48 hours of having nowhere to be (in Reykjavík)

What if you gave yourself two days to step away from the routine, quieten your mind, move your body, sleep properly and remember what it feels like to have nowhere you need to be? 

Welcome to Reykjavík, where wellbeing looks like a geothermal pool where you don't do lanes but talk to strangers, a kleina donut with a mug of steaming coffee, a good nights' sleep and star gazing walk by the ocean instead of a boring commute.  

Here’s how to spend 48 hours getting back to yourself before feeling like yourself again.  

0–12 hours: Stop

First things first: stop rushing. Reykjavík is compact and easy to explore on foot, electric scooter or a public city bus so you don’t need to spend your precious 48 hours racing between sights. Leave some space between the things you want to do. 

Things to do

• Árbær Open Air Museum: A short trip from the city centre, this little village of over 20 historic buildings feels like stepping back in time. Wander among turf houses, timber cottages, and cobbled paths, and imagine the pace of daily life in old Reykjavík.
• Reykjavík Art Museum - Kjarvalsstaðir: Located in Klambratún Park, this Nordic modernist gem celebrates Jóhannes S. Kjarval, whose paintings capture Iceland’s untamed landscapes. Look out its floor-to-ceiling windows for a tranquil view of the city park.
• Reykjavík Museum of Photography: On the top floor of the city library, this Reykjavík hidden gem shows Iceland through old and new photographs. It’s quiet, intimate, and full of small stories about people, places, and landscapes.

A good place to eat 

• Grái Kötturinn (The Gray Cat): A cosy, basement-level café filled with books, vintage décor, and a lived-in charm. Known for hearty American-style breakfasts and generous fluffy pancakes, it feels like stepping into a quiet local hideaway.
• Turf House Food Truck | Visit Reykjavík: A cheerful eatery next to the Hallgrimskirkja church serving well-priced Icelandic seafood soup, fried fish and lamb burgers.  

Tiptoe Top Tip

If your phone has been demanding your attention all week, disable your notifications. 

12–24 hours: Breathe

Now go outside.

Things to do

Walk towards the sea. Head to Grótta and listen to the waves, watch the birds or play skipping stones with your kids on the black sand beach. If you are staying downtown, take a stroll around Tjörnin, the city pond. if you’re feeling adventurous, replace the city pavement with lava fields, a nature trail or a horseback ride.  

A good place to breath 

• The Icelandic Horse: Riders of all abilities learn tölt, a unique gait found only in Icelandic horses.
• Íshestar: Enjoy a horseback ride in nature only a 15-minute drive from the city centre.    

Tiptoe Top Tip

Quiet environments and digital disconnection will improve your feeling of wellbeing. 

24-36 hours: Sleep

It's time to give sleep the attention it deserves. A deep, restorative sleep improves cognitive function, and managing stress and anxiety becomes so much easier. If you must go on a tour, book the one that starts later in the day. 

Where to relax 

Longer lie-ins are scientifically proven to improve one´s holiday mood... This is totally made up! Find a hotel that suits your budget and travel style. 

Tiptoe Top Tip

You need to sleep. Slip into your pjs, get into bed, close the curtains, turn off your phone. This time belongs only to you. Use it wisely.    

36-48 hours: Get curious

You must be feeling a little more human so now it's time to spend some time discovering the city. 

Things to do

Visit a museum, browse the shops around Laugavegur, wander through neighbourhoods or head out towards Hafnarfjörður, a harbour town 15 minutes from Reykjavík, for a visit to an elf garden and a spot of lunch at a farm-to-table Sól Restaurant located inside a greenhouse with a view.  

Tiptoe Top Tip

If you have a Reykjavík City Card, you can make this even easier. The 48-hour card currently includes entry to 17 museums and attractions, eight public swimming pools, unlimited city buses and a ferry ride, giving you plenty of options without having to plan every detail in advance.

44-48 hours: Soak it in

Before your 48 hours are up, go back to the water.

Things to do 

Maybe it's Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach or Hvammsvík lagoon. Maybe it's the indulgent comfort of Sky Lagoon. Or maybe the perfect wellness experience is a hot tub and sauna at a public swimming pool, where you can sweat out the remnants of last night's Brennivín. No judgment here.

Tiptoe Top Tip

The secret behind Icelandic bathing culture is stopping and resting in warm geothermal water - alone or with your family. Consider it an Icelandic form of self-care.