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Reykjavik

Iceland travel guide

What to see in Reykjavik

A small, colourful capital, with Hallgrímskirkja church, the Harpa concert hall and neighbourhood thermal pools.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 6 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to October
  • Stay in Centre (101)
  • Typical food: Pylsur
Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0

Reykjavik highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Hallgrímskirkja

    A basalt-inspired church and a viewpoint over the city.

  2. Harpa

    A glass concert hall facing the harbour.

  3. Lake Tjörnin

    A city pond next to the town hall.

  4. Perlan

    A nature museum and a dome with views.

  5. Old Harbour

    Whale-watching departures.

  6. Árbær Open Air Museum

    A farm and historic houses in the open air.

Where to stay in Reykjavik

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Centre (101) · Vesturbær · Grandi

Day trips from Reykjavik

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Reykjavik

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Reykjavik are from March to October.

  1. Jan with warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov with warnings
  12. Dec with warnings
  • from November to February

    Winter: few hours of daylight and closed roads

    There are 4–6 hours of daylight, storms that close roads and the interior (the Highlands) is shut. In return, the northern lights.

    What to do: A 4x4, short routes near Reykjavik and the south, and check road.is every morning.

Typical food of Reykjavik

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Reykjavik from your kitchen).

Pylsur
Photo: Jschildk · CC BY-SA 3.0

Pylsur

Reykjavik’s hot dog, made of lamb and pork, with raw and crispy onions, sweet ketchup, sweet mustard and remoulade. You order it “eina með öllu”: one with everything.

  • Serves 4
  • 20 min

Ingredients

  • 4 sausages (ideally with some lamb)
  • 4 hot dog buns
  • 1 white onion, very finely chopped
  • Crispy fried onions
  • Ketchup
  • Sweet mustard
  • Remoulade sauce (mayonnaise with chopped gherkin, mustard and capers)

How to make it at home

  1. Heat the sausages in water without letting it boil.
  2. Steam the buns.
  3. Put the raw and crispy onions in the bun.
  4. Add the sausage.
  5. Top with ketchup and mustard, and remoulade along the length.

The trick: The onions go under the sausage: that’s the Reykjavik order.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the harbour food stand. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Iceland guide.

Frequently asked questions about Reykjavik

What to see in Reykjavik?

Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Lake Tjörnin, Perlan, Old Harbour and Árbær Open Air Museum.

What to see in Reykjavik in one day?

Don’t miss Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Lake Tjörnin, Perlan, Old Harbour and Árbær Open Air Museum. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Reykjavik?

The handiest areas to stay are Centre (101), Vesturbær and Grandi.

What’s the best time to travel to Reykjavik?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Reykjavik are from March to October.

What day trips can you take from Reykjavik?

Northern lights, Golden Circle and Whale watching.

What is the typical food of Reykjavik?

Pylsur. Reykjavik’s hot dog, made of lamb and pork, with raw and crispy onions, sweet ketchup, sweet mustard and remoulade. You order it “eina með öllu”: one with everything.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.