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Reykjavík — travel, stays & events guide
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Reykjavík, IcelandOpen-Meteo forecast.
Reykjavík city overview
Reykjavík is Iceland's compact capital, where colourful rooftops climb toward the twin spire of Hallgrímskirkja above the North Atlantic. First-time visitors should climb the church tower for rooftop views, catch a concert inside Harpa's glass facade, and stroll the waterfront past the Sun Voyager sculpture and Old Harbour fishing boats. Keflavík Airport sits under an hour away, making Reykjavík an easy base for Golden Circle day trips.
City facts
Airport baseKeflavík International Airport (KEF)
Known forHallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Sun Voyager, Old Harbour
RegionIcelandIceland
Time zoneAtlantic/Reykjaviklocal time
Founded870historical origin
City history
According to legend, the first permanent Norse settlement in Iceland was established at Reykjavík by Ingólfr Arnarson circa AD 870, as described in the Book of Settlement.
The Danish Crown abolished monopoly trading in 1786 and granted six communities around the country an exclusive trading charter.
In 1845 the Alþingi, the general assembly formed in 930 AD, was re-established in Reykjavík; it had been suspended a few decades earlier when it was located at Þingvellir.
In 1874, Iceland was given a constitution; with it, Alþingi gained some limited legislative powers and in essence became the institution that it is today.
The next step was to move most of the executive power to Iceland: Home Rule was granted in 1904 when the office of Minister for Iceland was established in Reykjavík.
On 1 December 1918, Iceland became a sovereign country, the Kingdom of Iceland, in personal union with the Crown of Denmark.
In 1944, the Republic of Iceland was founded and a president, elected by the people, replaced the king; the office of the president was placed in Reykjavík. Post-war development In the post-war years, the.
In the 1750s, several houses were built to house the wool industry, which was Reykjavík's most important employer for a few decades and the original reason for its existence.
Ingólfr is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Norse method: when land was in sight, he cast his high seat pillars overboard and promised to settle where the.
Two of his slaves then searched the coasts for three years before finding the pillars in the bay which eventually became the site of Reykjavík.
This form of the name fell out of use shortly after settlement, and the estate was referred to as Vík á Seltjarnarnesi until the name Reykjavík was revived when urban development began centuries later.
All the important events in the history of the independence struggle were important to Reykjavík as well.
The location of Alþingi in Reykjavík effectively established the city as the capital of Iceland.
The British built Reykjavík Airport, which remains in service today, mostly for short-haul flights (to domestic destinations and Greenland).
Worth seeing
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja is a named stop in Reykjavík worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Harpa
Harpa is a named stop in Reykjavík worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Sun Voyager
Sun Voyager is a named stop in Reykjavík worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Old Harbour
Old Harbour adds the water-facing side of Reykjavík, making it a good break from museums, traffic and dense historic streets.
Sky Lagoon
Sky Lagoon is a named stop in Reykjavík worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Golden Circle trips
Golden Circle trips is a named stop in Reykjavík worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Stay overview
Base in 101 Reykjavík for an easy first stay near Laugavegur's shops, bars and museums, then consider Vesturbær for a quieter university-area stay, Skuggahverfi for newer hotels near Harpa, or Laugardalur for pools and parks with families.
Hotels & areas
Reykjavík hotel choice depends on priorities: 101 Reykjavík suits first-time visitors wanting downtown nightlife and museums within walking distance, Vesturbær and Laugardalur suit quieter family stays near pools and parks, while Skuggahverfi offers newer waterfront hotels close to Harpa and the Old Harbour.
101 Reykjavík
101 Reykjavík is the downtown postcode covering the old city centre, Laugavegur's shops and bars, and most museums, ideal for a first stay without a car.
Best for: first visits, nightlife, shopsCompare staysVesturbær
Vesturbær is a quiet residential quarter west of downtown, home to the university, the Grandi harbour food scene and the Vesturbæjarlaug thermal pool.
Best for: university area, local feel, quiet staysCompare staysSkuggahverfi
Skuggahverfi is a modern waterfront district around Harpa concert hall, with newer apartment hotels and an easy walk to the Old Harbour.
Best for: harbour views, new hotels, Harpa eventsCompare staysLaugardalur
Laugardalur is a green valley east of the centre with Iceland's largest thermal pool, a small zoo and a botanical garden, good for families.
Best for: families, pools, parksCompare staysFlights & airports
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) arrival plan
- Keflavík International Airport (KEF)Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavík, Iceland
Keflavík International Airport handles nearly all international flights and sits about 45 minutes southwest of the city on the Reykjanes peninsula.
- Reykjavík Airport (RKV)Reykjavík Airport, Reykjavík, Iceland
Reykjavík Airport sits inside the city centre and handles domestic flights plus routes to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, useful for onward travel.
Rental cars
Reykjavík day-trip car use
A rental car is optional for downtown Reykjavík but useful for Golden Circle day trips, South Coast waterfalls, or exploring beyond the capital region.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best base
Stay in 101 Reykjavík for walkable access to Laugavegur's shops, restaurants and museums without needing a car for evenings out.
Airport transfer
Book a Flybus or private transfer from Keflavík in advance, since the airport sits about 45 minutes from downtown with limited taxi availability.
Weather layers
Pack windproof layers year-round, as Reykjavík's weather changes quickly; check forecasts before Golden Circle trips or whale-watching tours from the harbour.
Day trips
Build in a full day for the Golden Circle route or a Sky Lagoon soak, both easy additions to a Reykjavík stay without an overnight.
Nearby ideas
Nature
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir sits on the Golden Circle route where the North American and Eurasian plates meet, with walking trails through the rift valley.
Nature
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Snæfellsnes is a compact peninsula north of Reykjavík nicknamed 'Iceland in miniature', with the Snæfellsjökull glacier, black beaches and fishing villages.
Spa
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa lies near Keflavík Airport, a convenient soak on the way to or from an international flight.
Upcoming events
No upcoming Reykjavík events in the shared event index yet.