Spend three days in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, wandering its colourful streets, warming up in cosy cafes and exploring the fabulous attractions.
It was difficult to figure out how much time to spend in Reykjavik on our first trip to the land of fire and ice. We wanted to feel like we had enough time to explore the city at leisure, without eating into too much time exploring the surrounding frozen landscapes. Arriving into Iceland during a February snowstorm and an imminent volcanic eruption, the country didn’t half live up to its name. We chose to explore the south west of Iceland, taking a three day road trip before heading into the capital city for three nights. Here’s how we made the most of Reykjavik in three days, getting a real feel for the city but leaving enough unseen for a revisit or two.
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REYKJAVIK IN THREE DAYS – DAY ONE
Having toured the Golden Circle route and taken in the sights of the south west coast of Iceland, we made our way west to finish our Icelandic break in the capital city of Reykjavik. The northernmost city in the world and Icelandic capital, Reykjavik is relatively compact in terms of its main centre, making it a great city to explore by foot. We based ourselves centrally near the waterfront, the ideal spot to explore everything that Reykjavik had to offer.
LEARN ABOUT ICELANDIC GEOLOGY AT PERLAN
Having hired a car for our Icelandic road trip, we arrived into Reykjavik mid morning, so rather than head straight to the hotel, we chose to stop off Perlan Museum, located slightly outside of the city centre. PERLAN MUSEUM is a great spot to learn about Icelandic culture, landscapes and geology. This interactive nature museum has a number of exhibitions, located within a large modern building with a glass domed roof. From a Northern Lights show set within a large planetarium to the world’s first indoor ice cave which is 100 metres long, the exhibitions leave you feeling immersed and inspired.
Having explored all of the exhibitions, we took to the outdoor viewing platform at the top of the building, offering panoramic views of Reykjavik and the surrounding landscapes. The hilltop location of Perlan provides a great vantage point to get your bearings in the city. Heading inside to warm up, we stopped for lunch in the restaurant located within the glass domed roof, offering incredible light due the clear blue skies outside.
Setting off from Perlan, the car journey into Reykjavik city centre was about fifteen minutes, where we parked up outside our hotel – CENTER HOTELS ARNARHVOLL. We managed to check in early, dropped off our luggage and set off out to explore Reykjavik with the few hours of daylight that we had left. We wandered around the local streets trying to get our bearings and trying hard not to slip and fall on the icy pavements, before heading uphill towards Laugavegar and Reykjavik’s famous Rainbow Street.
EXPLORING THE VIBRANT LAUGAVEGAR AND RAINBOW STREET
The main shopping and dining hub of Reykjavik city centre is located within the Miðborg district of the city. Laugavegar is a street lined with stores, cafes and bars located within historical Icelandic buildings decorated with incredible street art and murals. This visually stunning area of Reykjavik is popular with tourists, and a joy to explore. The intersection with Klapparstigur is particularly vibrant with the rainbow coloured fascia of Kiki Queer Bar on one side and an incredible Viking mural directly opposite.
Speaking of rainbow colours, head to the west end of Laugavegar you’ll find Rainbow Street, or Skólavörðustígur, located in the heart of the city and symbolising Iceland’s strong support to the LGBTQ+ community. Skólavörðustígur forms the hub for the annual Pride event in Reykjavik, and whilst the vivid colours of the rainbow painted on the street were originally temporary for the event, they became a permanent fixture in 2019.
DRINKS WITH A VIEW
Having explored the frozen streets of the city for a few hours, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up. Before heading back out, we grabbed a drink in a bar with arguably the best view in Reykjavik. Conveniently for us, SKÝ Bar was located on the 8th floor of Center Hotels Arnarhvoll, where we were staying. This lounge and bar, which also doubles up as a breakfast room for the hotel, offers panoramic views of Reykjavik and the surrounding mountainous landscapes, with the addition of an outdoor terrace, which I imagine is lovely in the summer, but was bitterly cold in February. Looking north from Reykjavik just before dusk, the pastel colours of the skies reflected across the snowy landscapes across the water.
EATING AND DRINKING ON LAUGAVEGAR
Heading back out towards Laugavegar in the evening, it was great to see this neighbourhood bustling at night. We had dinner reservations towards the east end of the street, so called into Hlemmur Mathöll for a pre dinner drink. This former bus station turned food court was vibrant and busy, with food options and bars to suit everyone. Having relaxed with an Icelandic beer while doing some people watching, we set off for our meal at the nearby Reykjavik Kitchen. This modern family run restaurant had a contemporary fit out and a relaxed vibe, offering some great menu options including a fabulous pan fried cod which I sampled. A great meal for our first night of exploring Reykjavik in three days. Heading back towards the hotel, we stopped for a nightcap at Einstök Bar, offering a great selection of Einstök beers to sample.
DAY TWO IN REYKJAVIK
A good night’s sleep and it was time for our second day of exploring Reykjavik. The sun was shining with clear blue skies, and despite it being bitterly cold, we set off on foot to explore some of the Reykjavik landmarks around the Miðborg district. Our first stop of the day took us up along Rainbow Street to one of the most iconic landmarks in the city – Hallgrimskirkja Church.
REYKJAVIK VIEWS FROM THE TOWER OF HALLGRIMSKIRKJA CHURCH
With Reykjavik generally made up of low rise buildings, HALLGRIMSKIRKJA CHURCH certainly stands out with its tall imposing tower and can be seen from all around the city. Located to the southern end of Skólavörðustígur (Rainbow Street), it’s easy to find and only a short walk from the city centre. Located in a large square, the modern concrete façade features a 74.5 metre (245 foot tall tower) inspired by Icelandic nature.
The interior is stunning and free to enter, albeit with some restrictions around service timings. A ticket must be purchased to access the tower, available in the church shop for 1400 ISK for adults and 200 ISK for children between 7 and 16 years. There is elevator access to the observation area at the top of the tower, providing some incredible views across Reykjavik, although wrap up warm as the wind can be bitterly cold up there.
FURTHER READING – EXPERIENCE THE ION ADVENTURE HOTEL IN ICELAND
ADMIRING THE SUN VOYAGER SCULPTURE
Heading back down to Laugavegar, Kaffibrenslan provided the perfect stopping point to warm up with a mid morning coffee and cake, before heading off to do further exploring. The next stop of exploring Reykjavik in three days was another iconic landmark of the city – SUN VOYAGER. Located on the north shoreline of Reykjavik, the Sun Voyager (Sólfarið) sculpture has become a must visited attraction in the city. Unveiled in 1990, this work of art was created by the artist Jón Gunnar Árnason to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the city. The large stainless steel sculpture depicts a ship, serving as an ode to the sun, representing ‘the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom’, according to the artist.
VISITING THE HARPA CONCERT HALL
Before our next stop of the day, we stopped for lunch at Svarta Kaffið on Laugavegar. This busy tourist spot offered a simple menu of meat or vegetable soup, served in a large crusty roll. This bustling family run restaurant was busy during our visit, with a constant wait for tables. From here, we headed west back towards the waterside to take a look around the HARPA CONCERT HALL. Opened in 2011, Harpa is a striking building constructed of steel and glass, and one of the most important cultural hubs of the city. With theatre productions, exhibitions and concerts, the building is a vital entertainment hub but also an incredible piece of architecture.
The glass façade of the building features an array of LED colour changing lights, creating an ever changing view of the building in darkness. Inside, there are multiple levels and mezzanines within the foyer area with stores, restaurants and bars which all provide an even more intriguing view of the architectural prowess of the building. We wandered to the north side of building alongside a marina to the iconic yellow Ingólfsgarður Lighthouse, providing an other vantage point of the building.
SOAK UP THE ATMOSPHERE OF SKY LAGOON
You can’t visit Iceland without a trip to geothermal spa pool. Prior to arriving in Reykjavik, we’d already visited the Secret Lagoon and experienced a geothermal pool at our first accommodation, but we were keen to experience SKY LAGOON, located on the outskirts of the city. Far more commercial than the previously visited Secret Lagoon, Sky Lagoon is set in a coastal location with views out to sea, offering a number of different treatments and experiences. This incredibly atmospheric location did not disappoint.
A fifteen minute taxi ride from the city centre, we had pre booked a late afternoon slot at Sky Lagoon, so that we could time our visit with the setting sun. The most popular ticket packages at Sky Lagoon provide access to the Skjól seven-step ritual which includes access to the main geothermal lagoon, a cold plunge, sauna, cold mist shower, salt scrub, steam room and a shot of krækiber, made from crowberries that are found in the lava fields of Iceland.
Having completed the seven step ritual, you’re free to spend time in the large geothermal pool, bathing amongst the rockwork and waterfalls, before soaking up the ocean views from pool’s edge. The cold winter temperatures saw the steam rising across the lagoon, which is approximately 38 – 40 degrees C in temperature. A wristband provided upon check-in can also be used to purchase drinks from the bar area located within the pool. We really enjoyed our experience at Sky Lagoon, and although we didn’t dine there, the dining options looked interesting. A taxi back to the city centre, and we revisited Hlemmur Mathöll for dinner and drinks before heading back to the hotel.
FURTHER READING – THE BEST STOPPING POINTS ON A SOUTH WEST ICELAND WINTER ROAD TRIP
REYKJAVIK IN THREE DAYS – DAY THREE
For the final full day of exploring Reykjavik, we had allowed the full day to explore the west side of the city centre covering some of the Miðborg and Vesturbær districts. Within this area we had the opportunity to explore parks, lakes and the docks area, as well as the vibrant area around Ingólfur Square. Heading out after breakfast, we took a walk down to Reykjavik City Hall on the edge of the frozen Tjörnin lake. The City Hall has a visitor center and the reason for our visit was to take a look at the Iceland Model – a scaled and detailed 3D map of Iceland which was well worth a visit. From here, we took the opportunity to walk around the perimeter of Tjörnin lake in Hljómskálagarðurinn park, which provided great views of the city.
EXPLORING REYKJAVIK DOCKS
We then walked north to the area around Ingólfur Square – a bustling neighbourhood full of shops, cafes and restaurants. Cutting through this neighbourhood, we headed towards the Reykjavik Harbour area, the location to head to for all whale watching tours and other boat tours from the city. The harbour area was vibrant with narrow streets and alleys offering a range of cafes and restaurants with a mountain backdrop from across the water. We stopped of at Reykjavík Röst for coffee and a mid morning snack. This cosy cafe had a roaring fire in the centre and wide selection of food and drink.
After a walk around Reykjavik Harbour, we stopped for lunch at another popular tourist spot in Reykjavik. Seabaron Restaurant located just near the harbour offered a simple seafood menu in a rustic setting. This unfussy restaurant serves a popular Lobster Soup served with bread, along with a selection of fish skewers. We both opted for the Lobster Soup and were not disappointed.
LEARNING ABOUT VOLCANIC ICELAND AT LAVA SHOW
Situated on the northern tip of Reykjavik, an industrial zone is home to many tourist attractions. At approximately twenty minutes walk from the city centre, this area of Vesturbær features attractions such as FlyOver Iceland, Whales of Iceland and Aurora Reykjavik which are popular for visitors. For us, the key and must visit attraction in Reykjavik had to be LAVA SHOW. Having been somewhat obsessed with the coverage of the volcanic eruptions in Iceland over the past few years, particularly with volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula before and during our visit, we were keen learn more about Iceland’s volcanic landscape.
Lava Show is the only live lava show in the world, and while both educational and entertaining provides a real insight into the history, geology and volcanic landscape of the country. The show recreates a volcanic eruption by heating real lava up to 1100°C and pouring it into the main showroom. The temperature change within the space when the lava entered was incredible to experience, and it was fascinating to learn more about volcanoes. With a Classic and Premium experience available, we opted for a Premium ticket which included a drink in the premium lounge before the show, balcony view experience and backstage tour of the furnace room. After the show, we also had the opportunity to chat to experienced staff members about the current volcanic activity, but more on that later.
Having exited Lava Show late in the afternoon, we had the opportunity to stop by the nearby Grandi Mathöll – another market hall style destination offering a range of food and drink options. Heading back towards the city centre, we also took a detour to Hygge Coffee & Micro Bakery who offered great coffee and some amazing pastries in a really cool environment. Having headed back to the hotel to freshen, we headed back towards Reykjavik Docks for dinner and opted for Forrettabarinn Restaurant & Bar, a sleek and modern eatery located on Brunnstigur with a small plates style offering and tasting menu options. A delicious meal to end our three days in Reykjavik, before heading to SKÝ Bar for our final night cap in Iceland.
A VOLCANIC ERUPTION
With our time in Reykjavik having come to an end, the following morning’s plans were to check out of the hotel and head to the popular BLUE LAGOON on the way back to the airport. Waking up early on our final day, I scrolled the internet before heading for breakfast, to see that twenty minutes earlier there had been a new volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. My heart skipped a beat – what were the chances of this happening on our final day in Iceland. As we headed up to the 8th Floor SKÝ Bar, upon leaving the elevator and entering the bar space, a guest nodded in the direction of the window, and there in front of us was an amazing view of the erupting volcano on the horizon.
Breakfast with the view of an erupting volcano was not something I expected, but it was an incredible experience to be able witness the power of nature first hand, even if it was 40km away from the city. The bright orange lava and the plume of smoke lit up the dark sky, and we stood for a long time after breakfast watching in awe. Due to the location of the eruption near the Blue Lagoon, our tickets for day were cancelled so we had more time to watch the eruption before having to leave for the airport. An incredible experience to finish off our trip to Iceland.
WHERE TO STAY IN REYKJAVIK
CENTER HOTELS ARNARHVOLL | We booked Center Hotels Arnarhvoll for our three night stay in Reykjavik. With a number of Center Hotels located within the city, we opted for Arnarvholl due its waterside location and views from the rooms. This unfussy hotel was modern and stylish, with a Scandi vibe and whilst the rooms were fairly basic, they did offer everything we needed. The location was great for exploring the city by foot, and the addition of the 8th Floor SKÝ Bar was a real selling point and somewhere were we could relax with some drinks, offering incredible views of the surrounding landscapes and city.
GETTING TO AND AROUND ICELAND | There are many airlines and tour operators who fly to Iceland from the UK, including Icelandair with whom we flew from Manchester Airport to Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavik, in south west Iceland. Direct flights from Manchester take 2 hours and 45 minutes, with good transport links from the airport to Reykjavik. Driving is the most convenient way to get around Iceland if you are exploring outside of Reykjavik and there are a number of car hire options available from Keflavik International Airport. We picked up a rental car from SixT whose base was located just outside of the airport, with a free shuttle bus that took about ten minutes or so. Be sure to check all the insurance options prior to travelling, to ensure you are covered for all eventualities, especially in winter weather.
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Absolutely somewhere that I want to visit so this was a really interesting read! You hear a lot about what there is to do outside of Reykjavik but it’s encouraging to see there’s plenty to do within Reykjavik itself.
It’s unfortunate that you missed out on the Blue Lagoon but it must have been fascinating experiencing a volcanic eruption before you left!