Reykjavik, Iceland Travel Guide - Sightseeing, Hotel, Restaurant & Shopping Highlights (Illustrated)

The first thing that you should know about Reykjavik is that it is not a regular capital city. When visiting Iceland some people choose to spend their nights in various locations, until they get to this city. It will certainly hold you there until the end of your trip. The reason is somewhat of a perfect surrounding. The city is not crowded, but it is not empty either. The thing that every tourist notices is how friendly the people are. In a survey, Icelanders ranked as the people most satisfied with their lives in all of Europe, and they certainly let you know that.

Icelanders are very proud of Reykjavik, and will always make sure that tourists get to love it as much as they do. Having fun is what they are absolutely great at, and they have a known reputation for wild nightlife. Going to a pub with a group of Reykjavik citizens is something that you must do, and be prepared to spend as much as 10 hours with them. By the time that you leave the pub it will already be 10 in the morning, but they won’t get tired. Even though it’s a new day, they will continue to make sure you have seen and done everything there is to do in the city.

Don’t expect to see what you would see in any other small city. Despite the size, there are still lots of museums, cafés, restaurants and their amazing geothermal pools. The city doesn’t sleep, especially during the summer, since the sun is up for 22 hours a day then. But the city itself isn’t everything. When you see the mountains, ocean and other kinds of beautiful natural surroundings you will never want to go home again.

Table of Contents:

Introduction To Reykjavik
Overview
Culture
Location & Orientation
Climate & When To Visit
Sightseeing Highlights
Tjornin Lake
Reykjavik Cathedral
The Pearl
Reykjavik Zoo
Mount Esja
Old Harbor
Imagine Peace Tower
Icelandic Parliament (Alþingi)
Viðey Island
Austurvöllur Park
Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
Museums in Reykjavik
National Gallery of Iceland
Reykjavik City Museum
The Culture House
Reykjavik Museum of Photography
National Museum of Iceland
Recommendations for the Budget Traveler
Places to Stay
Guesthouse Sunna
Árni's Place
Pisa Guesthouse
Hotel Leifur Eiriksson
Einholt Apartments
Places to Eat & Drink
Café Loki
Fish Market
Krúska
Einar Ben
Icelandic Fish & Chips
Places to Shop
Downtown
Laugavegur
Skólavörðustígur
Kolaportið
Kringlan