One day in Reykjavík

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hallgrímskirkja and Einar Jónsson sculpture garden

   Hallgrímskirkja, Einar Jónsson sculpture garden, Sun Voyager and Harpa Concert Hall, then Northern lights tour in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hallgrímskirkja

      Go up the tower on a clear morning; on cloudy days the view is short and the queue is long. Allow 45 minutes.

   2. Late morning

      Einar Jónsson sculpture garden

      Enter from Freyjugata, behind the museum, when the main square is full of tour groups. Allow 20–30 minutes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Icelandic lamb soup

      Traditional restaurants and cafés in downtown Reykjavík, especially in winter.

   4. Afternoon

      Sun Voyager

      Walk the shoreline path from Harpa to the sculpture around sunset, which in winter happens mid-afternoon. Allow 20 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Harpa Concert Hall

      Climb to the upper foyers for framed views of the harbour and Mount Esja, then come back after dark to see the facade lit up. Allow 30–60 minutes.

   6. Evening

      Northern lights tour

      Check the Icelandic Met Office aurora and cloud forecast, and book early in your trip so a rebooking is still possible.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in National Museum of Iceland (Vesturbær): Start at the settlement-era rooms and allow time for the medieval Valþjófsstaður church door.
• Swap in Perlan (Öskjuhlíð): Use it as a rainy-day substitute for glacier and aurora experiences, especially with children.
• Swap in Laugardalslaug geothermal pool (Laugardalur): Shower thoroughly without a swimsuit before entering, as required; staff and locals take this rule seriously.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 5–8 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 4.2 hours in December to 21 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Harpa, Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, the Old Harbour and Tjörnin are all within about 15–20 minutes' walk of each other.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Reykjavík
• 3 days in Reykjavík
• 4 days in Reykjavík
• 5 days in Reykjavík
• 7 days in Reykjavík

Questions travellers ask