Iceland is one of the most popular tourist destinations as of late, and I’ve been there twice. I’ve been to Reykjavik in the winter (late November) and in the summer (right after the summer solstice). Granted, the magic and beauty of Iceland are mostly found outside of its enchanting capital city. However, I do recommend that any tourists visiting Iceland spend some time in Reykjavik during their visit. There’s a lot to see and do (and eat and drink!) in this town – so here are my top 7 things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland!
7. Visit quirky local artisan shops & buy cool stuff
Reykjavik has a great design scene and there are a ton of cool local shops where local artists sell their wares. Supporting local artisans is one of the ways that you can “give back” and fight the specter of overtourism. Iceland has a huge problem with overtourism, so consider offsetting your visit by supporting the local arts with a purchase. Plus, you’ll get a pretty sweet souvenir to bring home with you. It’s a win-win!
At Kirsuberjatred (Vesturgata 4) you’ll find original pieces by 11 local women artisans for purchase. This includes fishskin leather goods, pottery, jewelry and more.
My favorite shop, however, was fóa (formerly located at Laugavegur 2). It had a great balance of trendy and artsy but thoughtful things that you can bring home. Unfortunately, fóa closed in November 2018 due to skyrocketing rents in the city. The space it occupied is still vacant.
But – fret not! Rebekka from fóa actually gave me amazing referrals for you, dear readers, if you would like to buy real Icelandic products from local artisans. They are:
A store I really enjoy is Skúmaskot, they are sort of along the lines of fóa, selling beautiful pieces by Icelandic designers. A few artists still sell their wares at Kolaportið, the only real flea market in Iceland and they could definitely do with some support as well. There are also very many beautiful jewellers (orri finn and aurum for example) that are still running stores downtown.
I would also recommend ceramic shops! There are lots of them dotted around downtown esp. on Skólavörðustígur that are absolutely beautiful…[Jackie’s note: Maybe also get coffee and a pastry at Mokka Kaffi in the morning near here too – a cafe in Reykjavik that’s been open since 1958!]
…Rammagerðin and Epal, larger and more established stores…sell mass-produced trinkets but also have some high-end local art.
Rebekka – assistant store manager at fóa for the 5 years it was open
A more traditional option is buying an authentic knitted Icelandic sweater (known as a lopapeysa) from the Handknitting Association of Iceland (Skolavoerdustigur 19). These are NOT cheap, but the quality of the pieces is undeniable. If you don’t need a sweater but just want some warm gloves or a hat, they have those too (I have 2 pairs of gloves). Plus, you can be assured that it’ll be the warmest sweater, gloves, or hat that you own!
6. Visit Hallgrímskirkja and go to the top
Towering over the statue of Leif Eriksson is the unmissable Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik’s most iconic church. A Lutheran church, Hallgrímskirkja took 41 years to build (from 1945 to 1986). The church is named for the 17th Century famous Icelandic clergyman and poet Hallgrímur Petersson.
The church is home to a pretty epic organ (made by a German organ builder) and it has an elevator that takes you to the top of the tower. Tickets to the elevator are 1000 ISK (about $8 USD) per person. At the top, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city and beyond. The view alone is worth a visit. Being a Protestant church, the church is otherwise pretty plain inside (very Scandinavian), but beautiful.
Here are the church and tower hours:
Winter (October – April): 9 am – 5 pm, tower open 9 am – 4:30 pm.
Summer (May – September): 9 am – 9 pm, tower open 9 am – 8:30 pm.
