Things to do in Reykjavík

Reykjavík sits on the south shore of Faxaflói bay, just over 64 degrees north, the northernmost capital of a sovereign state. About 140,000 people live in the city, and nearly two thirds of Iceland's people live in the capital region. The centre is small.

The centre, on foot

Hallgrímskirkja stands on the hill and Harpa on the waterfront, about a kilometre apart. Things to do in Reykjavík cluster around both.

• Hallgrímskirkja. The church on the hill, 74.5 metres tall and finished in 1986, with a lift up the tower.
• Laugavegur. The main shopping street, laid out in 1885 and named the wash road for the hot springs it led to.
• Austurvöllur. The square with the Parliament and the cathedral, a short walk from Tjörnin, the city pond.
• Harpa. The concert hall on the waterfront, opened in 2011 behind a coloured glass façade inspired by basalt.
• Old Harbour. Whale-watching boats leave from here on trips of three hours or more.

Heat and water

The name means smoky bay, after the steam of hot springs. In 1930 a three-kilometre pipe brought Laugardalur's hot water to a school, and pools and some 60 houses followed. Geothermal water now heats nearly every home.

Eight municipal pools stay open all year. Every one is geothermal, and Laugardalslaug, the largest, has a 50-metre outdoor pool and hot tubs.

What leaves the city

• Golden Circle. Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, a tour of about eight hours.
• South coast. Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the black beach at Vík, about ten hours.
• Snæfellsnes. The peninsula to the north-west, eleven hours with Kirkjufell and Arnarstapi.
• Helicopters. Flights run from 40 minutes, with the Hengill steam fields below, to full-day expeditions to Mývatn and the glacier lagoon.

Practical

• Weather. July days average 15C and August 14C, January days 3C with nights near -2C. About 880 millimetres of rain fall in a year, in every month.
• Daylight. On 21 June the sun sets just after midnight and rises before three. On 21 December it is up from 11:22 to 15:29.
• Northern Lights. Cruises sail daily from September to April, weather allowing.
• Pools. Shower naked with soap before you enter, and put the swimsuit on afterwards.
• Airport. Keflavík lies 50 kilometres south-west, and the Flybus from the BSÍ terminal takes about 45 minutes.
• Money. Cards work almost everywhere. Tipping is not expected.