Arna Kristín’s guidebook
Sightseeing
Hallgrímskirkja is a beautiful and iconic historical landmark which is just a couple of minutes walk away. This is definitely a must see when staying in Reykjavík!
743 locals recommend
Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja is a beautiful and iconic historical landmark which is just a couple of minutes walk away. This is definitely a must see when staying in Reykjavík!
Harpa is a concert hall designed by the famous Icelandic and Danish designer Ólafur Elíasson. This seaside architecture is around 15 minutes away by foot and is fun to explore whether you're going there to enjoy a show or just to sightsee.
535 locals recommend
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre
2 AusturbakkiHarpa is a concert hall designed by the famous Icelandic and Danish designer Ólafur Elíasson. This seaside architecture is around 15 minutes away by foot and is fun to explore whether you're going there to enjoy a show or just to sightsee.
If you enjoy hiking, Glymur is the second highest waterfall in all of Iceland and is located just about an hour away by car. This is a super fun hike and is such a great way to experience Icelandic nature for those who don't mind a bit of a work-out.
You do need to make sure you bring proper hiking shoes, some snacks and water if you're going to make the hike as it is a bit of an adventurous hike. Please make sure only to go on this hike in good weather conditions and do not attempt it during winter.
40 locals recommend
Glymur Waterfall
If you enjoy hiking, Glymur is the second highest waterfall in all of Iceland and is located just about an hour away by car. This is a super fun hike and is such a great way to experience Icelandic nature for those who don't mind a bit of a work-out.
You do need to make sure you bring proper hiking shoes, some snacks and water if you're going to make the hike as it is a bit of an adventurous hike. Please make sure only to go on this hike in good weather conditions and do not attempt it during winter.
Iceland is also famous for it's unique horses. Laxnes is a horse farm which gives you the opportunity to experience horseback riding on a real Icelandic pony. This place is a 30-minute car ride away from the apartment which is enough to bring you away from the buzz of the city and into Icelandic nature for your horse riding experience.
34 locals recommend
Laxnes Horse Farm
Iceland is also famous for it's unique horses. Laxnes is a horse farm which gives you the opportunity to experience horseback riding on a real Icelandic pony. This place is a 30-minute car ride away from the apartment which is enough to bring you away from the buzz of the city and into Icelandic nature for your horse riding experience.
As a perfect oasis close to the city, the Sky Lagoon offers a spa experience unlike any other I have had here in Iceland. As a local I much prefer the Sky Lagoon to the Blue Lagoon as it's closer to the city and offers an incredible 7-step ritual to full relaxation.
Pro tip: Make sure you eat well before going in as you will not wish to leave this place sooner than you have to.
104 locals recommend
Sky Lagoon
44-48 VesturvörAs a perfect oasis close to the city, the Sky Lagoon offers a spa experience unlike any other I have had here in Iceland. As a local I much prefer the Sky Lagoon to the Blue Lagoon as it's closer to the city and offers an incredible 7-step ritual to full relaxation.
Pro tip: Make sure you eat well before going in as you will not wish to leave this place sooner than you have to.
This unassuming building has swimming facilities just down the street from the apartment. You can soak up in out door hot tubs, swim laps in the pool or enjoy a sauna and a trip into the cold tub (if you dare).
This is just one of many local swimming pools and all of them have great outdoor swimming and hot tub facilities. The pools open early in the morning and close late at night as it's deeply rooted in Icelandic culture to go to your local swimming pool. Many locals go to the pools to chat and meet their friends and neighbours to share friendly gossip and learn what's happening in their community. Local swimming pools are very friendly on the budget as they are an inexpensive activity to enjoy.
Other nice pools nearby that are worth checking out are Vesturbæjarlaug and Laugardalslaug.
484 locals recommend
Sundhöllin
45a BarónsstígurThis unassuming building has swimming facilities just down the street from the apartment. You can soak up in out door hot tubs, swim laps in the pool or enjoy a sauna and a trip into the cold tub (if you dare).
This is just one of many local swimming pools and all of them have great outdoor swimming and hot tub facilities. The pools open early in the morning and close late at night as it's deeply rooted in Icelandic culture to go to your local swimming pool. Many locals go to the pools to chat and meet their friends and neighbours to share friendly gossip and learn what's happening in their community. Local swimming pools are very friendly on the budget as they are an inexpensive activity to enjoy.
Other nice pools nearby that are worth checking out are Vesturbæjarlaug and Laugardalslaug.
If you're into hiking and encounter a rare sunny and relatively wind-free day here in Iceland, hiking Móskarðshjúkar is a fun activity. The hike typically takes around 3 hours up and down and gives the feeling of being in the middle of Lord of the Rings. Make sure to only attempt this hike in good weather and with good hiking gear. I would recommend not hiking it on your own as it's off the beaten track. You will need a car to get you to the base of the mountain.
Móskarðshjúkar
If you're into hiking and encounter a rare sunny and relatively wind-free day here in Iceland, hiking Móskarðshjúkar is a fun activity. The hike typically takes around 3 hours up and down and gives the feeling of being in the middle of Lord of the Rings. Make sure to only attempt this hike in good weather and with good hiking gear. I would recommend not hiking it on your own as it's off the beaten track. You will need a car to get you to the base of the mountain.
Food scene
A cozy pizza place which is famous by locals for having some of the best homemade sourdough pizza in town! The great thing about this place is that it's affordable even for people traveling on a budget.
78 locals recommend
Flatey Pizza
11 GrandagarðurA cozy pizza place which is famous by locals for having some of the best homemade sourdough pizza in town! The great thing about this place is that it's affordable even for people traveling on a budget.
Selva is a hip place to go to enjoy some Southern American food and drinks. The place serves tapas style small dishes and is great for when you wish to share food with friends and loved ones, have some drinks and listen to latin music.
Selva restaurant
Selva is a hip place to go to enjoy some Southern American food and drinks. The place serves tapas style small dishes and is great for when you wish to share food with friends and loved ones, have some drinks and listen to latin music.
Are you a late eater? Tapas barinn is known to serve great tapas style food until late in the evening. They both offer traditional spanish dishes as well as tapas with an Icelandic twist where they use local ingredients. Heads up though: The music can be a bit loud there late in the evening as it's a popular place for people to drink and share food when they would like something fancy to eat on their way to a night on the town.
Pro tip: If you like chocolate I would highly recommend trying their chocolate cake for dessert as it's the best one in town!
83 locals recommend
Tapas barinn
3b VesturgataAre you a late eater? Tapas barinn is known to serve great tapas style food until late in the evening. They both offer traditional spanish dishes as well as tapas with an Icelandic twist where they use local ingredients. Heads up though: The music can be a bit loud there late in the evening as it's a popular place for people to drink and share food when they would like something fancy to eat on their way to a night on the town.
Pro tip: If you like chocolate I would highly recommend trying their chocolate cake for dessert as it's the best one in town!
This slightly sketchy looking joint has some of the best dumplings I have been able to find on a budget here in Iceland. It's quite hidden away and is mostly not known by non-locals. It is quite a small place and are a walk-in only type of joint but if you are on a budget this is definitely a great place to check out.
6 locals recommend
Dragon Dim Sum Reykjavik
This slightly sketchy looking joint has some of the best dumplings I have been able to find on a budget here in Iceland. It's quite hidden away and is mostly not known by non-locals. It is quite a small place and are a walk-in only type of joint but if you are on a budget this is definitely a great place to check out.
This place puts the F in fancy and is definitely on the expensive side. They are known to have great food and drinks though and it's all served in a beautifully decorated restaurant. The few times I've been there the service has always been amazing and they go above and beyond to ensure you have a good experience so I highly recommend it if it's within your budget.
13 locals recommend
Monkeys Reykjavik
This place puts the F in fancy and is definitely on the expensive side. They are known to have great food and drinks though and it's all served in a beautifully decorated restaurant. The few times I've been there the service has always been amazing and they go above and beyond to ensure you have a good experience so I highly recommend it if it's within your budget.
Lemmy's is a cool place to visit on a sunny day as they have a great private backyard where you can sit and enjoy your food and drinks while being sheltered from the cool Icelandic wind. They also often have a pop-up Mexican booth right by the outside area which has some delicious tacos!
Lemmy
20 AusturstrætiLemmy's is a cool place to visit on a sunny day as they have a great private backyard where you can sit and enjoy your food and drinks while being sheltered from the cool Icelandic wind. They also often have a pop-up Mexican booth right by the outside area which has some delicious tacos!
This small food hall has a few gourmet food and drink booths with small seating areas spread around. This is a great place when you and the person you're traveling with can't decide on what to eat or have differing appetites as there's something for everyone here.
367 locals recommend
Hlemmur Mathöll
107 LaugavegurThis small food hall has a few gourmet food and drink booths with small seating areas spread around. This is a great place when you and the person you're traveling with can't decide on what to eat or have differing appetites as there's something for everyone here.
This is such a cozy café located right on the most central shopping street just a 10-minute walk from the apartment. They have great coffee, hot cocoa and very light meals such as sandwiches.
12 locals recommend
Kaffibrennslan
21 LaugavegurThis is such a cozy café located right on the most central shopping street just a 10-minute walk from the apartment. They have great coffee, hot cocoa and very light meals such as sandwiches.
This funky and colourful bakery is located just around the corner from the apartment. It is in my opinion one of Reykjavík's best bakeries so I highly recommend swinging by to enjoy some Icelandic bread and pastry.
316 locals recommend
Brauð & Co.
16 FrakkastígurThis funky and colourful bakery is located just around the corner from the apartment. It is in my opinion one of Reykjavík's best bakeries so I highly recommend swinging by to enjoy some Icelandic bread and pastry.
A dim-lit bar with Icelandic brewed beers. They also specialise in gin based cocktails and have a very talented bar staff. They also cooperate with Selva (the restaurant next door) so you can order a few of their smaller snack sized dishes if you want a gourmet bar snack experience.
The cocktails are on the expensive side (as drinks generally are expensive in Iceland) but the beers are pretty affordable compared to Icelandic standards.
Einstök Bar
10 LaugavegurA dim-lit bar with Icelandic brewed beers. They also specialise in gin based cocktails and have a very talented bar staff. They also cooperate with Selva (the restaurant next door) so you can order a few of their smaller snack sized dishes if you want a gourmet bar snack experience.
The cocktails are on the expensive side (as drinks generally are expensive in Iceland) but the beers are pretty affordable compared to Icelandic standards.
Great gourmet coctails and food experiences. They have on numerous occasions won prizes for creating Reykjavík's best cocktails and even go so far as to light some of your drinks on fire in front of you. I definitely recommend this place if you want a great drink and the food there is definitely up to par.
51 locals recommend
Public House Gastropub
24 LaugavegurGreat gourmet coctails and food experiences. They have on numerous occasions won prizes for creating Reykjavík's best cocktails and even go so far as to light some of your drinks on fire in front of you. I definitely recommend this place if you want a great drink and the food there is definitely up to par.
This "café" has been around since way before I was born and has that homely old-school vibe. They specialise in soup and always make 2 different types of soups every day: 1 meat based and 1 vegetarian one. The soup is served in the bread and is just one street down from the apartment. This is one of my go-to lunch spots due to the cozy vibe and cheap, yet good quality food.
9 locals recommend
Svarta Kaffið
54 LaugavegurThis "café" has been around since way before I was born and has that homely old-school vibe. They specialise in soup and always make 2 different types of soups every day: 1 meat based and 1 vegetarian one. The soup is served in the bread and is just one street down from the apartment. This is one of my go-to lunch spots due to the cozy vibe and cheap, yet good quality food.
Fun and cozy place for an ice cream! You choose between a dairy or vegan ice cream base, pick a mix of flavours and toppings and they "cook" the ice cream in front of you.
Sæta Húsið
6 LaugavegurFun and cozy place for an ice cream! You choose between a dairy or vegan ice cream base, pick a mix of flavours and toppings and they "cook" the ice cream in front of you.
Great steakhouse, which is quite hidden away in the city centre. Great quality food and beautiful interior design which is inspired by Icelandic landscape. This place is definitely on the pricey end but worth the experience if it's within your budget.
336 locals recommend
Grillmarkaðurinn
Great steakhouse, which is quite hidden away in the city centre. Great quality food and beautiful interior design which is inspired by Icelandic landscape. This place is definitely on the pricey end but worth the experience if it's within your budget.
This homely café might look a bit like your grandmothers living room but it holds quirky and surprising decor in the main bathroom that I'll leave you to discover on your own. Definitely worth a visit.
37 locals recommend
Café Babalú
22 SkólavörðustígurThis homely café might look a bit like your grandmothers living room but it holds quirky and surprising decor in the main bathroom that I'll leave you to discover on your own. Definitely worth a visit.
Cozy ice cream shop right around the corner from the apartment. It's a cute and colourful shop with homemade ice cream.
7 locals recommend
Ísbúðin litla Valdís
10 FrakkastígurCozy ice cream shop right around the corner from the apartment. It's a cute and colourful shop with homemade ice cream.