Reykjavík, the city between sea and fire: the back story

About Reykjavík, the city between sea and fire: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Reykjavík Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Reykjavík is a small capital with a big horizon: Mount Esja across the bay, the North Atlantic at the end of every street. Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church in Iceland, rises 73 metres over the centre; on the harbour, Harpa’s glass façade has caught the light since 2011; and on the wooded hill of Öskjuhlíð, Perlan looks out over the whole city. The National Museum tells the story of the nation, the Saga Museum the age of the settlers, and from the Old Harbour the boats go out for whales and, on winter nights, the northern lights.

On the hill

Hallgrímskirkja, designed by the state architect Guðjón Samúelsson from 1937 and consecrated in 1986; Perlan on Öskjuhlíð, with its nature exhibitions and planetarium.

On the harbour

Harpa, opened in 2011; the museums of Grandi: Whales of Iceland, FlyOver Iceland, Aurora Reykjavík and the Saga Museum.

Climb Hallgrímskirkja’s tower first for the lie of the city, then walk down to the harbour.

Museums and stories

The National Museum’s “Making of a Nation”; the five sites of the Reykjavík City Museum, from the Árbær open-air museum to Viðey island.

Out to sea

Elding’s whale-watching and northern-lights cruises leave from the Old Harbour.

Our advice: the Reykjavík City Card covers 17 museums, 8 pools and the city buses; see our essentials page.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Reykjavík, the city between sea and fire: the back story before you go.