Best Things to Do in Reykjavik, Iceland

reykjavik is the capital of iceland as well as its most populated area for too long iceland has been under most people's radar as a unique northern european destination this tiny country packs unforgettable and fascinating landscapes into a small package but it all starts in reykjavik keep watching for the best things to do in reykjavik iceland the northern lights undoubtedly one of the most spectacular sights on earth the northern lights are accessible and on full display in reykjavik technically it's possible to see them any time of year but the darker conditions between september and april make it easier and despite reykjavik being an urban landscape it's just an easy drive to see the lights there are numerous tours offered in the city that will drive you to good places to see the northern lights but hunting for this spectacular display is an activity in and of itself from reykjavik the lights can be seen in the quieter and less lit downtown suburbs but rather take a drive to seltjarns where it's darker this small coastal town is just outside reykjavik and the site of the northern lights cascading overhead will take your breath away hologram skirchia one of the most iconic structures of reykjavik is the church called hologram skircha named after the famed icelandic poet and cleric hal grimmer pitterson this church was finished in 1986. its remarkable exterior is certainly insta-worthy with its incredible facade and tall tower and an interior that's majestic in its simplicity in fact as you explore more of iceland you'll see how basalt cliffs and ice caves are echoed in the design of the church as the second tallest building in the city it's guaranteed to have some good views an elevator takes visitors with any accessibility limitations straight to the top and offers unparalleled 360 degree views of reykjavik below note that while entrance to the church is free tickets for the viewing platform are sold in the gift shop be sure to go early especially in summer to beat the lines and when you're done strike a pose with the statue of leif eriksen in front of the church the main streets the city center of reykjavik is diverse colorful and one of the best things to do in the city scola vortis tiger and laugher besides being difficult to say and nearly impossible to spell are the main streets of the center and the heart of the city lagovier is best known for its shopping and plenty of international labels and local stores call it home while there are souvenir and unique stores the biggest draw to it is magic ice reykjavik ice bar and gallery a unique subzero attraction that celebrates ice skola vordestiger is the far more colorful street recently earning the name rainbow street for good reason here you'll find plenty more stores especially small scale local boutiques and shopping experiences as well as cafes and restaurants the street leads directly to the hologram skirkja making these two attractions a perfect next step after visiting the church before we tell you more about the best of reykjavik be sure to give this video a like and subscribe to viecation if you haven't already the blue lagoon and sky lagoon iceland is known as the land of ice and fire and while that sounds dramatic do you know what you get when you combine them hot springs and warm lagoons and reykjavik has plenty to blissfully soak in first is the blue lagoon so called because of its vivid azure waters while man-made and incredibly popular with tourists the blue lagoon is one of the best things to do in reykjavik and an unmissable part of the icelandic experience located close to the airport the blue lagoon has plenty of warm waters to lounge in as well as spas and wellness centers to take in the health benefits of the rich mud if you want to soak in the geothermal waters while still beating the lines then the newer sky lagoon is for you despite being man-made the sky lagoon fits well in the rugged coastline of the atlantic ocean offering bathers a chance to relax next to cliffsides and overlooking the freezing ocean waves taking the nightlife reykjavik is growing and rapidly becoming a place to hit the streets and clubs after the sun sets in fact during the summer months and under the midnight sun you could be partying it up under a sun that doesn't set with its friendly atmosphere and safe streets do like the locals do and pub crawl from one charming bar or cafe to the next be sure to try brenovin iceland's signature alcohol while you're there live music is popular in reykjavik so if you're hitting the streets try to catch a show too and if you're not drinking or listening to music explore the watersides and landmarks at night and try to take in gorgeous views and lights sample the local cuisine icelandic cuisine is largely one with many undiscovered delights this tiny nation has developed styles of cooking and eating you won't find anywhere else it might seem innocuous but the humble hot dog is an icelandic staple and every reykjavik dweller will tell you the best ones are from baijirin's betsu pilser if you can beat the long daily lines order one with everything you won't regret it taking a food tour or snacking through the restaurants is one of the best things to do in reykjavik while there's plenty of international food available while you're in iceland eat the way you can only eat in iceland local delicacies include seafood and lamb with some of the most tender and succulent lobster you can imagine but for the daring try the fermented shark it's an experience for the brave only the golden circle day trip reykjavik is the gateway to iceland but you don't need to stray far from the city to see the best of the country the golden circle is a trio of unique icelandic sites thingville national park gulfoss and geyser geothermal area be aware this is a whole day affair and you're going to want to take your time to soak in the atmosphere and take photos of the breathtaking vistas the golden circle brings you close to a very active water geyser at the geyser geothermal area as well as the golfos the most photographed waterfall in iceland and for amazing views and hikes thingveller takes you into nature and history it was the site of iceland's yearly parliament sessions that started in 930 a.d but it's also located right above the divergent point of two tectonic plates where else in the world could you scuba or snorkel above the canyon where earth is literally coming apart at the seams but if that's too much for you the golden circle has plenty of hikes sights vistas and stunning things to visit and soak in pairlon one of the best things to do in reykjavik is to visit parallelon one of the city's most interesting museums while reykjavik has a long history and plenty of museums that cater to history lovers perillon offers more than a typical museum experience perched atop a mountain overlooking the city parallelon offers a deep dive into the majesty of iceland there are numerous exhibits available including seasonal or temporary displays as well as some spectacular permanent features the ice cave offers the experience of walking through 300 feet of ice before opening into an interactive glacier exhibit snow and ice is a quintessential part of the iceland experience but if you can't explore the rest of the country to experience this then parallelon's ice cave is a decent substitute the northern lights planetarium is an award-winning large format film about the northern lights and is well worth experiencing besides that there are other interactive nature exhibitions and so much to see and learn about iceland at pearlan and when you're done head to the observation deck for another spectacular view of reykjavik experience the whales the largest mammals alive are accessible from reykjavik and seeing them as one of the best things to do in the city wales of iceland is a great interactive exhibit that lets you touch and learn from 23 life-sized models of whales found near iceland there's also a vr experience that takes you beneath the waves but if it's the real thing you want you're in the right place whale watching tours are available year round and there are innumerable reputable boating tours that will take you on short cruises to get as close to these majestic animals as legally possible visitors can see porpoises dolphins mink whales orca sperm whales and even blue whales if you're lucky the sun voyager and harper along with hologrim skircha the sun voyager and the harper concert and conference hall round out the trio of unmissable reykjavik artistic landmarks the sun voyager is a spectacular metal sculpture at the reykjavik waterfront built to resemble a viking longboat the sun voyager echoes the settlers of iceland it's free to visit and worth seeing in different lights and seasons to see how the reflections play off the shiny metal surface it's part of reykjavik's sculpture and shore walk so make a day of it and catch some more public art far more grandiose is the harpa concert and conference hall modern striking and technological parpa is spectacular inside and out inside you'll find performances by iceland's top bands or the iceland symphony orchestra outside the glass facade is lit by led panels and can sometimes be interactively controlled by smartphone for a game of pong it's an epicenter of culture and music wrapped in a spectacular structure now it's time to hear from you did we miss any of your favorites in reykjavik let us know in the comments section below and before you go make sure you give this video a like and subscribe to viewcasion if you haven't already click the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content you

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Keywords: Best Things to Do in Reykjavik Iceland, best things to do in Reykjavik, Reykjavik Iceland, Iceland, Reykjavik, going to Reykjavik, visiting Iceland, Reykjavik Iceland travel, fun things to do in Reykjavik, fun things to do in Iceland, where to go in Reykjavik Iceland, where to go in Iceland, traveling to Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja, traveling to Iceland, what to do in Reykjavik Iceland, what to do in Reykjavik, best places to visit in Reykjavik, places to visit in Iceland

Id: kFM7j2GIdPs

Length: 9min 0sec (540 seconds)

Published: Mon Jun 06 2022