Day One: Art and History
Morning
In a country surrounded by the icy waters of the North Atlantic, there seems no better place to start your Reykjavik city break than by its shores. Take in the crisp morning air with a brisk walk along the harbour, pausing to admire the statue of two fishermen pointing out to sea. Known as ‘Looking Seawards’, it stands in great contrast to the modern Harpa concert hall which meets your gaze as you look up.
Take the short walk east along the harbourfront to the Reykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus, one of three component galleries which make up Reykjavik Art Museum. With a focus on progressive art, Hafnarhus houses the museum’s most contemporary works. A highlight is the collection by Icelandic icon Erró, whose work has been displayed the world over.
Lunch
TIDES restaurant – set within Michelin-recommended The Reykjavik EDITION hotel – is a great setting for your first meal in Iceland, sporting a stylish look and offering stunning views over the harbour towards the mountains. Fresh Icelandic ingredients are the order of the day here, including seafood from the pristine surrounding waters and produce grown and reared on the island. If you're staying at the hotel, their Breakfast Table is a smorgasbord of Icelandic favourites and a truly delectable morning feast.
Afternoon
If you're an art aficionado, head for your second gallery, Kjarvalsstadir, located two kilometres southwest of Hafnarhus, a pleasant half-hour stroll through quiet suburban streets. Upon arrival, you may think you’re in the wrong place, but worry not, this brutalist grey building really is an art gallery. Frequently displaying works of Johannes S. Kjarvales, Iceland’s most prolific artist of the 20th century, the variety of art on display makes the trip out to Kjarvalsstadir well worth it. When leaving the museum, spend a few minutes wandering around Klambratun Park, where the panoramic view across the city is second to none.Continuing along colourful Laugavegur, pause to gaze in awe at the Viking Mural which adorns a house on the corner of Laugavegur and Klapparstigur. A few steps further along, look to your left to see Rainbow Street, with its giant rainbow painted on the tarmac. Our next stop, at the eastern end of the street, is so small that if you blink you could miss it. The Icelandic Punk Museum is positively peculiar. Occupying a former public toilet block, this tiny museum showcases the role punk culture has played in shaping the Icelandic identity.
Continuing through the very centre of Reykjavik – the walk will likely be a slow one, with so many bright buildings to photograph and unique boutiques to dive into – our next stop is at the eastern end of the harbour. The Saga Museum provides an immersive take on Icelandic history. Recreating key moments in the country’s history through live performances and some incredible sets, the museum is a fun and quirky way to discover a little more about this island nation’s varied past.
On a boardwalk by the harbour’s mouth, the Reykjavik Maritime Museum is the piece de resistance of the Reykjavik museums. Occupying a former fish freezing factory, the museum stories the relationship between the Icelandic people and the sea. With a long seafaring history, Reykjavik’s growth to a global capital is, in part, thanks to its fishing industry, and the musuem's Fish & Folk exhibit tells this story
Dinner and Evening
For dinner, head to one of Iceland’s most exclusive restaurants. With seating for just 17 guests, ÓX serves up an experience rather than just a meal. The evening starts with an aperitif in Amma Don, an old school cocktail bar. Once it’s time to head through for dinner, a bookcase on the back wall revolves to allow you passage into the intimate dining room. The menu isn't published in advance, but you can be assured of a hearty dinner filled with Icelandic flavours.
Given Reykjavik’s reputation for a somewhat wild nightlife scene, it would seem appropriate to indulge just a little. Head to the Apotek Kitchen & Bar at the Michelin-recommended Apotek Hotel. A nod to the building's past as an apothecary, the bartenders wear white coats as they concoct pharmacy-themed cocktails, which can be enjoyed with a view over the streets of downtown. The pharmacy theme continues throughout the hotel’s resplendent common areas, whilst the 45 boutique rooms are decked out in art nouveau style.
Should you decide that the night is still young, the streets running off and parallel to Laugavegur are Reykjavik’s nightlife hotspots. The Jungle Cocktail Bar with its quirky rainforest-inspired theme is the place to go for handcrafted cocktails. Just opposite, the American Bar is ideal for a craft beer in unpretentious surroundings.
Day Two: A Scenic Capital
Morning
Head back towards the same buidling as the Jungle Cocktail Bar to enjoy a leisurely brunch. A quirky local icon, The Laundromat Café serves a concise, unfussy brunch menu, which you can enjoy while catching up on some holiday washing!Just south of The Laundromat, take a walk around quiet, leafy Austurvollor Park, flanked on its southern edge by the Icelandic Parliament Building, Alpingishusio, an unsuspecting 19th-century brick property which looks more like a grand house than a seat of government. At the rear of the Parliament Building you'll find Tjornin Lake, a pleasant lagoon that's a popular spot for feeding the ducks.
Work your way north, back to the main harbour to join the Sculpture and Shore Walk, a coastal path running from behind The Reykjavik Edition hotel to the Videy Ferry Terminal, some 4.5 kilometres to the east. The walk, at a moderate pace, takes around an hour and is an enjoyable one. Highlights along the way include the Sun Voyager statue and Hofdi House, once home to the poet Einar Benediktsson. It was also the site of the Reykjavik Summit of 1986.
From Videy Ferry Terminal board the ferry across the bay to the island of Videy. Ferries run hourly through the summer. It’s worth noting that during winter, ferries only run on certain days, so it’s essential to check before travelling. During the crossing, keep an eye out for puffins who often gather on the uninhabited islet to your left (Engey). Upon arrival, take the short walk inland to Videy House, the island’s only café, for a light lunch. Their soups and sandwiches are ideal to fuel up on before heading off to explore Videy on foot.
Afternoon
Covering just 0.7 square miles, Videy is easily walkable. The main sights are concentrated around the ferry berth and Videy House. The highlight, Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower is a memorial to John Lennon. Make sure to leave time to follow the clifftop path around the island’s edge; the scenery, wildlife and serene quietness will leave you captivated.Returning to the mainland, the last ferry departure also varies by season. If you’re travelling in summer, there's a second ferry service which will take you directly to the Old Harbour in central Reykjavik.
Dinner
Make this an evening to remember, with dinner at One Michelin Starred DILL. Overlooking Laugavegur, it serves a modern take on Icelandic classics, all prepared in front of your eyes in the open kitchen. The set menu changes with the seasons to offer the finest, freshest, locally sourced produce; sustainability drives everything they do here and they hold a Michelin Green Star in recognition of their excellent sustainability credentials. An excellent wine pairing is available and is highly recommended.
Evening
For a fitting end to your Reykjavik experience, join Iceland Discover on a Northern Lights Yacht Cruise. Departing from the Old Harbour, cruise past Engey, Lundey and Videy until the bright lights of Reykjavik have disappeared from sight, setting the ideal conditions for a sighting of the magnificent Aurora Borealis.Enjoy a drink onboard whilst you gaze into the night sky. It’s best to wrap up warm so you can take a seat outside to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Related Read: The Best Hotels for Seeing the Northern Lights
Address Book
Alpingishusio: Kirkjutorg, 101 Reykjavik
Austurvollor: Pósthússtræti 101, 101 Reykjavik
Harpa: Sculpture & Shore Walk, 101 Reykjavik
Hofdi House: Borgartún 105, 105 Reykjavik
Iceland Discover: Ægisgarður 5b, 101 Reykjavik
Imagine Peace Tower: Viðey
Klambratun: Austurstræti 4, 101 Reykjavik
Reykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus: Tryggvagata 17, 101 Reykjavik
Reykjavik Art Museum Kjarvalsstadir: Flókagata 24, 105 Reykjavik
Reykjavik Maritime Museum: Grandagarður 8, 101 Reykjavik
Saga Museum: Grandagarður 2, 101 Reykjavik
Sun Voyager: Sæbraut, 101 Reykjavik
The Icelandic Punk Museum: Bankastræti 2, 101 Reykjavik
Videy Ferry Terminal: Viðey Ferry Terminal, 104 Reykjavik
Videy House: Viðey
Viking Mural: Laugavegur 23, 101 Reykjavik
Hero Image: © Boyloso/iStock
