Things to do in Reykjavík: four places to plan around
Four landmarks, each with a different answer to bad weather. Two work indoors, one needs a clear sky, and one is a ten-minute stop.
1Hallgrímskirkja
Photo: Lekko Ponad / Pexels, Pexels License
The 73 m tower carries the name of Hallgrímur Pétursson, a 17th-century poet and pastor. From the top you look over Reykjavík, the surrounding mountains and the ocean, so spend a clear morning here before anything else.
Time
Allow 30 min to 1 h
Setting
Both
Best time
A clear morning
Getting there
Hallgrímstorg 1, in the middle of the centre.
Tip: This is a working church, and services or events sometimes close the church or the tower for a while. Look at the tower page before you climb.
Church: free, open 9 am to 8 pm. Tower:1,400 ISK for adults, 200 ISK for ages 7 to 16, free for ages 0 to 6, open 10 am to 4.30 pm.
The concert hall on the waterfront wears a glass façade designed with Ólafur Elíasson. You can look at the building without a ticket; a performance ticket is needed only for the halls.
Time
Allow 45 min to 1 h 30 min
Setting
Both
Best time
Late afternoon
Getting there
A few minutes on foot from Lækjartorg, the main public-transport hub.
Tip: Events can restrict the public areas, so check the programme before you detour for the façade.
Hours: Sunday to Tuesday 10 am to 6 pm, Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 8 pm. Guided tour: 45 to 60 minutes, 5,200 ISK, free for ages 12 and under.
Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos / Pexels, Pexels License
A glass dome on Öskjuhlíð hill holds the interactive Wonders of Iceland exhibitions and an observation deck with 360-degree views over the city and its surroundings.
Time
Allow 1 h 30 min to 2 h 30 min
Setting
Both
Best time
A wet day, or late afternoon
Getting there
Buses 18 and 13 stop closest; from the centre it is about 30 minutes on foot.
Tip: The deck comes with the exhibition ticket and is not sold on its own, so go in knowing you are buying both.
Jón Gunnar Árnason made Sólfar from steel as a dreamboat and an ode to the sun. It stands on the shore and looks across Faxaflói bay to Mount Esja.
Time
Allow 10 to 20 min
Setting
Outdoor
Best time
Sunset
Getting there
Sæbraut 91, on the waterfront.
Tip: Visit Reykjavík recommends sunset for the sculpture and the bay together. It is a quick stop, so pair it with Harpa instead of making a trip of it.
