Essential Guide to Reykjavik

Iceland is so full of adventure opportunities that Backroads offers multiple itinerary options.  

• For a hiking-focused experience, the Hiking & Walking Trip emphasizes Iceland’s diverse trail networks and natural landscapes. Highlights include the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where lava fields, volcanic peaks, black-sand beaches, sea cliffs and waterfalls showcase many of Iceland’s most iconic landscapes in one region.
• For a coastal journey along Iceland’s dramatic south coast, offshore islands and glaciers, consider the Glaciers & Coast Multi-Adventure. Highlights include a glacier ice walk in Vatnajökull National Park, a Zodiac excursion near a glacier and a ferry trip to Heimaey in the Westman Islands, known for its abundant seabird and puffin populations.
• The Fire & Ice Multi-Adventure explores Iceland’s interior and many of the sights along the Golden Circle. You’ll hike near active volcanic landscapes and geothermal zones, descend “Waterfall Way,” ride Icelandic horses, raft the glacial Hvítá River and venture deep into the Highlands by Super Jeep.
• If you’re interested in a cruise (Iceland is an island, after all), try the Ocean Cruise Hiking & Walking Trip, which explores Iceland’s west and north coasts by small ship. Stops include Ísafjörður in the Westfjords, Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city, and Grímsey near the Arctic Circle.

Pre- and Post-Trip Ideas: What to Do in Reykjavik

Regardless of which trip you choose, you’ll be starting and ending in the capital city of Reykjavik.

Best of Reykjavik in a Day  

Iceland’s capital city is compact, clean and fantastically walkable, making it easy to cover a lot of ground in a day or two.  

If you’re arriving from North America, chances are your flight will land very early in the morning—too early to check into a hotel, clean up and get settled. But in Reykjavik, you’re in luck. The Icelandic spa/pool culture has you covered, with some municipal complexes opening as early as 6:30am (later on weekends). Plan ahead and pack a day bag in your carry-on with a swimsuit, toiletries and change of clothes (you can rent a towel there). If you want to hit the ever-popular Blue Lagoon, it’s an easy stop between the airport and town, or make a reservation at the Sky Lagoon for a seven-step luxury spa experience. For a more authentic local experience, drop your bags at your hotel and head to a public pool complex close to your hotel. The Laugardalslaug Pool and Sundhollin Pool are two notable public pools convenient to downtown Reykjavik, but you have over a dozen to choose from in the capital. You can shower, recover from your long flight in a hot tub, sauna or steam room and emerge ready to start your day.  

Downtown’s main shopping district centers around Laugavegur Street and Rainbow Street (not its actual name, but so called—and unmissable—because of the rainbow painted on the street). There you’ll find a number of coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants to grab breakfast. Brauð & Co and Sandholt are the most well-known bakeries, or for a bigger meal and a sit-down experience, try the Laundromat Café, which features not only food, but also a bookshop and yes, a laundromat downstairs.  

Properly refreshed and fortified, you’ll find plenty of shops to browse and pick up souvenirs, everything from handcrafted lava-stone jewelry, skincare made from geothermal seawater, Icelandic wool sweaters (or, if you’re so inclined, Icelandic wool yarn to knit one yourself) and all things puffin. For sweaters and other crafts certified as handmade by Icelanders, pop into the Handknitting Association shop or Thorvaldsens Bazar, where all proceeds are donated to charity.  

If you find you need more substantial rainwear or cold weather gear, visit the 66 Degrees North store or, for a more budget-friendly option, try Icewear. Both have multiple locations throughout the city.

Culture & History

As you roam downtown, watch for the murals peeking out from virtually every cross-street. The city actively embraces street art to brighten public spaces. Murals change regularly; most have a nature, folklore or political theme, and some illustrate popular songs and were created by internationally known street artists. 

If you follow the rainbow on Rainbow Street, you’ll end at the landmark Hallgrimskirkja church. Inside, you can see its massive 15-meter tall pipe organ; a small fee gets you an elevator ride to the top and a 360-degree view of the city and surrounding mountains.  

After taking in downtown’s street art and Hallgrímskirkja, make your way down toward the waterfront; a promenade passes some spectacular views and striking landmarks. The Sun Voyager sculpture looks out over the bay and to the mountains and open ocean beyond. It’s a short walk from there to the Harpa Concert Hall, whose geometric glass exterior was inspired by the natural basalt columns found throughout the country. The concert hall’s lobby and first floor are open to the public even if not attending an event; it’s worth wandering inside to see the play of light coming through the glass walls.

Display boards on the waterfront just past the concert hall chronicle the country’s maritime history, including a “Shipwrecks Through the Ages” board illustrating the shocking number of shipwrecks along the Icelandic coast. It was this loss of so many fishermen and sailors by drowning that spurred the adoption of swimming education, ultimately leading to 1940s legislation mandating lessons for all children and contributing to the expansion of the geothermally heated public swimming pool complexes across the nation that are so much a part of its culture today.   

Leaving the waterfront, stroll inland to the Settlement Museum, where you can learn about Iceland’s history and see artifacts found from the first settlement dating back to 874.  

The Icelandic hot dog—yes, hot dog—is made predominantly from lamb and is a beloved staple among locals and visitors alike. To order like a local, ask for eina með öllu (one with everything), which includes ketchup, sweet mustard, crispy fried onions, raw onions and a remoulade. The most famous hot dog stand, Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, is also the longest continuously operating restaurant in Reykjavik. It’s open 9am-1am and frequently has lines around the block.

Besides hot dogs, you may be surprised to find that in Reykjavik you can find everything from halal to fish and chips, avocado toast to tapas. Head to Icelandic Street Food if you really want to sample the traditional fermented Greenland shark washed down with a shot of Brennivin (at 40 percent ABV, it’s called Black Death for a reason. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.) Messinn also offers fresh seafood and authentic Icelandic fish dishes. Hornið is Reykjavik’s first Italian restaurant and known for its pizza. The Food Cellar (Matarkjallarinn) has a lively atmosphere with music every night. For a casual stop for burgers and fries or fish and chips, check out Reykjavik Chips and their impressive selection of dipping sauces for your fries.  

The Golden Circle is a popular 140-mile loop road that can be completed in a day and hits Iceland’s highlights.

The Ring Road circles the entire island and can take anywhere from seven to 10 days to drive; camper vans are a popular way to complete the 828 miles. The Ring Road will also bring you to Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city, on the north coast. 

Reykjavik has no shortage of hotels conveniently located near the city center and shopping district, ranging from intimate boutique properties and historic landmarks to well-known international hotel brands.

Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre: A boutique hotel in the heart of downtown that blends modern Icelandic design with an artsy local vibe and easy walkability to shops, restaurants and major sights.  

Hotel Borg: Reykjavík’s historic grand hotel, opened in 1930, offering elegant Art Deco interiors and a location overlooking Austurvöllur Square beside Parliament.  

ION City Hotel: A small, design-forward luxury boutique hotel on Laugavegur that emphasizes contemporary Nordic style, local art and an intimate upscale atmosphere.  

Konsulat Hotel: A character-rich Curio Collection property housed in a restored former department store, combining Reykjavík history with contemporary comfort, including a cozy bathhouse and wine room.  

The Reykjavik EDITION (Marriott): A modern hotel located on the Old Harbour next to Harpa Concert Hall, with high-end dining, a destination spa and waterfront views.  

More Tips

• Iceland is a largely cashless society; contactless payments or credit cards are accepted for virtually everything, including small purchases. A small amount of cash is handy, however, if traveling to remote areas outside of Reykjavik, for things like public restrooms or as an emergency backup if systems are down.  
• Roads beginning with the letter F (predominantly in the rugged, interior Highlands but also in some other areas) are mountain roads that provide access to remote landscapes, but they are unpaved and many require crossing rivers. These roads may not be suitable for your rental car—even if it’s a 4WD vehicle. For safety (and to avoid violating your rental car agreement), check your agency’s policy against the F-road category you intend to drive and take all road warning signs seriously.  
• Flights to North America and the UK all leave from the D gates at Keflavik airport, with another passport control—and another line to stand in—to get there. So after checking in and going through security, head directly to the D gates even if your exact gate number hasn’t been announced yet. There are shops and restaurants available after passport control, so don’t get caught up browsing in the main terminal of KEF thinking you can make your way to your gate just before boarding.