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Two days in Reykjavík, Iceland seemed like plenty of time to explore Iceland’s capital, especially since it is so easily explored by foot. Of course, this can depend on what season you visit Iceland’s capital. Due to nonstop daylight, we were able to enjoy the coastal scenery, history and quaint city before exploring more of Iceland.
During our trip to Iceland, I knew it would consist of less coffee shops and more hiking, but of course we had to explore the largest city and capital. I am a fond admirer of cities and knew we had to spend some time before we began an epic road trip through the Southern Coast of Iceland. It is safe to simply spend a day here, but we had two days to bundle up and wander around this beautiful city. Again, due to the sun never really setting in the summer, we had FULL days to explore.
As soon as we landed we went over to the Blue Lagoon (big travel moment for me) and it was the perfect way to unwind after the flight. Even though the Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland, I still really enjoyed it. Sipping sparkling wine in a spa-like atmosphere followed by a face mask was the perfect introduction to Iceland.
Two days in Reykjavík, Iceland
Reykjavík is a quaint city that can easily be explored on foot with nature at your fingertips. The perfect introduction to start your Iceland trip.
Two days in Reykjavík, Iceland (where to stay)
I am by no means an expert when it comes to hotel lodging in Iceland’s capital. We looked at many great air BnB options (make sure to book early to get the place you want). Due to Hilton points, we stayed at the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik Town Centre. This was my first time staying in one of Hilton’s Canopy collections, and it is safe to say I am now a fan. We were pleasantly surprised with the interior, as well as location of this hotel.
Our stay included a free breakfast as well as a complimentary tasting of Icelandic food in the early evening. The lobby was complete with a coffee bar, and plenty of space to spend the morning or get some work done as well. If you want a quality hotel in a prime location, I can’t recommend this hotel enough.
Two days in Reykjavík, Iceland (where to eat and drink)
- Geiri Smart Restaurant – on site restaurant for the Canopy Hilton. Our first meal was at their street food option of the restaurant and I would highly recommend it for a small and affordable lunch while in the city.
- Mokka Kaffi – Loved this spot for coffee (and carrot cake) as a pick me up from our jet lag. Highly recommend for your coffee needs in the city!
- Reykjavík Coffee Roasters – A perfect place to relax, pick out a record to play in their shop and enjoy the street city views.
- Sægreifinn restaurant – Seafood restaurant by the Old Harbor with quaint outdoor/indoor seating with lobster soup and an array of seafood!I loved being by the harbor warming up with soup during our city explorations.
- Mat Bar – We ate at a few places (sushi and pizza) and then went to Mat Bar for a drink and small plate. If I could do it over I would have save my money and appetite for this place. Their menu was delicious.
Two days in Reykjavík, Iceland (what to do)
- Hallgrímskirkja Church – Perhaps one of the most known landmarks in Reykjavík, and you will soon see why. Stunning on the outside as well as the inside, and you are able to ride to the top as well for 1,000 KR. More about the price and hours here.
- Visit the Fisher Store – If you are an admirer of Sigur Ros and Jonsi’s music this is worth the visit. Even if you have never heard of their music, the store itself is unique and one for all the senses.
- Enjoy the harbor (take a Puffin tour) – We opted to not take any whale or puffin tours (we saw puffins later in our trip which was amazing)! But if you only have a little amount of time this could be a good place to do it!
- Tales from Iceland – We enjoyed this during a rainy day in the city but no matter the weather this is a must. A very well done exhibition where you watch numerous small videos from other visitors with Iceland’s stunning nature as well as features that show the country’s history. The entry price is ISK 2,200 that includes admission, coffee, soda and snacks.
- Explore the city for street art – This city is full of wall murals large and small, creating a fabulous art scene as you walk throughout the city. Since Reykjvaik is relatively “walker friendly” exploring by foot and taking it all in is ideal.
- Enjoy the outdoors – We ventured twenty minutes outside of the city to Mt. Esja and found some trails to enjoy the beautiful nature Iceland is known for. We hoped to enjoy a drink and snack at Esjustofa but it happened to be closed when we were there.
I am glad we took our time moving through the city before our road trip around the Golden Circle. I know there is so much to explore (cocktails to drink, museums to visit) in the city, but I will just have to make a trip back there!
Any places you loved seeing or restaurants that are a must when visiting?
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Best,
Katherine
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