10 Best Sights in City Center East, Reykjavík

Designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson in 1937 (though not completed until 1986), Reykjavík’s iconic church towers over the city with its striking modernist form inspired by Iceland’s basalt landscapes. A must-visit, the observation tower offers stunning panoramic views of the capital and surrounding mountains. The church is named for Hallgrímur Pétursson, one of Iceland's most beloved poets, best known for his Passion Hymns. In front of Hallgrímskirkja stands a statue of Leif Erikson, the Icelander who discovered America 500 years before Columbus (Leif's father was Eric the Red, who discovered Greenland). The statue, by American sculptor Alexander Calder, was presented to Iceland by the United States in 1930 to mark the millennium of the Alþingi parliament.

This unique museum could easily be described as the city's most interesting attraction. It's exactly what its name suggests: an ode to the male genitalia of mammals from around the world. But don't come just for laughs; a visit to the Icelandic Phallological Museum is truly an educational experience, housing more than 215 specimens from 93 different species—including casts of the "members" of Iceland's silver-medal winning Olympic handball team. The theme of the museum continues uninterrupted in the gift shop and café.

This tinier-than-tiny museum is crammed into what used to be a set of public bathrooms at the bottom of a stairwell right off a city sidewalk. Somehow it all seems fitting for a museum focused on the Icelandic punk and new wave scene that started in 1978. Photos, posters, handbills, equipment, and instruments line the walls and displays at this subterranean memorial to one of the country's favorite music genres.

Glittering like the upper hemisphere of a giant disco ball, Perlan (the Pearl) is a grand construction of steel and mirrored glass. Perched atop Öskjuhlíð, the hill overlooking Reykjavík Airport, it's also one of the first landmarks to greet visitors when they arrive to the city. Supported by six massive water tanks and illuminated by 1,900 light bulbs, this impressive building opened in 1991 as a monument to Iceland's invaluable geothermal water supplies. It has since become a major tourist attraction, offering guests a host of amenities beneath its shiny surface, including the Wonders of Iceland natural history museum, an ice cave, a northern lights show, souvenir shops, a café, and a viewing platform with telescopes.

This historic house stands out for both its architectural and historical importance. It was here that, in 1986, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev met and officially marked the end of the Cold War. The house is not open to visitors, but it's worth spending some time exploring the exterior.

Part of the National Gallery of Iceland, the House of Collections was originally built in 1908 to house the National Library, National Archives, the collection of the Natural History Museum of Iceland, and the national collection of antique relics. It's now the home of a long-running exhibition called Resistance, which explores themes of sustainability and human impact on nature. Visitors can also experience artworks across four floors, each dedicated to different aspects of the aforementioned themes.

This statue perched atop a hill (also named for Ingólfur) commemorates the Norse settler credited with being the first to set down roots in Reykjavík around 874 AD. Legend has it that Ingólfur cast two pillars of his chieftain's seat into the sea upon his approach to Iceland, and then sent two enslaved people on a three-year search to find them. They were found in what is now present-day Reykjavík. Ingólfur's story is central to Icelandic history and celebrated throughout the city’s culture and landmarks.

Many graduates from the country's oldest educational institution, established in 1846, have gone on to dominate political and social life in Iceland. Former president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and numerous former prime ministers and cabinet ministers have studied in this school's hallowed halls. Other notable graduates are film producer Hrafn Gunnlaugsson and well-known author Þórarinn Eldjarn. This is a lovely building to enjoy the exterior of, but it is still an active school and not open to visitors.

Established in 1884, the National Gallery is the country's premier art museum, responsible for the collection, conservation, research, education, and presentation of Icelandic art. Rotating exhibitions highlight various aspects of Icelandic art practices and a diverse range of artists. The Vasulka Chamber Center for New Media Art is housed within the National Gallery of Iceland—it maintains materials on the life and work of Steina and Woody Vasulka and is dedicated to the study, collection, and display of video, digital, audio, and multimedia art in Iceland.

Designed by Jón Gunnar Árnason and unveiled in 1990, Sólfar is a gleaming stainless steel sculpture resembling a Viking ship. Located along Reykjavík’s Sæbraut waterfront, it symbolizes hope, exploration, and the sun. Often photographed at sunrise or sunset, visiting the sculpture's platform offers stunning views of Mt. Esja and Faxaflói Bay.