48 Hours in Reykjavik: The perfect two-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   
   1. Morning

      Take in the view from the Hallgrímskirkja Church (1 hour)

      

      Start at the city's centerpiece, Hallgrímskirkja church –– the tallest building in Reykjavík at nearly 75 meters. It's impossible to miss this towering, white-walled church inspired by Iceland's iconic octagonal rock pillars. It's just as impressive inside as out and entrance is free, but buying a ticket in the church shop for the elevator to the top is worth it for the jaw-dropping 360-degree views of the city. On a clear day, you can see beyond the Snæfellsjökull glacier to neighboring Greenland. If visiting on a Sunday, plan your time here around the services. On your way, pick up the alleged best cinnamon roll in Reykjavík at the Braud & Co bakery –– perfect to go with a coffee from Reykjavík Roaster, just down the street.
      

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   2. Walk the rainbow at one of Reykjavík's famous streets (30 minutes)

      

      Stroll the color-popping Rainbow Street that extends out from the Hallgrímskirkja church for one of the best photo opps in town. Its vibrant makeover –– a permanent fixture to the previous temporary rainbow streets painted during Reykjavík Pride in support of the LGBTQI+ community –– has made it one of the city’s most frequented streets. Around it, you'll find a host of trendy restaurants and boutique shops.

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   3. Afternoon

      Giggle your way through the Phallological Museum (1 hour)

      

      This small museum happens to be the home to the world's most extensive collection of penises and penile parts from various types of mammals found in Iceland. Be entertained and engrossed in equal measure as you check out more than 250 specimens from whales to walruses to, well, men. The scientific collection sits alongside 350 artistic renditions and phallic articles that have become part of objects with more practical uses. It costs 2,500 Icelandic Króna, around $20, to acquaint yourself with the study of phallology, or you can get the Reykjavík City Card for free entry into many of the museums and galleries in the city, including unlimited travel by bus within its center.

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   4. Hear the city’s history at the Maritime Museum (1.5 hours)

      

      Head to the harbor and the Reykjavík Maritime Museum for an insight into the city's seafaring history. This small but impressive exhibit is one of Reykjavík City Museum's five unique spaces, set within a former fishing factory and an old patrol boat –– the Ódinn Coast Guard Vessel. Spanning a timeline from the Settlement to today, learn about the brave men that turned fishing into a science, ensuring the survival of the people. Interact with the displays as you warm up with a steaming cup of complimentary coffee.

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   5. Find a street-food feast at Grandi Mathöll (1 hour)

      

      Close to the Old Harbor, fill up at Grandi Mathöll –– a street-food hall with a taste of everything, including fish and chips, curries, and local Icelandic dishes. Or head to the harborside microbrewery, Bryggjan Brugghús, for its duck burgers. Top it all off with one of the experimental ice cream flavors at Valdis –– choose from bacon, licorice, rye bread, and beer, in collaboration with the brewery.

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   6. Evening

      Dance with the Northern Lights (4 hours)

      

      If you're in Reykjavík from September to March, you may get the chance to throw on all your layers and head out into the cold in hopes of seeing the Aurora Borealis dance through the night sky. Not sure where to go? Book a tour at Aurora Reykjavík: The Northern Lights Center to learn about their history and science before being taken to the best vantage point. Top tip: book this trip on the day you arrive –– if there's a no-show of lights, you can return each night of your trip until you see them using the same tour ticket.
      
      If you're in Reykjavík in summer, sit back and relax with a soak in the geothermal waters of The Sky Lagoon, just a 10-minute drive from the city. Book a Pure Pass to indulge in the seven-step rejuvenating ritual of traditional Icelandic spas before gazing at the sea or stars from an infinity pool.
      

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2. Day 2

   
   1. Morning

      Tour the natural wonders of the Golden Circle (10 hours)

      

      Embark on a day trip from Reykjavík to see Iceland's compact area of natural wonders or use the full-day itinerary (from stop 2) to explore more in and around the city. On a day-trip adventure around the Golden Circle's 140-mile route scattered with geological wonders. Start from Thingvellir — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can stand between two continents, seeing the tectonic plates pushing them further apart — before visiting the exploding Geysir Hot Springs and the cascading Gullfoss Waterfall.
      
      You can drive the route yourself but, for ease and to take in your surroundings along the way, a guided tour is unbeatable. This snowmobile tour is a great year-round option –– you'll learn more about Iceland's unique geology on a custom-made super-truck before a fast-paced ski-doo ride across the Langjökull Glacier. If you’re on a budget, the standard tour has less thrill seeking, but just as many sights.

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   2. Or see Iceland's new volcano at Geldingadalur (3-6 hours)

      

      In March 2021, a new volcano burst into existence at Geldingadalur –– marking the first volcanic activity in the area for over 800 years. Grab breakfast to go and embark on the morning hike to see the slow-flowing lava up close. If you book a guided hike, you won't have to worry about following maps, and you'll enjoy an Icelandic Chocolate Lava drink while you sit down and watch nature bubble and boil.

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   3. Afternoon

      Rediscover Iceland’s beginnings at the Settlement Exhibition (1 hour)

      

      Learn all about the anthropological history of the Icelandic nation at another segment of the Reykjavík City Museum. Thanks to archaeological excavations and scholar theory, information on the first settlers to the island come to life in this 360-degree display with 1000-year-old remains preserved and explained in a fun and interactive way.
      

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   4. Have a whale of a time in Faxaflói Bay (2-3 hours)

      

      Iceland is one of the best destinations in the world for whale watching, so climb aboard a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and cruise the Faxaflói Bay to look for humpback whales, blue whales, orcas, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, and puffins. Going with an experienced guide gives you the best chance of seeing these magnificent creatures up close. Want a little more comfort? Whale watch from a luxury yacht. Either way, you'll have bayside views of Reykjavík while witnessing the marine life in their natural habitat just offshore.
      

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   5. Evening

      Find the best sunset views at the Skarfagarðs Lighthouse (45 minutes)

      

      A local tip, and a bit of a hidden gem, Skarfagarðs Lighthouse is the prime place for stunning sunset views before watching the lighthouse do its job on the edge of the darkening sea. It’s around a 10-minute drive or an hour walk from the harbor until you find the long rocky pier that takes you out to the lighthouse. Along the way, see the Videy and Engey Islands in the distance.

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   6. Enjoy dinner and experimental cocktails near Ingólfur Square (2 hours)

      

      Toast your time in Reykjavík in the buzzing area surrounding Ingólfur Square, filled with bars and restaurants serving everything from traditional Icelandic grub to international cuisine and Michelin-starred courses. Head to the Jungle Cocktail Bar for a nightcap –– this is a lush oasis of green no matter the season, where bartenders create personalized drinks with homemade syrups that are a step above the traditional craft beers of Iceland.
      
      

      Getting around in Reykjavik…

      The journey into the city center takes around 90 minutes from Reykjavík airport. However, there's no public transport available, so if you don't have a hire car or don't want to take a taxi, it's good to book a bus transfer to your hotel. Due to the city's strict traffic rules, you may have to switch to a smaller bus when you arrive in downtown Reykjavík. While many of the tours and experiences on GetYourGuide involve a hotel pickup, this is not possible for all hotel locations. Upon booking, you might be directed to the closest of Reykjavík's 13 designated bus stops for pickup and drop off.

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