Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland and the northernmost capital of any sovereign state in the world.

Despite a small population (approximately 120,000, with just over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavík area), it is a vibrant city that draws an ever increasing number of visitors every year. It is the financial, cultural and political centre of Iceland, and has a reputation of being one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.

Geography

The city of Reykjavík is located in southwest Iceland by Faxaflói Bay. Throughout the ages, the landscape has been shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and the area is geothermal; after all, its name translates to ‘Smoky Bay’.

Much of the current city area was subglacial during the Ice Age, with the glacier reaching as far as the Álftanes peninsula, while other areas lay under the sea.  After the end of the Ice Age, the land rose as the glaciers drifted away, and it began to take on its present form.

The coastline of Reykjavík is set with peninsulas, coves, straits and islands, most notably the island of Viðey, and seabirds and whales frequent the shores. The mountain ring as seen from the shore is particularly beautiful.

Mount Esjan is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavík and the most distinctive feature of the coastline. This majestic summit is also highly popular amongst hikers and climbers. Other notable mountains that can be seen from the seaside are Akrafjall and Skarðsheiði.

On clear days, one may even see as far to the legendary Snæfellsjökull glacier, at the end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

The largest river to run through the city is Elliðaá in Elliðaárdalur valley, which is also one of Iceland’s best rivers for salmon fishing.

Transportation

There are no trains or trams in Iceland, but most people travel by car. The city also operates a bus system. There are two major harbours in town, the old harbour in the centre and Sundahöfn in the east.

The domestic Reykjavík Airport is located at Vatnsmýrin, not far from the city centre and close to the hill Öskjuhlíð and the restaurant, vantage point and exhibition centre Perlan. The international Keflavík Airport at Miðnesheiði heath then lies around 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the city.

Cars, jeeps and bicycles can be readily rented in the city and many organized tours are also being offered. It is, however, quite easy to walk between the major sites.

What to See & Do in Reykjavik

The local arts scene is strong in Iceland, with annual events and festivals, many of artists from which have hit the international stage.

Major events taking place in Reykjavík include Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavík Pride, RIFF (The Reykjavík International Film Festival), The Reykjavík Literature Festival, Culture Night, the Reykjavík Arts Festival, Food & Fun, the Reykjavík Fashion Festival and the Sónar music festival.

Amongst the famous people from Reykjavík are musicians like Björk Guðmundsdóttir and Sigur Rós, and writers Halldór Laxness (born on the main street, Laugavegur) and Arnaldur Indriðason.

Those eager to soak up the local culture should visit the city’s many museums, exhibitions and galleries, and check out live music at the cafés, bars, and concert venues dotted around. You could look at the programmes of what’s on at the Harpa music hall or the theatres, or else plan a few hours at the lighthouse at Grótta, the shopping street of Laugavegur, or the old harbour and the flea market.

You could even book a bird- and whale watching tour or a visit to Viðey island. There are a lot of things to do and the possibilities are endless.

Make sure to visit the public square of Austurvöllur, one of the city’s most popular gathering places, where you’ll also find the national parliament, the Alþingi, as well as the state church, a statue of independence hero Jón Sigurðsson, cafés, bars and restaurants.

Austurvöllur was central in the protests following the banking collapse of 2008, along with Lækjargata, home to the House of Government. You are also not likely to miss the great church of Hallgrímskirkja that towers over the city from the hill of Skólavörðuholt, from which you’ll get a great view of the city.

Try a walk by the city pond, Tjörnin, to greet the many birds that frequent the area and to visit the city hall, stationed by its banks. A beautiful park lies by the pond, ideal for a nice walk, and sometimes concerts get held there.

Further off is the campus of the University of Iceland, the Nordic house and the Vatnsmýrin wetland, a particularly pleasant place, but be mindful to not disturb the wildlife there by keeping to the pathways.

For a nice swim on a warm day, we particularly recommend Nauthólsvík beach, which is heated with geothermal water. Those who love a dip should also visit the Laugardalur valley, home to one of the city’s best swimming pools, which sits a short walk away from Ásmundarsafn gallery, a beautiful botanical garden and a domestic zoo.

A walk by the Ægissíða beach, with its old fishing sheds, in the west part of Reykjavík also holds a particular charm. From there, you can see all the way to president’s house at Bessastaðir, which is also a historical site in its own right, having been the educational centre of Iceland for centuries. 

Another place that offers one of the city’s best views is Perlan, up on Öskjuhlíð hill. The hill itself is a popular place to spend a few hours, with over 176,000 trees and great opportunities for walking and cycling. Perlan also has and observation deck with great views, a café and an exhibition centre.

Furthermore, the city is a short drive from many of Iceland’s major attractions, most famously the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon. In close vicinity you’ll also find the Heiðmörk preservation area, a favourite local site of the people of Reykjavík, as well as the Blue Mountains, one of Iceland’s best skiing venues.

Finally, we’d like to stress that these are only some suggestions of the many things you might check out in Reykjavík. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you’ll be able to make the most of your visit and we wish you a pleasant stay in our capital.

Seltjarnarnes is a township in the Reykjavik district. It has a population of about 4600 people and land-wise it is the smallest township in the country (2 km²). It is situated at the tip of the peninsula of the same name. 

The area around Grotta island and Bakkatjorn pond on Seltjarnarnes, both of them natural reserves, is particularly beautiful and rich with birdlife. A charming old lighthouse is located on Grotta.

Culturewise the township features a Medical History Museum, an independent theater and a star observation society. Seltjarnarnes has also made a name for itself in sports, football team Grotta playing in Iceland's second level and their handball team playing the premier division.

Viðey is an island just off the coast of Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital city. It is a popular destination due to its natural beauty, the artworks that have been erected here, and its accessibility and affordability.

The island was once inhabited, even having a monastery, but has long since been deserted. Very few buildings remain here.

Getting to Viðey Island

Boats to Viðey Island throughout the year, leaving from Skarfabakki pier at Sundahöfn harbour. This is just about five kilometres (three miles) from the centre of Reyjavík. The journey takes approximately twenty minutes.

Tickets to Viðey can be bought in isolation, but are included for free on a Reykjavík City Card. These cards provide you with either free access or heavily discounted access to a wealth of the capital’s cultural sites, museums, pools and galleries.

Artwork and Culture at Viðey Island

Viðey is best known internationally as the location for the Imagine Peace Tower. Envisioned and designed by Yoko Ono, it was intended as a tribute both to her late husband John Lennon, from the Beatles, and to their shared vision of a world free of war and united in love.

The tower is only lit at certain times of the year, such as over Lennon’s birthday and other significant events. Yoko Ono regularly comes to Iceland, and often attends the lighting of the tower.

One of the few buildings on the island was the home of ‘the father of Reykjavík, Skuli Magnusson. This house, Videyjarstofa, now displays paintings of renowned Icelandic artists. 

The island’s last great artwork was constructed  by one of the world's most renowned sculptors, Richard Sierra. It can be found on the west side of the island, and is called Milestones.

Videy also has a graveyard, the final resting place of many known Icelanders. Gunnar Gunnarson, for example, is buried here, a renowned author who wrote novels such as Fjallkirkjan ('The Church on the Mountain'), Svartfugl (The Black Cliffs) and Adventa (The Good Shepherd).

Akurey is an island in Kollafjörður Bay in west Iceland. It is best known for its puffin watching opportunities in summer.

Location of Akurey

Kollafjörður bay borders Reykjavík, and is part of the greater Faxaflói bay. Akurey is one of several islands here, the most popular being Viðey, which is home to the Imagine Peace Tower and the Milestones artwork.

It can be seen from land in clear weather; the best place to see it is from the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula, a few kilometres from the centre of the capital, at the lighthouse of Grótta.

History of Akurey

Akurey is first mentioned in Icelandic writings that date back to 1379, but as Reykjavík was the first part of the country to be permanently settled, it would have been known about for about four centuries before that.

The island was bought in 1969 by the city itself, and became part of the municipality of Reykjavík in 1978. It is not inhabited, but increasingly popular due to its puffin watching opportunities.

Wildlife at Akurey

Sixty percent of the world’s Atlantic puffins nest in Iceland from May to September, and many do so surprisingly close to Reykjavík. Akurey and the isle of Lundey are particularly of note for their density of the birds.

Puffin watching tours departing from Reykjavík harbour go to one of these, depending on conditions. Such tours normally include binoculars to allow you to get close up views of the birds bobbing on the water, circling overhead, or nestling on the rocks with their partners.

Late in the season, you may even see the pufflings. Of course, on these trips, you are also likely to see other seabirds such as guillemots and fulmar.

It takes just a few minutes for a boat to reach such prime puffin watching spots as Akurey. If you wanted to see them but were only travelling by car, you would have to drive over two hours to reach Dyrhólaey, on the South Coast.

At Akurey, lucky visitors may also see a range of creatures in the surrounding waters, such as seals, porpoises, dolphins, and, on rare occasions, whales. In summer, certain whale watching trips incorporate a trip to Akurey as well.

Credit: Wikimedia, Creative Commons, photo by Christian Bickel

Engey is the second largest island in Faxaflói, the bay by which Reykjavík stands.

This landmass is 1.7 kilometres (5,600 ft) long and 400 metres (1,300 ft) wide, yet it is uninhabited; the only building on it is a lighthouse that was first built in 1902.

This was not always the case, however; as far back as 1226, it is thought to have been used for fishing, growing crops, and transporting goods to the Icelandic mainland. 

Grótta is a nature reserve on the tip of the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula, in the north-westernmost part of the Greater Reykjavík Area. It has been a nature reserve since 1974 due to its abundant birdlife.

History of Grótta

There has been a lighthouse at Grótta since 1897, and the one currently standing dates back to 1947. It was connected to the electric grid in 1956 and has remained more or less unchanged since.

The area, however, has been used and referenced for much longer. Historical records show that a farm existed on the site in the 16th Century, which is probably where it got its name, thought to derive from the old word for a wheat-grinding mill. 

Although it went through a period of abandonment in the 19th Century, Grótta is now one of the capital’s most visited sites, attracting both locals and foreign visitors throughout the year.

Nature of Grótta

Grótta is a haven of nature in Iceland’s capital. Surrounded by black sands and a rugged coastline, it is an awe-inspiring place to look out to the churning Atlantic ocean. In clear weather, you can see across the water to the Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes Peninsulas.

Throughout summer, many species of birds nest in the area. Seabirds, such as Arctic Terns, form a colony on the rocks, and freshwater species, such as tufted ducks, can be found in the beautiful adjacent pond, Bakkatjörn. Nature lovers should also keep their eyes on the shoreline for seals, which are occasional visitors.

Throughout June, areas will be cordoned off to protect the birds, so please stick to the walking paths. If you are disrespectful, the terns, which dive-bomb the heads of any too close to their eggs or young, will punish you for it, and you are likely to receive a fine.

In winter, the area remains popular. It has little light pollution, making it one of the most popular spots in the capital area to view the Northern Lights. To make this even more comfortable, there is a geothermally heated pool you are welcome to warm your feet in while you wait and watch. 

Grótta is connected to the mainland by a thin spit that in high tide becomes submerged beneath the sea; those walking over to the lighthouse, therefore, need to be aware of the tides, so they do not become stranded like many have before them. The tide chart can be seen here.

What to do around Grótta

Besides birdwatching in summer and northern-lights hunting in winter, there are multiple things to do around Grótta. 

A golf course was established nearby, as was a museum on Icelandic Medical History. There are multiple hiking and biking paths, the Kvika footpath and Norðurströnd walking path taking you to the most scenic points. Seltjarnarnes also has a swimming pool and a large, verdant park. 

Those passionate about surfing will also find opportunities in this area by talking to locals, as will those who would like to fish from the shore.

It is possible to walk to Grótta from the centre of Reykjavík, although this will take over an hour. Otherwise, many buses leave to here every day from the bus station Hlemmur.

The Imagine Peace Tower is a memorial to John Lennon from Yoko Ono, located on the island of Viðey, just off the coast of Reykjavík. She described it as the tower’s inauguration as the best thing that they have ever done.

The name of the tower is a reflection of John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’, as well as he and Yoko’s greater mission.

Description of the Imagine Peace Tower

The base of the Imagine Peace Tower is white stone, and around it are the words ‘Imagine Peace’ in 24 languages. In the middle of it is a wishing well with a width of ten metres (33 feet), within which is 15 searchlights.

The lights of the Peace Tower are turned on from John Lennon’s birthday on October 9th, and off on the anniversary of his death, on November 8th, as well as on special occasions. Yoko Ono, who often travels to Iceland, is regularly in attendance for its lighting.

In clear weather, the ‘tower’ can reach a height of over four kilometres (2.5 miles), and it is powerful enough to pierce through cloud cover.

The Tower uses geothermal energy as its powersource; the fact it could be constructed with such a minimal impact on the environment was a large part of the reason that Yoko Ono chose Iceland for the project.

Construction on the tower was completed in 2007, and opened with a ceremony that was attended by Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, George Harrison’s family and John Lennon’s son; Paul McCartney intended to but eventually could not attend due to a court case. The event was televised across much of the world.

Beneath the Imagine Peace Tower are over a million buried ‘wishes’, which were collected by Yoko Ono during her project, Wish Trees. In this project, an exhibition of trees, native to the country the exhibition was in, were lined up and people were encouraged to tie their wishes on a piece of paper to their branches.

The Imagine Peace Tower and Viðey Island

The Imagine Peace Tower is one of the main reasons people visit Viðey Island. Boats regularly leave from Reykjavík’s harbour to the island, and are free for those who have purchased a Reykjavík City Card.

The Imagine Peace Tower, however, is not the only attraction; there is a second, less known artwork spanning the island, called Milestones, by Richard Sierra.

No-one lives on the island permanently, although it was once inhabited. The lack of buildings, therefore, makes it a great place to hunt for the Northern Lights from September to April. To see them dancing around the beam of light from the Imagine Peace Tower is a particularly unique experience.

The isolation of Viðey also makes it a popular place for birdwatchers to come. Particularly of note is the White Tailed Eagle, which makes its home on such islands around Reykjavík.

The only building remaining on Viðey is the Viðeyjarstofa House, constructed in the 1750s. It now contains a restaurant, and is the base for the hikes around the island.