Reykjavik

About Reykjavik

Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital city and home to two-thirds of Iceland's entire population, is the essential gateway to one of the planet's most extraordinary natural environments and one of the most unique and rewarding travel destinations in Northern Europe. Compact, walkable, and bursting with creative energy, artistic ambition, and an infectious Icelandic spirit of adventure, Reykjavik is a city that punches far above its small size in terms of culinary quality, cultural output, and sheer character — with a thriving music scene, internationally acclaimed restaurants, world-class museums, and a legendary weekend nightlife culture that sees the city's bars and clubs alive until dawn. The city's most recognizable landmark, the soaring modernist Hallgrímskirkja church designed to evoke Iceland's volcanic basalt columns, offers breathtaking panoramic views over the colorful corrugated-iron rooftops of the city to the mountains and ocean beyond. But Reykjavik's greatest appeal lies in its role as the base from which to explore Iceland's unmatched collection of natural wonders. In winter, the city is the launch point for Northern Lights hunting excursions across the dark Icelandic countryside — the aurora borealis dancing in curtains of green, purple, and white above frozen volcanic landscapes is one of the most transcendent natural experiences available to any traveler on Earth. Year-round, the Golden Circle day-trip circuit from Reykjavik encompasses the original Geysir hot spring area (where the word 'geyser' originates), the thundering double-cascade of Gullfoss waterfall, and the historically significant Þingvellir National Park where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates visibly divide and where the world's oldest parliament was established in 930 AD. The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, with its mineral-rich milky-blue waters set against a stark black lava field, is a uniquely Icelandic experience and one of the world's most iconic wellness destinations. From glacier hiking on Vatnajökull to whale watching in Faxaflói Bay, from puffin spotting on the Westman Islands to lava tube caving, Iceland and Reykjavik together deliver one of the most extraordinary adventure travel experiences in the Northern Hemisphere.

Highlights