IS · Capital Region · 64.15°N 21.94°W

reykjavík

Colourful streets, harbour walks and hot outdoor pools beneath Iceland's wide skies.

Best time
June–August has near-endless daylight and the easiest road trips, and September is still good. From September to March, dark nights bring a chance of the northern lights; December–January has only four or five hours of daylight.
How long
2–3 days, plus day trips
Getting there
Fly with one stop, usually via London, Amsterdam or Istanbul, about 19–21 hours all in. The Flybus reaches Reykjavík in about 45 minutes. Iceland is 8 hours behind KL all year.
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IS · Capital Regionreykjavík64.15°N 21.94°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Colourful streets, harbour walks and hot outdoor pools beneath Iceland's wide skies.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingReykjavíkIS, Capital Region
KLreykjavík
≈ 11,237 km from KL, as the crow flies
Blick von der Hallgrímskirkja über Reykjavík

Photo: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Reykjavík is a small capital of colourful tin-clad houses, harbour cafés and geothermal pools. It's the starting point for most Iceland road trips, with enough museums and hot water to fill a rainy day.

Makan

  1. Icelandic fishCod, haddock and Arctic char, fresh from the boats.Map ↗
  2. SkyrThick, tangy cultured dairy, like a strained yoghurt, often with berries.Map ↗
  3. KleinaTwisted doughnuts sold in every bakery.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. HallgrímskirkjaThe tall concrete church shaped like basalt columns; the lift up the tower gives the best view over the coloured roofs.Map ↗
  2. Old HarbourWhale-watching boats, fish restaurants and museums around the old working harbour.Map ↗
  3. Harpa and the Sun VoyagerThe glass concert hall on the waterfront and a steel Viking-ship sculpture along the seafront path.Map ↗
  4. Public poolsLocals soak in outdoor hot pots all year; Laugardalslaug and Vesturbæjarlaug are classics.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Shower without your swimsuit before getting into public pools; it's strictly enforced, and the signs show what to wash.
  • Northern lights need dark, clear skies, so leave several nights free and watch the Icelandic Met Office's aurora forecast.
  • Halal food is limited to a few kebab, shawarma and South Asian places in central Reykjavík; outside the city, plan on fish and supermarket shopping.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.