Aurora Reykjavík Northern Lights Center provides a guaranteed way to experience the beauty and majesty of the northern lights. Guests are invited to wear 360-degree virtual reality goggles and immerse themselves in a northern light show they won't forget!

Visitors can lounge in cozy bean bags and warm up with sheep fur while watching a 30-minute aurora show. This engaging movie is projected on a seven-meter (23 foot) widescreen. This movie was shot by Iceland's best photographers and videographers and represents light displays from all over Iceland. It took seven years to collect these majestic, awe-inspiring scenes.

Exhibits explain the science behind the phenomena. Visitors can also read the tales of stories that different countries and cultures have told about the mythical origins of the Northern Lights. Touch screens allow visitors to see how the colors of the lights change according to their height. Weather screens show current Northern Lights forecasts.

Staff members are on hand to help you plan the perfect northern lights viewing trip and will give you tips to make sure you get the most out of your experience.

In addition, the center has a northern lights photo simulator. Here, you can set up your camera and test your settings to ensure the perfect shot. Then, when you head out to watch the northern lights, you and your camera will be ready for action!

The Old Harbor was built between 1913 and 1917 and was originally used for fisheries and trade. Reykjavik was made the capital city in part due to the economic importance of the Old Harbor. This natural harbor was the main draw to original Viking explorer Ingolfur Arnarson, who settled in this area. The harbor is still a vital contributor to the economy; however, today's economy is more driven by tourism.

Today, many tours leave from the harbor. Visitors can go on whale-watching tours and often see dolphins, Minke Whales, and Humpback Whales. Some lucky visitors will also see Blue, Fin, and Beaked Whales as well as Orcas.

Puffin-watching tours also leave from the harbor. Visitors who want to see the majestic Northern Lights blanketing a winter sky can brave the cold and go on a once-in-a-lifetime Northern Lights cruise.

Landside, the Old Harbor has been transformed from a working harborside to a trendy hotspot. Many of the colorful old fishing houses have been renovated into fabulous cafes, bars, and restaurants.

Baejarins Beztu hot dog stand opened in 1937 to serve fast food to fishermen. It's one of Iceland's oldest family-run businesses and has a unique claim to fame. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton had a hot dog here in 2004 and called it "the world's best hot dog." Matur & Drykkur is a fine-dining restaurant that serves traditional Icelandic fare and is mentioned in the Michelin guide.

Art galleries, museums, and cinemas are other attractions in this scenic location. Volcano House plays documentaries about Iceland's volcanoes. Gallery i8 is known as Iceland's best modern art gallery.

Reykjavik Old Harbor is the perfect place for attractive photos, with a backdrop of traditional fishing boats and Mount Esja.

Landakot's Church (Landakotskirkja) serves as the principal cathedral for the Catholic Church in Iceland. Situated in the western part of Reykjavík, specifically on the Landakot property, this architectural marvel boasts a unique design characterized by a flat roof rather than the conventional spire. The church's creation is attributed to the talented architect Guðjón Samúelsson, renowned for his work on other iconic structures like Hallgrímskirkja and Akureyrarkirkja in Akureyri.

The history of Landakot's Church traces back to the early 19th century when the first Catholic priests arrived in Iceland after the Reformation. Two Frenchmen, Bernard Bernard and Jean-Baptiste Baudoin, purchased the Landakot farmstead in Reykjavík and established their residence there. In 1864, they erected a modest chapel on the premises. Subsequently, a small wooden church was built near Landakot on Túngata a few years later. As the number of Catholics in Iceland grew following the First World War, there emerged a pressing need for a larger church facility.

To meet this demand, Icelandic Catholics made the decision to construct a Neo-Gothic style church, entrusting the architectural work to Guðjón Samúelsson. Following several years of construction efforts, Landakot's Church was formally consecrated on July 23, 1929. It held the distinction of being the largest church in Iceland during that era. Today, Landakot's Church remains an iconic landmark in western Reykjavík. Furthermore, the only Catholic school in Iceland, Landakot's School (Landakotsskóli), is conveniently located nearby on the same property.

Reykjavík's City Hall, designed by architects Margrét Harðardóttir and Steve Christer, stands on Tjörnin lake's northern shore, at the heart of the city. This building uniquely blends nature and urban elements, reflecting its dual purpose. The City Council Building, located on the north side, is solid and structured, mirroring the Kvos district's architectural style. In contrast, the south-facing Office Building, where administrative work happens, has a more fluid and open design, with workspaces and meeting rooms overlooking the lake. A notable feature outside is a moss-covered wall, reminiscent of Iceland's natural mossy rock formations.

The concept of a city hall in Reykjavík dates back to the city's early days. After years of planning and an open competition in 1986, the winning design by Harðardóttir and Christer, both London Architectural Association School graduates, was chosen from 38 entries. The construction began in 1988 and the hall was inaugurated in 1992.

A key attraction inside is a large 3D map of Iceland, located in the main hall. This detailed map, crafted from 1 millimeter thick cardboard cut to represent Iceland's topography and mounted on a wooden and aluminum frame, spans 76.4 square meters. The map, built by the city's carpenters and painted by Sigurður Pálsson, is designed at a 1:50,000 scale but with an exaggerated elevation scale of 1:25,000 for better visual impact. This map, along with the building's design, symbolizes the fusion of Reykjavík's urban fabric and natural environment.

Reykjavik is home to several burial grounds, including Hólavallagarður Cemetery, one of the city's oldest, situated centrally. Its name translates to "garden on a hill." This cemetery features moss-covered paths and gravestones, often lit by sunlight filtering through trees. On cloudy, rainy days in autumn, the atmosphere here turns gray, mysterious, and somewhat foreboding.

Also known as the Old Churchyard, Hólavallagarður began its service in 1838, taking over from an earlier Viking-era burial site. Located just a short distance from the central pond of Reykjavik, this cemetery sits atop a small hill. It's noteworthy for the artistic gravestones crafted by some of Iceland's renowned sculptors, like Einar Jónsson.

For over 150 years, Hólavallagarður served as a key burial site in Iceland. Prominent figures like Jón Sigurðsson, a leader in Icelandic independence, painter Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, and Ingibjorg Bjarnason, the first female parliamentarian, are interred here. The cemetery also includes graves of the 1918 Spanish flu victims and a monument dedicated to French sailors.

Despite reaching full capacity in the early 1930s, families who secured plots beforehand can still conduct burials here. What sets Hólavallagarður apart is its lush greenery, a rarity in Iceland's sparse tree landscape, with willows, spruces, poplars, birches, and rowan trees surrounding the graves.

An Icelandic belief holds that the first person buried in a cemetery guards it and protects subsequent interments. For Hólavallagarður, this guardian is Guðrún Oddsdóttir, who passed away in 1838, the year the cemetery was established.

The Free Church in Reykjavik (Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík) is a separate Lutheran church from Iceland's main church, the Church of Iceland. It's located right in the heart of Iceland's capital city, next to the Tjörnin lake.

This church started in Reykjavik back in the fall of 1899. Initially, around 600 people joined, and this number quickly increased. The Free Church took inspiration from similar churches in Norway and ones set up by Icelanders who moved to North America. They wanted a church that felt more connected to everyday people. Also, Reykjavik was rapidly growing with new neighborhoods and more residents, but the Reykjavik Cathedral couldn't keep up with the needs of the expanding community, especially as more craftsmen and tradespeople settled in.

Not long after this new church group got started, they picked a spot for their church near the lake's eastern side. The church was officially opened on February 22, 1903. Just two years later, they had to make it bigger, following a design by an architect named Rögnvaldur Ólafsson. Then, in 1924, they expanded it again. They added a chancel made of concrete on the east side and made some other changes to the building. All of this was overseen by a master builder, Guðmundur H. Þorláksson.

Reykjavik Cathedral is a neoclassical church designed by Andreas Kirkerup in the 18th century. The Cathedral is centrally located in Austurvollur, Reykjavik's main public square. Reykjavik Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Iceland and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland. It also serves as the parish church for the city center.

This site has been dedicated to churches since the 13th century. Work on the current church began in 1788, and the Reykjavik Cathedral was dedicated in 1796. It was the first building to be completed with the notion that Reykjavik would become the capital of Iceland.

Since 1845, each parliament session begins with mass at the Cathedral, and then members of parliament go together to the parliament house.

The church and Parliament are intertwined and are a central facet of life in Iceland.

The organ was built in Berlin in 1985 and has 31 voices and three manuals. Sculptor Albert Thorvaldsen designed the baptismal font. Leifur Breiofjoro, an Icelandic artist, designed the processional cross.

Reykjavik Cathedral is smaller and less imposing than the Church of Hallgrimur. However, it boasts a rich cultural history and has significant meaning in the daily lives of Iceland's Lutherans. The Christmas mass is broadcasted from Reykjavik Cathedral, and people all over the country tune in to listen to it. New Presidents are inaugurated at Reykjavík Cathedral.

"The Town's Best Hot Dogs" (Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur) is a small chain of hot dog stands in Reykjavík. This chain has been in continuous operation since 1937 when it was originally established on Austurstræti street, right at the heart of the city. It was founded by the grandfather of the current owner, Guðrún Kristmundsdóttir. In the 1960s, the stand relocated a couple of streets north to Tryggvagata, right across from the Harpa Concert Hall, where the main flagship stand still operates today.

In August 2004, the stand gained widespread attention when it was visited by the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, during his trip to Iceland for a UNICEF conference. This high-profile visit significantly boosted the stand's popularity, leading to its inclusion in various tourist guidebooks about Iceland. Just two years later, in August 2006, the renowned British newspaper, The Guardian, declared Bæjarins Beztu as the best hot dog stand in Europe.

Today, this chain is a favorite among both tourists and local residents alike. There are three more locations within the city, collectively selling over a thousand hot dogs on a bustling day.

The hot dogs offered by Bæjarins Beztu are primarily lamb-based but also contain pork and beef. They are served in a bun and come with a variety of condiment options, including ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade, crispy fried onions, and raw onions. Customers who wish to have all the available toppings often use the Icelandic phrase "eina með öllu," which translates to "one with everything" in English.

The Government House, located in Reykjavík, is an impressive structure that currently serves as the headquarters of the Prime Minister's Office. Interestingly, this building has a historical origin dating back to the mid-18th century when it was initially constructed as Iceland's very first prison facility.

In 1733, Henrik Ocksen, a district commissioner, wrote to Joachim Henriksen Lafrenz, another commissioner, discussing the need for a penitentiary in Iceland. This was prompted by the case of Katrín Ingjaldsdóttir, who had her death sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the king. Iceland often had to send life-term prisoners to Denmark due to the lack of suitable facilities.

It wasn't until March 20, 1759, that the King of Denmark formally approved the construction of a penitentiary in Iceland. Construction work on the building commenced in 1761, and interestingly, the convicts themselves contributed to its construction as part of their sentence. A decade later, in the winter of 1770–71, the building was completed and ready for use. A tax on real estate, including imprisonment costs, funded the penitentiary, but it faced public resistance and closed in 1816.

In 1904, the Government House became the location for the first Icelandic ministry, and later, the cabinet. In 1918, the building was officially named after this purpose. Since then, the Prime Minister's Office and the Government of Iceland have conducted their operations within this historic edifice. It's worth noting that from 1973 to 1996, the office of the President of Iceland was also housed in the Government House, and it holds the distinction of being the place where the Icelandic national flag was first raised.

Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is a modern complex completed in 2011. It is the first purpose-built concert hall in Reykjavik. Harpa is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera's offices.

The modern building features different colored geometric-shaped glass panels over a steel framework.

The 1970 The Musician sculpture is located in the water next to Harpa. Icelandic sculptor Olof Palsdottir created the sculpture which shows a cellist playing. The statue used to be located at the previous home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, but it moved with the Orchestra to its new home.

The concert hall also hosts performances by the Icelandic Opera and the Reykjavik Big Band.

The building won the European Union's Mies van der Rohe Award for contemporary architecture in 2013. In addition, Harpa won the MICE Report Award for the best conference center in Northern Europe.

Harpa has appeared in the series Black Mirror and in an episode of the Netflix series Sense8. It hosts several regular shows such as How to Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes, Pearls of Icelandic Songs, Reykjavik Classics,and Bowie: The Session.

Harpa features modern architecture and is stunning at night.

Sun Voyager is a sculpture crafted by the artist Jón Gunnar Árnason (1931-1989) and is situated alongside the Sæbraut road in Reykjavík. This artistic creation is often characterized as a representation of either a dreamboat or an homage to the sun. Jón Gunnar Árnason's intention behind this sculpture was to convey a sense of promise associated with uncharted territories, a dream symbolizing hope, progress, and freedom.

In 1986, the west district association of Reykjavík decided to sponsor a competition to commission a new outdoor sculpture in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the city. Jón Gunnar's Sun Voyager emerged as the winning design in the competition, leading to the creation of a scaled-up aluminum model, which was later presented to the city for enlargement. The full-sized Sun Voyager was officially unveiled on Sæbraut, coinciding with the birthday of Reykjavík on August 18, 1990.

The sculpture is crafted from high-quality stainless steel and is positioned upon a circle formed by granite slabs, encircled by a material known as "town-hall concrete." Its construction meticulously followed Jón Gunnar Árnason's detailed full-scale drawing of the Sun Voyager and was supervised by the artist Kristinn E. Hrafnsson, who served as Jón Gunnar's assistant.

Why You Should Visit:
Great subject for photographs as it provides a nice vantage point to look out into the waters and think of very deep things.

Laugavegur Street is Reykjavik's main shopping street. Visitors will find restaurants, bars, cafes, and boutique shops.

Laugavegur is one of the oldest streets in Reykjavík. The name can be translated as the Water Road. Here, women would bring their laundry to be washed in hot pools.

Laugavegur is just over a mile or two kilometers long. The shopping stretch starts at the city's busy bus center, Hlemmur, and continues to Bankastraeti.

There are two museums on Laugavegur. First, the Phallological Museum is the world's only museum dedicated to the male genitals, with specimens from the animal kingdom. The second museum is a small punk museum.

Most of the shops feature Icelandic designs and brands. Visitors will find high-end products, as well as shops with souvenirs such as books, fridge magnets, and stuffed animals.

Visitors can also find a variety of vintage shops and second-hand goods along Laugavegur.

Foodies will be delighted with the variety of options. Try traditional Icelandic menus or international cuisines. Visitors can also find vegan restaurants.

Several bars feature live music. Movie fans will love the Lebowski Bar, with food and "wheel of fortune" rounds.

Laugavegur is a diverse street with something for everyone.

Standing at 74 meters (244 feet) tall, the striking Church of Hallgrímur is Iceland's tallest church. Architect Guojon Samuelsson began drawing the church in 1937. Construction began in 1945 and was completed in 1986.

Iceland's unique geography inspired the design of the church. Volcanic action created lava flows which cooled into grey, hexagonal columns. The dramatic, cool, jagged columns inspired the design of the Church of Hallgrímur.

The church was named after 17th-century clergyman and poet Hallgrimur Petursson. Hallgrimur Petursson was best known for his work Hymns of the Passion.

This iconic building is visible from many parts of Reykjavík. The Church of Hallgrímur is a Lutheran, or Church of Iceland establishment. Its impressive height was in part to compete with Landakot's Church, the Catholic Cathedral.

During the summer, visitors can enjoy concerts which run four days a week. Don't miss the incredible pipe organ that stands 15 meters (49 feet) tall. The pipe organ has electronic action; the pipes are remote from the pedal console. The organ has 5,275 pipes and has been featured in several recording albums.

Outside the entrance, visitors will find a statue of Leif Eriksson, a famed explorer. The United States gave the statue to Iceland in the 1930s to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament. The Icelandic Parliament was first convened in the year 930 AD.

The large clock on the tower is often wrong, as strong Icelandic wind gusts often blow the hands about.

Why You Should Visit:
The Church of Hallgrímur is a dramatic church that wonderfully emulates Iceland's landscape. You will see the church's tower from all over the city and find the church even more impressive up close. The interior is surprisingly austere with clean lines.

Tips:
Admission is free, but a small fee provides access to a lift to the top of the building, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Reykjavik and the surrounding mountains.

In 1930, a statue of Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer from Iceland, was placed in the city center of Reykjavík. This statue currently stands in front of Hallgrím's Church (Hallgrímskirkja) and was gifted by the United States to Iceland in honor of the 1,000-year anniversary of Alþingi, Iceland's parliament.

Leif Erikson, also known as Leiv Eiriksson or Leif Ericson (circa 970 – circa 1020), is believed to be the first European to have landed on continental North America (excluding Greenland). This happened roughly 500 years before Christopher Columbus's famous voyage. According to Icelandic sagas, Leif Erikson established a Norse settlement in Vinland, which is generally thought to refer to coastal North America. Some speculate that this settlement corresponds to the remains of a Norse settlement called L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada, which was occupied around the year 1000.

Leif Erikson was the son of Erik the Red, who founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland, and Thjodhild, both of Norwegian descent. Although the exact place of Leif's birth is uncertain, it is assumed to have been in Iceland, which had recently been settled by Norsemen primarily from Norway. He grew up on the family estate of Brattahlíð in the Eastern Settlement of Greenland. Leif had two known sons: Thorgils, born to the noblewoman Thorgunna in the Hebrides, and Thorkell, who succeeded him as the leader of the Greenland settlement.

Einar Jónsson is regarded as Iceland's first sculptor. Einar was born on a farm in southern Iceland in 1874. He had an artistic soul and traveled to Denmark to study art, and then continued his studies in Rome before returning to Denmark. Finally, in 1909, he agreed to return to Iceland. The Althing (Icelandic parliament) would provide Einar a museum and home, and in return, Einar would donate his sculptures to the museum.

Einar's works are primarily completed in plaster. Iceland doesn't have traditional modeling clay, and plaster allowed Einar to continue to work on his sculptures over extended time periods.

Einar produced public commissions, such as his 1920 Thorfinn Karlsefni. He also produced private commissions, such as his 1936 Monument to Dr. Charcot and His Ship. Finally, he produced artworks for the sake of creating art, such as Trees of Life and Death, which he worked on from 1909 to 1940.

The Einar Jónsson Museum was completed in 1923 and is Iceland's first art museum. Visitors can admire 300 of Einar's sculptures in the museum. Einar rejected classical sculpture and traditional art, preferring to follow his own path. His art encompasses Nordic folklore, Christian ideas, and figurative works.

Einar's apartment is also open to the public. Einar lived in the apartment above the museum until he died in 1954. Here, visitors can gain insight into Einar's fascinating life.

The sculpture garden contains 26 of Einar's bronze sets, including The Wave of Ages, The King of Atlantis, and Thor Wrestling with Age.