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Last Updated on twenty seventh February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Are you planning on visiting Reykjavik throughout a wider Iceland journey? The capital of Iceland is brimming with cultural points of interest and a plethora of historical past, all simply ready to be tapped into. Here’s how one can spend the right someday in Reykjavik itinerary, in addition to what to know earlier than you go.
While most individuals’s Iceland adventures concentrate on the nation’s phenomenal nature (and it ought to – the waterfalls, seashores and glaciers are otherworldly!), there’s a lot to do in Reykjavik as nicely.
I lately spent a couple of days in Reykjavik, and I extremely advocate including at the least someday onto your journey to the nation to take pleasure in the entire capital’s highlights!
Suggested itinerary for someday in Reykjavik
Sunrise on the sculptures and shore stroll
Whether you’ll have the ability to catch the dawn on the Sculptures and Shore Walk largely depends upon what time of yr you’re visiting Reykjavik.
However, if you happen to’re visiting Iceland within the winter months, dawn will probably be as late as 11:00 am in late December and early January – and among the best locations to catch the dawn is the Sculptures and Shores Walk.
This is a brief, flat stroll alongside Reykjavik’s shoreline, the place you possibly can absorb numerous notable statues. Most well-known is the Sun Voyager, a statue of a ship that represents a homage to Iceland’s solar.
Climb to the highest of Hallgrimskirkja
Once the solar has climbed over the horizon, head to Hallgrimskirkja. It’s a 15 minute stroll between the 2 points of interest; cross by Lake Tjörnin if you wish to see Reykjavik’s glimmering metropolis centre waters.
If you stroll previous Lake Tjörnin, just be sure you stroll up Rainbow Street, one of the vital instagrammable locations within the capital metropolis! It was painted to assist Reykjavik’s LGBTQIA+ neighborhood, taking inspiration from Seyðisfjörður in West Iceland, the place there’s one other rainbow highway.
This highway is lined with cosy cafes and impartial outlets, and Hallgrimskirkja sits on the finish. There’s additionally numerous unbelievable avenue artwork on this space.
Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran church, courting again to 1986. It’s presupposed to characterize the hearth and different parts of Iceland and a few have additionally stated that it symbolises Thor’s hammer.
You can enter the church; it’s fairly naked in comparison with the intricate Catholic church buildings in Southern Europe, however there’s a formidable organ.
From the church’s floor ground, you possibly can ascend in a raise to close the highest, then there are stairs going as much as the point of view. From the highest of the Hallgrimskirkja, you possibly can absorb unimaginable views spanning over Reykjavik, together with the waters of Faxaflói Bay and the encompassing mountains.
FlyOver Iceland expertise
From the church, you possibly can stroll to Bíó Paradís after which the 14 bus to Grunnslóð, which is correct by FlyOver Iceland. FlyOver Iceland is an immersive digital flight expertise the place you’ll take within the wonders of the nation in all seasons.
The immersive flight solely lasts ten minutes, however you’ll go to among the most lovely and distant components of Iceland; some native folks have visited the attraction and have come out crying as a result of they didn’t know their nation was so lovely!
Your entrance ticket additionally features a show of a standard Icelandic home and an immersive exhibition detailing Iceland’s ogres.
Saga Museum
If you need to go to a museum in your day in Reykjavik, the Saga Museum is close by and particulars the story of Iceland’s first settlers – the Vikings – by their fascinating tales.
It’s an immersive museum that’ll show you how to be taught all concerning the origins of the nation, depicting how the primary settlers got here to Iceland, how the primary Viking parliament was fashioned and the way the nation’s tradition was fashioned on sagas (Viking tales).
Maritime Museum
You may not have time to go to each museums, however if you happen to’re extra within the ocean reasonably than Icelandic historical past, head to the Maritime Museum.
Being an island, Iceland has an intricate reference to the water round it; and you may be taught all about this within the maritime museum, which boasts a show of boats, details about fishing and the marine life that you just’ll discover within the water.
Afternoon whale-watching tour
From Reykjavik, you possibly can partake in a whale-watching tour to see among the finest beasts within the ocean.
You can go whale watching any time of yr – whereas they’re extra widespread within the spring and early summer season months, the waters round Reykjavik are so ample with minerals that whales feed all through the seasons!
Dinner at Dill’s Restuarant
Icelandic delicacies has a little bit of a popularity for being reasonably expensive, however it’s value visiting certainly one of Reykjavik’s high eating places if you happen to’re into gastronomy!
Dill’s Restaurant is likely one of the highest-rated within the nation; it’s earned a prestigious Michelin star. They serve contemporary Icelandic fish, lamb that the nation is thought for and a few vegetarian specialties.
Seasonal night exercise
Your night exercise will depend upon what time of yr you go to. If you’re in Reykjavik within the winter months, you might need an opportunity of seeing the northern lights, because the solar units as early as 3:30 pm and the nights are very darkish.
Or, if you happen to’re in Iceland through the summer season, it’ll keep gentle till extraordinarily late (and in June, the solar doesn’t even actually set!), which implies that you’ll take pleasure in daylight within the Blue Lagoon!
Option 1: Northern lights tour
The Icelandic northern lights are at their finest in January and December, that are the darkest months of the yr.
However, if you happen to’re visiting any time from October to April, you could possibly be in for an opportunity of seeing this photo voltaic spectacle; they gentle up the darkish horizons of the ocean and countryside round Reykjavik most nights within the winter (though it’s by no means assured that you just’ll see them!).
You can both do a northern lights boat tour or a bus tour to among the finest northern lights-watching spots in Iceland’s countryside.
Option 2: Blue Lagoon journey
If you’re visiting Iceland in the summertime, you could possibly spend the night soaking in one of many nation’s finest points of interest – the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
The Blue Lagoon is open within the winter, however in the summertime months, it stays open till midnight, giving vacationers the distinctive alternative to bask within the midnight solar!
Iceland is famend for its heat geothermal waters, and the Blue Lagoon particularly is claimed to have quite a few well being advantages due to the presence of minerals throughout the water. Soak within the spa, apply a silica face masks or take pleasure in drinks on the bar – your first drink is included in most packages!
You can go to the Blue Lagoon independently you probably have a rent automotive; merely self-drive the 45 minutes from Reykjavik and park proper outdoors. Or, if you happen to aren’t hiring a automotive whereas in Iceland, there are many excursions that embrace transport from the capital similar to these ones.
Where to remain in Reykjavik
Reykjavik Lights Hotel is a classy place to remain, with minimalist but trendy rooms, lovely mountain views and an incredible breakfast buffet served every morning. It is a few half hour stroll to town centre from right here, however frequent buses join it with the remainder of Reykjavik.
For a metropolis centre residence, try Foss Hotel. This lodge has trendy bedrooms with comfy beds and modern furnishings, a big foyer with a restaurant and bar and a health centre.
Other issues to do in Iceland
After you’ve spent your day in Reykjavik, there’s a lot to do within the surrounding countryside too! In truth, many vacationers choose to spend a day within the capital earlier than having fun with another excursions round Iceland. They embrace:
Golden Circle
Named so as a result of it options all of Iceland’s finest pure phenomena in a small route (waterfalls, geysers, craters and extra!), the Golden Circle is the must-visit journey that you want to do when visiting Iceland. You can rent a automotive and go to on an impartial highway journey, or there are a couple of excursions bookable on Get Your Guide.
Southern Iceland
Southern Iceland is dwelling to dramatic waterfalls, black sand seashores and the picturesque city of Vik. Highlights embrace Reynisfjara, with jagged stacks main out into the ocean and Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. Again, you possibly can tour Southern Iceland independently or e book a tour on Get Your Guide.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Known as “Iceland in miniature”, Snæfellsnes Peninsula boasts fjords, a craggy shoreline and dramatic mountains. Most well-known is Mount Kirkjufell, which soars 463 metres and has a dramatic waterfall in entrance.
It’s considered essentially the most photographed mountain in Iceland, and it’s lovely throughout the seasons! Tours are additionally obtainable on Get Your Guide.
Tips for visiting Reykjavik
Here are some tricks to take advantage of out of visiting Reykjavik!
- Save cash the place you possibly can: If you’re travelling on a price range, it can save you cash by not consuming (alcohol is dear!), making your individual sandwiches the place attainable and benefiting from free actions.
- Check the climate: The climate in Reykjavik can vary from -15°C to 10°C within the winter months, and 5°C to 25°C in the summertime, however it could actually actually range with rain, snow and every thing in between! Pack accordingly, with coats and rain gear when vital.
- You don’t want money: You will pay for every thing in Reykjavik on card, together with points of interest, outlets and taxis! You’ll solely want money if you happen to’re venturing to extra off-the-beaten-track Iceland.
Are you able to spend 24 hours in Reykjavik?
One day in Reykjavik isn’t fairly sufficient to see the entire Icelandic capital’s finest points of interest, however you’ll love exploring this charismatic Nordic metropolis, regardless of the season.
With ample museums, immersive experiences and loads of tradition, this metropolis has one thing for each season. If you have got wet days whilst you’re in Iceland, you then would possibly need to see Reykjavik on today – however it’s nicely value spending a day within the capital metropolis even you probably have wall-to-wall sunshine. It’s the form of place that’s good for any climate!
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Claire Martin is a journey blogger and freelance author who specialises in overland adventures. She’s drove round Australia, travelled from Bali to London with out flying, lived in Mexico and has spent many months exploring Europe. You can observe her adventures on her weblog, Claire’s Footsteps.