Reykjavic, Iceland’s capital and most populated city, is certainly worth taking a day to explore. We spent a day and night here on the way back from our road trip along the south coast of Iceland. (See our 7 day South Coast Iceland itinerary here).
Here are some points of interest in Reykjavik that you should consider checking out if you have only one day to explore this charming city. As in most cities, it’s best to simply pick a destination to walk to and discover things along the way! These interesting destinations will get you started. Most are either walk-by’s or will take less than an hour to tour.
Reykjavik is a small city but as the capital and largest city in Iceland, it has lots of things to see. I love the small size which makes it great for exploring in just one day.
What To See in Reykjavic In One Day
1. Visit Reykjavik’s Most Recognizable Site- Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland’s largest church and Reykjavik's main landmark, is located at the top of Skólavörðustígur, one of the city’s popular shopping streets. Its white concrete walls were designed to resemble the basalt columns like those found at Svartifoss waterfall and throughout Iceland’s volcanic landscape.
In front of the church, you’ll find a statue of Leif Ericson who is believed to be the first European to set foot in America, 500 years before Columbus. You can also take a peek inside the cathedral to witness its simple, somewhat barren but grand interior. If you feel inclined, you can take the elevator to the top of the tower for a view of the city. Note that it can take a while to get to the top of the tower as the elevator is slow and only holds 6 people at a time.
Entry to the top of the tower is 1000 ISK for adults and 100 ISK for children 7-16 years old. From May to September, opening hours are 9:00am-9:00pm. Also note that the tower is closed on Sunday during Mass.
2. Explore Laugavegur
Laugavegur is Reykjavik’s main shopping street, filled with a wide variety of shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants. Your kids will be fascinated by the graffiti art that adorns many of the buildings along the street. Other good shopping streets include Bankastræti and Skólavörðustígur.
3. Take A Seaside Stroll Around The Old Harbor
The Old Harbor has been completely renovated in recent years and is a great place to simply wander. The kiddos will be fascinated by the large boats in the shipyard, and you’ll find plenty of restaurants and colorful shops.
Take a seaside stroll along the city’s waterfront walking path which parallels the bay with views of Mount Esja. On this stroll, you’ll encounter two notable landmarks, the Sun Voyager sculpture and Harpa Concert Hall.
Tip: Be sure to bring a jacket due to the cold winds blowing off the water.
Sun Voyager Sculpture - The steel Sun Voyager sculpture is a great photo opportunity. Although it resembles a Viking ship, the artist’s intent was to design a dream boat and an ode to the sun, symbolizing hope and light. Try your best to get a photo without other tourists. It’s a popular selfie spot!
Harpa Concert Hall- As you continue along the waterfront, you’ll see Harpa Concert Hall glistening in the distance. Harpa Concert Hall, home to the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and Opera, is a modern architectural landmark along the harbor. As the light changes, the colors of its honey-combed glass windows shine and sparkle. Make sure to go inside to explore their gift shops as well. Restrooms are also available here. After admiring Harpa, continue along the walking path toward the Marina.
4. Do Something Completely Different At The Icelandic Punk Museum
Tired of Vikings and whales? The Icelandic Punk Museum would be a good, quick stop if you need a break from the weather or want to learn more about Iceland’s punk rock scene. This quirky “museum” is located in a former underground public restroom and offers many interesting photos, graffiti, videos and info on Iceland punk history. Fan of Bjork or the Sugarcubes? You’ll want to visit!
5. Learn About The War You Never Heard Of Before At The Reykjavik Maritime Museum
Nothing has been more vital to Iceland’s survival than fishing, and this museum is dedicated to Iceland’s maritime history. The Maritime Museum gives good insight into the life and times of Icelandic fishermen by displaying old fishing artifacts, detailed model ships, mock-ups of wireless signal rooms, and a compass repair shop. You can even take a tour of Óðinn, a Coast Guard vessel that survived three of the Cod Wars.
Your children will surprise and impress all with their knowledge of how little old Iceland defeated Great Britain for fishing rights in the North Atlantic! Open daily 10:00-5:00pm. Admission is 1,650 ISK for adults and free to children.
6. Walk Through An Ice Cave At Perlan
Perlan is Iceland’s Natural History Museum and is a wonderful place to experience all of Iceland’s fascinating geologic processes from volcanoes to glaciers. You can walk through an ice cave (made with real ice from Iceland’s mountains), see the northern lights over Iceland in the planetarium, watch the 2021 volcano erupt just west of Reykjavik, and more exhibitions about all the really cool stuff Iceland has going on, like the crashing of two tectonic plates together just east of Reykavik.
It isn’t cheap (adult tickets around $35, kids about $29, and a family ticket just over $100) but you could easily spend the whole day here. And you would get to see parts of Iceland that yo might never get to experience as a tourist.
The restaurant, cafe, and bar under the glass dome at the top are worth a meal as well, plus there is a homemade ice cream parlour in the building as well.
7. Swim With The Whales At The Whales of Iceland Museum
Learn all about the whales and dolphins that you might get a chance to see while visiting Iceland. This small museum, located in a warehouse, holds 23 life-size models of the whale species found in Icelandic waters. The models are soft and squishy, and you’ve finally arrived at a museum that allows you to touch them!
You’ll find interactive information stands and videos and hear soothing whale sounds. You can also see what it’s like to swim alongside the whales with the museum’s virtual reality glasses. An audio guide tour is available and takes about 30 minutes. See their website for hours and cost.
Tip: It’s close to Valdís Ice Cream!
8. Explore Reykjavik By Bike
Rent a bike and explore some of the city’s greenways. A bike shop will hook you up with maps and bike rentals or you opt to take a guided tour. Reykjavik Bike offers tours as well as adult and kids bike rentals, tag-along bikes, and trailers for small children. Most of the main roads have a separated greenway for pedestrians and bikers so it is fairly safe.
Amanda and her family rented bikes for a day and easily went all around Reykjavik. There is a beautiful greenway along the waterfront extending 5 miles between the ferry terminal and the Seltjarnarnes peninsula to the west of the center of Reykjavik. Another highlight was exploring around the small but very pretty lake and park by Reykjavik City Hall.
They stopped for lunch at the Perlan, the Natural History Museum of Iceland, and at the super cool cafe under the glass skydome. You’ll also find a full service restaurant, ice cream parlour with homemade ice cream, and a bar here too. It was a perfect lunch stop even if it was kind of a big hill to bike up to get there! See more about the Perlan above.
9. Be Like A Local And Go For A Swim In One Of Iceland’s Famous Swimming Pools
Icelanders love their swimming pools, and you’ll find them in almost every village or town. They generally provide a larger pool and several smaller hot tubs, or “hot pots”, all heated by geothermal energy and enjoyed year-round.
Reykjavik has over a dozen swimming pools, but these three are known for being family friendly and conveniently located to the city center. Depending on your hotel location, visit either Laugardalslaug, Vesturbaejarlaug, or Sundhöll Reykjavíkur.
All pools charge the same entry fee: Adults 1330 kr and children 15 and younger are free. Towel rental available if you didn’t pack one.
Laugardalslaug has both indoor and outdoor pools, a huge outdoor kids pool with a large water slide for the kids, and several hot tubs of various temperatures.
Vesturbaejarlaug swimming pool is also located near downtown and has been voted “Iceland’s best pool” in recent years. It offers outdoor pools and hot tubs as well as a kids pool with a basketball hoop and various floating toys. Note that it does not have a water slide. Tip: Hungry? Check out nearby Kaffihaus Vesturbaejar afterwards for coffee, snacks, dinner, or a beer from their taps.
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur is a newly renovated pool and the closest to city center--just a 5 minute walk from Hallgrimskirkja. It offers both indoor and outdoor pools and a high springboard.
Important Note: You are expected to shower naked without your swimsuit using soap and shampoo before entering the pool. Showers are generally communal with curtained stalls available. You absolutely cannot skip the shower. Remember to bring flips flops as shoes are not allowed in the locker rooms.
We found this blog informative! Swimming with Kids in Iceland: Navigating the Locker Room
Map showing points of interest in Reykjavic, Iceland. Map courtesy of openstreetmaps.org and annotated.
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Dining out in Iceland is notoriously expensive. There’s no getting around it. But we did manage to find several more affordable restaurants that didn’t completely break our trip budget.
All of these restaurants are family-friendly, as budget-friendly as you can find in Reykjavik, and located in the city center.