Ah, Iceland. Best known as the home of Vikings, volcanoes and truly epic waterfalls. With an array of natural wonders to discover across the country, there’s also a variety of things to keep you busy in Reykjavik and its surrounds. Read on for our Reykjavik Travel Guide.
1. Explore: The Blue Lagoon
An iconic Icelandic experience, the Blue Lagoon is a massive outdoor spa heated by the area’s natural thermal hotsprings. Jump in and layer the volcanic mud on your skin – it’s said to do wonders for the complexion.
We love the fact that you can also order up a beer at the floating bar without getting out of the toasty warm water. Cheers to that!
2. Eat: Reykjavik Roasters
At this joint you’ll find hands down the best cup of coffee in all of Reykjavik. Step inside this cosy café and you’ll find expert baristas serving up smooth brews, paired with fresh croissants and a warm Icelandic greeting.
3. Explore: Hallgrímskirkja Church
One of the best known landmarks in Reykjavik is Hallgrímskirkja. As it’s actually the tallest building in the capital, you can take the lift up to the lookout for incredible 360 degree views over the city.
You’ll want to bring your camera along for this one.
4. Eat: Kolaportid Market
If you’ve been seeking authentic Icelandic cuisine, this is the place to find it.
Wander through this massive indoor flea market in the centre of Reykjavik and you’ll find a selection of traditional edibles – such as the infamous fermented shark – and Scandinavian desserts to stick a fork into, along with a treasure trove of vintage finds.
5. Explore: Gullfoss
Probably one of the most breathtaking sights you’ll see in Iceland is Gullfoss, a powerful waterfall plunging down into a deep canyon.
If you visit in the winter months it is mostly frozen over, but in summer the water roars through. A variety of vantage points and lookouts make it a great spot for avid photographers. It’s a Reykjavik Travel Guide must!
6. Eat: Baejarins Hot Dogs
For the ultimate Icelandic fast food, Baejarins Beztu Pylsur is a must visit. Operating out of a small kiosk in a nondescript parking lot, it doesn’t look like much at first.
But take it from us, order up a hot dog with the lot (a sausage topped with fried onions, mustard, ketchup and a secret sauce) and we can guarantee you’ll be back lining up for more the next day.
7. Explore: Silfra Fissure
This is one for the bucket list. Silfra Fissure is a gap between the North American and Eurasian continental plates and it’s filled with the clearest glacier water in the world.
This is the place to don a thermal wetsuit and go on a guided snorkelling tour, where you can see as far as 100m into the aquamarine depths below.
8. Explore: Thingvellir
Perhaps most recognisable to some as a filming location for Game Of Thrones, this historic site was actually the location of Iceland’s first parliament.
Dating back as far as the 10th century, this was the cultural epicentre of the country, where Icelandic people gathered, feasted, traded and shared tales from distant lands.
Got that wanderlust having read our Reykjavik Travel Guide?
Come check out our new Iceland Summer trip. Take a look at more of our Iceland and Europe trips.
We’ll be seeing ya on the road.
