Old Harbour & Grandi District

Once the heart of Reykjavík’s fishing industry, the Old Harbour and Grandi area has transformed into a lively waterfront neighbourhood where culture, cuisine, marine heritage and modern attractions meet. Just steps from downtown, the harbour is now home to popular museums, ocean tours, artisan shops, and some of the city’s finest restaurants and cafés. It remains deeply connected to the sea, offering visitors a chance to watch fishing boats come and go, explore Icelandic maritime history, or head out on a whale safari.

Top attractions

Seafaring Connections

The Old Harbour remains Reykjavík’s window to the ocean. From here, you can board boats with companies like Elding and Special Tours for whale-watching safaris, puffin cruises, and sea angling adventures. These daily excursions bring you face to face with Iceland’s marine life in Faxaflói bay. Back on land, the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, housed in a former fish-freezing plant, offers a fascinating look into the country’s seafaring history, from fishing fleets to rescue missions. With its working docks and salty air, the harbour area blends past and present, giving you a genuine sense of Iceland’s deep connection to the sea.

Immersive Attractions

Grandi has become Reykjavík’s go-to destination for immersive experiences that offer thrilling educational encounters with Iceland’s unique geology.

Aurora Reykjavík helps visitors learn about the northern lights through interactive exhibits and a virtual aurora room – great for days when the real thing doesn’t appear. Not far away, FlyOver Iceland offers a breathtaking flight simulation over Iceland’s most stunning landscapes, complete with wind, mist and motion. Nearby, the Lava Show recreates the heat and spectacle of a real volcanic eruption, with boiling lava flowing (in a controlled environment!).

Storytelling Sites

Alongside the immersive experiences, Grandi is home to several museums where land, sea and storytelling intertwine to offer a rich, multi-layered insight into the nation’s identity.

The Whales of Iceland exhibition features life-size models of 23 whale species found in Icelandic waters, alongside interactive displays and soundscapes. The Saga Museum, located nearby, tells the dramatic story of Iceland’s early settlers through lifelike wax figures and audio guides. And at the Maritime Museum, visitors can dive into Iceland’s seafaring history, complete with a tour aboard the former Coast Guard vessel moored outside.

Northern Lights and Þúfa - photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson

Art to Ponder

One of the most poetic ways to end a visit to the Old Harbour is by walking to Þúfa, a grass-covered hill and art installation by Ólöf Nordal. Located at the tip of the Grandi peninsula, Þúfa is a bridge between nature and the city, offering a 360-degree view over the harbour, Esja and the city skyline. The winding path to the top encourages quiet reflection, inviting you to look back at where you walked and outward to the open sea. It’s a reminder of Reykjavík’s ties to nature, the ocean and art – all within reach of the city’s lively waterfront.