Tourist Attractions in Reykjavik

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Reykjavik

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Reykjavik

Reykjavík is the rugged “Smoky Bay” where the Norwegian Viking Arnarson arrived in time immemorial to make his home on its shores. The capital of Iceland is special. It blends so harmoniously into the magnificent northern landscape that it seems as if the spire of Hatlgrimskirkja Church is the top of a blazing volcano, and the northern lights are about to shine on the glass walls of Harpa.

Reykjavík has a unique aura. Its charm captures the traveller from the first minutes. There are no ancient buildings here, but there are grandiose Perlan and modern museums. A tourist will not see traditional cathedrals and cobblestone squares in the capital of Iceland, but will fully enjoy a walk along the promenade, which offers a stunning view of the ocean.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Reykjavik

Harpa

 0/5

The concert hall is located in the city harbour. It was inaugurated in 2011. The design of this modern, irregularly shaped building with a glass façade was developed by Danish architect H. Larsen and designer O. Eliasson. The Harpa has four concert halls with excellent acoustics. The National Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera perform here.

Sun Voyager

 4.5/5

8087 reviews

A steel statue that was created according to the sketches of sculptor J. G. Arnason. Contrary to popular belief, the bizarre metal figure does not depict a Viking ship, but symbolises the desire to explore the unknown and make new discoveries. The best time to admire the sculpture is at sunset, when the sun’s globe sinks below the horizon and illuminates the steel frame with its faded rays.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Rainbow Street Art

 4.7/5

130 reviews

The alley is located in the centre of Reykjavík. Its name means “the road to the hot spring” in Icelandic. It is literally lined with shops with tempting brightly coloured windows. Løygavegur Street is the main shopping artery of the city. During the day you can go shopping or just stroll around, and at night you can visit one of the many bars and enjoy the fun atmosphere.

Open time

Reykjavík's City Hall

 4.4/5

313 reviews

A modern structure from 1992, located in the centre of the Icelandic capital on the shores of Lake Tjärnin. The walls of the building seem to grow right out of the water. It houses the headquarters of the city administration, as well as halls for conferences, exhibitions, concerts and performances. The attention of tourists is attracted by the 3D map of Iceland, which is located inside.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM

Höfði House

 4.3/5

1151 reviews

An early 20th century building in the sparsely populated northern part of Reykjavík. The house was built in 1909 for the French consul in the Art Nouveau architectural style. For a while it was home to Icelandic poet and journalist E. Benedihtsson. In 1986, Hövdi hosted a summit attended by R. Reagan and M. Gorbachev. The house is closed to the public, so tourists can only see it from the outside.

Open time

Perlan

 4.5/5

8512 reviews

The building is located at the top of the Oskulid hill. It is actually a boiler house, where the water comes from the thermal springs. On the ground floor there is an exhibition gallery where concerts, fairs and vernissages take place. The fourth floor is occupied by an observation deck with telescopes and several shops, while the fifth floor is a restaurant with a revolving dome that is lit up at night with bright lights.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Hallgrimskirkja

 4.6/5

21013 reviews

A grand Lutheran church that is considered one of the most picturesque sights in Reykjavík. It was built from 1945 to 1986. The works were delayed due to difficulties in financing and protest of the citizens against the external appearance of the church. Despite all the obstacles, the building turned out to be magnificent. It looks like a flame frozen in ice and a mountain peak pointing up into the sky.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík

 4.3/5

324 reviews

The main church of the city looks rather modest against the background of the prominent Hatlgrimskirkja Church. It was built in the late 18th century in the Danish colonial style, which is characterised by simplicity, laconic forms and lack of lavish decorations. The cathedral resembles a parish church more than a metropolitan temple. There is a green lawn near the building, where the townspeople take a rest in good weather.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

National Museum of Iceland

 4.5/5

2982 reviews

Exploring the museum’s collection is an immersion into the mysterious world of Iceland: the harsh times of Viking raids, pagan rituals and the dark age of the Early Middle Ages. Here you can see a 1000-year-old figure of Thor and the first Bible in Icelandic, as well as national costumes, weapons and jewellery. The museum has a modern scientific library.

Open time

Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús

 4.2/5

771 reviews

The exhibition is housed in three buildings, which are located in different parts of Reykjavík. The first building displays a collection of paintings, the second a collection of sculptures and the third a collection of contemporary art. The museum has many works by Icelandic masters. Among them there are paintings by artists J. Sveinsson and G. Gudmudson, as well as sculptor A. Sveinsson. The gallery’s halls are often used for theatre productions and concerts.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Árbær Open Air Museum

 4.6/5

865 reviews

The exhibition is located outdoors. It is a reconstruction of Iceland’s past. Visitors can see the traditional houses of the islanders, learn about traditions and people’s daily activities. The complex was opened in 1957 on the site of abandoned farms. Part of the buildings were restored (they were included in the collection), another part was transported from the centre of Reykjavik. In addition to dwellings, there is a church, a blacksmith’s shop, workshops and warehouses.

Open time

Monday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Reykjavík Maritime Museum

 4.3/5

818 reviews

The museum collection is entirely devoted to seafaring. The most impressive exhibit is the ship Odin, which has long been engaged in rescuing wrecked ships. Visitors’ attention will also be attracted by the tugboat Magni (the first ship built in Iceland). The museum regularly holds temporary vernissages devoted to maritime themes. There is also a permanent exhibition.

Open time

The Einar Jónsson Museum

 4.7/5

191 reviews

An exhibition of works by the famous Icelandic sculptor E. Jónsson, who, thanks to his immense talent, achieved recognition not only in his homeland, but also throughout the world. The museum was founded in 1923 in a building designed by the master himself. The main exhibition area is located in the garden, where several dozen statues stand among trees and flowers. The Hatlgrimskirkja Church is nearby.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM

The Icelandic Phallological Museum (Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn)

 4.2/5

3828 reviews

The collection of this unusual museum consists of preserved animal phalluses. In 2011, a human organ was added to the collection. The smallest exhibit must be viewed through a magnifying glass, the largest weighs 70kg and is 170cm long. The exhibition was organised by S. Hjartarson, who had been collecting phalluses since 1974. In 1997, he decided to make them available to the public.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

The Settlement Exhibition

 4.4/5

1052 reviews

A small interactive exhibition that focuses on the history of Reykjavík. There are few real exhibits, mostly visitors are invited to watch films and videos about the peculiarities of the construction of urban housing and the life of the first settlers of the island. The whole theme of the museum revolves around the excavations of the farmstead, the approximate age of which is 871 years. Hence the name of the exhibition.

Open time

Aurora Reykjavík - The Northern Lights Center

 4.4/5

1561 reviews

Northern Lights Centre, where you can learn all about this amazing natural phenomenon and see it on big screens. The complex is divided into four sections. In the first section, visitors are told about the history of the northern lights, in the second section they are shown in all their glory, in the third section they can hear stories and legends collected from all over the world, and in the fourth section there is an exhibition of photographs of the lights.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Whales of Iceland

 4.2/5

2286 reviews

The museum opened in 2014. It is located in the old harbour within walking distance of the centre of Reykjavík. The collection consists of 23 life-size models of whales. The exhibits are created with amazing accuracy. Even the scars on the animal’s skin can be seen at close range. With the help of virtual reality attractions, visitors can go on a “voyage” with dolphins and whales.

Open time

Peace Column

 4/5

191 reviews

A memorial on the island of Videy created in memory of John Lennon in 2007. It was designed by the musician’s widow, Yoko Ono. The column is a granite pedestal on which the inscription “Imagine peace” is inscribed in 24 languages. Beams of light emerge from the base, reaching an incredible height of 4 kilometres in clear weather. These jets of light are created by powerful spotlights.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Tjörnin

 4.5/5

206 reviews

The reservoir is located in the very centre of Reykjavík. It is surrounded by the city’s main attractions, which are reflected in the mirror-like surface of the water. Geese, ducks and swans nest in the lake. The lake freezes in winter, but to prevent the birds from dying, it is thawed by thermal springs (not all of it, only a small part). Tjärnin is considered one of the cleanest lakes in the world.

Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach

 4.5/5

595 reviews

A geothermal beach on the outskirts of Reykjavík. Despite the fact that even in July and August the temperature of the Atlantic Ocean does not rise above 15°C, the coastal area near Nautholsvík stays at 38-42°C. The secret lies in the thermal springs that heat the sea water. The secret lies in the thermal springs that heat the sea water. The bathing area is an open-air swimming pool located on the bay.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM