24 Best Sights in Reykjavík, Iceland

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.

Established in 1984, there are now more than 100 members creating work in the Icelandic Printmakers Association community. This is their gallery, studio, and event space, which is located inside of the Reykjavik Art Museum (entrance to the rear of the building) and hosts regular exhibitions, workshops, and studio hours. As traditional print-making techniques are no longer taught in Iceland, some of the machinery in the workshop is one-of-a-kind in the country. 

Yoko Ono's powerful light installation on Viðey Island is dedicated to the vision of world peace the artist passionately shared with her late husband, John Lennon. The artwork features a large stone wishing well with the words "imagine peace" etched into its white shiny surface in countless languages. Inside the well are 15 powerful beams that merge into a magnificent force of light when switched on. Yoko visits every year on Lennon's birthday (October 9) to lead the lighting ceremony, where about 2,000 people gather to watch and sing along to "Imagine," Lennon's famous song. The impressive tower of light illuminates the skyline until the date of Lennon's death on December 8. Yoko provides a free ferry service for those who wish to attend the annual lighting ceremony. The ferry departs from Skarfabakki pier, less than a 10-minute drive from the city center.

Actually several parks in one large area, Laugardalur Park has one of the best swimming pools in the city as well as a recreational expanse that includes picnic and barbecue areas. There's also an amusement park and a botanic garden with an extensive outdoor collection of native and exotic plants.

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 interactive exhibit has been constructed around remains of a Viking longhouse dating from around 871 (hence its name). Unearthed in 2001 during the construction of the Hotel Centrum, this remarkable find was preserved in situ and now occupies an oval-shape 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. Display boxes positioned around the longhouse house a collection of small items that were also unearthed in the excavation, giving a more complete picture of what life was like for Reykjavík's earliest inhabitants. 

Though established as a single-room exhibition, the Settlement Exhibition has been expanded in recent years, occupying the basement of neighboring buildings on Aðalstræti and making its way aboveground in the historic black timber house that stands at Aðalstræti 10. These newer wings continue the story of Reykjavík into the modern day, tracking the development of the capital through photos, video, and a scale model of the historic Kvósin neighborhood that is brought to life with the help of VR viewfinders. Aðalstræti has been staged partly as the residence of Reykjavík's bishop in the 19th century and partly as a general store from the early 20th century—two roles the building has played over the course of its life.

Also known as Hafnarhús, this former warehouse of the Port of Reykjavík now houses the city's main art museum. Six gallery halls occupy two floors, and there's a courtyard and "multipurpose" space. The museum's permanent collection includes a large number of works donated by the contemporary Icelandic artist Erró. There are also regular temporary exhibitions. Admission is free with the Reykjavík City Card.

In addition to exhibits that explore important moments throughout Iceland's history, this museum also lets you try on clothing from Viking times. The wax models illustrating events of the Sagas are oddly endearing.

Visiting the Ár­bær Open Air Mu­seum is like taking a trip back in time. Here, 19th- and 20th-century houses—many relocated from Reykjavík's city center—are furnished in period style to give visitors a glimpse of what life was like in times of yore. It is open year-round, with an often busy schedule of activities taking place throughout the summer and at Christmas. To get to the museum, take Bus 12 or 24 to Höfðabakki.

Some of Ásmundur Sveinsson's original sculptures, depicting ordinary working people, myths, and folktale episodes, are exhibited in the museum's gallery and studio and in the surrounding garden. It's on the southwest edge of Laugardalur Park, opposite the traffic circle at its entrance. Entrance is free with the Reykjavík City Card.

An absolute must-see for northern lights seekers, here visitors get to play with technology simulating the intensity and color spectrum of the auroras while panels explain the physical variations. A high-definition movie of the extraordinary lights in action over Iceland is the highlight of the exhibition, but perhaps even more useful is the practice booth where you can (with the help of detailed instructions) learn the exact settings required to successfully photograph the northern lights.

Experience a simulated flight experience over Iceland's stunning landscapes, including glaciers, volcanoes, and fjords. Guests are suspended with feet dangling before a 65-foot spherical screen, enhanced by special effects like wind, mist, and scents. The experience includes pre-ride shows that delve into Iceland's history and mythology, guided by a storyteller and the resident troll, Sú Vitra.

Located in the verdant Laugardalur Park, the Reykjavík Botanic Garden features outdoor beds planted with domestic and exotic plants where visitors are free to wander around and enjoy. Open year-round, the beautifully landscaped gardens are frequented by plant enthusiasts, families out for a stroll, and joggers alike.

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.

Inside this modernist building you'll find an impressive permanent exhibit dedicated to the life and works of Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval (1885–1972), one of Iceland's most beloved landscape painters. In addition to Kjarval's key works, there's also a rotation of temporary exhibits featuring the works of both local and international artists. Entrance is free with the Reykjavík City Card.

This immersive experience lets visitors feel the heat of molten lava reaching temperatures up to 2,000ºF as it flows in a simulated indoor eruption. The guided hour-long experience imparts knowledge about volcanic eruptions and Iceland's explosive nature due to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

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 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.

At this charming domestic zoo, visitors can meet horses, cows, sheep, and other Icelandic farm animals as well as reindeer, foxes, and seals. The park is wildly popular with local children, who flock to the climbing structures year-round and enjoy the merry-go-round, drop tower, and other small rides in the summer months.

Housed in an old fish freezing plant with great views of the harbor, the city's maritime museum offers a maze of interactive exhibits that the whole family will love. Who knew learning about Icelandic fisheries and trading vessels could be this much fun? 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 100 years of Reykjavík—and Iceland—through a variety of perspectives.

This natural pond by the City Hall is popular with ice skaters during the winter and attracts birds (and bird-lovers) year-round. A portion of the pond is kept warm by a flow of geothermal water, creating a year-round pool for the city's swan, goose, and duck population. Visitors are discouraged from feeding the birds during nesting season, as it attracts seagulls who like to feast on young waterfowl. Tjörnin is surrounded on its southern end by Hljómskálagarðurinn, an expansive public park that features a sculpture garden, a geothermal footbath, and a children's park.

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.