What to do in Reykjavik - Things to see and places to go in Reykjavik while on a short trip

Here are, according to us and our local team, the things to do and see in Reykjavik in order to get the real vibe, real essence of the city.


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1. Of course you could do all of the following or just register to our cultural scavenger hunt!

2. Take a look to this map of the city, to have a real idea on how it is built and organized.


3. Hallgrímur's Church (Hallgrímskirkja)

 Iceland's tallest and largest church is also its most photographed site. Named after 17th-century hymn writer and church scholar Reverend Hallgrímur Pétursson, this church took nearly 50 years to complete, with construction on it starting in 1945. The shape of the futuristic structure is a cross between a glacier and a rocket ship.
Recent travelers recommended visiting Hallgrímur's Church to snap photos of the gorgeous structure and listen to the organ playing during free lunchtime concerts on Thursdays and Saturdays. Many also suggest paying 900 Icelandic króna ($9) to ride an elevator up to the top of the church. There, you'll find 360-degree views of Reykjavik.
Hallgrímur's Church is a working church, so you can attend free services on Sundays. If you'd rather skip sitting in on a worship service, you can visit daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (or until 9 p.m. from May to September) when mass is not in session. There are no entrance fees for this attraction. Complimentary choir and organ performances are also occasionally hosted here, and restrooms and a gift shop are available inside. Free parking is provided on-site, but you can also walk to the church from central Reykjavik.
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4. Laugavegur

 For open-air shopping, stroll along Laugavegur. This shopping-centric street is filled with boutiques selling souvenirs, clothing and specialty foods like local cheeses and meats. Additionally, you'll find an array of restaurants that serve everything from Icelandic to Italian to sushi.

Recent travelers described the street as lively and were impressed with the variety of shops and eateries, though some cautioned that prices here are generally higher than what you'd find in American stores. If you do decide to shop here, remember that most stores close by 6 p.m. on weekdays (and even earlier on weekends).
Laugavegur stretches between Snorrabraut and Kringlumýrarbraut in downtown Reykjavik. It is free to visit 24 hours a day; limited street parking is available for a fee, but it is easiest to reach this shopping thoroughfare by walking or taking the bus.
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5. Harpa

 One of Reykjavik's easiest structures to recognize is its concert hall and conference center, Harpa. Situated at the western end of the Sculpture and Shore Walk, Harpa's modern design regularly woos vacationers and architecture buffs alike. In fact, the window-centric building has won numerous design accolades, including the 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award and the Gramophone Magazine World Architecture Award 2010. The performing arts venue also hosts an array of events, from symphony shows and comedic acts to the Reykjavik Jazz Festival.
First-time visitors love exploring this impressive structure. However, some past travelers who initially visited before 2017 were a bit disappointed to see that the building now limits where you can wander. The lobby, its shops and its restaurants are still free to visit, but checking out Harpa's performance areas and using its bathrooms will now cost you a small fee.
Harpa is within walking distance of the Sun Voyager sculpture and central Reykjavik, but travelers can also take the city's bus to an adjacent bus stop or park on-site for 250 Icelandic króna (or about $2.50) per hour. For those who don't attend a scheduled event – some are free, while others cost at least 1,500 Icelandic króna ($14.50) per person – but want to explore beyond the lobby, the property offers guided tours. Thirty-minute tours between June 19 and August 16 are available hourly between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and cost 1,500 Icelandic króna per person; tours lasting 45 minutes are offered from August 17 to June 18 on weekdays at 3:30 p.m. and on weekends at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for 2,200 Icelandic króna ($21) per person.
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6. National Museum of Iceland

 This interactive museum tells the history of Iceland, beginning with its pagan rituals and ending with contemporary fashion. Along the way, you'll "meet" a medieval chief and a 14th-century nun, among others, and you can hear about their life experiences via a one-way telephone conversation.
Most recent travelers praised this museum's detailed look into Iceland's past. Some also recommend stopping by the museum's in-house restaurant and gift shops.
Admission to the National Museum of Iceland is 2000 Icelandic króna (about $19) per person, which includes access to the museum's facilities, exhibits and free parking lot, plus complimentary guided tours at 11 a.m. The property is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and only Tuesday through Sunday from September 16 to April 30). You'll find the museum in downtown Reykjavik near the University of Iceland and multiple bus stops.
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7. The Settlement Exhibition 

 As its name implies, The Settlement Exhibition gives visitors a chance to learn more about Reykjavik's first settlers. The museum's main exhibit is an excavation site, which features the remains of a hall inhabited between A.D. 930 and 1000. Travelers can also learn more about how early Icelandic homes were constructed and see Viking artifacts found throughout Reykjavik and on the island of Videy.
Budding archaeologists, history lovers and Viking enthusiasts will love wandering around The Settlement Exhibition. To gain a complete understanding of the museum's collections, recent visitors recommend joining a free guided tour, offered on weekdays in June, July and August at 11 a.m. Complimentary audio guides are also available year-round.
The Settlement Exhibition is located in central Reykjavik within walking distance of Harpa and the National Museum of Iceland. A bus stop is also situated nearby, but there is no on-site parking. The property is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and tickets – which cover access to the museum's exhibits, restrooms and gift shop – cost 1,600 Icelandic króna ($15.50) each. Disabled visitors, seniors, Reykjavík City Card holders and children 17 and younger visit for free.
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8. Árbaer Open Air Museum

For a glimpse at what life was like in 19th- and 20th-century Iceland, visit the Árbaer Open Air Museum. This open-air attraction features more than 20 buildings that were originally located in central Reykjavik, plus exhibits about toys, the history of painting houses, early building techniques and more.
Past travelers said this museum offers something for visitors of all ages, though some felt its exhibits did not justify paying an entrance fee of 1,600 Icelandic króna ($15.50) per person. However, waived admissions are available for seniors, disabled visitors and children 17 and younger. Museum fees are also covered for anyone with a Reykjavík City Card.
Visitors are welcome to check out the Árbaer Open Air Museum every day in June, July and August between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., but travelers are only permitted during guided tours (at 1 p.m.) from September to May. Tickets include access to all of the property's exhibits, as well as restrooms and two gift shops, which are open every summer. Free parking is also provided on-site; driving or hailing a taxi is required to reach this attraction due to its removed location from the city center.
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 9. Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a very popular, 190-mile-long tourist route that runs by Thingvellir National Park; the 105-foot dual cascading waterfall Gullfoss (Golden Falls); and the geothermal Haukadalur valley's Strokkur, a geyser that gushes water 60 to 100 feet into the air every five minutes; among other attractions.
According to recent visitors, the Golden Circle, which sits in South Iceland about 25 miles away from Reykjavik, is a can't-miss part of Iceland, even on a rainy day. But public transportation does not travel to the region, so plan on hiring a car or joining an organized tour. Past travelers recommend companies like Gray Line Iceland and Reykjavik Excursions.
The Golden Circle is free to visit 24 hours a day, but select sights (like Kerid, a volcanic crater) charge an entrance fee. If you decide to sign up for a guided tour, expect to pay at least 8,516 Icelandic króna ($82) per person. Complimentary parking is provided at all attractions; most also have restrooms, gift shops and quick-service eateries. 
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 Sigi is our Reykjavik local representative, we asked him what an ideal day of leisure in Reykjavik could look like, what would he suggest doing from early morning to late at night?
Here is what he suggests. Don't hesitate to contact Sigi on Twitter @bigcitychase #Sigi #questionforSigi if you have questions for her, we may publish your conversation in this blog if she thinks it might be useful to other Reykjavik visitors.

  Sigi from Reykjavik for Big City Chase Reykjavik : 

"Hi guys, my Name is Sigi, I'm from Finland but have been living in Reykjavik for ten years. Here is what I suggest you to do to get the most out of your one leisure day in Reykjavik :