Everything you need to know before visiting Reykjavik, Iceland! A comprehensive restaurant guide, hotel recommendations and even day trips to do from the city!Reykjavik is such an interesting place. Despite being relatively isolated from the rest of the world, it has a surprisingly trendy vibe. Its residents haven’t let the extremes in daylight and darkness, or weather for that matter, cramp their enjoyment of life. There are great bars, amazing restaurants, cute boutiques and an overall feeling of nationalism.

Reykjavik is a bit of a mystery – unless you’ve visited for yourself, chances are you don’t know much about it. It isn’t a darling of the cinema like Paris or Rome. You really have to see it for yourself to get what it’s all about! It’s a sea town with a proud viking heritage.

Reykjavik also feels extremely safe. There are no guns and they have no military presence. Crime is almost nonexistent. It’s small and safe enough to feel very walkable and pretty enough that you’ll want to walk everywhere.

Read on for my Reykjavik, Iceland travel guide and video!

Best Restaurants in Reykjavik, Iceland

Before our trip, someone warned me, “You don’t go to Iceland for the food.” That may have been true in the past, but Iceland has a great up and coming food scene! I predict in the near future people will be visiting Reykjavik as a culinary destination a la cities like Tokyo and Paris. Especially exciting is the recent awarding of one Michelin star to Dill restaurant – Iceland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant. Here are the best restaurants we ate at in Reykjavik.

Dill Restaurant Reykjavik

Dill is Iceland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant and has won many awards proclaiming it the best restaurant in Iceland. We couldn’t resist checking it out for our tradition of having a fancy “last night in town dinner”.

Talk about a Michelin star is well-deserved! The setting is comfortable but chic, the service is impeccable and every detail has been meticulously considered. I mean, the chef even makes his own salt! You get a tiny bit with your bread at the start of the meal – make sure you savor every grain.

The thing that struck me most though, was the lack of hierarchy. There is a small open kitchen at the center of the restaurant and every member of the staff takes on every role. The same person prepping our dish also brought it to our table and every person was a part of our dining experience in some way. Head chef Gunnar Gíslason actually wiped down our table at the end of the meal. I almost had to pick my jaw up off of the floor! He was super patient with my enthusiastic queries about his salt making process, ingredients on the menu that I didn’t recognize, and more. I absolutely recommend checking it out if you’re in Reykjavik. Making a reservation in advance is essential and can be done easily online.

Dill Restaurant Reykjavik

Hverfisgata 12, 101

Reykjavík, Iceland

http://dillrestaurant.is/en

More Dill restaurant photos:

Matur Og Drykkur Restaurant in Reykjavik

Although not Michelin-starred, Matur Og Drykkur was one of five Iceland restaurants mentioned this year in the Michelin guide. The menu features old-fashioned Icelandic restaurants with a modern twist.

We only stumbled upon this gem thanks to a recommendation from a friend of a friend who lives in Iceland. He promised the following: “Really gorgeous, unusual, well done and local. I’m so excited that it opened. There are not many places who actually do non-sensationalist Icelandic food (read: without puffins and shark and blah blah) and do it so thoughtfully.”

I really appreciate that they don’t use endangered meats on the menu but still honor their Icelandic roots. Every dish was incredible – I highly recommend eating here.

Do not skip dessert! We had the best skyr (Icelandic yogurt) of our trip at Matur Og Drykkur, topped with blueberry granita. Their Icelandic donuts are made to order and are also insanely delicious. I’m still dreaming about them.

Matur Og Drykkur Restaurant

Grandagarður 2, 101

Reykjavík, Iceland

https://thelaundromatcafe.com/en/home

More photos from Matur og Drykkur restaurant:

 

Snaps Bistro Bar & Restaurant

Local favorite Snaps is a bright and airy bistro in downtown Reykjavik. Their covered patio with floor to ceiling windows and loads of plants is one of the prettiest settings I’ve ever eaten in. The atmosphere is relaxed and charming and their food, and service, is excellent. The menu is full of french favorites like Croque Monsieur and Moules Frites and a variety of local seafood dishes.

Snaps Bistro Bar & Restaurant

Þórsgata 1, 101

Reykjavík, Iceland

http://www.snaps.is/

More Snaps Restaurant photos:

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur Hot Dog Stand

Strangely, Icelanders have claimed to hot dog as their national dish. “Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur” is Icelandic for “the best hot dogs in town”. They have been serving their hot dogs since 1937! The list of celebrities who have eaten Baejarins Betzu hot dogs is extensive – everyone from Bill Clinton to Eric Clapton. At only $2.50 a piece, the hot dogs are also the cheapest meal you’ll find in Reykjavik. Most people order hot dogs with “the works”, which includes ketchup, sweet mustard, fried onion, raw onion and remolaði, a mayonnaise-based sauce with sweet relish.

I’m not a huge hot dog lover, but it was actually quite good! The sauces make the eating experience very satisfying, but it might be the quality of the hot dog itself that sets it apart from the ones you’ve tried in the United States. They are mostly made from Icelandic lamb with some pork and beef mixed in. This isn’t leftover bits of factory farm meat – Icelandic animals are organic, free range, grass-fed and hormone free. The hot dogs are also made with natural casings – none of that synthetic stuff! They are truly the créme de la créme of hot dogs.

If you don’t make it to Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, you can find Icelandic hot dogs everywhere! They are in most villages and gas stations and you can even pick up a pack in Duty Free at the airport on your way home.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur Hot Dog Stand

Tryggvatagata 1, 101

Reykjavík, Iceland

http://www.bbp.is/

 

Fiskmarkadurinn Fish Market Restaurant

Fiskmarkadurinn is Icelandic for Fish Market. As the name suggests, the restaurant features thoughtfully prepared dishes made with some of the freshest seafood you’ll find. They have everything from sushi to  Icelandic seafood dishes with an asian twist. My favorite dish was the lightly smoked cod roe with cervil, pickled onion, sea truffle and fermented potatoes. The team is also led by a female chef, which I’m always happy to see.

The one disappointment with Fiskmarkadurinn is they use endangered and overfished meats on their menu including puffin and shark. Honestly this is a big enough deal to us we probably won’t eat there again unless they make more sustainable menu choices.

Fiskmarkadurinn Fish Market Restaurant

Aðalstræti 12, 101

Reykjavík, Iceland

http://fiskmarkadurinn.is/english/

More Fiskmarkadurinn Fish Market restaurant photos:

Reykjavik Roasters Coffee Shop

Reykjavik Roasters is a super hipster coffee shop that could be just as home in San Francisco as it is in Reykjavik, Iceland. Both locations have great coffee, cozy seating and are great for people watching.

Reykjavik Roasters Coffee Shop

Rautarholt 2

105 Reykjavík

and

Kárastígur 1

101 Reykjavík
http://www.reykjavikroasters.is/en/

The Laundromat Cafe

As you might suspect from the name, you can do your laundry at The Laundromat Cafe in Reykjavik. If you’re seeing Iceland from a camper van, clean clothes and a hot meal will be a bit of heaven! The café is packed with things to do while you’re waiting – board games, books, magazines . There is also a kid’s play area for your littles.

Even if you don’t have any dirty clothes, it’s still worth a visit though! The café has a full menu of great beers, cocktails, coffee, and food. Their motto is “Life is too Short for Bad Burgers!”. They also have a secret meatball sandwich menu item that was revealed on Secret Eats with Adam Richmond which I hear is insanely delicious and super filling.

The Laundromat Cafe

Austurstræti 9

101 Reykjavík, Iceland

http://www.thelaundromatcafe.com/en/home

 

Things to Do in Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik Street Art

Reykjavik is incredibly charming. It’s packed with brightly colored houses, cobblestone streets and cute cafes. My favorite part was the murals that randomly graced the sides of buildings all over town. It makes walking around town that much more fun as you never know what street art you’re going to stumble upon!

More photos of Icelandic murals & street art: 

Geysir Boutique Iceland

If you’re looking for great shopping, Iceland is not the place. With the current exchange rate, prices are nearly double what you’d pay in the United States. Even brands that we have here in the US are 1.5 to 2 times the price. If you have money that is burning a hole in your pocket, a great place to find a thoughtful gift or a small souvenir is Geysir Boutique. They have many Icelandic and international brands and both men and women’s clothing.

Still, I couldn’t help picking up a cute sweater as a souvenir of our time in Iceland.

Geysir Boutique

Skólavörðustígur 16, 101

Reykjavík, Iceland

http://geysir.com/

 

Kormákur og Skjöldur Boutique

The unpronounceable (to me at least) Kormákur og Skjöldur Boutique is a treasure trove of beautiful men’s and women’s clothing and accessories from all over the world. They also have a great assortment of men’s toiletries and grooming items.

Kormákur og Skjöldur Boutique

Skólavörðustígur 28

101 Reykjavík, Iceland

https://herrafataverslun.is/

Free Walking Tour Reykjavik

Incredible free walking tours of Reykjavik lead by locals daily! This was one of the highlights of our time in Reykjavik. Our engaging and funny guide had a wealth of knowledge about the city. It was a very relaxed way to learn more about this beautiful city – and for free! The tour is great for all ages, including kids, and covers about 2 kilometers(1.3 miles) of walking over two hours.

Tour Departs from Austurvöllur Parliment Building Several Times Daily

Book your tour and see the schedule at:

https://citywalk.is/tour/free-walking-tour-reykjavik/

Good Value Hotels in Reykjavik, Iceland

105 Townhouse Hotel

The 105 Townhouse Hotel is like a giant Pinterest explosion. The apartment-style rooms are chic with cool light fixtures, fun tile and lots of amenities. Interior design inspiration was not a common finding in Icelandic hotels, so this was definitely a refreshing change for us. It’s also nice that our room had a small kitchenette complete with fridge and dishwasher. 105 Townhouse Hotel was also quiet and felt very safe. The hotel is located outside of the city center, so you’ll need a car if you decide to stay here.

105 Townhouse Hotel

Háteigsvegur 1

Reykjavík, Iceland

https://www.105hotel.is/

Freyja Guesthouse Reykjavik

We spent our last night in Iceland at Freyja Guesthouse. It’s located just a few blocks from the famous Hallgrímskirkja church, meaning it’s central to most of the cool spots in Reykjavik. The decor is absolutely lovely and the staff was some of the nicest that we encountered during our time in Iceland. A large continental breakfast is included with your stay and each floor has a large kitchen that guests are free to use.

Freyja Guesthouse Reykjavik

39, Freyjugata, 101

Reykjavík, Iceland

http://www.freyjaguesthouse.com/

More photos from Freyja Guesthouse:

Day Trips From Reykjavik, Iceland

Into the Glacier Tour Iceland

If you’re looking for a fun day trip from Reykjavik, you should consider an Into the Glacier Tour. The tours offer the unique experience of being able to – you guessed it – go into a glacier. The glacier cave is manmade meaning it’s much safer to explore and it’s a completely different experience than other groups offer which is just on top of the glacier. It’s also the only way to see the blue ice at the heart of the glacier – that isn’t a lighting trick. It’s actually that blue inside!

You’re picked up from your hotel and taken to base camp where you then change to a specially modified glacier vehicle that literally is a former cold war missile carrier. Just the wheels alone are taller than me, but that’s what it takes to get on to the glacier safely in even extreme conditions.

It was interesting to learn about how glaciers are formed and to see the grey lines in the cave that represented volcanic eruptions. You can tell the age of the ice based on these lines, just like rings on a tree.

Depending on the package you choose, you can do anything from a lava cave tour to snowmobiling. The tours aren’t cheap, but let’s face it, nothing in Iceland is!

More photos from our Into the Glacier tour:

 

Blue Lagoon Iceland

The Blue Lagoon Spa & Hot Springs isn’t actually located in Reykjavik. It’s about a 45 minute drive outside of the city near the international airport. It’s an easy drive or bus ride to get there and it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! Luckily I wrote a whole post about it, which you can read here. It has everything you need to know about booking tickets, best times to go and what to expect when you’re there!

P.S. – Need more Iceland travel information? You’re in the right place! Check out these posts:

Guide to the Golden Circle in Iceland

Visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland

Guide to the South Coast and Southeast Coast of Iceland:

Before You Go: Iceland Travel Tips:

Finding Hidden Hot Springs in Iceland: