An Instagram Guide To Reykjavik
/Instagram is like a travel photobook and I often look up places I am visiting to see what it looks like and get some ideas for posts too. So if you are like me, and are planning a trip to Reykjavik, here are my top 10 Instagram spots in Reykjavik - why not tag me @sonianicolson so I can see where you went.
Hallgrimskirkja Church (front & back of church)
Known as the big church, but note it is not the Cathedral in Reykjavik and sits proudly on the hill smack bang in the center of town. It’s said to be inspired by an erupting geyser, and its bold and brutal architectural form certainly is dramatic. Go inside to take in the calm and minimal scandi interior, stay to listen to the magnificent organ, and take the lift to the top to enjoy 360 views across the city (on a clear day).
Icelandic Houses (in general)
Walking around downtown, you’ll see many picturesque corrugated-iron-clad houses, in many colours. Many of these houses have been in the same family for generations and are protected by the cities Planning Regulations. The original houses were typically constructed in timber with a stone coal store but after a large fire broke out years ago, construction change to concrete. The corrugated iron was imported from the UK and used to cover wooden external work to protect it from the harsh Icelandic winter storms.
A cinnamon bun from Brauð & Co
Food, coffee, yay. This bakery is a treat for the eyes, nose, and stomach. The shopfront displays an abstract mural depicting Iceland’s landscape complete with mountains, moss, snow, volcanic eruptions, and the Northern Lights - or that’s what we see in it. Step inside and grab yourself a delicious cinnamon bun.
Street Art on & around Laugavegur (Tie Mural, etc)
The city has many murals on display across its buildings, by local and international artists. This is encouraged and some are well worth a wander to see.
Polar Bears on Laugavegur
A little touristy but the Polar bears standing guard on Laugavegur make for a fun picture - don’t worry, they’re not real and are washed every year.
‘Rainbow Road’ - bottom of Skólavörðustígur
The city used to paint a rainbow in different locations every year in chalk before they decided to paint it permanently in 2019 at the bottom of Skólavörðustígur. You can get a great picture from here, looking up towards Hallgrimskirkja.
Sólfarið (Sun Voyager sculpture)
This Viking ship sculpture, located in the bay, makes for a very dramatic picture with Mt Esja in the background.
Harpa Concert Hall
Come in and get warm. This beautiful modern concert hall is a fabulous public building so enjoy the outside but also pop in to warm up, use the toilet, get free WiFi and enjoy the views from the 5th floor. The building is inspired by fish scales and the glass is illuminated at night in colours to show off a display resembling the Northern Lights.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur’s for a traditional hot dog
Order a hot dog ‘with everything’ to fully enjoy the Icelandic hot dog experience, and have a look inside the hut to spot a picture of Bill Clinton at this very hot dog stand - which has withstood recent modern developments all around it.
Tjorinn (the pond and City Hall)
Get your bearings. Inside the city hall is a topographic map of Iceland which gives a great perspective of the landscape, its glaciers, and coastline. The pond outside freezes over in winter and locals skate on it, but a small section is kept defrosted for the resident swans and ducks.
Bonuses, in & around Reykjavik
Grotta Lighthouse (and foot-bath)
Just outside the city, head west along the coast until you get to the Grotta Lighthouse. This makes for a nice, but windy, walk but there is a little thermal pool here which is big enough to sit with your feet in and enjoy the view. This is also a good spot for the Northern Lights, if you can see them here then it is worth a drive further from light pollution.
Reykjavik’s’ Old Harbor
A great area to wander around, grab some fish n chips or lobster soup, and explore the harbor. Seabarinn is a good spot for some lobster soup.
Perlan
A few minutes’ drive south of the center is Perlan or the pearl. This s the city water tower but home to a fabulous exhibition on Iceland with a planetarium of the Aurora Borealis and an artificial ice cave. The cafe on the top floor is great and the views from here on a clear day are fabulous.
Cafe Flóran Bistro
The cafe is located in the cities botanical gardens and is only open in the summer months, check their Facebook page. The cakes here are delicious and the setting is beautiful.
Árbæjarsafn Open-Air Folk Museum
A very cool outdoor exhibition displaying buildings from years gone by. Step inside an old Icelandic home, see objects from the past, and learn about construction and more. Staff are in costume and the site is near Elliðaárdalur where the waterfall below is.
Einar Jónsson Sculpture Garden
This sculpture garden is right beside Hallgrimskirkja, walk over the road and turn left. The garden is a little escape and full of bold and dramatic pieces which represent biblical stories or that of the Icelandic Sagas.
Nauthólsvík geothermal beach
Out near the domestic airport and past the University buildings is Nauthólsvík which is a nice little beach where you can spot some brave souls swimming but also you can enjoy the small pool here. Check times as it does close for cleaning.
Mt Esja
A hike that rewards you with a view across to the city, Mt Esja is the ‘table mountain’ of Reykjavik.
Imagine Peace Tower
The light that shines straight up from an island in the bay is the Yoko Ono Peace Tower. This is only light in winter but can be seen from all over Reykjavik.
Elliðaárdalur Waterfall
A beautiful park with an incredible waterfall right in the city, Elliðaárdalur is a fabulous walk and the waterfall is easy to find and well worth it.
