Reykjavík could very well be the smallest big city in the world.
As the northernmost capital city in the world, Reykjavík is a vibrant, colorful city with an interesting history and quaint streets. Founded in the 9th century, Reykjavik, which in Icelandic means ‘Smokey Bay‘, is thought to be the site of Iceland’s first permanent settlement. With a picturesque coastal setting Iceland’s capital really has a lot to offer. If you’re just passing through you can capture the essence of the city in 2-3 hours. However, it’s best to spend at least 1 night so you can see the city both day and night.
We arrived in the evening and after checking into the Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel, even though it was after 10pm we eagerly went out to explore. Let me start by telling you that the restaurants close at 10pm, so we chose their delicious and famous hot dogs for dinner that were right in front of our hotel in a small shack. To save time and to avoid standing in line twice (like me), I recommend ordering 2 from the start. It isn’t famous for nothing!
In the evenings, the city’s atmosphere is lively, with DJs and live music. What pleasantly surprised me was the atmosphere in the bar, which pleasantly blends modern music with the décor and lights of 20 years ago. And not to mention the fact that you get a rather strange feeling being in the club when it’s still light outside!
Here’s what you can do in 2-3 hours in Reykjavík
1.We started our walk from the old harbor and passed by the famous building – Harpa. This is a geometric concert hall with a façade inspired by iconic basalt geology. We didn’t go inside to visit it but I understand you can catch a performance of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra here, or a local festival or light show.
2. We continued our walk along the water and, enchanted by the wonderful view, we arrived in front of a sculpture that is one of the most photographed sights in the city thanks to the view of Mount Esja – Sun Voyager. Although you’d think it looked like a Viking barge, we found out that wasn’t the original intention. In 1986, the district association funded a competition for an outdoor sculpture to celebrate Reykjavik’s 200th anniversary, and Sun Voyager was the winning piece and was intended to be a dream ship and an ode to the sun. It also represents the promise of undiscovered territory and a dream of hope, progress and freedom. On a sunny day it is a wonderful place to relax.
3. As all roads lead to Iceland’s most famous building, even if you wander through the various streets of the city, you can’t miss Hallgrímskirkja Church. It’s named after the local poet, Hallgrímur Pétursson, but is often referred to as the Church of the Waterfall. That’s because of the church’s tall design that resembles the basalt columns around the Svartifoss waterfall. At 74.5 meters high it is the tallest church in the country and is visible from all parts of the town. You can ride the elevator to the top, where you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Reykjavik and even the Snaefellsjokull glacier on a clear day.
4. From the Church you immediately reach the Instagrammable Rainbow Street, which is a sign of joy and support for diversity. You can’t help but stop for a few photos!
I recommend trying the sweet delicacies at Baka Baka and the traditional platters at Cafe Loki ( like the Baldur platter which contains two slices of rye bread, one with mashed fish and the other with egg and herring + rye bread ice cream, and the Icelandic Braveheart which contains a shot of Brennivíns and a few pieces of fermented shark (hakari).
One restaurant I unfortunately never went to, but have heard nothing but good things about is Seabaron, famous for its lobster soup. Maybe you guys will get there and let me know in the comments how it was!
Cool and quirky and colorful, Reykjavik captivated us and we definitely wished we could have stayed longer. But, maybe there will be a next time.
