What a brilliant time we had on our Reykjavik city break, Iceland was everything we hoped for and more. The charming capital packs a punch with landmarks, museums and attractions aplenty with its proximity to wonders of the world and otherworldly lagoons making it a must-visit destination. In this Reykjavik travel guide, we’re sharing our itinerary (remarkable how much you can do on a short break!), the top places to visit and how you can make the most of a Nordic adventure.
One of the safest countries in the world to visit, Iceland is known for its remarkable beauty with glaciers, waterfalls, ice caves, volcanoes, lagoons, and hot springs galore. Reykjavik is the most northerly city, one of the smallest capitals in Europe, and a convenient base to discover Iceland’s mind-blowing scenery. Our time was spent exploring what the vibrant city had to offer, admiring extraordinary landscapes and experiencing a couple of magnificent geothermal lagoons.
AD | I have, or could be if you click on a link, compensated via a payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. Please see the POD Travels disclosure and privacy policy for further information
The ultimate Reykjavik city break
Reykjavik is easily accessible from the UK with an average flight time to Keflavik airport 3 hours, ours was just 2 hours and 20 minutes. With a wide range of options available, city breaks to Reykjavik with Jet2holidays include return flights, airport transfers, hotel accommodation and a generous 22kg baggage allowance. Our Jet2 package also included a free Northern Lights tour, organised by Kompas Nortdic, as we travelled between September and April.
Where to stay in Reykjavik
There are contemporary and traditional hotels, varying from 2-star to 5-star, available to choose from with Jet2holidays. We stayed at the 4-star Hotel Holt in the central Miðborg district (Downtown Reykjavik), a short distance from the heart of the capital. Main streets Laugavegur and the iconic Skólavörðustígur/Rainbow Street were just five minutes’ walk with many landmarks, including Hallgrímskirkja (the largest church in Iceland), easy to reach. Hotel Holt is a traditional boutique hotel with history and character in spades. Established in 1965, it’s a unique art hotel (imagine a beautiful art museum within a hotel) and home to Iceland’s largest private art collection. This wonderful hotel, on the quiet Bergstaðastræti 37 in Þingholt, has a calm feel about it with artwork throughout and a comfortable lounge, library and bar to relax in.
Hotel Holt has 42 rooms including singles, twin/doubles and suites with some facing the impressive Hallgrímskirkja. We had a spacious double room with a super comfy bed, ensuite bathroom with a fabulous shower, TV, coffee machine and mini bar/snack box. The room also had USB outlets and enough plugs to charge all our gadgets at the same time. The buffet-style breakfast was excellent with hot food and cold options including breads, pastries, meats, salmon, cheese and salad. Coffee, tea and juices were also available. For other meals, there are numerous restaurants and cafes nearby serving Icelandic or International cuisine. Supermarkets like Krónan, Bónus and Nettó are also in downtown Reykjavik.
How to get there
Our short break to Reykjavik included return flights from Birmingham airport with Jet2, transfers, accommodation at Hotel Holt with a generous 22kg baggage allowance each. We pre-booked travel insurance and Holiday Extras Meet and Greet parking through Jet2 so a short walk to the terminal building. The Jet2 staff were super efficient, no hanging around as we’d checked in online and we were quickly free of our hold luggage en route to security. There was ample time for a late lunch and a wander around before heading to our gate for boarding.
Having relocated from Surrey to Suffolk, Birmingham and Stanstead are our closest airports. Flights to Reykjavik with Jet2.com depart from various airports across the UK. We had such convenient flight times with the outbound at 15:50pm and the inbound 11:05am, leaving us with three full days to explore Iceland. We had comfortable, spacious seating and extra legroom with the bonus of extraordinary views on our descent into Iceland. We flew into Keflavik, the island’s main international airport, and were delighted to find the baggage reclaim area almost deserted when we arrived.
We were met on the ground by the friendly Jet2 team with a coach to take us to Reykjavik. The transfer is only 45 minutes with our guide keeping us well-informed and providing tour information during the journey. Our Jet2 welcome pack featured excursions that could be booked through Jet2 such as the Golden Circle, South Coast, Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, Hmammsvik hot springs, whale watching or horseback riding. We also received details about our free Northern Lights tour which was included in our short break. Our drop off point was Bus Stop 6 Safnahúsið (The Culture House) in Downtown Reykjavik, conveniently located ten minutes walk from Hotel Holt.
Best things to do on a Reykjavik city break
Reykjavik is a small city, best navigated on foot, with a vast amount to offer. There are landmarks, sights, attractions, museums, parks and a swimming pool with numerous restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. Outdoor activities such as hiking, horseriding, swimming, rafting, kayaking or birdwatching are available. Reykjavik’s location means you can see many of Iceland’s natural wonders during your stay like the Golden Circle, South Coast or the Blue Lagoon. Or you can do something you’d not normally experience such as whale watching, snorkelling between two tectonic plates or snowmobiling. If you plan to visit several museums, galleries or thermal pools, the Reykjavík City Card is worth looking into. Available from Visit Reykjavik, it provides free entry to many of these, discounts to some attractions, unlimited bus travel within the capital and the ferry crossing to Viðey Island.
A 3-day itinerary
Short breaks to Reykjavik with Jet2.com provide a fantastic opportunity to visit the vibrant city and take in Iceland’s astonishing scenery. In just three days, we discovered some of what the delightful capital had to offer, explored part of the dramatic Golden Circle route and experienced two unique, but very different, geothermal lagoons.
Day 1: Discover vibrant Reykjavik
The central Miðborg district, known as Downtown Reykjavik or by its postcode 101 Reykjavik, is where many of the city’s landmarks, museums, sights and attractions are. This includes the Laugavegur (the main shopping street), Skólavörðustígur, otherwise known as Rainbow Street, and the impressive Hallgrimskirkja church. As our hotel was located in the central downtown district, everything we needed was within easy reach.
Perlan – The Wonders of Iceland
There are several museums to visit in Reykjavik including Perlan – an interactive nature museum. Close to the centre of Reykjavik, it’s surrounded by the Öskjuhlíð woodland and walkable from Downtown. We walked from Hotel Holt which took about 30 minutes. Perlan is home to the World’s first indoor ice cave, a state-of-the-art Planetarium which tells the story of the Áróra, a volcano show centred on the Geldingadalir eruption, a recreation of Látrabjarg cliffs, an indoor geyser, underwater world and the Icelandic Museum of Natural History. Other exhibitions at Perlan include the Timeline of Iceland, Lake Mývatn, polar bears and the OK Glacier.
On the fourth floor, there’s a spectacular observation deck with 360° views across the city. You may even catch the Northern Lights if you’re there on a clear winter’s evening. In the glass dome on the 5th floor is a rotating restaurant, a cafe and a bar. Perlan provides a brilliant introduction to Iceland with fascinating and interactive experiences suitable for adults and children.
Laugavegur
Constructed in 1885, Laugavegur is one of the oldest streets in Reykjavik. Situated in the central Miðborg district, this vibrant area is the cultural hub of the city, with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, galleries and street art. It’s a great place to purchase Icelandic-designed and locally-produced products or gifts to take home. The Ode to Mother mural is on Laugavegur, at the corner of Klapparstigur, opposite a brightly coloured bar. Near Laugavegur is Hverfisgata (where the National Theatre is), Skólavörðustígur, Klapparstigur and Ingolfsstraeti.
Skólavörðustígur (Rainbow Street)
Skólavörðustígur is probably the most well-known street, often referred to as Rainbow Street, and a must-see on a Reykjavik city break. It’s a popular spot with a great atmosphere where you’ll find restaurants, cafes (including Mokkakaffi, one of Reykjavik’s oldest), boutiques, craft shops and galleries. This colourful end of the street is pedestrianised and leads directly to the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church and Tower. If you’re lucky, you might get to capture the vivid rainbow with the church in the background. From the church you can reach Frakkastígur 16 where you will find the Brauð & Co bakery, unmissable as its frontage is awash with colour.
Hallgrímskirkja Church and Tower
Hallgrímskirkja, on Skólavörðuholt, is the largest church in Iceland standing 73 meters high. It’s a national monument and a working parish church. The church is free to visit when services, concerts and events are not in progress. Tickets can be purchased to go up the tower which has spectacular views across Reykjavik on a clear day. In winter, the tower is open from 10am until 4:30pm (dependent on the day of the week and schedule) with extended hours during summer.
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Venue
While a concert hall and conference venue might be top of a list of places to see, Harpa is the exception. It has won numerous awards for its architecture and as a concert and conference venue. Harpa is one of Reykjavik’s most striking landmarks, home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Icelandic Opera and Reykjavík Big Band. Designed by Olafur Eliasson, the glass façade is a sight to behold made from quasi-bricks stacked geometrically, reminiscent of the basalt structures found in Iceland. The exterior glimmers in different colours with the interior mirroring the city and light with kaleidoscope reflections.
Sólfarið – The Sun Voyager
Sólfarið, the magnificent Sun Voyager sculpture, is on Sæbraut not far from the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre. Created by Jon Gunnar Arnason, it resembles the framework of a Viking longship and the skeleton of a whale. The Sun Voyager sculpture is huge, measuring 4.2 metres x 8.8 metres x 3.6 metres. It’s made of stainless steel, stands on a circle of granite, facing Faxaflói Bay and Mount Esja. If you’re walking to The Sun Voyager from Harpa, you can see Þúfa (The Hillside). It’s a manmade hill, 8 metres in height, with a spiral pathway leading to a wooden shack on the top.
Downtown Reykjavik is home to the City Hall and Tjörnin Pond, Einar Jónsson sculpture garden, Hljómskálagarðurinn Park, Reykjavik Art Museum – Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavik Museum of Photography, the Icelandic Phallological Museum, Sundholl Reykjavikur pool, Alþingishúsið (Houses of Parliament), Austurvöllur Park and the Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach which is not far from Perlan. In the Old Harbour (Grandi district) is the FlyOver Iceland experience, LAVA Show (the only live lava show in the world), Aurora Reykjavik, the Reykjavik Maritime Museum, Whales of Iceland and the Saga Museum.
In the south of Reykjavik is the Árbær Open Air Museum, a village-like collection of more than 20 houses, and the Árbæjarlaug swimming pool. The large Vesturbæjarlau geothermal swimming pool is in Vesturbær (West Town), near the University of Iceland and the National Museum of Iceland. Eastwards in the Laugardalur Valley is Iceland’s only zoo, and Laugardalslaug pool.
Further afield, Grótta Island Lighthouse, on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula, is ten minutes from Reykjavik and an excellent place to see the sun set or catch the Northern Lights. Viðey Island is a not far from the city, with ferry sailings on Saturday and Sunday in winter. The Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel is the longest lava tube in Iceland, around 30 minutes from Reykjavik. Mount Esja is a 914 metre mountain situated in Kjalarnes with hiking trails and panoramic views from the summit. The Blue Lagoon (on the Reykjanes Peninsula), Sky Lagoon (Kópavogur) and Hvammsvik Hot Springs (Mosfellsbær) are all reachable during a Reykjavik city break.
Day 2: Explore Iceland’s Golden Circle
We pre-booked a small group tour to the Golden Circle with Tröll Expeditions before we left the UK. This provided us with a mix of places to see on and off the beaten path. We visited popular sights like Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss waterfall, in addition to Brúarfoss waterfall (Iceland’s bluest waterfall) and the Kerið volcano crater. Our guide also included a few unscheduled stops to the hot springs at Laugarvatn Lake, Efstidalur Farm for homemade ice cream and Brú Horse Farm.
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park
Thingvellir National Park is a natural wonder of the world, part of the Atlantic Ocean ridge that runs through Iceland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park sits within a rift valley, which forms the divide between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, with the focal point the Almannagjá Gorge. As part of a small group, we were left to our devices which meant we could take our time wandering the hiking path and discover other parts of the park including the Öxaráfoss waterfall.
Laugarvatn Lake and Hot Springs
Our first unscheduled stop was in the village of Laugarvatn situated between Thingvellir National Park and the Geysir Geothermal Area. Laugarvatn is home to a lake and a naturally sourced geothermal spa (Laugarvatn Fontana). Here we got to feel the lake’s warm water, which has temperatures of up to 40 degrees, see the hot springs bubbling and see how rye bread is cooked. Icelandic rye bread has a cake-like consistency and is buried underground for 24 hours with the geothermal heat used to cook it.
Icelandic ice cream at Efstidalur farm
Icelanders love their ice cream (all year round) and what a treat we had at nearby Efstidular Farm. It is seen as being perfectly acceptable in Iceland to have dessert before lunch so we happily obliged. Efstidalur is a dairy farm and makes its ice cream so there were many excellent flavours to choose from. We sat in the cosy coffee house where we could watch the cows, even saw a few calves.
Brúarfoss waterfall
Just off the Golden Circle route is Brúarfoss waterfall, known as a hidden gem and Iceland’s bluest waterfall. Situated 15 kilometres from both Laugarvatn and the Geysir Geothermal Area, it’s fed by the river Brúará. Brúarfoss only used to be accessible with a 3-kilometre hike but it’s easier to access these days, just a short walk to reach the bridge over the canyon. Brúarfoss is a remarkable sight with its vibrant blue water cascading over the dark volcanic rock.
Geysir Geothermal Area
Another fantastic spot on the scenic Golden Circle route is the Geysir Geothermal Area in the Haukadalur Valley. Geysir refers to the landscape and the Great Geysir which is currently inactive. There’s plenty to see here from boiling mud pots and hot springs to Strokkur, the most active geyser, which spouts water 20-35 metres every 5-10 minutes. There are paths around the Geysir Geothermal Area making it easy to take in the landscape with great facilities including a restaurant and shop.
Gullfoss waterfall
Iceland has around 10,000 waterfalls with Gullfoss one of the most iconic, and rightly so – it is breathtaking. This ‘Golden Waterfall’ is ten minutes from the car park but even before you get there, you can hear its phenomenal power. Gullfoss has two powerful tiers, an upper and lower cascade, which reach a height of over 100 feet (32 metres) before dramatically plunging into the Gullfossgjufur canyon. There are designated hiking paths around Gullfoss, and several viewing platforms, so you can take in the different perspectives, on the upper and lower levels. It has a visitor centre and cafe although we spent all our time taking in the waterfall.
Kerið Volcano Crater
In the Grímsnes area is a stunning geological wonder – the Kerið volcano crater and its vibrant blue lake. It is part of the Western Volcanic zone which includes the Reykjanes peninsula (where the Blue Lagoon is located) and the Langjökull Glacier. The Kerið crater is 6,500 years old and made up of unique red volcanic rock. The immersive caldera 55 metres deep, 170 metres wide and 270 metres across. You can walk around the top of the crater to view the lake and the surrounding area from above. Or hike to the bottom and view Kerið from lake level.
Brú Horse Farm
Our final stop was Brú Horse Farm. Here the farmer allows visitors to meet a few of his Icelandic horses, in a safe and controlled way. There’s a small car park to pull into with horse feed available to purchase or you can just give the horses a quick stroke. They were super friendly and it was a nice way to finish the tour before we headed back to Reykjavik.
Northern Lights tour
We were back in Downtown Reykjavik late afternoon with ample time before our Northern Lights tour to shower and eat. As we were in Reykjavik in October, the Northern Lights tour was free as part of our Jet2holidays booking. Sightings of this phenomenon are never guaranteed with tours typically venturing away from the city to a darker location. We travelled to Hellgafell which is around 15 kilometres from the capital. While we did see some glimmers of green and red, the essential clear skies alluded us on this occasion so we didn’t get to see swathes of colour. We had a lovely evening though and enjoyed some tasty hot chocolate before returning to Downtown.
Tours to the South Coast or Snæfellsnes Peninsula
There are a wide range of tours available that depart from Reykjavik which vary in size, location and number of stops. The Golden Circle is the most accessible scenic route with Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, Fridheimar tomato farm, and Gullfoss waterfall the most frequented. The south coast is another option where you can visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skógafoss waterfall, the Reynisfjara black sand beach and the Sólheimajökull glacier. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is also ripe for exploration with its black sand beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes, lighthouses, mountains and lava fields.
Day 3: Experience a geothermal lagoon
We considered doing a day tour to the South Coast during our Reykjavik city break but opted to experience a couple of lagoons instead. The Blue Lagoon and the Sky Lagoon offer unique but different experiences and easy to reach from Reykjavik. The Blue Lagoon is on the Reykjanes Peninsula 50 minutes from the city while the Sky Lagoon 15 minutes from Reykjavik in Kópavogur. We’ve included a summary of each below with more information about the Blue Lagoon and the Sky Lagoon here.
Blue Lagoon: A Wonder of the World
There’s nowhere on earth like the iconic Blue Lagoon. Rich in silica, algae, and minerals it’s well known for its skin nourishing benefits. We selected the Premium package as it provided priority entry, a Silica Mud mask, two additional masks, two drinks of our choice plus the use of a locker, towel and bathrobe. We booked an early time slot direct with a Destination Blue Lagoon transfer.
We arrived at the Blue Lagoon just before sunrise at 9am, it was blissfully quiet and we were quickly to the changing rooms. You have a shower before entering the lagoon with free shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are available. It’s advised to wet your hair and cover it in conditioner to protect it from the mineral content in the water. What an experience the Blue Lagoon was, the sun came up while we were in the warm milky blue water which was stunning.
At the Mask Bar, we had a Silica Mud Mask, a Mineral Mask and an Algae Mask, each of which could be washed off with fresh water. We also had a couple of tasty smoothies from the In-water Bar, which also serves juice, soft drinks, beer or wine. There’s underwater seating dotted around the lagoon with a sauna, steam cave and massage waterfall to experience. We spent 2.5 hours in the lagoon, stopping by the Blue Cafe and skincare shop before catching our return shuttle to Reykjavik. The Blue Lagoon is such an iconic destination, a must-visit when you’re on a Reykjavik city break.
Sky Lagoon: An Oceanside Geothermal Lagoon
The Sky Lagoon is situated in Kópavogur, just 15 minutes from central Reykjavik. We booked directly with a Reykjavik Excursions shuttle from the BSI bus station as we needed a booking for a specific time of day. Sky Lagoon is very different to the Blue Lagoon in that it’s a spa-like experience with crystal clear water and spectacular views across the Atlantic ocean.
You can choose between a premium Sér package (comes with a private changing room) or the Saman package. Both include the wonderful 7-step Skjól Bathing Ritual which Sky Lagoon is known for. You can relax in the lagoon and admire the scenery (Laug), take a cold plunge in the ancient Snorralaug pool (Kuldi), have a sauna with dramatic views of the ocean (Ylur), step into cold energising mist (Súld), have an exfoliating and cleansing sea salt body scrub (Mýkt), wrap yourself in a blanket of steam (Gufa) and taste the essence of the krækiber elixir (Saft).
After enjoying the wonderful Skjól Bathing Ritual, most of which takes place in the Icelandic turf house, we were back in the warm lagoon to grab a drink from the in-water cave-side Gelmir bar. The Sky Lagoon also has a cafe and shop on site. The Reykjavik Excursions shuttle comes every hour from 2:30pm to 9:30pm so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the calming atmosphere at the Sky Lagoon before returning to Reykjavik. We did consider doing the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon during our Reykjavik city break but I’d recommend both, each is unique and they are different experiences.
Planning a Reykjavik city break
Providing a blend of the capital, jaw-dropping scenery and relaxation, the itinerary of our Reykjavik city break worked exceptionally well. On this occasion, we travelled as a couple, rather than a family of three, but there’s little we would have changed. Our short break to Reykjavik with Jet2holidays included flights, transfers, accommodation and 22kg of luggage. A free Nothern Light tour was also included as we had a Reykjavik city break between September and April.
Whether it’s your first time in Reykjavik or a return visit, I’d highly recommend choosing a hotel in the central Miðborg district (Downtown Reykjavik) in the heart of the city. Much of what we did was within easy reach including landmarks, museums, sights, attractions shops, eateries and bus stops. Proving access to otherworldly glaciers, waterfalls, ice caves, volcanoes, lagoons, and hot springs, a Reykjavik short break differs to any other. What an introduction to Iceland we had – our Reykjavik city break was epic. Super excited to discover more of this extraordinary North Atlantic island in future.
