Reykjavik
Currency
ISK
Language
Icelandic
Timezone
Reykjavik
Continent
Europe
Discover Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the northernmost capital in the world and holds fewer people than a Paris arrondissement, which makes it walkable end to end. Hallgrímskirkja, a concrete church whose front imitates basalt columns, commands the city from its hill and its tower serves as a viewpoint. Harpa, a concert hall in honeycombed glass, holds the harbour. The Pearl caps the city's geothermal hot-water tanks with a glass dome. The National Museum of Iceland tells eleven centuries from the Norse landing, and Hofdi house is where Reagan and Gorbachev met in 1986.
When to go
June to August: fifteen degrees, and a day that does not end — the midnight sun makes walking possible at any hour. September to March brings the northern lights, with long nights and changeable weather. Winter is not especially cold, around zero thanks to the Gulf Stream, but the wind and horizontal rain make up for it. The weather changes hourly: it is a local saying and it is true.
Getting around
The centre is walked end to end in twenty minutes. Strætó buses cover the wider city; there is no metro and no railway anywhere in the country. The rental car is what actually matters, because Iceland is seen outside Reykjavik: the Golden Circle and the south coast start here. The ring road needs a week. F-roads are closed to anything but a 4x4 and insurance does not cover the breach.
Where to eat
Icelandic lamb grazes free and the dish that follows is plain and excellent. Fish is everywhere, langoustine soup especially. Skyr, a sharp dairy product closer to fresh cheese than yoghurt, is breakfast. The hot dog from the harbour stand is an institution Icelanders own up to. Hákarl, fermented shark, is a trial rather than a dish. No halal address is listed.
Good to know
The Icelandic króna is the currency and the country is effectively cashless: cards work everywhere, for a coffee included. The cost of living is among the highest in Europe, and alcohol is sold only at Vínbúð, the state monopoly, on short hours. Tap water is spring water and the hot water smells of sulphur, which is normal. Showering naked and soaped before the pool is compulsory and supervised. Three sites and museums are free.
Where to Stay in Reykjavik
Top Activities in Reykjavik
landmarkHallgrímskirkja
museumThe Icelandic Phallological Museum
landmarkNational and University Library
museumNational Museum of Iceland
landmarkThe Pearl
landmarkHarpa
museumReykjavik Art Museum
museumNational Gallery of Iceland
museumHofdi house
landmarkLandakotskirkja
landmarkNational Theatre of Iceland
landmarkReykjavík Cathedral
museumThe Culture House
museumVíkin
museumReykjavik Museum of Photography
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
from €12
Einar Jónsson Museum
parkBotanical Garden of Reykjavik
Free
Aðalstræti 10
from €11
museumReykjavík Maritime Museum
landmarkÓðinn
landmarkFríkirkjan í Reykjavík
landmarkSun Voyager
Ásmundarsafn
Restaurants in Reykjavik
