindArea guideOld Harbour & GrandiHarpa and the boatsThe golden sand of Nauthólsvík geothermal beach from the air, with Perlan on the hill behindArea guideHlíðar & ÖskjuhlíðPerlan and the beachSundhöll Reykjavíkur, one of the city’s geothermal poolsArea guideLaugardalurThe valley of the poolsThe National Museum of Iceland on Suðurgata, with its bannersArea guideVesturbærThe west endGrótta lighthouse at low tide, at the tip of SeltjarnarnesArea guideSeltjarnarnesGrótta lighthouse

On foot

The old centre is small enough to cross in twenty minutes: stay in 101 and walk, and keep the bus for Perlan, Laugardalur and Árbær.

The golden sand of Nauthólsvík geothermal beach from the air, with Perlan on the hill behindArea guideKópavogur & HafnarfjörðurSky Lagoon and the Christmas Village

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: the airport and the Flybus, the City Card, the weather and the roads, and itineraries for a first visit.

Reykjavík at sunset from Perlan, with the spire of Hallgrímskirkja against the bayBefore you goReykjavík essentialsEntry, the airport, 112 and the weatherA yellow Strætó bus on Vonarstræti in central ReykjavíkGetting aroundGetting around ReykjavíkThe Flybus, the buses and the City CardReykjavík at sunset from Perlan, with the spire of Hallgrímskirkja against the bay and the mountainsItineraryThree days in ReykjavíkThe classic first visitThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon among the lava, below ÞorbjörnLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe white Art Deco façade of Hotel Borg on AusturvöllurItineraryThe Gold weekendHotel Borg, ÓX, DILL and Sky LagoonThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon among the lava, below ÞorbjörnItineraryThe Platinum weekendThe EDITION, The Retreat and Moss

Our advice

Swim like a local

The city’s geothermal pools are open all year and eight of them are in the Reykjavík City Card. Shower without a swimsuit before you swim, then sit in the hot tubs where Reykjavík meets to talk. Pools and spas

Beyond the city

The Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon and Reykjanes, the south coast and Snæfellsnes: Iceland’s great landscapes, each a day from the city.

The path through the Almannagjá rift at ÞingvellirBeyond the cityThe Golden CircleÞingvellir, Geysir and GullfossThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon among the lava, below ÞorbjörnBeyond the cityBlue Lagoon & ReykjanesThe lagoon and the lavaSkógafoss pouring over the green cliffs into a cloud of sprayBeyond the cityThe south coastWaterfalls and black sandKirkjufell mirrored in still water by GrundarfjörðurBeyond the citySnæfellsnesKirkjufell and the glacier

Our advice

Let the weather lead

Iceland’s weather changes fast and winter days are short. Plan one day trip at a time, keep the next day free, and at Reynisfjara stay well back from the waves. Driving in Iceland

In depth: Reykjavík’s back stories

Eating in Reykjavík, the hotels, the city between sea and fire, sagas and music, driving in Iceland, getting around and buying a home: the stories behind the city.

The Oslo Christmas tree lit on Austurvöllur beside Reykjavík CathedralChristmas & New YearChristmas in ReykjavíkYule Lads, the Oslo tree and the marketsHarpa’s glass façade beyond the boats of the Old HarbourFeatureReykjavík, the classic and the newHotels, the harbour, the table and the poolsThe northern lights over the Sun Voyager and the bay at ReykjavíkThe back storyBetween sea and fireHallgrímskirkja, Harpa and PerlanThe great Klais organ above the west door of HallgrímskirkjaThe back storySagas, music and artThe galleries, Harpa and AirwavesThe Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur stand dressed for Christmas in the December snowThe back storyEating in ReykjavíkThe starred tables and the hot dogThe white Art Deco façade of Hotel Borg on AusturvöllurThe back storyThe hotelsFrom Hotel Borg to the EDITION

Before you drive

Check umferdin.is for the roads, vedur.is for the weather and safetravel.is for alerts every morning: in Iceland the weather decides the day.

Kirkjufell mirrored in still water by GrundarfjörðurThe back storyDriving in IcelandRoads, weather and the beachesA yellow Strætó bus on Vonarstræti in central ReykjavíkThe back storyGetting aroundThe Flybus, the buses and the portReykjavík at sunset from Perlan, with the spire of Hallgrímskirkja against the bayThe back storyBuying in ReykjavíkThe neighbourhoods and the first stepsHallgrímskirkja rising over Reykjavík at sunset, seen from PerlanFun factsReykjavík fun factsThings you might not know

North with the ULTIMATE guides

Helsinki and Lapland, the cruise lines that call at Reykjavík, and the ski resorts of Europe and North America.

The northern lights over the Sun Voyager and the bay at ReykjavíkULTIMATE HelsinkiHelsinkiAnd Christmas in LaplandCruise ships at Reykjavík’s harbour, seen from ViðeyULTIMATE CruisesCruisesThe lines that call at ReykjavíkThe ice cap of Snæfellsjökull seen from HellnarULTIMATE Ski ResortsSki ResortsEurope and North America

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Europe

See all Europe
Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.Visit the guide The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against a blue skyGermanyULTIMATE BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Philharmonie and three opera houses, the story of the Wall, and day trips to Potsdam and Dresden.Visit the guide The Royal Pavilion in Brighton under a blue skyEnglandULTIMATE BrightonThe Royal Pavilion and the piers, the Lanes and the North Laine, Kemptown and Pride, and the South Downs on the doorstep.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Varenna on Lake ComoItalyULTIMATE Lake ComoVilla d’Este and the Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Varenna, the gardens of the villas, Riva boats and the four MICHELIN stars of the lake.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaSpainULTIMATE MadridThe Prado and El Retiro, the Royal Palace, DiverXO’s three stars and cocido since 1870, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Valletta’s honey-coloured skyline, with the dome of the Carmelite church and the spire of St Paul’s, above the harbour at sunsetGozo & CominoULTIMATE MaltaValletta’s knights’ city, temples older than the pyramids, Caravaggio, seven MICHELIN-starred kitchens and the Blue Lagoon.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide The Duomo di Milano and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoItalyULTIMATE MilanThe Duomo and the Last Supper, La Scala and Brera, the Quadrilatero della Moda, Bartolini’s three stars, and day trips to Lake Como.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro in ParisFranceULTIMATE ParisThe Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Notre-Dame reopened, the palace hotels, nine three-star tables, the bouillons, and day trips to Versailles and Giverny.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratOur sister guideULTIMATE Property (prime markets worldwide)Prime neighbourhoods, estate agents, new developments and how buying works, market by market across the ULTIMATE network.Visit the guide The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakOur sister guideULTIMATE Rail Journeys (great train journeys worldwide)The story of the train, the great rail journeys of the world and where to book them, from the Orient Express to the Glacier Express.Visit the guide The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE Regions (editor’s letters & regional guides)Editor’s letters and the food, markets, nature and seasons each region shares, starting with the Balkans.Visit the guide St Peter’s Basilica in Rome under a clear blue skyItalyULTIMATE RomeThe Colosseum and the Vatican, the grand hotels above the Spanish Steps, La Pergola’s three stars, the trattorias, and day trips to Tivoli and Pompeii.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide The Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceItalyULTIMATE VeniceThe Grand Canal and St Mark’s, palace hotels, Two MICHELIN Stars at Glam, the bacari, the Biennale, and Murano, Burano and Torcello.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral and the rooftops of central ViennaAustriaULTIMATE ViennaThe State Opera and the Musikverein, Schönbrunn and Klimt, the coffee houses and Heurigen, and Railjets to Budapest every hour.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide

North America

See all North America
Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide

Caribbean

See all Caribbean
The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide

Asia & Indian Ocean

See all Asia & Indian Ocean
The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayOur sister guideULTIMATE SingaporeMarina Bay and Raffles, three restaurants with three MICHELIN Stars, the hawker centres, and the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Longtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsOur sister guideULTIMATE Thai IslandsWinter sun on two seas: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the Gulf.Visit the guide

Middle East

See all Middle East
Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Reykjavík, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Hallgrímskirkja

    This week's pick

    Hallgrímskirkja

    Miðborg·Church

    Hallgrímskirkja celebrated 40 years since its consecration this October. Climb the 73-metre tower for the whole city, the bay and Mount Esja, then stay for the great Klais organ; check the church’s own site for times around services and concerts.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Reykjavík at sunset from Perlan, with the spire of Hallgrímskirkja against the bay and the mountainsItineraryThree days in ReykjavíkThree daysThe northern lights over the Sun Voyager and the bay at ReykjavíkItineraryA winter day: pools, museums and the northern lightsOne dayThe great Klais organ above the west door of HallgrímskirkjaItineraryReykjavík’s art and music in a dayOne dayReykjavík at sunset from Perlan, with the spire of Hallgrímskirkja against the bayItineraryA property viewing day: 101, the harbour and the townsOne dayThe white Art Deco façade of Hotel Borg on AusturvöllurItineraryThe Gold weekend: a luxury weekend in ReykjavíkTwo daysThe milky-blue water of the Blue Lagoon among the lava, below ÞorbjörnItineraryThe Platinum weekend: Reykjavík and the Blue LagoonTwo days

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating in Reykjavík: the back storyReykjavík · In depth
    2. 2DILLLaugavegur · Restaurant
    3. 3ÓXLaugavegur · Chef’s counter
    See all 19

    Cafés

    1. 1MokkaSkólavörðustígur · Coffee house
    2. 2Reykjavík RoastersMiðborg · Roastery café
    3. 3SandholtLaugavegur · Bakery and café
    See all 6

    Bars

    1. 1KaffibarinnMiðborg · Bar and café
    2. 2Kaldi BarLaugavegur · Beer and gin bar
    3. 3Skúli Craft BarMiðborg · Craft-beer bar
    See all 6

    Hotels

    1. 1The hotels of Reykjavík: the back storyReykjavík · In depth
    2. 2The Reykjavik EDITIONOld Harbour · Luxury hotel
    3. 3Hotel BorgMiðborg · Historic hotel
    See all 15

    Sights

    1. 1Reykjavík, the city between sea and fire: the back storyReykjavík · In depth
    2. 2HallgrímskirkjaMiðborg · Church
    3. 3HarpaOld Harbour · Concert hall
    See all 12

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Reykjavík, a city of sagas, music and art: the back storyReykjavík · In depth
    2. 2National Gallery of IcelandMiðborg · Art museum
    3. 3Hafnarhús (Reykjavík Art Museum)Miðborg · Art museum
    See all 20

    Outdoors

    1. 1Tjörnin and HljómskálagarðurMiðborg · Lake and park
    2. 2Reykjavík Botanic GardenLaugardalur · Botanic garden
    3. 3Nauthólsvík geothermal beachNauthólsvík · Beach
    See all 6

    Walks

    1. 1Laugavegur to HallgrímskirkjaMiðborg · Walk
    2. 2The harbour walk: Harpa to GrandiOld Harbour · Walk
    3. 3The shore path: Harpa to HöfðiMiðborg · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 166°NorthMiðborg · Outerwear
    2. 2The Handknitting Association of IcelandSkólavörðustígur · Knitwear
    3. 3Farmers MarketGrandi · Fashion
    See all 11

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112Iceland · Emergency number
    2. 2Landspítali – The National University HospitalReykjavík · Hospital
    3. 3Lyfja pharmaciesReykjavík · Pharmacies
    See all 9

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Reykjavík: the back storyReykjavík · In depth
    2. 2Registers Iceland: the kennitalaReykjavík · Official
    3. 3HMS: property registrationReykjavík · Official
    See all 5

    Developments

    1. 1BorgarlínaCapital area · Project
    2. 2Vör, the new cruise terminalOld Harbour · Project
    3. 3The Icelandic National OperaMiðborg · Project
    See all 5

    Driving & Tours

    1. 1Driving in Iceland: the back storyIceland · In depth
    2. 2Umferdin.is: road conditionsReykjavík · Road information
    3. 3SafetravelReykjavík · Travel safety
    See all 6

    Getting Around

    1. 1Reykjavík by bus, boat and plane: the back storyReykjavík · In depth
    2. 2Keflavík International AirportKeflavík · Airport
    3. 3FlybusBSÍ · Airport transfer
    See all 10

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