Things to Do in Reykjavik
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Reykjavik. Cold, geothermal, weirdly charming, bit like me, a city sitting directly on the boundary between two tectonic plates, powered almost entirely by heat rising straight out of the ground, and home to a church that took over forty years to build. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Reykjavik: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the hot water. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Hallgrimskirkja
Reykjavik's most striking landmark is Hallgrimskirkja, its concrete facade designed to resemble basalt lava columns, took over forty years to build, an unmistakable structure visible from much of the city, the tower offers sweeping views over Reykjavik's colourful rooftops and out toward the surrounding mountains.
It's worth the entry fee for the tower alone, one of the best viewpoints in the city, and the interior, considerably plainer than the dramatic exterior, is free to enter separately.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–9pm in summer, shorter in winter
Address Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik
The Tectonic Plate Boundary
Iceland, and Reykjavik with it, sits directly on the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, worth knowing this shapes much of the island's dramatic landscape, volcanic activity, geothermal features, and rift valleys all trace back to this boundary.
The Thingvellir National Park, a short drive from Reykjavik, offers a direct, walkable view of this rift, worth a day trip if you want to see the plate boundary up close rather than just knowing it's there conceptually.
Getting there About 45 minutes from Reykjavik
Geothermal Energy & Thermal Pools
Reykjavik is famously powered almost entirely by geothermal energy, a renewable, geologically-driven energy source, worth knowing this heat comes directly from the island's volcanic activity, a genuinely clever use of the same geology that makes the ground so unstable elsewhere.
The Blue Lagoon, the most famous thermal pool, sits between Reykjavik and the airport, worth booking ahead given its popularity, and several less famous, more locally used geothermal pools exist within the city itself if you'd rather a quieter, more everyday version of the experience.
Best time Any time; genuinely popular year-round given the constant water temperature
Best time to visit Reykjavik
June through August gives the most comfortable weather and the longest daylight hours for the amount of walking this list involves. For the full seasonal breakdown, see our Best Time to Visit Reykjavik guide.
Winter brings the chance to see the Northern Lights, worth considering specifically for this if you don't mind the cold and shorter days, a completely different version of the city and its surroundings.
Getting around Reykjavik
Central Reykjavik is walkable, and buses cover destinations further out, including day trips toward Thingvellir and the wider Golden Circle route. If you're mapping out exactly how to spend your time, our 24 Hours in Reykjavik and 2 Day Reykjavik Itinerary guides lay out an hour-by-hour and day-by-day plan.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Reykjavik worth visiting?
- Yes, particularly for Hallgrimskirkja's tower views and the city's genuinely unusual geothermal energy system, a good base for exploring Iceland's wider volcanic landscape.
- How many days do you need in Reykjavik?
- Three days covers Hallgrimskirkja, a thermal pool visit, and a Thingvellir day trip comfortably.
- Is Reykjavik expensive?
- Yes, one of the pricier European capitals, particularly for dining and organised tours.
- What is Reykjavik famous for?
- Hallgrimskirkja, its landmark church, sitting directly on the boundary between two tectonic plates, and being powered almost entirely by geothermal energy.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
