Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Restaurant · harbour, near Harpa
The famous hot dog stand: lamb-based hot dog with everything ('eina með öllu').
Best for: the cheapest good meal in Reykjavik
Best time: any time
Where to actually go in Reykjavik
Where to eat, drink and go out in Reykjavik: 20 picks for study-abroad students, with student-vetted picks marked and prices in dollars.
Eat & drink in Reykjavik
Brauð & Co
Breakfast · city centre
A bakery known for its sticky cinnamon buns, in a graffiti-covered building.
Best for: breakfast, a sweet stop
Best time: morning
Icelandic Street Food
Restaurant · Lækjargata (city centre)
Lamb and seafood soups served in bread bowls, with free refills of soup.
Best for: a filling, cheaper meal
Best time: lunch or dinner
Kolaportið flea market
Market · harbour
A big indoor weekend flea market of wool jumpers, records and Icelandic snacks like dried fish.
Best for: cheap souvenirs, trying fermented shark
Best time: weekend daytime
Sights & days out in Reykjavik
Hallgrímskirkja
Sight · Skólavörðuholt
The towering concrete church that looks like basalt columns, with a lift to a view over the colourful roofs.
Best for: the classic city view
Price: $ — roughly $8 for the tower with a student card (church free)
Best time: any time
Harpa
Sight · harbour
The glass-honeycomb concert hall on the harbour, free to walk inside.
Best for: a free stop, photos
Price: free
Best time: any time
Sun Voyager (Sólfar)
Sight · Sæbraut seafront
A steel Viking-ship-like sculpture on the seafront facing the mountains across the bay.
Best for: a short seafront walk, photos
Price: free
Best time: sunset
Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur
Area · city centre
The main shopping street and the rainbow-painted road leading up to the church.
Best for: wandering, cafés, shops
Best time: afternoon
Vesturbæjarlaug (neighbourhood pool)
Activity · Vesturbær
A local geothermal pool with hot tubs where Icelanders soak and chat after work.
Best for: the cheap version of a lagoon
Best time: evening
Heads up: Shower without a swimsuit before entering; it is strictly enforced.
Sky Lagoon
Activity · Kópavogur
An infinity-edge geothermal lagoon on the ocean about 10 minutes from the centre, with a seven-step sauna ritual.
Best for: a lagoon close to town
Price: $$ — roughly $100 and up
Booking: Book a time slot online ahead.
Best time: sunset or evening
Blue Lagoon
Activity · Reykjanes peninsula (near the airport)
The famous milky-blue geothermal spa in a lava field.
Best for: combining with an airport transfer
Booking: Booking is required.
Best time: on the way to or from the airport
Heads up: Closed at short notice during eruptions nearby: check its status the day before.
Golden Circle
Activity · South Iceland
Þingvellir rift valley, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall in one loop.
Best for: a first day trip, Iceland's greatest hits
Price: $$ — roughly $80–120 on a tour; $60–80 per person self-driving
Booking: Book a tour a day ahead, or start very early if driving.
Best time: full day
Heads up: In winter, check road.is and drive only if confident on ice.
Northern lights tour
Activity · leaves from Reykjavik
An evening drive out of the city lights to wait for the aurora.
Best for: the bucket-list sight
Booking: Pick a tour that rebooks you free if there is no aurora.
Best time: late night, roughly September to April
Heads up: Never guaranteed: it depends on clouds and solar activity. Dress for real cold.
Perlan
Museum · Öskjuhlíð hill
A glass dome on hot-water tanks with a nature museum, an ice cave exhibit and a viewing deck.
Best for: a bad-weather day, a view
Best time: afternoon
Tjörnin (the Pond)
Walk · city centre, by City Hall
The city-centre lake ringed by colourful houses, full of birds; it freezes over in winter.
Best for: a short free walk
Price: free
Best time: any time
Grótta lighthouse
Viewpoint · Seltjarnarnes
A lighthouse at the end of the peninsula, one of the darkest easy spots near town for the northern lights.
Best for: free aurora-hunting, sunset
Price: free
Best time: evening
Heads up: The causeway floods at high tide; check before walking out.
Sundhöllin
Activity · city centre
Reykjavik's oldest public pool, a 1930s building with outdoor hot tubs.
Best for: a cheap local soak in the centre
Best time: morning or evening
Heads up: Shower without a swimsuit before entering.
South Coast (Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara)
Activity · South Iceland
Waterfalls you can walk behind, a black-sand beach with basalt columns, and glaciers on the horizon.
Best for: the most dramatic day trip
Booking: Book a tour a day ahead.
Best time: full day
Heads up: Reynisfjara has deadly "sneaker waves": stay far back from the water.
Nights out in Reykjavik
Kaffibarinn
Bar · city centre
A small, legendary bar that turns into a packed dance floor on weekend nights.
Best for: the classic Reykjavik night out
Best time: after 10 PM
Lebowski Bar
Bar · Laugavegur
A Big Lebowski-themed bar with White Russians, burgers and a happy hour.
Best for: happy hour, a fun group start
Best time: evening