Heading to Reykjavik and wondering what to do? Jake and I recently spend 12 days driving Iceland’s Ring Road. Our trip was jam packed with adventure and we are really excited to share it with you! We are currently working on a series of blogposts detailing our trip so stay tuned!
Getting to Reykjavik
We started our trip by flying into Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Iceland’s only international airport which is just outside of Reykjavik. We then took the Fly Bus from the airport to Reykjavik’s BSI Bus Terminal. The bus ride was around 45 minutes, and it was equipped with free wifi and USB ports. We bought our tickets at their kiosk located in the airport lobby when we arrived, and left on our journey 20 minutes later. As soon as we left the airport we felt like we had been transported to a different planet. We drove through moss covered lava fields and there were views of the rugged mountains in the distance. The picture below was taken while we were on the bus.
Where to Stay
We spent one night in Reykjavik, so we decided to stay at the BUS Hostel which is close to the BSI Bus terminal, a short walk to downtown, and the cheapest accommodation we could find at roughly $40 USD per person. We enjoyed staying here. The hostel was clean, staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the area, and there were amenities such as showers, laundry, a bar and a kitchen where we could make our own meals.
What to Do
As previously mentioned, this was the starting point for our road trip around the country. We only spent one day exploring the city before we picked up our camper van to head south, but we could have easily spent more time here. Listed below are all things we recommend doing while in Iceland’s capital.
1. Visit the National Museum
Iceland is jam packed with history. If you are planning on road tripping the country, visiting the museum before you set off will give you so much insight to the country and how it developed. We made sure we visited the museum before we set off on our journey around the Ring Road and we highly recommend it. The museum was jam packed with information and is great for all ages. Admission was 2000 ISK for adults and children under 18 are free. Be prepared to spend a few hours here.
2. Visit Hallgrimskirkja
Try saying that three times. This is the largest church in Iceland, and it is located in the heart of Reykjavik. It stands at 73m tall and the design was inspired by the basalt columns on Icelands southern coast. You can go inside the entrance for free, however there is a fee to take the elevator up to the top where you can get a 360 degree view of the city. After visiting the church you can the visit Einar Jonson’s Sculpture Park across the street.
When we visited, a wedding had just finished and we saw the bridal party getting their photos taken outside!
3. Walk Along the Old Harbour
The old harbour is located in the heart of Reykjavik, and is a key component to Reykjavik’s development. Today, it is the starting point for many whale watching and northern lights tours. When you are walking along the harbour, you will have a beautiful view of the fjord and snow capped mountains in the distance. You can also enjoy exploring Icelands unique sculptures and architecture including the Sun Voyager sculpture, and the Harpa Concert Hall.
4. Visit the Sun Voyager Sculpture
While walking along the old harbour, you will come across the Sun Voyager – or Sólfarið in Icelandik. This is a beautiful steel sculpture of a ship on top of a bed of granite designed by Jón Gunnar Árnason. The ship resembles a viking long boat, and is said to be an ode to sun and light. On a clear day, you can get a beautiful view of the sculpture with mount Esja on the other side of the fjord.
5. Harpa Concert Hall
Also located along the old harbour is the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre. It opened in 2011 and is home to the Icelandic symphony orchestra. Even if you don’t plan on going to a concert, you’ll still get a beautiful show on the outside. The building is made of glass, and shimmers as the light and ocean reflects off it, creating beautiful colours.
6. Eat at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur
This is a hotdog stand made famous by former US president Bill Clinton. We didn’t take any pictures because it was raining, but if you like reasonably priced food, we recommend going here for a quick snack! Be prepared to wait in line.
7. Visit the Blue Lagoon
We did not visit the Blue Lagoon; however, we felt that we should still mention it in our list. We opted to skip the Blue Lagoon in favour of visiting the Myvatn Nature Baths in the north of Iceland instead. For those not exploring the entire country who still want to experience Iceland’s Hot springs, then the Blue Lagoon is a great choice. Shuttles from both the airport and downtown can be taken to get to the Lagoon. If you do plan on visiting, make sure you prebook here because if fills up fast!
8. Explore the City
We explored the entire city by foot when we visited. We stumbled upon markets, unique craft stores, lots of pubs and restaurants, and community parks. Reykjavik is a lively city filled with street art, interesting sculptures and has a bustling nightlife. Be sure to take in as much as you can while you are there!
Where to Go Next
After exploring Reykjavik, we picked up our camper van from Go Campers, headed to the Golden Circle and then continued south around Iceland’s Ring Road. Our blogpost on the Golden Circle is coming soon.
Conclusion
We hope you found this quick guide to Reykjavik helpful! We had so much fun exploring Iceland and we hope you do too. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment and we will be sure to get back to you.
Happy Travels!