Self-Guided Walking Tour in Reykjavik

Why Walk Reykjavik? A Self-Guided Tour

This 4.5 km walk through Reykjavik connects 9 stops over about 2.5 hours, covering the full sweep of the world's northernmost capital. Starting at the landmark church on the hill, you will loop through the waterfront, old harbor, parliament square, Viking settlement ruins, the city lake, the national museum, and finish back at the sculpture garden near where you began. Reykjavik is tiny by capital city standards, and everything on this route is walkable without ever needing a bus. Bring a windproof layer regardless of season: the weather here changes by the hour.

The Route: 9 Stops

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Route Map

Your Reykjavik Walking Tour, Stop by Stop

1. 1

   Hallgrímskirkja

   

   The walk starts at the most recognizable building in Iceland. This 74.5-meter church took 41 years to build, finally completed in 1986, and its stepped concrete facade was designed to echo the basalt columns found in Icelandic lava formations. Inside, a 25-ton pipe organ with 5,275 pipes dominates the rear wall. The real draw is the elevator ride to the tower observation deck, which gives you a 360-degree view over Reykjavik's colorful tin rooftops, the harbor, and on clear days, the Snaefellsjokull glacier 120 km away. Take the elevator up at the start of your walk to orient yourself for everything that follows. Open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The church is free to enter; the tower elevator costs 1,200 ISK.

   Learn more about Hallgrímskirkja →

   Hours

   Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

   Price

   Free (elevator to tower €5)

   7 min walk

2. 2

   Sun Voyager

   

   Walking north toward the waterfront, you reach this stainless steel sculpture on the bay. Created by Jon Gunnar Arnason in 1990, it resembles a Viking longship, though the artist insisted it was a dream boat symbolizing undiscovered territory. The sculpture faces north across Faxafloi Bay toward Mount Esja, and the light on it changes dramatically throughout the day. Sunset and sunrise hit the steel at low angles that make it glow. This is one of the most photographed spots in Reykjavik, so come early morning if you want it without a crowd of people posing in front of it. The gravel path along the waterfront in both directions is excellent for a longer walk if you have time. Open 24/7, free.

   Learn more about Sun Voyager →

   Hours

   Open 24/7

   Price

   Free

   8 min walk

3. 3

   Harpa Concert Hall

   

   Continuing west along the waterfront, the Harpa appears as a glittering geometric mass at the edge of the old harbor. Opened in 2011, the building is wrapped in over 10,000 irregular hexagonal glass panels designed by artist Olafur Eliasson. The panels contain an LED system that turns the entire facade into a light display after dark. Walk inside the foyer for free: the interior is just as impressive, with honeycomb-shaped windows casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the concrete floors. The building houses two concert halls and hosts everything from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra to the Iceland Airwaves music festival in November. Check the schedule if you want to catch a performance. Open Monday to Tuesday and Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Foyer entry is free. Guided tours cost 2,250 ISK for adults, 1,125 ISK for students.

   Learn more about Harpa Concert Hall →

   Hours

   Mon-Tue: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Wed-Sat: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Sun: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

   Price

   Free entry to foyer; guided tours €15 adults, €7.50 students; performance tickets vary €20-150+

   5 min walk

4. 4

   Alþingi

   

   A short walk south from the harbor brings you to Austurvollur square and the modest dark stone building that houses the Icelandic parliament. Founded in 930 AD at Thingvellir, this is the world's oldest parliament, though it moved to this Reykjavik building in 1881. The structure is small by parliamentary standards, built from locally sourced dolerite, and sits on a square where Icelanders gather for protests, celebrations, and the occasional impromptu concert. The building's exterior is more impressive than you might expect given Iceland's tiny population. Look for the carved details above the entrance. The parliament is a working government building, so interior access is limited, but the square and exterior are always accessible.

   Learn more about Alþingi →

   Hours

   Mon-Thu: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Fri: 2:00 – 4:00 PM | Sat-Sun: Closed

   Price

   Free (tours by reservation)

   3 min walk

5. 5

   The Settlement Exhibition

   

   Just minutes from the parliament, this small underground museum is built directly over the excavated remains of a Viking longhouse from approximately 871 AD, one of the oldest human-made structures ever found in Iceland. Workers discovered the ruins by accident in 2001 during construction work. The museum wraps around the original stone foundation walls, using multimedia displays to reconstruct what life looked like in the settlement's earliest decades. A volcanic tephra layer in the soil provides a precise date, since it matches a known eruption. This is a genuinely fascinating museum that most visitors to Reykjavik miss. Budget 30 to 45 minutes here. Open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is 1,800 ISK for adults, 900 ISK for children and seniors, free for children under 5.

   Learn more about The Settlement Exhibition →

   Hours

   Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

   Price

   €9 adults, €4.50 children/seniors, under 5 free

   2 min walk

6. 6

   Reykjavik City Hall

   

   Steps from the Settlement Exhibition, the modern city hall sits on pillars extending into Tjornin lake. The architecture divides opinion (concrete modernism on a medieval lakefront), but the reason to step inside is a massive 76-square-meter 3D topographic map of Iceland that shows every glacier, fjord, and volcanic ridge in relief. It is the best way to grasp Iceland's geography before heading out on excursions. The building also houses rotating exhibitions and a small cafe. Free to enter.

   Learn more about Reykjavik City Hall →

   Hours

   Mon-Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Sat: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Sun: 12:00 – 6:00 PM

   Price

   Free

   3 min walk

7. 7

   Tjörnin

   

   Stepping outside the city hall, you are at the edge of Reykjavik's central lake. Over 40 bird species visit Tjornin, including Arctic terns, greylag geese, and whooper swans. In winter, part of the lake is kept ice-free by geothermal heating so the resident birds always have open water. A walking path circles the entire lake in about 20 minutes, passing colorful houses and small gardens. The south shore is quieter and has benches with views back toward the city hall and church spire. In summer, this is where locals come to sit in the long-light evenings. Open 24/7, free.

   Learn more about Tjörnin →

   Hours

   Open 24/7

   Price

   Free

   8 min walk

8. 8

   National Museum of Iceland

   

   Walking south along the university campus, you reach Iceland's main history museum. The collection spans from Viking settlement to modern independence, with the star piece being the 12th-century Valthjofsstadur church door, carved with an intricate scene of a knight fighting a dragon. The museum does an excellent job of making 1,100 years of history accessible, with well-designed displays and English-language descriptions throughout. The section on the DNA and genealogical records of Icelanders is unique to this country. Plan for 45 minutes to an hour. Open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is 2,500 ISK for adults, 1,250 ISK for students and seniors, free for children under 13.

   Learn more about National Museum of Iceland →

   Hours

   Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

   Price

   €12 adults, €6 students/seniors, under 13 free

   10 min walk

9. 9

   Einar Jónsson Museum

   

   Your walk ends at the museum and sculpture garden dedicated to Einar Jonsson (1874 to 1954), Iceland's first sculptor. The museum building itself dates to 1923 and sits directly beside Hallgrimskirkja, bringing you full circle. The real highlight is the free sculpture garden behind the building, where 26 bronze works stand among paths and greenery. Jonsson's style is symbolist and mythological, drawing on Norse legends and spiritual themes. The garden is open year-round and is especially atmospheric in winter light or summer midnight sun. The indoor museum houses additional works. You finish the walk right where you started, with the church spire overhead.

   Learn more about Einar Jónsson Museum →

   Hours

   Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

   Price

   ISK 1500

Self-Guided Tour vs. Group Tour in Reykjavik

Reykjavik is one of the few capital cities where you can cover all the major landmarks on foot in a single morning. The Settlement Exhibition is genuinely world-class, the Harpa is architecturally stunning, and the views from Hallgrimskirkja tower give you the best possible orientation for the rest of your Iceland trip. The city's small scale works in your favor: you never feel rushed, and detours into side streets, coffee shops, or bookstores are always just a few steps away. If you are in Iceland for the nature (and most people are), this walk is the best way to give Reykjavik the time it deserves before heading out to the Golden Circle or the Ring Road.

How Long Does This Reykjavik Tour Take?

Budget 2 to 2.5 hours for the full 4.5 km route. The Settlement Exhibition and National Museum can easily absorb 30 to 45 minutes each if you are interested, so if you go deep in both, add another hour. The walking segments themselves are all short and flat.

Tips for Walking in Reykjavik

• Reykjavik weather is unpredictable at any time of year. Dress in layers and bring a windproof, waterproof outer shell. You will likely experience sun, wind, and drizzle within the same walk.
• The tower at Hallgrimskirkja has the best view in the city. Go up at the start of your walk to spot all the landmarks you are about to visit. On clear days you can see all the way to Snaefellsjokull glacier.
• Reykjavik's cafe culture is outstanding. Reykjavik Roasters on Karastigur (between Hallgrimskirkja and the waterfront) serves some of the best specialty coffee in the country. Good mid-walk refueling point.
• If you are visiting in summer (June to August), the midnight sun means you can do this walk at 10:00 PM in full daylight with almost no other people around. The light quality is extraordinary.
• Tuesdays offer free entry to the National Museum. If your schedule is flexible, plan accordingly. The 2,500 ISK admission is worth it on any day, but free is free.

Common Questions