Reykjavík, Iceland
Reykjavík is a capital city of 118,918 people in Capital Region, Iceland, founded in 1786.
Why visit Reykjavík
Townapedia lists 60 museums and landmarks, 22 parks and trails, 240 places to eat, 81 places to stay and 12 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Bíó Paradís, Álafoss, The Pearl and Einar Jónsson Museum.
Weather in Reykjavík
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located on the southern shore of the Faxaflói bay in southwest Iceland and has a latitude of 64°08′ N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. Reykjavík has a population of around 140,000 as of 2026, and the surrounding Capital Region has a population of around 252,000, constituting approximately 64% of Iceland's population.
From the Wikipedia article Reykjavík (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Reykjavík on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do12
Bíó Paradís
Cinema and theater · 1.9 km
54 Hverfisgata, Reykjavík
Mo-Fr 05:00-01:00, Sa,Su 05:00-01:00
National Theatre of Iceland
Cinema and theater · 2.2 km
Theatre in Iceland
Reykjavík City Theatre
Cinema and theater · 0.7 km
Theatre in Iceland
University of Iceland
School · 2.7 km
Public university in Reykjavik, Iceland
University of Iceland -School of Education
School
Former college in Reykjavík, Iceland
Museums and landmarks60
Ásmundarsafn
Museum · 0.8 km
Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum garden is opened 24/7
Mo-Su 13:00-17:00
Icelandic Museum of Design and Applied Art
Museum · 5.3 km
Art museum in Garðabær, Iceland
Icelandic Phallological Museum
Museum · 2.4 km
Museum in Reykjavík, Iceland
Icelandic Punk Museum
Museum · 2.4 km
Music history museum in Iceland
Imagine Peace Tower
Monument and historic site · 3.5 km
Memorial to John Lennon near Reykjavík
National Gallery of Iceland
Museum · 2.3 km
Art museum in Reykjavik, Iceland
National Museum of Iceland
Museum · 2.7 km
Museum in Reykjavik, Iceland
48 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds22
10 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes240
Te & Kaffi
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.5 km
Te og Kaffi
77 Laugavegur, Reykjavík
Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-22:00
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Reykjavík Roasters
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.7 km
41 Freyjugata, Reykjavík
Mo-Fr 08:30-17:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-17:00
Austur Indíafélagið
Restaurant · Indian · 1.9 km
56 Hverfisgata, Reykjavík
Su-Th 18:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 18:00-23:00
Brass Kitchen & Bar
Restaurant · Burger, Fish And Chips · 1.6 km
66 Laugavegur, Reykjavík
Mo-Su 14:00-22:00
Eldofninn
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.8 km
Bústaðavegur, Reykjavík
Mo off; Tu-Fr 11:30-21:00; Sa-Su 17:00-21:00
Hraðlestin
Restaurant · Indian · 1.1 km
3 Grensásvegur, Reykjavík
Mo-Fr 11:30-21:00; Sa-Su 17:00-21:00
Krua Thai
Restaurant · Thai · 2.0 km
21a Skólavörðustígur, Reykjavík
Mo-Fr 11:30-21:30; Sa 12:00-21:30; Su 17:00-21:30
228 more on the map.
History
According to legend, the first permanent Norse settlement in Iceland was established at Reykjavík by Ingólfr Arnarson circa AD 870, as described in the Book of Settlement. Ingólfr is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Norse method: when land was in sight, he cast his high seat pillars overboard and promised to settle where the gods decided to bring them ashore. Two of his slaves then searched the coasts for three years before finding the pillars in the bay which eventually became the site of Reykjavík.
From the History section of Reykjavík on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay81
Churches and places of worship18
Shopping68
Gas and EV charging48
Schools, colleges and libraries32
Healthcare25
Map of Reykjavík
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Reykjavik Airport (RKV) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 km away.
- Kópavogur 3 km south, about 3 min by car
- Garðabær 5 km south, about 5 min by car
- Seltjarnarnes 5 km west, about 5 min by car
- Hafnarfjörður 8 km south, about 8 min by car
- Akranes 22 km northwest, about 22 min by car
- Keflavík 36 km southwest, about 36 min by car
- Þorlákshöfn 40 km southeast, about 40 min by car
- Grindavík 42 km southwest, about 42 min by car
- Borgarnes 45 km north, about 45 min by car
- Selfoss 49 km southeast, about 49 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Openverse (see each image): photos
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Reykjavík 5545 (cropped), Hedwig Storch, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Reykjavík.--Interior of Cathedral (4558856968), Cornell University Library, No restrictions
- Reykjavík. Cathedral and Parliament House. (4558865956), Cornell University Library, No restrictions
- Reykjavík from the Tjörn. (4558895506), Cornell University Library, No restrictions
- Fish washing indoors. Reykjavík. (4558267285), Cornell University Library, No restrictions
- Reykjavík. Governor's House. (4558912974), Cornell University Library, No restrictions
- Reykjavík. The Athletic Field. Wrestling match. (4558865314), Cornell University Library, No restrictions
- Reykjavík. Austurvöllur. (4558888420), Cornell University Library, No restrictions
- Fish drying. -Reykjavík. (4558888710), Magnús Ólafsson, No restrictions
- Reykjavík- Ausblick vom Hotel Esja auf Suðurlandsbraut - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 134 Nr. 107005, Willy Pragher, CC BY 4.0
- Reykjavík- Ausblick vom Hotel Esja auf Viðey-Sund - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 134 Nr. 107004, Willy Pragher, CC BY 4.0
- Álafoss2011, Bromr, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland-Reykjavik-National-Theatre-1, Guðmundur D. Haraldsson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Reykjavík University (31811484225), Jeff Hitchcock from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- University of Iceland - 2013.08 - panoramio, rheins, CC BY 3.0
- Khi-adalinngangur2, Salvör Gissurardóttir, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Árbæjarsafn, Steinninn, CC BY 4.0
- Öskjuhlíd hill, Reykjavík, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Iglesia Libre Reikiavik, Reikiavik, Distrito de la Capital, Islandia, 2014-08-13, DD 088, Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hafnarfjördur Frikirkjan, Ypsilon from Finland, CC0
- Hallgrimskirkja mai 2026, Steinninn, CC BY 4.0
- Kópavogur 11, Reykholt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Basílica de Cristo el Rey, Reikiavik, Distrito de la Capital, Islandia, 2014-08-13, DD 093, Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Icelandic Phallological Museum visitors, APK, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Listasafn islands, No machine-readable author provided. Akigka assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hafnarborg- image, Touristlink, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Iceland - Peace Tower 28 (6571385177), McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Nationalmuseum 20120919 2, Helmut Seger, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mossfelsbær, Roman Z, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Engey beacon, Christian Bickel fingalo, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
- Tröllafoss, Bromr, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Reykjavik 871 Grabungsgelände 1, Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Reykjavík Maritime Museum, 2020, Photographer: Mosbatho, CC BY 4.0
- Eymundsson Austurstræti by Olafur Thorisson, Ólafur Þórisson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- DILL IMG 2923 (30924865650), City Foodsters, CC BY 2.0
- Center Hotels Plaza (1), OhanaUnited Talk page, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Laugardalsvöllur, Iceland's national football stadium, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Reykjavík Botanic Garden 2014-08-02, Szilas, Public domain
- Kringlan 2023, Eysteinn Guðni Guðnason, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 20190623 Perlan 8841 (48469867211), Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Fjölskyldu og húsdýragarðurinn 0706, Steinninn, CC BY 4.0
- Háteigskirkja, Maarten Visser from Capelle aan den IJssel, Nederland, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hlíðarendi stadium, Reykjavík, Raf24~commonswiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
- MuseumEinarJonsson, TommyBee, Public domain
- Iceland Images for April 2016 04, Geraldshields11, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grand Hótel - panoramio, Tommy Bee, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2007-07-20-Askirkja-Reykjavik-2, Gunnar Klack, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Laugarneskirkja í Laugarnessprestakalli - panoramio, Tommy Bee, Public domain
- Fossvogskirkja - panoramio, Tommy Bee, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sjómannaskólinn - 2023, Mendso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ListasafnReykjavikur, TommyBee, Public domain
- Reykjavík iceland hdsr 2019 10 22 9999 86, Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Archives of Iceland, LittleT889, CC0
- ReykjavíkMiklatún, Torbenbrinker, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Laugarás í Reykjavík, Marghuga, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Setting up at the Reykjavík City Theatre, yourbartender, CC BY 2.0
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