Travel Guides

Dill

Iceland's only Michelin star — modern Nordic tasting menu. Book 4–6 weeks ahead.

Grillmarkaðurinn

Award-winning Icelandic grill. Reindeer, lamb and char over hot stones.

Messinn

Best fish in the city — cast iron skillets with fresh daily catch.

Matur og Drykkur

Modern twists on 1950s Icelandic recipes. Salted cod is unmissable.

Fiskfélagið (Fish Company)

Creative fish dishes in a converted fisherman's cellar.

Café Loki

Traditional Icelandic food — hákarl, skyr cake, rúgbrauð.

Slippbarinn

Stylish cocktails inside Harpa Concert Hall. Start your evening here.

Skúli Craft Bar

Iceland's best craft beer selection — Borg Brewery on tap.

Pablo Discobar

Reykjavík's most fun bar — DJs, cocktails, wild crowd after midnight.

KEX Hostel Bar

Beautiful old bakery space. Great cocktails, live music most nights.

Gaukurinn

LGBTQ+-friendly bar with stand-up comedy, drag shows and live music.

English Pub

The classic Rúntur stop — imported beers, sports on TV, tourist-friendly.

Reykjavík Roasters

The city's top specialty coffee roastery — filter, espresso, excellent pastries.

Kaffismidjan

Bright and cosy — excellent single-origin coffees and homemade food.

Stofan Café

Art Nouveau décor, second-hand books, mismatched sofas — Reykjavík at its most charming.

Kaffi Vinyl

Vegan café with vinyl record soundtrack. Excellent brunch.

Sandholt Bakery

Iceland's best bakery — croissants, sourdough, open-face sandwiches.

Mokka-Kaffi

Opened in 1958, one of Iceland's oldest coffee shops. The waffles are legendary.

Settlement Exhibition 871±2

Walk on the original Viking longhouse uncovered beneath the city. Fascinating AR technology.

Perlan Nature Museum

Ice cave, Northern Lights planetarium, glacier exhibit — best museum for visitors.

National Museum of Iceland

Complete Icelandic history from Viking settlement to today. Allow 2 hours.

Reykjavík Art Museum (3 sites)

Three galleries across the city — Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn.

Whales of Iceland Exhibition

Life-size blue whale models — the largest natural history exhibit in Iceland.

Hallgrímskirkja Church Tower

Not a museum but the best view in the city — 360° panorama from the tower.

Hallgrímskirkja at Dawn

The church spire at golden hour turns copper. Shoot from Skólavörðustígur looking up.

Old Harbour at Sunrise

Fishing boats reflected in still water — best before 07:00. Look for the Esja mountain backdrop.

Harpa Concert Hall

The geometric glass facade creates extraordinary reflections throughout the day.

Tjörnin Pond in Winter

Ducks, swans and iced-over pond with the city backdrop. Perfect at blue hour.

Grotta Lighthouse (Northern Lights)

Peninsula at the west end of the city — dark enough for Northern Lights with city glow as backdrop.

Öskjuhlíð Hill (Perlan)

City panorama from the Perlan dome observation deck — 360° and free.

Perlan Museum

An entire day's worth of exhibits indoors — ice cave, Northern Lights show, glacier displays.

Swimming Pool Hopping

Icelanders go to the pool in any weather — rain makes the hot pots even better.

Settlement Exhibition

Underground Viking longhouse — completely indoor and endlessly interesting.

National Museum

2–3 hours of Icelandic history from 800 AD to today. Excellent café inside.

Kolaportið Flea Market (Weekends)

Covered weekend market with Icelandic vintage, wool, fish and street food.

Café Crawl on Laugavegur

Hop between coffee shops on the main street — each one unique and cosy.

Laugavegur Main Street

Iceland's shopping hub — everything from fast fashion to high-end Icelandic design.

Farmers Market (Laugavegur 37)

The best Icelandic wool shop — lopapeysa sweaters, blankets, knitting kits.

Kirsuberjatré (Cherry Tree)

Co-operative of Icelandic women designers — jewellery, ceramics, clothing.

Skólavörðustígur

Art galleries, design studios, ceramics and photography prints.

Vínbúðin Duty Free (Airport)

Buy Brennivín (Black Death schnapps) and Icelandic craft spirits at Keflavík on arrival.

Kringlan Shopping Mall

Largest mall in Iceland — practical for toiletries, outdoor gear (66°North) and brands.

Buy duty-free at the airport on arrival

Not on departure — there's a full Vínbúðin store in the arrivals hall. Alcohol in bars costs 3–4× the shop price.

Swimming pool = social space

Locals shower naked before entering (strictly enforced). Don't be embarrassed — everyone does it.

Tipping is not required

Service charge is included in all prices. Tipping is appreciated but never expected.

Everything is expensive

Budget €60–€90/day for food alone. Supermarkets (Krónan, Bónus) are the locals' secret for cheap meals.

Midnight sun in summer

Total darkness doesn't happen June–July. Bring a good eye mask if you need to sleep before 23:00.

Weather changes every 10 minutes

There's a local saying: 'If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes.' Dress in layers and bring waterproofs always.