Did you know? · Reykjavík
Reykjavík fun facts
Things you might not know about Reykjavík and its day trips. Every fact comes from an official or primary source, named alongside it.
Updated October 2026
A 73-metre tower and 5,275 pipes
Hallgrímskirkja is Iceland’s largest church; its tower is 73 metres high. The Klais concert organ, inaugurated in December 1992, has 72 stops and 5,275 pipes, stands 15 metres high and weighs about 25 tonnes (hallgrimskirkja.is).
An assembly from about 930
At Þingvellir, “Assembly Plains”, the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 and met there until 1798, between two tectonic plates (thingvellir.is).
Iceland’s oldest swimming pool
The Secret Lagoon at Flúðir, known locally as Gamla Laugin, was made in 1891 and is Iceland’s oldest swimming pool; the first swimming lessons in Iceland were held there in 1909 (secretlagoon.is).
Europe’s most powerful hot spring
Deildartunguhver, beside Krauma, pours out about 180 litres of 100°C water every second (krauma.is).
A hot-dog stand since 1937
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur has served its lamb hot dogs since 1937 and now has 14 stands in Reykjavík and around Iceland (bbp.is).
Alvar Aalto in Reykjavík
The Nordic House, opened in 1968, was designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, with the cylindrical skylight he first used in the library at Viipuri (nordichouse.is).
Questions and answers
How tall is Hallgrímskirkja?
Its tower is 73 metres high, the church says.