5 Things to Do in Reykjavik Iceland
Reykjavik, the largest and capital city of Iceland is relatively small compared to the mega cities of Europe. It still maintains a small town feel with city amenities and conveniences.
There are
nine airlines that fly into Keflavik International Airport. Keflavik is a
46-minute drive to downtown Reykjavik. Whether you are traveling alone or with kids, during winter or summer, there are ample attractions in Reykjavik for everyone.
Here are Travelmath’s five things to do in Reykjavik Iceland:
One: Hallgrimskirkja Church
No visit is complete without a visit to Hallgrimskirkja’s observation deck on the eighth floor and a 15m tall pipe organ. The church is Reykjavik’s landmark that can be seen from almost every corner of the city.
Take the elevator to the eighth floor for an amazing 360 degree view of the city. You need to purchase a ticket before taking the elevator. It is ISK600 for adults and ISK100 for kids ages 7-14. The church bell rings every 15 minutes and it can be very loud for small children.
Hallgrimskirkja is unlike any other church in Europe. It has a minimalist look without much decorations or colors. The pipe organ was designed and constructed by Johannes Klais, a German organ builder and was completed in 1992.
Read more about it
here.
Two: Videy Island
A short boat ride (about 8 minutes) will take you to the peaceful Videy Island. Videy Island is where Yoko Ono, wife of deceased John Lennon designed and dedicated the Imagine Peace Tower in memory of her late husband John Lennon. It is a tower of light that appears every year from October 9th to December 8th. The tiles around the tower are written in 24 languages.
Besides the tower, visitors can enjoy a nature walk on the trails and bird watching on Videy Island during warmer days.
Information:
Imagine Peace Tower
Three: Northern Lights in winter and ‘summer’
Iceland is one of the best places in the world to watch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Northern Lights happen during the winter months especially when the sky is clear.
You can still catch the special northern lights the whole year in Reykjavik. The Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center is home to the Icelandic Northern Lights. In the center visitors are given a treat of the aurora displays in HD panoramic film.
The center’s theatre shows a 13-minute film projected onto a seven-meter wide screen continuously throughout the day. According to the center, it is educational, entertaining and extremely therapeutic. The film is accompanied by soft music in surround-sound. The good thing is you don’t need to depend on weather conditions or ‘suffer’ in the cold to catch the Northern Lights. The bad thing is, you are not experiencing Northern Lights first-hand. You are just watching it on film in an enclosed space.
Information:
Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center
Four: Reykjavik on foot
Reykjavik can be easily explored on foot. You can walk for an hour or eight hours around the city. For a short walk, focus on the historical sites of Reykjavik around Aoalstraeti and Laugavegur.
Aoalstraeti is the oldest street in Reykjavik. It was where the first settlers settled, farmed and built their houses and workshops. Here you will find the oldest timber house in Reykjavik, the home of Bishop Geir Vidalin, the Falcon House and the House of Parliament.
Aoalstraeti has many souvenir shops, cafés and restaurants for those who need a place to shop for Icelandic gifts and indulge in Icelandic coffee culture.
Another interesting street to wander around is Laugavegur. Laugavegur is the shopping street of Reykjavik. You can find lots of boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafés.
Five: Tjornin Lake
This is where you get one of the best views of Reykjavik. Locals are seen walking or sitting on the benches by the lake either feeding the birds and ducks or just enjoying the sun.
The lake freezes during winter months but because Reykjavik has ample hot geothermal water supply, the city uses hot water to defrost a small part of the lake during winter to keep the birds and ducks alive.
Tjornin attracts the locals and visitors throughout the year. In warmer days it provides the best place to relax and feed the birds and in winter months, it becomes an ice skating rink for ice skating enthusiasts. While you are there, check out the Reykjavik City Hall by the lake.
Are you ready to visit Reykjavik and Iceland? To read more about Iceland please read
5 Reasons to Visit Iceland.
