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Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland and the northernmost capital of any sovereign state in the world.
Despite a small population (approximately 120,000, with just over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavík area), it is a vibrant city that draws an ever increasing number of visitors every year. It is the financial, cultural and political centre of Iceland, and has a reputation of being one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.
Geography
The city of Reykjavík is located in southwest Iceland by Faxaflói Bay. Throughout the ages, the landscape has been shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and the area is geothermal; after all, its name translates to ‘Smoky Bay’.
Much of the current city area was subglacial during the Ice Age, with the glacier reaching as far as the Álftanes peninsula, while other areas lay under the sea. After the end of the Ice Age, the land rose as the glaciers drifted away, and it began to take on its present form.
The coastline of Reykjavík is set with peninsulas, coves, straits and islands, most notably the island of Viðey, and seabirds and whales frequent the shores. The mountain ring as seen from the shore is particularly beautiful.
Mount Esjan is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavík and the most distinctive feature of the coastline. This majestic summit is also highly popular amongst hikers and climbers. Other notable mountains that can be seen from the seaside are Akrafjall and Skarðsheiði.
On clear days, one may even see as far to the legendary Snæfellsjökull glacier, at the end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
The largest river to run through the city is Elliðaá in Elliðaárdalur valley, which is also one of Iceland’s best rivers for salmon fishing.
Transportation
There are no trains or trams in Iceland, but most people travel by car. The city also operates a bus system. There are two major harbours in town, the old harbour in the centre and Sundahöfn in the east.
The domestic Reykjavík Airport is located at Vatnsmýrin, not far from the city centre and close to the hill Öskjuhlíð and the restaurant, vantage point and exhibition centre Perlan. The international Keflavík Airport at Miðnesheiði heath then lies around 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the city.
Cars, jeeps and bicycles can be readily rented in the city and many organized tours are also being offered. It is, however, quite easy to walk between the major sites.
What to See & Do in Reykjavik
The local arts scene is strong in Iceland, with annual events and festivals, many of artists from which have hit the international stage.
Major events taking place in Reykjavík include Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavík Pride, RIFF (The Reykjavík International Film Festival), The Reykjavík Literature Festival, Culture Night, the Reykjavík Arts Festival, Food & Fun, the Reykjavík Fashion Festival and the Sónar music festival.
Amongst the famous people from Reykjavík are musicians like Björk Guðmundsdóttir and Sigur Rós, and writers Halldór Laxness (born on the main street, Laugavegur) and Arnaldur Indriðason.
Those eager to soak up the local culture should visit the city’s many museums, exhibitions and galleries, and check out live music at the cafés, bars, and concert venues dotted around. You could look at the programmes of what’s on at the Harpa music hall or the theatres, or else plan a few hours at the lighthouse at Grótta, the shopping street of Laugavegur, or the old harbour and the flea market.
You could even book a bird- and whale watching tour or a visit to Viðey island. There are a lot of things to do and the possibilities are endless.
Make sure to visit the public square of Austurvöllur, one of the city’s most popular gathering places, where you’ll also find the national parliament, the Alþingi, as well as the state church, a statue of independence hero Jón Sigurðsson, cafés, bars and restaurants.
Austurvöllur was central in the protests following the banking collapse of 2008, along with Lækjargata, home to the House of Government. You are also not likely to miss the great church of Hallgrímskirkja that towers over the city from the hill of Skólavörðuholt, from which you’ll get a great view of the city.
Try a walk by the city pond, Tjörnin, to greet the many birds that frequent the area and to visit the city hall, stationed by its banks. A beautiful park lies by the pond, ideal for a nice walk, and sometimes concerts get held there.
Further off is the campus of the University of Iceland, the Nordic house and the Vatnsmýrin wetland, a particularly pleasant place, but be mindful to not disturb the wildlife there by keeping to the pathways.
For a nice swim on a warm day, we particularly recommend Nauthólsvík beach, which is heated with geothermal water. Those who love a dip should also visit the Laugardalur valley, home to one of the city’s best swimming pools, which sits a short walk away from Ásmundarsafn gallery, a beautiful botanical garden and a domestic zoo.
A walk by the Ægissíða beach, with its old fishing sheds, in the west part of Reykjavík also holds a particular charm. From there, you can see all the way to president’s house at Bessastaðir, which is also a historical site in its own right, having been the educational centre of Iceland for centuries.
Another place that offers one of the city’s best views is Perlan, up on Öskjuhlíð hill. The hill itself is a popular place to spend a few hours, with over 176,000 trees and great opportunities for walking and cycling. Perlan also has and observation deck with great views, a café and an exhibition centre.
Furthermore, the city is a short drive from many of Iceland’s major attractions, most famously the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon. In close vicinity you’ll also find the Heiðmörk preservation area, a favourite local site of the people of Reykjavík, as well as the Blue Mountains, one of Iceland’s best skiing venues.
Finally, we’d like to stress that these are only some suggestions of the many things you might check out in Reykjavík. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you’ll be able to make the most of your visit and we wish you a pleasant stay in our capital.
Faxaflói is a large bay in west Iceland, between the Reykjanes and Snӕfellsnes Peninsula. It faces Reykjavík, and is a hot spot for puffin and whale watching.
Activities in Faxaflói Bay
Whale watching tours head into Faxaflói from Reykjavík throughout the year. Throughout the summer, the most commonly seen species are Minke and Humpback whales, while Harbour Porpoises and White-Beaked Dolphins are seen year-round. Other species are seen on occasion, including Orcas and Blue Whales.
From May to September, some of these tours include a puffin-watching segment to the islands of Lundey and Akurey, where visitors can see them nesting on the rocks and bobbing in the water.
Another island, Viðey, can easily be visited throughout the year by boat, with tickets included on the Reykjavík City Card. It is home to the Yoko Ono Peace Tower.
Sea-angling is also popular in Faxaflói, and it is possible to rent a rod and fish from Reykjavík Harbour.
Faxaflói Bay from Reykjavík
Faxaflói Bay is a beautiful feature of Iceland’s capital, visible from much of the city. Many of Reykjavík’s greatest landmarks have it as their backdrop, as they hug the coastline.
Harpa Concert Hall, for example, is an incredible feat of modern architecture that juts out into the water. The Sun Voyager is a popular statue that also looks out to the sea.
In decent weather, visitors can see some of Iceland’s most beautiful nature across Faxaflói. Mount Esjan is the most dominant feature, but when it is especially clear, it is possible to see the Reykjanes and Snӕfellsnes Peninsulas.
Photo from Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir
Laugardalur, or ‘the hot spring valley’, is an area in Reykjavík best known for its recreational activities.
History of Laugardalur
The city of Reykjavík got its name, which translates to ‘smokey bay’, from the many hot springs seen here by Iceland’s first settler, Ingolfúr Arnarson, when he first reached the land. Many of these hot springs were concentrated in what is now called Laugardalur.
A more direct translation of this area’s name is ‘pool valley’, because throughout much of the history of Reykjavík, it was in the hot pools here that it was traditional to wash laundry. Women would walk up ‘the water road’, what is now Laugavegur, the city’s main shopping street, to reach them.
This was the area’s main purpose for centuries, and the women who used to make the journey are memorialised in sculptures throughout the city. The practice ended in the 1930s when Iceland was undergoing an infrastructural boom and plumbing became more commonplace.
Since then, it has undergone development as a recreational area as a residential area has bloomed around it.
Recreational Facilities at Laugardalur
Photo from Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir
Laugardalur is best known for having the largest swimming pool in Iceland, Laugardalslaug, which is complete with a slide and hot pools; it is heated by the same geothermal waters that gave Reykjavík its name. Adjacent to the pool is a gym.
There is also the capital’s main sporting arena in the area, which is also used for concerts on occasion. Popular sports in Iceland include handball, basketball, and ever increasingly, football, and all are practiced, played and watched in this arena.
It is here where Iceland’s internationally renowned national football team do most of their training.
Surrounding Laugardalur and the arena is one of the city’s many large, green spaces, complete with a campsite; the Secret Solstice festival is held here yearly. There is also a botanical gardens within the park, one of the northernmost in the world, and Reykjavík’s Family Park and Zoo.
Iceland’s only zoo, it is home to largely the breeds of farm animal that have developed in Iceland, such as Icelandic goats and horses. It also displays some of the island’s invasive creatures, such as mink, some that have been introduced recently, such as reindeer, and some that have been here longer than people, such as seals and Arctic Foxes. There is also a foreign reptile exhibition, and a small exhibition of birds.
Near the Family Park and Zoo are more activities tailored to families. A carousel, a train, and boating activities are all available; segways can be rented; and there is a playpark.
Those who are seeking culture can find a wealth of it within close proximity to Laugardalur. The art museum of Ásmundarsafn is dedicated to the Icelandic sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson, with works in and outside; changing exhibitions of contemporary artists often share this space. The Sigurjón Ólafsson museum, meanwhile, honours the sculptor it was named after, and hosts many cultural events in summer.
Within Laugardalur, there are several places to get food. A well-known hot-dog stand parks outside of the pool, and there is a cafe that serves ice cream and snacks near the zoo.
Viðey is an island just off the coast of Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital city. It is a popular destination due to its natural beauty, the artworks that have been erected here, and its accessibility and affordability.
The island was once inhabited, even having a monastery, but has long since been deserted. Very few buildings remain here.
Getting to Viðey Island
Boats to Viðey Island throughout the year, leaving from Skarfabakki pier at Sundahöfn harbour. This is just about five kilometres (three miles) from the centre of Reyjavík. The journey takes approximately twenty minutes.
Tickets to Viðey can be bought in isolation, but are included for free on a Reykjavík City Card. These cards provide you with either free access or heavily discounted access to a wealth of the capital’s cultural sites, museums, pools and galleries.
Artwork and Culture at Viðey Island
Viðey is best known internationally as the location for the Imagine Peace Tower. Envisioned and designed by Yoko Ono, it was intended as a tribute both to her late husband John Lennon, from the Beatles, and to their shared vision of a world free of war and united in love.
The tower is only lit at certain times of the year, such as over Lennon’s birthday and other significant events. Yoko Ono regularly comes to Iceland, and often attends the lighting of the tower.
One of the few buildings on the island was the home of ‘the father of Reykjavík, Skuli Magnusson. This house, Videyjarstofa, now displays paintings of renowned Icelandic artists.
The island’s last great artwork was constructed by one of the world's most renowned sculptors, Richard Sierra. It can be found on the west side of the island, and is called Milestones.
Videy also has a graveyard, the final resting place of many known Icelanders. Gunnar Gunnarson, for example, is buried here, a renowned author who wrote novels such as Fjallkirkjan ('The Church on the Mountain'), Svartfugl (The Black Cliffs) and Adventa (The Good Shepherd).
Wikimedia. Creative Commons. Credit: Ymblanter.
Árbæjarsafn is an open-air museum in Reykjavík dedicated to providing guests with an insight into the daily lives of the capital's earliest settlers.
The museum was founded in 1957 after local concerns grew that 'Old Reykjavik' was beginning to disappear amidst modern development. Prior efforts had been made to establish the museum as far back as 1942, and yet, despite positive reaction to the proposal, such efforts long proved futile. The historical, yet recently abandoned farmstead, Árbær, was finally chosen the designated location as it had served for generations as a popular inn.
The museum resembles a historical village, with over twenty different authentic buildings in which to explore. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe traditional turf houses, a historic church and numerous pre-century that have been moved to the open air museum following renovation.
Upon the museum's founding, the original location was a little way out of city limits. Today, however, Reykjavik has outgrown its original borders, meaning that the museum is easily accessible for all those staying in the centre.
Tjörnin is the historic, picturesque pond that can be found in downtown Reykjavík.
Sites and Activities at Tjörnin
This popular spot in the capital city is bordered by cultural sites such as the National Gallery of Iceland, the theatre Tjarnabío, and Reykjavík City Hall, where the Guide to Iceland visitor centre is located.
Tjörnin has a year-round duck population, due to the fact that one corner of the lake is geothermally heated so that it never freezes over.
It is better to feed the birds with treats like oats and frozen peas, which they digest much better than bread. This is not encouraged in summer, however, as the free food attracts seagulls which compete with the residents.
Swans, geese, tern and many other species also frequent the lake throughout summer. This makes it a favourite spot in the city for birdwatching.
Of course, to sea saltwater birds like the puffin, visitors need to book a boat trip out of the city or visit a site such as the Dyrhólaey cliffs. This is only possible from May to September as they are migratory.
The pond borders a beautiful inner city park, Hljómskálagarðurinn, which includes play equipment for children and several fascinating statues.
In winter, the lake freezes so thick (everywhere but the heated part) that it is possible to ice skate on it.
Tjönin’s history
Tjörnin is much older than one might think looking at it. It was first formed at the beginning of the 9th Century, separated from the sea by a gravel barrier.
It was not separated from the sea, however, until 1913, when lochs were built around it to protect it from tidal surges. In 1920, it became even closer to its current form with the building of a bridge across it. This bridge accommodated cars from 1942.
It became a freshwater body as a result of all seawater being separated from it completely in 1989.
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