Places to Visit in Europe

City Guide

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital — a small, colourful, eccentric city of about 200,000 people that serves as the base camp for Iceland's extraordinary natural landscape. The city itself is charming — painted timber houses, great coffee culture, vibrant nightlife, excellent museums — but the real draw is everything around it: the Golden Circle, geothermal pools, glaciers, volcanoes, and the Northern Lights.

Best Places to Stay

  • Luxury: Icelandair Hotel, The Reykjavik EDITION, Hotel Keflavik Airport
  • Mid-range: Kex Hostel (trendy, social), Hotel Ódinn, 22 Hill Hotel
  • Budget: Loft Hostel, Cabin by Guesthouse

Best Places to Eat

  • Fine dining: Moss Restaurant (natural spa setting), Dill (Icelandic farm-to-table)
  • Casual: Svarta Kaffi (great coffee and cake), Brauð & Co (bakery), Hlemmur Mathöll (food hall)
  • Hot dogs: Bæjarins Beztu — the famous hot dog stand near the old harbour. Lamb hot dog with crispy onions is the order.

Best Sites to Visit

Hallgrímskirkja: The iconic church — take the elevator to the top for city and mountain views.

Harpa Concert Hall: Stunning glass facade on the waterfront. Check for concerts while you're in town.

Old Harbour: Whale watching boats, seafood restaurants, the less touristy side of the city.

Laugavegur: The main shopping street — colourful shops, bars, design stores.

Þingvellir National Park: Where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart — one of the most dramatic geological sites on earth. Part of the Golden Circle, 45 min from city.

Sun Voyager sculpture: Viking-themed steel sculpture near city hall — beautiful setting, photogenic.

Perlan Museum: Glass dome on a hill, views over the city, Northern Lights planetarium show.

Geothermal pool: Swim in a local pool — every neighbourhood has one, very cheap, locals-only feel.

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: City

Morning: Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, Harpa, Old Harbour, Sun Voyager. Afternoon: Swim at a local geothermal pool. Evening: Dinner at Dill.

Day 2: Golden Circle

Full day: Þingvellir (tectonic plates), Geysir (geyser), Gullfoss (golden waterfall). Iceland's most iconic day trip — allow 9 hours. Book a tour or rent a car.

Day 3: Blue Lagoon or South Coast

Option A: Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (40 min from airport, book ahead — expensive but iconic). Option B: South Coast day trip — Seljalandsfoss waterfall, black sand beach, glacier walk. Option C: Northern Lights boat tour from the harbour (evening, season-dependent).

Getting There and Around

  • By air: Keflavík International Airport (KEF) — direct from most European capitals. Flybus or Gray Line to city centre (45 min).
  • Getting around: No rail system. Reykjavik is walkable in the centre. Rent a 4WD car to explore beyond the city.

Travel Tips and Practical Info

  • Very expensive: Budget €150–250/day as a backpacker. Everything costs significantly more than elsewhere.
  • Best time: September–March for Northern Lights. June–August for midnight sun and accessible highlands.
  • Rent a car: Essential if you want to explore beyond the city. A 4WD is needed for highland routes.
  • Dress in layers: The weather changes fast. Always carry a shell layer and a warm layer.
  • Free: Hallgrímskirkja tower top, Laugavegur walking, city pools (small entry fee).

Where to Next?

  • Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss) — 45 min to 2.5h each way
  • Blue Lagoon — 40 min, book in advance
  • South Coast (Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, black sand beach, glacier walks) — 2.5h
  • Snæfellsnes Peninsula — 2h, known as "Iceland in miniature"
  • Silfra — snorkelling between tectonic plates, 1h from city