Last Updated on January 12, 2026 by Maggie McKneely

Only have a short amount of time to spend in Iceland’s capital city? Here’s the best way to spend one day in Reykjavik.

*This post contains affiliate links. That just means that if you happen to click on one of those links and end up making a purchase, I make a small commission (and you will have made my day!)

One Day in Reykjavik

Reykjavik – that far northern capital city that practically every traveler flies through at some point in their lives and yet no one can pronounce. In a country with more sheep and horses than people, it’s a city famous for its nightlife. Its avenues are lined with quaint multi-colored buildings and diverse street art, a contrast to the iconic palette of greens and blacks of the Icelandic countryside. A city founded by Vikings, Reykjavik is now most known for its budding food scene and friendly locals.

No one comes to Iceland in order to visit Reykjavik, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing there worth seeing. If you’re building your Iceland itinerary, allotting only one day to spend in Reykjavik is perfect. If you’re spending a layover here on the way to somewhere else, one day or a few hours is enough to get a taste of the city. So to help you figure out what to do with your time here, here’s everything to need to know about spending one day in Reykjavik.

Tips for Visiting Reykjavik

Best Time to Visit

Despite it’s name, Iceland has a moderate maritime climate year round – temperatures rarely dip below 30F or go over 50F regardless of season. But the notorious Iceland wind is ever present, and some months have higher chances of rain and snow than others. So the best time to visit depends on what you want to see.

The warmest (for Iceland) and driest months are July and August. Those are also Iceland’s busiest months, so you’ll need to book early and be prepared to have a lot of company. The sun also never sets from May to early September.

If you don’t mind snow and higher rain chances, spring and fall have less tourists and slightly lower prices. And the winter months provide the best opportunities for seeing the Northern Lights, as those months have the lowest number of daylight hours.

My mom and I visited in May. The crowds were manageable, the wind was windy but temperatures were mild, and it rained every day but not enough to wreck our plans.

Iceland weather is moody year round, even in May!

Transportation

Reykjavik is an extremely walkable city. It might be Iceland’s population center, but that does not mean it’s large. The entire population of Iceland totals about 320,000, a fraction of the population of most American cities. All of the activities on this one day in Reykjavik plan are within walking distance of each other.

There is a public bus that can take you from the Keflavik airport into downtown Reykjavik as well as other stops in and around the city.

There are no ride-hailing services such as Uber as the practice is illegal in Iceland. However, there are two main taxi companies, Hreyfill and BSR.

Money

The currency of Iceland is the Icelandic Krona, ISK. However, everywhere accepts credit cards. If you don’t want to have cash on hand, you don’t need it. Tipping in Iceland is not expected, so you won’t even need cash for that.

What to Wear

Even though the temperatures in Reykjavik are relatively mild year round, the weather changes quickly. It can go from sunny to windy and wet in a matter of minutes, which makes figuring out your Iceland packing list a challenge. No matter what season you visit in, you’ll want to wear layers, with your outer layer being waterproof (this is my favorite raincoat). And since you will be walking a lot, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes (like these Allbirds or waterproof boots). Iceland is a casual place, so leave your fancy clothes at home!

Where to Stay

Because Reykjavik is small, so long as you stay near Hallgrimkirkja (the church) or Harpa Concert Hall, you’ll be close to everything you want to be close to. We stayed in an apartment right on the main street of Laugavegur and it was perfect!

One Day in Reykjavik Itinerary

Hallgrimkirkja

Reykjavik does not have sky scrapers but it does have one very tall building – the iconic Hallgrimkirkja church. It’s the perfect place to kick off your one day in Reykjavik.

The Lutheran Church was built between 1945 and 1986, a monument to the Iceland’s greatest poet, Hallgrimur Petursson. The unique design was inspired by the country’s geography. The white concrete columns on each side of the building are reminiscent of the rock formations that come from cooled lave. Today, it’s the largest church in Iceland and houses the nation’s largest pipe organ. The church towers over Reykjavik and offers panoramic views of the city, the mountains, the ocean as it reaches towards Greenland.

In front of the church is a famous statue of Leif Erikson, credited with being the first explorer to discover North America.

It’s free to enter into the main part of the church but for a ticket price of 1400ISK, you can go to the very top of the tower. Tickets can be purchased onsite in the gift shop just inside the main entrance. The church itself opens at 9AM May-August and 10AM the rest of the years. Be sure to go here to see the tower’s open hours, as they differ from the church’s.

Explore Old Town Reykjavik

Between Hallgrimkirkja and the port lies Reykjavik’s city center. There aren’t many actual landmarks to visit here on your one day in Reykjavik but there are a lot of cute shops, excellent restaurants, fun street art, and classic Icelandic architecture to check out.

There are two main streets in Old Town Reykjavik – Laugavegur (the street our room was on) and Skolavoroustigur.

Skolavoroustigur is the street directly below the church. It was recently painted in rainbow colors and has been a Reykjavik-instagram sensation ever since. If you’re looking for an authentic Icelandic sweater, or just a sweater that says “Iceland,” this is the street for you. It’s home to lots of shops and cute cafes.

Be sure to get a cinnamon roll at Braud & Co.!

Laugavegur is one of the oldest streets in Reykjavik. The name roughly translates to “Water Road” as it was the street that women would travel down to take their laundry to be washed in the hot pools. But there’s nothing rustic about this street today! Most of it is closed to street traffic and instead of clotheslines and laundry accoutrements, it’s home to several Michelin-starred restaurants and high-end boutiques.

You won’t find many places to shop elsewhere in Iceland, so if you’re looking for souvenirs, this is the best place to do that.

Classic Icelandic architecture

Harpa Concert Hall

No one day in Reykjavik is complete without a visit to the beautiful Harpa Concert Hall!

Harpa is home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the Icelandic Opera, and Reykjavik Big Band. But what it’s most famous for is being a stunning piece of modern architectural design. It’s colorful glass facade is meant to represent the basalt rock formations found through Iceland.

But Harpa also represents Iceland’s incredible recovery from the financial crash of 2008. Construction on the concert hall began in 2007 but was halted when Iceland’s financial crisis began. But then the government made the decision to fully fund the rest of the project, and so for several years, Harpa was the only building under construction in all of Iceland so that the government could continue to pay for it. It opened in 2011 and has since become one of the most famous landmarks in Reykjavik.

It’s free to go in and wander around the main level. There’s also a gift shop that has interesting and different items than all the other Reykjavik stores.

Harpa Concert Hall

Take a Food Tour

I am a food tour fangirl. I try to take one in most countries I visit and Iceland was no exception. Iceland has, historically, had a terrible food reputation – their national dish is fermented shark, after all. But a lot has changed in the past 20 years and now Reykjavik is home to a world-class food scene. The best way to learn about that transformation and to sample some of the best foods that the city has to offer is on a food tour.

Famous Icelandic hot dog from Baejarins Beztu Pylsur

I did the afternoon/dinner tour with Reykjavik Food Walk (read my full review here). The tour included stops at two popular, high-end restaurants that serve traditional Icelandic food as well as the famous hot dog stand. We also had the chance to try the dreaded shark and wash it down with delicious rye-bread ice cream. Eating your way through the city is a worthwhile way to enjoy part of your one day in Reykjavik.

Plokkfiskur at Messinn

Watch the Sun Set over the Sun Voyager Statue

One of the most iconic sites in Reykjavik is of the gleaming Sun Voyager statue. The steel structure is reminiscent of a Viking ship, a tribute to Iceland’s first inhabitants. But it’s also meant to be a “dream ship,” an ode to undiscovered lands and an optimistic future. Whatever it’s true inspiration, it’s a beautiful sculpture in a picturesque setting, with Mount Esja and the harbor as its backdrop. If you’re spending one day in Reykjavik during a time of year where there is actually a sun set (I.e. not May-September), this is the perfect place to end the day.

Sun Voyager

In Case of Extra Time

In case you’re spending more than one day in Reykjavik or find that you have a little more extra time on your hands, here are some additional things to do in the area:

Walking Tour: If you don’t want to waste your one day in Reykjavik wandering around on your own, one of the best ways to get an introduction to the city is with a guided walking tour. This one only takes 2.5 hours and introduces you to all of the city’s main highlights.

Perlan Museum: The Perlan Museum, or The Wonders of Iceland, is frequently recommended as the best museum in Iceland. It’s an interactive museum that teaches visitors all about Iceland’s famous natural features. You can learn all about glaciers and volcanoes, view a reenactment of the Europe’s largest sea cliff puffin colony, and even walk through an ice tunnel. There’s also a glass observatory that offers a panoramic view of Reykjavik and the night sky. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit here on my one day in Reykjavik but it sounds incredible! Tickets are time-limited, so it is recommended to purchase them in advance here.

Blue Lagoon: The Blue Lagoon is about 40 minutes from Reykjavik city center, right near the Keflavik airport. So it works well to visit here either right after arriving in Iceland or before getting on your flight home after your one day in Reykjavik. It may be touristy, and I admittedly try to avoid such things, but if you time it so that it isn’t as crowded, it really is a lovely experience. My mom and I had 8:30AM tickets so we practically had the place to ourselves. Time slots sell out far in advance though so be sure to get your tickets here!

Blue Lagoon

Golden Circle: If you’re spending more than one day in Reykjavik, or you’d rather spend your short time exploring Iceland’s natural landscapes, take a day tour to the famous Golden Circle. The Golden Circle is a driving route not far outside of Reykjavik that features several waterfalls, geysers, and other stunning sites that Iceland is famous for. This tour is very highly rated, picks up in Reykjavik, and includes stops at all of the Golden Circle landmarks.

Thingvellir National Park

Volcano Helicopter Tour: If you want to do something truly unique during your one day in Reykjavik, what about a helicopter tour over an active volcano? Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula has been the site of lots of volcanic activity the past several years and this company gives you the chance to see it all from the sky.

Have any questions? Have you spent one day in Reykjavik? What was your favorite part? Let me know in the comments!

Like it? Pin it!

Related posts:

8 Great Books about Iceland Epic 7 Day Iceland Itinerary 7 Days in Spain: Perfect Catalonia Itinerary Fun Things to do in Wilmington NC