Reykjavik breathes with a quiet resilience, where neighbors chat warmly outside colorful wooden houses and the air smells faintly of geothermal steam and fresh baked goods. Today, it is less a sprawling metropolis than a cozy, walkable hub of design-forward cafes and historic landmarks, perfectly sized for those who prefer connection over congestion.
Do Reykjavík the way locals do: start slow at Thingvellir National Park, eat where the regulars do at Icelandic Street Food, let the evening run long at Íslenski Barinn - The Icelandic Bar.
Top things to do in Reykjavík Ranked by rating and review volume. These earn their hype. Booking links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.
1
Hallgrimskirkja
Church · ★ 4.6 (28,685 reviews)
Inspired by Icelandic traditions, this modern cathedral, consecrated in 1986, has a 73m-high tower.
Check tours & tickets 3
Perlan
Museum · ★ 4.5 (11,106 reviews)
Futuristic revolving glass-domed fine dining restaurant in park setting, with cocktail bar.
Check tours & tickets 4
Sun Voyager
Sculpture · ★ 4.5 (10,343 reviews)
Huge 1990 stainless-steel sculpture of a boat by Jón Gunnar Árnason, set on granite beside the sea.
Check tours & tickets 6
FlyOver Iceland
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.7 (5,557 reviews)
Attraction with motion seating & a wraparound screen, simulating flight over mountains & glaciers.
Check tours & tickets 9
Raufarhólshellir
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.6 (3,675 reviews)
Lava tunnel cave with natural ice sculptures & stalactites, accessible via guided tours only.
Check tours & tickets 10
National Museum of Iceland
Museum · ★ 4.5 (4,091 reviews)
Objects from the Settlement Age to the present, 20th-century photography & temporary exhibitions.
Check tours & tickets Where to eat Local favorites, not tourist traps.
11
Icelandic Street Food
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (6,874 reviews)
Pint-sized, local cafe offering an array of hearty Icelandic comfort dishes in a cheerful setting.
Website 12
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Hot Dog Stand · ★ 4.4 (9,249 reviews)
Signature hot dogs are cooked up at this renowned little food stand dating to 1937.
Website 13
Íslenski Barinn - The Icelandic Bar
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (5,057 reviews)
Down-to-earth restaurant offering unique seafood & meat dishes including shark, reindeer & whale.
Website 14
Café Loki
Restaurant · ★ 4.5 (6,594 reviews)
Cozy place with cathedral views serving traditional fare including fish, meat soup & rye bread.
Website 15
Old Iceland
Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (2,984 reviews)
Laid-back, family-run eatery offering traditional dishes from locally sourced produce.
Website 16
Messinn
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,602 reviews)
Website 17
Svarta Kaffið
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,499 reviews)
Website 18
Reykjavík Kitchen
Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (2,292 reviews)
Website Hungry for more? Book a food tour or tasting in Reykjavík
Tours worth booking ahead These sell out, so lock them in early.
20
Tours & Activities in Iceland - Troll.is
point_of_interest, establishment · ★ 4.8 (5,708 reviews)
Check tours & tickets 21
Icelandic Street Food
Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (6,874 reviews)
Pint-sized, local cafe offering an array of hearty Icelandic comfort dishes in a cheerful setting.
Check tours & tickets Get outside 25
Thingvellir National Park
National Park · ★ 4.7 (24,461 reviews)
Protected beauty spot with dramatic rocky scenery, lakes & ridges plus a national historical shrine.
Website 26
Arctic Adventures
Tour Agency · ★ 4.6 (4,919 reviews)
Website 27
Thingvellir National Park Visitor Center
National Park · ★ 4.7 (3,331 reviews)
Website 28
Glymur Waterfall
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.8 (1,130 reviews)
Reached via a rugged trail, this waterfall cascading into a canyon is the second highest in Iceland.
29
Elliðaárdalur
Park · ★ 4.8 (460 reviews)
After dark 30
Íslenski Barinn - The Icelandic Bar
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (5,057 reviews)
Down-to-earth restaurant offering unique seafood & meat dishes including shark, reindeer & whale.
Website 31
Lebowski Bar
Bar · ★ 4.5 (3,648 reviews)
Website 32
The Irishman Pub
Irish Pub · ★ 4.6 (928 reviews)
Website 33
Dillon Whiskey Bar
Bar · ★ 4.4 (1,223 reviews)
Dark, laid-back watering hole offering 170+ whiskeys, plus live bands, DJ'd music & outdoor seats.
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