45 Best Sights in Reykjavík, Iceland

One of Reykjavík’s most recognizable landmarks, Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh) stars in just about every promotional shot or picture postcard of the city. It holds a special place in the hearts of locals, who often take a day trip there to ramble along its network of winding trails. However great it looks from the city, the view from the top of this mountain—not actually a single mountain but a range of many peaks—is even better. Information on transport and trails is available at the tourist information center on Aðalstræti 2 or from Esjustofa, the visitor center and café located at the base of the mountain.

At Reykjavík’s geothermal beach at Nauthólsvík, where runoff from the city’s hot water supply is used to heat a small lagoon of seawater, temperatures can reach up to 22°C (71.6°F) during the summer. Facilities include changing rooms; showers; hot tubs; a steam room; a barbecue grill; and a small shop selling swimwear, light snacks, and refreshments. Access to the beach and lagoon is free all year round, but the use of the beach facilities is free only between May and September. A small fee (ISK 740) is charged for winter services, with significantly reduced opening hours. Lifeguards are on-site during open hours only.

Also known as the Living Art Museum, Nýló is located inside the Marshall House and displays some of the more experimental works by local artists. Media range from paint and plant-flavored ice cream to video and sculpture.

Modern architecture and nature converge at Reykjavík's city hall, a building overlooking Tjörnin Pond. Inside is a visitor information desk and coffee bar with Internet access. A three-dimensional model of Iceland, over 819 square feet in size, is usually on display in the gallery, which often hosts various temporary exhibitions.

The core exhibit here features the remains of a Viking longhouse dating from around 871. Unearthed in 2001 during the construction of the Hotel Centrum, this remarkable find was preserved in situ and now occupies an oval-shaped basement designed specially to frame the excavation site. A large, backlit panoramic image, showing how Reykjavík might have looked during the age of settlement, encircles the longhouse, and an illuminated strip installed in the surrounding walls marks the layer of tephra used to determine the approximate date of the remnants. Sounds and aromas add a multisensory dynamic to the experience, while high-tech media installations provide historical insight into life in Iceland's Saga Age.

Housed in an old fish freezing plant with great views of the harbor, the city's maritime museum has exhibits on Icelandic fisheries and trading vessels. There's also a whole Coast Guard vessel that can be explored.

At this museum you can explore thousands of photographs from both amateur and professional photographers, dating back as far as 1860. This is a unique opportunity to explore more than a hundred years of Reykjavík—and Iceland—through a variety of perspectives.

This low white building, constructed in the 18th century as a prison, today houses the office of the prime minister.

This steel sculpture resembling a Viking ship is hard to miss as you drive along the water in Reykjavík. If you're traveling on Sæbraut, you'll see it on the water right before you hit the Harpa Concert Hall (when traveling east to west). The Sun Voyager was created by local sculptor Jón Gunnar Árnason. The original intention was to create a dreamlike boat that appears to float off into the sun. If you visit during sunset, you'll feel immediately transported.

Crests on the facade of the impressive former Landsbókasafnið (Old National Library) name significant Icelandic literary figures; the renovated building now houses interesting cultural displays and art exhibits. Erected between 1906 and 1908, it was primarily a library for most of the 20th century, but its book collection has been moved to the Þjóðarbókhlaðan at the National and University Library of Iceland. A free guided tour in English is offered Tuesday through Sunday at 2 pm, September through May, and weekdays (except Wednesday) between June and August.

With a focus on Icelandic artists, this museum also digs into works of art that help bring the country’s folklore and culture to life. This exhibit is pretty small and specific—you can breeze through it in less than an hour—but your ticket fee also grants you admission to two other nearby exhibits: Ásgrím Jónsson's house and the Art Museum of Iceland.

This natural pond by the City Hall is popular among ice-skaters in winter and attracts birds (and bird lovers) year-round. Visitors are discouraged from feeding the birds during nesting season, as it attracts seagulls who like to feast on young waterfowl.

The city's Customs House—a bureaucratic necessity, especially for an island nation—is decorated with an impressive mosaic mural. The piece of art depicts scenes from the local harbor and was designed by Gerð Helgadóttir. There isn't a ton to see inside, but the mural is worth a visit in itself.

The beautiful heart and headquarters of all activities on Viðey Island, Viðey House happens to be the oldest building in Iceland made of stone, and it boasts a restaurant, a bar, and facilities big enough for both intimate concerts and medium-size parties. Downstairs, there's an exhibition of historic items linked to the building's significant past. Across from the house is one of Iceland's oldest churches, from 1774, whose original interior fittings are well preserved. Ferry rides are complimentary to those with a Reykjavík City Card.

Blue whales, fin whales, humpbacks, and belugas are just some of the 23 different species featured in this great pod of life-size models at the Whales of Iceland exhibition. Located in an old industrial area close to Grandi Harbor—an area undergoing revitalization by an influx of thriving culture—this family-friendly exhibition, which claims to be "the largest whale exhibition in Europe and perhaps even the world," is designed to both educate and foster support of whale tourism, as opposed to whale hunting.