This post may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. Read the full disclosure here.
Do you only have one day in Reykjavik, Iceland? Check out this list of eclectic things to do with 24 hours in Reykjavik, including breweries, churches, tourist musts, and museums. Find out secret places to eat, too.
Many people find themselves in Reykjavik, Iceland for a short layover. Others use Reykjavik as a hub for endless Iceland day trips. For us, we had one day in Reykjavik when we landed and another on our return from driving around Southern Iceland. With 24 hours in Reykjavik, you can do a lot without feeling overwhelmed. You don’t need to see it all.
The city seems vast, but most of the tourist attractions and fun are within walking distance of each other. You might walk a mile at most. Mount Esja, the pinkish mountains, as well as grayish blue water, envelop the friendly and clean city on one side. Stunning 360-degree views, a tall phallic church, a penis museum, breweries, and 3D people-sized prisms are just a few of Reykjavik’s bragging points.
Below find our favorite activities for what to do in Reykjavik in a short time period.
One Day In Reykjavik
What To Do In Reykjavik In 24 Hours
Catch Some Rays At Harpa Concert Hall
With construction starting right before the 2008 economic depression, Harpa is both an extravagance and symbol of screw you. The financial crisis put a temporary halt to its construction.
With Danish and Icelandic influences, steel framework meets geometric prisms and mirrors. Hello, gorgeous. Be sure to check out this eye candy from both inside and out.
Known for classical concerts, you can tour the hall for free. If driving, park in the garage below, pay a small fee, and spend at least 45-minutes climbing floors and snapping pictures. Don’t forget to look up.
In the Icelandic nonfiction novel Names For The Sea, Sarah Moss notes that the prisms are fish scales.
Discover more about Harpa to see hours and check visitor information.
Stroll Over To The Solfar Sun Voyager
Is Solfar Sun Voyager art or is it a tourist trap? More importantly, is the Sun Voyager a Viking ship, fish bones, or an ode to the sun?
Gosh only knows, really–regardless of what you read. Should you take a peek if you only have one day in Reykjavik, though? Unequivocally, yes.
The [Sólfar] Sun Voyager is a sculpture and ode to the sea by Jón Gunnar Árnason. Many see the art installation as a symbol of hope, journey, and freedom. Nope, it’s not supposed to be a Viking ship or bones but my eyes fail to agree.
Located next to the Sæbraut road in Reykjavík, you should give this unique piece at least 10-minutes of your time. Plus, the Sun Voyager is next to Harpa. If you have a car, just pull up in its special traffic lane. If you are walking, enjoy Esja in the background.
Try to snap a shot before swarms of tourist buses stop by. Although we missed sunset views, I heard it’s a beaut.
Read more about the Solfar Sun Voyager.
Climb To The Top Of Hallgrímskirkja
I don’t know about you, but when I have limited time in a city, church fatigue, like a cheap wine hangover, is for real. However, Hallgrímskirkja is a looker and one of the tallest buildings in the country. Get there early if you want to take the 6-person elevator to the top for killer Reykjavik views. We skipped the ascension–the line was at least 2 hours. If you know me, that’s a hell no. We caught equally stunning vistas from Perlan–crowd-free.
Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran Church. I don’t have my religions down, but the inside is simplistic gray. This is not your typical Roman Catholic beast.
Interestingly, this church is also not that old. Commissioned in 1937, Hallgrímskirkja took 41 years to build. Said to invoke the Icelandic mountains and glaciers, the phallic structure narrows at the pointed top.
Learn more about the sanctuary and church, Hallgrímskirkja.
Gawk At A Sperm Whale Penis At The Iceland Phallological Museum
OK, maybe it was the noodles next door that suckered us into the penis museum. Starving (get your mind out of the gutter), we walked to Vietnamese noodles first, passing penis pasta and shorts. Since we had just cruised by the casino, I figured we hit…an interesting area.
Nope. Good Afternoon, Museum Culture.
To be honest, the Iceland Phallological Museum is not a must with 24 hours in Reykjavik. A little pricey, you will only spend maybe 30-minutes here immaturely giggling and staring. Sperm whales are well endowed.
Draw penises in a book, check out dick paraphernalia, and of course, see an array of mammal penises floating in glass containers. Leave with a penis shot glass souvenir.
Sad I blew the cash here? Hell no.
Caught your interest? Get the deets on the Iceland Phallological Museum.
Scale Perlan’s 3D Viewing Deck And Catch A Beautiful Landscape Movie In The Planetarium
Perlan did not land on our original agenda but driving in Iceland in the snow is an unpredictable bitch sometimes. Plus, if you happen to visit Iceland in the winter, you cannot always safely make it to a real ice cave.
Click to learn more about driving in Iceland on TUL.
Perlan is a world-case museum with a hokey but worthwhile simulated ice cave. Warning: the Perlan’s ice cave is cold AF. Expect maybe 10 to 15 minutes tops inside the narrow passageways with a short film before the doors open to icy magic.
Housed in an architecturally radical dome, don’t miss out on a 3D movie or two at the Planetarium. Head upstairs past the gift shop for 360-degree views of Reykjavik, too. Although you can spend hours here, we walked around for maybe 1-1.5 hours. Lunch and the road called.
If you are spending one day in Reykjavik, check out Perlan.
Check Out Some Street Art and Grab A Bite To Eat On Laugavegur Street
On our last day in Reykjavik, we decided to walk around Laugavegur Street (not the hiking trail). Like most downtowns, this is the place to be. Find all of the food you could want plus Hallgrímskirkja. Of course, there are bars and shopping too.
An abundance of funky street art will greet you along with scary taxidermy. The name “Laugavegur” means ‘wash road’ because back in the day, this is where women did their washing.
Keep reading for our favorite Reykjavik restaurants. Many are located on or close to Laugavegur Street.
Check out these southern Icelandic waterfalls. Many of these you can see with day trips out of Reykjavik. Plus, you can always rent a car.
Where To Eat And Drink With One Day In Rejkjavik
I am never a fan of blogging guides where the blogger pretends that everywhere s/he ate in a city is literally the best and only place. This especially bugs me if you spent a short time in the city–how can you possibly know? “Comprehensive foodie guide to [insert place],” my butt. Yes, you might have visited some local and infamous recommendations, but still…
With that said, these are our favorite Reykjavik, Iceland restaurants but certainly not musts or probably even the best you’ll ever find. We don’t like famous spots, either.
If you have one day in Reykjavik, though, I highly recommend grabbing a hot dog. Who knew hotdogs could be so famous in Iceland of all places?
These delicious establishments are the places locals recommended and/or we found and absolutely loved.
Old Iceland Restaurant
On our last day in Reykjavik before heading to the airport, we had the best goodbye Iceland meal. Old Iceland Restaurant modifies dishes for gluten and lactose intolerances. The fish melts in your mouth. Filled with kind staff and literally perfect, this lunch and dinner spot is family-owned and focuses on traditional Icelandic cuisine.
Walk-ins accepted and mostly preferred until after 6 pm.
Hungry? Be sure to stop by Old Iceland Restaurant.
Saegreifinn
Family-style dining and fish you pick out on skewers is a must. With a small group of friends, we ordered salmon, white fish, and scallops to share along with potatoes. To. Die. For. Simple but even as I write this, my mouth is salivating.
Located in the harbor, take a stroll to walk off the bloat. The Sun Voyager is close by. See if you can find an Anthony Bourdain quote on the walls nearby.
Craving fish on skewers with 24 hours in Iceland? Don’t miss Saegreifinn.
Reykjavik Kitchen
Happy Valentine’s Day evening to us! We had just driven in from Vik. Two sisters own this sweet restaurant. Serving Icelandic fish and meat, we sipped traditional Iceland libations and toasted to love. Atmospheric and perfect for couples, you’ll love this small and trendy newer gem.
Reykjavik Kitchen is located near the penis museum too. Wink, wink.
Be sure to check out the cool glowing map of Iceland on the walls of Reykjavik Kitchen.
Pho Vietnamese Restaurant
Does anyone else have international travel traditions? We always look for Pho abroad. Mind you, Reykjavik and Iceland, in general, are insanely expensive when dining out. Be prepared for $18 soup at most quick bite places.
On a chillier day, we loved Pho Vietnamese’s spring rolls, Pho, and steamy rice dishes. An Asian market sits next door, and again, your museum of ya know…sits nearby.
Sign me up for Pho!
Skál
The local brewery told us about this AMAZING food stall building, Hlemmur Mathöll. Do not miss this one.
Personally, we loved Skál where I found my non-tourist Icelandic hotdog. Plus, limoncello drinks and special whiskey sours?! Heaven.
The building boasts of 10 food stalls and used to be a historic bus station. From nitro brews to Mexican and traditional Icelandic cuisine, you can pretty much sample the world.
Read more about Skál in the Hlemmur Mathöll food hall.
Looking For a Brewery In Reykjavik? Try RVK Brewing.
Lastly, with one day in Reykjavik, I’d personally want to find the beer. But, I am biased. RVK Brewing is tiny and delicious. Find a flight of beer or even sip on some Floki Whiskey.
Don’t miss RVK Brewing when you spend a day in Reykjavik, Iceland.
If You Just Landed & Have One Day in Reykjavik, Stop At The Blue Lagoon First
I have to mention that we almost skipped the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is perfect if you have a short layover in Iceland.
We debated if the Blue Lagoon Spa was a tourist trap or worth our time. My verdict: go at least once.
The Blue Lagoon is 20-minutes from the airport. The airport is about 45-minutes from Reykjavik. If you are jet-lagged and beat up, nothing beats those warm blue waters and mist. You can spend a few hours at the Blue Lagoon and then enjoy half a day in Reykjavik, easily.
Buses run straight from the airport too.
Do You Feel Like You Are Ready For One Day in Reykjavik? And GO!
Most people don’t love only spending one day in a city like Reykjavik. While 24-hours in Reykjavik isn’t the most ideal, it is completely doable to see quite a few breath-taking structures, museums, and churches.
Don’t forget to slow down and enjoy too. Sip a beer at RVK Brewing while talking to the locals. Grab a snack at the new food stall market and laugh at giant penises. Have fun. Iceland is one of my favorite countries. You cannot go wrong.
Let me know what you love to see and do in Reykjavik. How would you spend one day in Reykjavik, Iceland?
Traveling To Iceland Soon? Don’t Forget How To Have A Spectacular 24 Hours in Reykjavik. Pin It!
Haven’t been there yet but I’m in love with Harpa. I need to go! And that church! Wow. What a beauty! I’d be okay with just seeing it from the outside too. Love the pics you took.
The penis museum has me laughing. What a thing! I think that’s the first time I’ve ever read about it. ?
The food sounds delicious. What makes an Icelandic hot dog different? Like I think I’ll visit the penis museum and then get a hot dog. lol
Unless I’m wrapped in a heated bubble, I’d probably skip the ice cave. brrr
Do you think its easier to stay in Reykjavik and do day trips? Or do you think its best to actually stay outside of Reykjavik?
Fantastic post and photos!
Harpa was truly one of my favorites in Reykjavik too. The structure is unlike any other, and the concert hall is truly an art exhibit in itself. If I lived in Reykjavik, I would grab a book and find a place to hunker down. The structure is HUGE.
The church that I always have to google to spell (lol), Hallgrímskirkja, is incredible too. None of these sites were on my original Reykjavik to-see list, but once you come across them, how can you not fall in love? I would have liked to climb up, and I wish there were stairs.
The penis museum is literally that–and funny enough is getting the most external clicks from my site. HAHAHA. Everyone wants to see more. I do feel like it was a tad pricey (they know what they are doing), but it was worth the story. Did I learn anything? Sure…
I’m dying at your hotdog comment. Maybe they are related… I have no idea why hotdogs are a thing in Iceland. Everyone says that you have to have one, though. Tastes like a regular hotdog to me, albeit in ICELAND.
I always love road tripping so I recommend getting a car and doing your own thing. The little towns and villages are so fun to stay in. You can easily do a ton in Reykjavik, though, and see everything we did in a week based in Reykjavik. I think it depends if you like guided tours or veering off. We had another friend there at the time. She stayed in Reykjavik for a few days doing group trips and walking around on her own. Then, she did a different group trip where they stayed in Vik. I know she had a great time.
We loved Vik, Hella, and Selfoss for other places to stay in South Iceland.
Thank you!
I’d visit the Phallological Museum! Your husbands smirk in the photo next to the whale penis makes the photo extra great!
Sounds like you had a great time in Reykjavik. Your post (and it was either instagram or facebook) on Icelandic hotdogs really made me crave one. How can you crave something you’ve never had before?! I wonder if they had veggie dogs for us non meat eaters.
Can’t wait to visit Reykjavik someday rather than using Iceland as a quick layover on my way to Glasgow.
You really have to visit the Phallological Museum! It’s so unique and makes for a great story. As you walk around, it’s fun to people watch, too.
I bet Iceland has veggie dogs for you. My husband found one that he thought (or at least hoped) was gluten-free–and I think that food truck did have veggie options. Iceland is super on top of dietary preferences, needs, and restrictions–which we absolutely loved. Restaurants worked with a variety of food needs without even flinching. (The U.S. sucks at this.) Plus, the food was delicious. We usually try at least one vegan restaurant abroad, but I don’t think we had time on this trip.
I would love to have a layover in Iceland just for the Blue Lagoon! I’d go back. Nothing beats that warm water.
Can I just say that I love it that you (usually) try a vegan/vegetarian place in each place you visit! I usually check up on restaurants nearby in locations I am staying in to be sure I can have something to eat. Otherwise I just live on pizza as I always know what that is made from! I will definitely try a veggie dog whenever I make it to Iceland for a real trip.
Thank you!
We were excited to find a gorgeous little vegan restaurant on our recent travels in Vilnius, Lithuania. I could have ordered 20 smoothies to go with my dinner (and I did take an extra to go). We tried to stop by this incredibly popular vegan restaurant in Tallinn, but we couldn’t get in on any night. Dang it! The menu looked delicious.
I used to love pizza but I am SO lactose-intolerant these days and with my husband having Celiacs, it’s a done deal, sadly.
You’ll have to let me know how the veggie Icelandic dog tastes one day!
I’d Defi want to visit and see that museum just for those giggles… and the noodles sound interesting too.. Great read Chris !!
Zee xx
Hehe! I love that you saw the post on IG and came right over to say ‘hi.” Thank you!
I am laughing like a 12 year old boy at the Phallological Museum, what an amusing find that is just the right kind of weird for my tastes! I love this post so much, Christine and am definitely filing away the tip about the Blue Lagoon’s proximity to the airport. I want to go to Iceland really badly, and your post has ticked it up my list!
It IS hilarious, though. It’s like you want to be all cultural and professional about the Phallological Museum, but it really is just a museum of penises. Like the Sex Museum in Miami, they had some fun penis-themed ‘stuff’ like shot glasses. They also had a hilarious guest book with plenty of drawings. Sure, maybe you could have learned a thing or two (like sperm whales rule the kingdom) but…
I hope you make it to Iceland soon! It is so good for the soul. Hope you are having a great week full of spoons and good things.
The Blue Lagoon looks like the best place to chill and unwind after (or before) a long flight! So beautiful. And that church is spectacular too but I’m with you on the lack of desire to waste 2 hours of my life standing in a queue for the lift!
The penis museum made me laugh and I’m sure I’d be sniggering like a teenager there too ?
I’m loving the sound of the fish skewers – they sound se delicious. Iceland is definitely on my ‘must-visit’ list
The Blue Lagoon is so nice. At first, I was worried that it would be too touristy. However, we just loved those warm waters. If you go before the crowds, it’s extra special, especially on a chilly day.
Hallgrímskirkja is cool enough just to look at from the outside and to dip into. Unlike Cologne Cathedral, there weren’t stairs or another way to go up beside the elevator. With a 6-person limit and a line wrapping around, we went to lunch instead. I was more than pleased with that choice.
The penis museum served its purpose. Hehe. I should have bought those boxers for my husband.
I hope you make it to Iceland soon! The country is definitely a must.
Loved this! It is so fun reading about people’s travels. It really makes me feel like I’m traveling for a sec. Harpa looks incredible and there’s something about those 3 shots with the one of you that looks so beautiful to me.
I see penis!! ? If you post the penis museum to your Instagram feed, please tell me because I will coordinate my museum pic with yours. I’ll write something like if beautiful art kind of bores you, then I’m sorry, head over to @theuncorkedlibriarian to see what she saw at the penis museum. ??
That is a cute shot of you in the simulated ice cave! If there wasn’t a grate on the bottom, I would have just thought you were in a real ice cave. What do I know about ice caves?
Coincidentally enough the first time I had Pho was recently when I was in Dallas. It was my last meal there! I really liked it. I need to find a spot near me for some pho.
Awesome post as usual!! I loved that you advised to sip a beer while talking to locals. Good reminder! Sometimes we rush to see all the sites but the best moments can be when relaxing and immersing yourself in the culture. I recently was looking through pics from my ‘05 travels through Europe and came across a picture that my friend and I took with a local couple. I don’t remember what we talked about but I remember the feeling I had while we chatted with them (like Maya Angelou said). I remember them being so warm and welcoming and fun! ?
Harpa was by far my favorite. Thankfully, we had time to see Harpa on our last day in Reykjavik and Iceland before heading to the airport. Before that, we just kept driving by. The designer and artist did a stellar job with the prisms and mirrors. I just loved the gorgeous colors. Thanks!
I have to see how I can fit a penis museum picture into my curated IG feed. GAGAHAHAHA. I knew that you would like that one. Hehe. I will definitely let you know if I manage to think of something. There are still so many pictures and videos that I haven’t edited or shared yet. Ek!
As for the ice cave, I was actually thinking the same thing! That grate really gives it all away. You would think that they could put snow down. Truthfully, I probably still know nothing about ice caves…but hey, I got to frolic in a fake one. The blustery high city view at Perlan was the best part.
Pho is pretty much one of my favorite foods (along with sushi) on the planet. When we first landed in Paris, we went right for the Pho. Oops…sorry France and French cuisine.
I love finding pictures with fellow travelers that I meet along the way. I think the coolest part of SM and IG now is that we can all friend each other so that we can stay in touch and remember each other better. There are so many travelers from long ago that I wish I could find.
Thanks for reading, and thank you for the great comment.
Thank you for this post! I’ve been wanting to visit Iceland for sooo long now and you really brought Reykjavik to life. I’m slowly compiling lists and notes of things I need to do when I finally go. This info made me want to book a plane ticket right now haha!
YAY!!! When are you thinking of going to Iceland and for how long? Man, I wish we had more time. I would love to drive a circle around the entire country. We didn’t get up north.
That’s how I travel plan too! I look at a ton of blogs and write down places that interest me.
My apologies for the late comment reply too. I was just road tripping around the Baltic States–and got behind and exhausted. I’m usually not this bad. I appreciate the comment so much as well as the kind words.
My trip is super tentative because I’d really like a good chunk of time to explore. I don’t want to feel rushed and I know there is so much to see! I’d like to go for 3-4 weeks, so maybe once I finish university that will be my gift to myself; an adventure around Iceland. <3 <3 Sounds like you had a lovely trip even if you didn't get to see everything ( but really you can never see it all! )
I always prefer having a ton of time to explore too. Three to four weeks would be wonderful! I do hope that you get to go. It’s an amazing experience and just awe inspiring.
What an interesting mix of places to experience. I would be way too embarrassed to go to that museum. The food looks delicious though. Iceland sounds like a neat place to visit, perhaps I will get to travel there one day.
I swear that everyone who walked through the museum was giggling at some point or blushing.
The food in Iceland, especially Reykjavik, was so delicious. We couldn’t believe how accommodating they were with food intolerances.
Iceland was truly one of our favorites. I’d add it to any bucket list. I am ready to go back.
After reading this article I got to know so much about the place I had just seen the pictures online but never gone through the reading part. but this article was treading and I really enjoyed reading this article it provided so much information about the place will visit for sure.
Before we visited Iceland, we saw all of these gorgeous pictures as well. They draw you right into Iceland. Reykjavik is such a beautiful and fun city, and I wish that we had more time there. I am so glad that you enjoyed this post. I hope you head there one day.