FAQ
Okay. I’m here. What’s there to do?
The short answer? A lot.
It depends on what you fancy, really. Reykjavík offers a surprising amount of things to see and discover, from a selection of museums and galleries to a frankly improbable amount of shops and cafés, interesting architecture and outdoor activities. The city centre is near the harbour and stretches from Reykjavík’s oldest street, Aðalstræti up the hill along the main street, Laugavegur.
Most people are quick to notice Hallgrímskirkja church, the Pearl, Tjörnin Lake and Esjan Mountain rising over the city. Most of these landmarks can be reached by city bus or on foot. I’d recommend a gentle wander, myself.
We’re serious about water, too. There are several thermally heated pools in the city, perfect for swimming or relaxing. We have spas too, and as if that wasn’t enough the unique Blue Lagoon is only a 45 min. drive from the city.
There are several history museums in Reykjavík and many art museums and galleries. Down by the lake, The National Museum has a very interesting exhibition on the history of Iceland, from the arrival of the first settlers to the present time. If that whets your appetite for history, try The Culture House, with scripts from the Icelandic Sagas, The Settlement Exhibition, with ruins from one of the first settlers, Árbær Museum, an outdoor museum with old Icelandic buildings, and The Saga Museum, with wax figures of characters from the Icelandic Sagas. The National Gallery is also situated by the lake. They have a permanent exhibition of Icelandic art as well as shorter exhibitions by Icelandic and international artists. There are three City Museums, each emphasizing different areas: modern art, contemporary art and sculptures. There is also a Photography Museum in the city centre as well as many independent art museums and galleries, all of which are listed here.
Beautiful nature, historical buildings and some thoroughly eclectic sculptures are all within a short ferry ride from Reykjavík harbour. The island can be reached by ferry, which leaves from Reykjavík several times a day during summer and weekends in the winter. You can find further information on the island at this website.
For further information see Further Reykjavík Information.
Where can I go?
You are not confined to all the delights of Reykjavík. Icelanders love showing off the country, and this is reflected in the impressive selection of sightseeing tours, day tours, coach trips, flight tours and even glacier tours. If it’s humanly possible to get there, we’ve most likely shown it to our guests. You can choose between coach tours to interesting places in the South and West of Iceland, flight tours to the North, East and the West fjords and all manner of other destinations. The most popular sightseeing area is The Golden Circle, where you go to Þingvellir national park, the hot springs by Geysir and the magnificent waterfall Gullfoss. The South coast offers striking waterfalls, black beaches, glaciers and teeming birdlife. The West has great nature and historical sites, such as Snæfellsjökull glacier and Reykholt, the home of famed saga writer Snorri Sturluson. To visit the North or East of Iceland you can take flights to the areas and then travel around the interesting sites.
There are many activity tours available, e.g. snowmobiling, glacier hiking, diving, ATV and much more. You can find information on the different tours and companies here.
For shorter trips you can go to The Blue Lagoon where you can relax and enjoy the Icelandic nature. There are also puffin and whale watching boat trips from Reykjavík, as well as sea angling. Another favourite is horseback riding, where you can ride the famous (and friendly) Icelandic horse in its natural surroundings and experience the country up close.
For further information see Tours and Activities.
Where is the main shopping street?
Reykjavik's main shopping street is called Laugavegur and runs through the city centre. For further information on opening hours and stores see Downtown shopping.
Where are the shopping malls? The two main shopping malls in the Reykjavík Capital Area are Kringlan and Smáralind. Kringlan is located just east of the city centre and is around 15 minutes bus ride from the centre. To get to Kringlan you can take bus number S1, S3, S4 or S6 from Hlemmur or Laekjartorg bus station. Smaralind shopping mall is located in the area of Kopavogur which is the geographical centre of the Reykjavik Capital Area. To get to Smaralind you can take bus number S2 from Hlemmur bus station. Click here for the bus website.
Kringlan website
Smaralind website
How can I get to this Blue Lagoon place?
The Blue Lagoon is situated on Reykjanes peninsula, a 45 min. drive from Reykjavík heading towards Keflavík Airport. Several coach companies offer trips there - Iceland Excursions, Reykjavík Excursions and Bus travel Iceland with admission to the Lagoon included in the price. All these companies also offer trips to the lagoon from Keflavík airport as well, so you can go to the lagoon on the way to or from the airport. You may find further information on the Blue Lagoon at their website.
What is the exchange rate?
The exchange rate can be found here.
Where and when can I see the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are elusive but can be seen from Iceland in winter. The location depends on weather conditions and a clear sky. The likelihood of seeing them is posted on aurora forecasts like this one.
I’ve heard Icelandic horses are quite small, so I’m not likely to see them if I just go looking by myself. Where do I go for horseback riding near Reykjavík?
Hey! It‘s not the size of the horse that matters. It's the beauty of the landscape and the convenient distance to the capital, I'll have you know. Various horseback tours are available on the outskirts of Reykjavik. The trips can range from one hour for beginners to a whole day or even longer for more experienced riders. There are several companies that offer horseback riding trips from Reykjavík, the companies can be found here.
Many farms also offer horseback riding - more about that on the Farm Holidays’ website.
Where can I go whale watching and will I see whales?
The ocean around Iceland is a natural habitat for many different types of whales. Commonly sighted types on whale-watching tours from Reykjavík are minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and humpback whales. The other hub of whale watching, Húsavík, also offers the occasional glimpse of a blue whale. The trips also pass by islands with large puffin colonies. The main whale watching season runs from April to October and winter whale watching tours are scheduled from November throughout March while the puffin season starts in mid-May and lasts until mid-August. Note that although marine mammals are almost always sighted on whale watching trips, no guarantees are offered. We‘ve tried reasoning with them but they just sing at us.
Four companies operate out of Reykjavík - Elding whale watching, Life of Whales, Special Tours and Seasailing. You may find further information on their websites. The whale watching company in Húsavík is called Gentle Giants.
Which restaurants can you recommend?
..all of them? Reykjavík has an astounding variety of restaurants, offering both traditional and international cuisine cooked using the finest ingredients. The pride of Icelandic cuisine is the fresh fish the country has to offer and the delicious lamb, which we cheerfully claim is the best in the world. There have been scuffles between Icelanders and New Zealanders over this on more than one occasion. You can find many restaurants that specialize in Icelandic cuisine and seafood.
How about an insider’s tip on a nightclub or bar?
My memory may be a little hazy on the subject, but I do know that there are a lot of them. Reykjavík is famous for its vibrant nightlife and there’s a selection of everything from trendy bars and nightclubs to rock ’n roll establishments, most of which are open until the early hours of the morning. The main nightlife area is on and around the main street Laugavegur, and the party starts around or after midnight. You may find further information on bars and nightclubs here.
Where are your swimming pools and when are they open?
They‘re all over. No, really. They are. Some are within walking distance of the city centre; others are but a bus ride away. They‘re all filled with geothermal water and most of them are outside. Sundhöllin is a rare indoor swimming pool (with outdoor jacuzzis or ‘hot pots’), located in Reykjavík city centre. It is the city’s oldest pool and was designed by renowned Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. Vesturbæjarlaug is a small and friendly neighbourhood pool, located within walking distance of the city centre. It has an outdoor pool and children’s pool, waterslide, four ‘hot pots’, steam bath, sauna and gym. Seltjarnarnes thermal pool includes a 25m pool, four different ‘hot pots’, a toddler pool, slide and steam bath. Seltjarnarnes thermal pool is different from most other pools in the Reykjavík Capital Area as it includes geothermal seawater, rich in earth minerals. The pool has a high salt level, thus diminishing the need to use chlorine. Laugardalslaug in Laugardalur valley is the city’s largest pool and has extensive facilities, including a 50m outdoor pool, outdoor children’s pool and paddling pool, two waterslides, numerous ‘hot pots’, steam bath, gym and mini golf course. For further information on the city pools see here
Where can I exchange money?
At any bank, really. They are located in the city centre and around the city as well as at Keflavík airport. Note that the banks in Reykjavík are usually closed on weekends. You can also exchange money at the Tourist information in Aðalstræti 2, in the city centre, as well as several hotels.
Where can I claim my tax refund?
You can claim your tax refund at Keflavík airport, which is open during departing flights, from around 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is also a tax-free office by the Tourist Information in Aðalstræti 2 as well as in the shopping malls Kringlan and Smáralind.
Where can I go skiing close to Reykjavík?
There are two skiing resorts near to Reykjavík - Bjáfjöll and Skálafell. They are only a 30-45 min. drive from Reykjavík and are very popular with Icelanders as well as guests. The skiing areas are open when weather and snow conditions allow.
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