Self-Guided Walking Tour in Reykjavik

A compact 4.5 km loop through the world's northernmost capital, from Hallgrímskirkja on the hill down to the Sun Voyager and Harpa on the water, then back through parliament square, the Viking settlement ruins and Tjörnin lake to finish at the Einar Jónsson sculpture garden. This page gives you the map, per-leg walking times, real prices and hours, and shorter versions.

9 Stops4.5 km~2 hours walking2–2.5 hours with stops
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Reykjavik Walking Tour at a Glance

This route is built for anyone who has a morning in Reykjavik before heading out to the Golden Circle or the Ring Road, and wants the city's real landmarks without a bus or a tour group. It links nine stops in a tight loop, and every interior along the way is optional: you decide at each door whether to pay and go in, or keep walking. The outdoor route on its own is free from start to finish.

StartHallgrímskirkja
FinishEinar Jónsson Museum (Listasafn Einars Jónssonar)
Route typeA compact loop of about 4.5 km. It runs north from the hilltop church to the waterfront, west along the old harbor, then south and back east through the old-town squares and lake to finish beside where you began, so there is almost no backtracking.
Realistic timeThe walking itself is only about an hour across nine short, flat legs. With outdoor stops for photos it fills a half-morning, and if you go deep in the Settlement Exhibition and National Museum, budget 2 to 2.5 hours in total, or more with long museum visits.
DifficultyEasy and flat throughout, on maintained city sidewalks and gravel waterfront paths. The distances between stops are short. The real challenge is the weather, not the terrain: bring a windproof, waterproof layer in any season, and shoes with grip if there is ice.
Cost to followThe outdoor walk is completely free. Paid interiors are all optional: the Hallgrímskirkja tower elevator (€5), Harpa guided tours (€15 adults, €7.50 students), the Settlement Exhibition (€9), the National Museum (€12) and the Einar Jónsson Museum (ISK 1500).
Best for:

Travelers using Reykjavik as a base for Iceland's nature who want to give the capital itself a proper half-day, plus anyone who prefers a self-guided walk they can pause, shorten or reverse at will.

The Route

Free Walking Tour Map of Reykjavik

9 stops4.5 kmabout 2 hours
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The 9 stops along this route

  1. Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Hallgrímskirkja
  2. The Sun Voyager (Sólfar) in Reykjavik, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2The Sun Voyager (Sólfar)
  3. Harpa in Reykjavik, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Harpa
  4. Alþingishúsið in Reykjavik, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Alþingishúsið
  5. The Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin) in Reykjavik, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5The Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin)
  6. Ráðhús Reykjavíkur in Reykjavik, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Ráðhús Reykjavíkur
  7. Tjörnin in Reykjavik, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour
    7Tjörnin
  8. National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands) in Reykjavik, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour
    8National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands)
  9. Einar Jónsson Museum (Listasafn Einars Jónssonar) in Reykjavik, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour
    9Einar Jónsson Museum (Listasafn Einars Jónssonar)
  10. That's the complete route.

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Your Reykjavik Walking Tour, Stop by Stop

  1. 1

    Hallgrímskirkja

    Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Price
    Free (elevator to tower €5)
  2. 2

    The Sun Voyager (Sólfar)

    The Sun Voyager (Sólfar) in Reykjavik, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  3. 3

    Harpa

    Harpa in Reykjavik, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

    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+
    Website
    harpa.is ↗
  4. 4

    Alþingishúsið

    Alþingishúsið in Reykjavik, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

  5. 5

    The Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin)

    The Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin) in Reykjavik, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Price
    €9 adults, €4.50 children/seniors, under 5 free
  6. 6

    Ráðhús Reykjavíkur

    Ráðhús Reykjavíkur in Reykjavik, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

  7. 7

    Tjörnin

    Tjörnin in Reykjavik, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  8. 8

    National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands)

    National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands) in Reykjavik, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Price
    €12 adults, €6 students/seniors, under 13 free
  9. 9

    Einar Jónsson Museum (Listasafn Einars Jónssonar)

    Einar Jónsson Museum (Listasafn Einars Jónssonar) in Reykjavik, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour

    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.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Price
    ISK 1500
    Website
    lej.is ↗

How Long Does This Walking Tour Really Take?

Pure walking across the nine legs is roughly an hour, since none of them is long and all are flat. Add outdoor stops and you are at a relaxed half-morning; the Settlement Exhibition and National Museum can absorb 30 to 45 minutes each, pushing a full, unhurried visit to around 2.5 hours or beyond.

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.

Full Route, Shorter Walk or Two-Day Version?

The full loop is short, but you can trim or split it depending on your time and how many interiors you want. Here are three ways to run it, using the real stop numbers and per-leg distances from the route.

The Complete Loop

All nine stops, hilltop to sculpture garden

Stops 1–9, Hallgrímskirkja to the Einar Jónsson Museum, about 4.5 km and 2 to 2.5 hours with stops

The full route as designed: church, Sun Voyager, Harpa, parliament, Settlement Exhibition, City Hall, Tjörnin, National Museum and finally the Einar Jónsson garden right back beside the church. Best if you have a half-morning and want every landmark.

The Short Core

The central loop without the far museums

Stops 1–7, Hallgrímskirkja to Tjörnin, then back up to the start, roughly 3 km and about 90 minutes

This keeps the church, waterfront, Harpa, parliament, Settlement Exhibition, City Hall and the lake, and skips the National Museum and its longer 1290 m leg out to the Einar Jónsson Museum. Ideal on a tight schedule or a short weather window.

The Two-Part Split

Waterfront first, history cluster later

Part one stops 1–5 (church to Settlement Exhibition), part two stops 6–9 (City Hall to Einar Jónsson), about an hour each

Break the loop at the Settlement Exhibition and do it in two easy sessions, for example a morning waterfront walk and an afternoon of old-town squares and museums. Good with kids or if you want unhurried time in each museum.

You can walk it in reverse, starting at the Einar Jónsson Museum beside the church and finishing at Hallgrímskirkja. The given direction is recommended because it takes the elevator up the tower first, so you can spot every landmark you are about to visit before you set off.

Is This Reykjavik Walking Tour Right for You?

This is a short, flat city walk rather than a hike, so it suits most travelers, but here is who it fits best and how to adapt it to your day.

A good fit if you…

  • Travelers with a half-morning in Reykjavik before heading out to the Golden Circle or Ring Road
  • Anyone who wants the main landmarks on foot without a bus, group or fixed schedule
  • History-minded visitors: the Settlement Exhibition sits over Viking ruins from around 871 AD
  • Families, since the route is flat and short with ducks and swans at Tjörnin and a tower elevator kids love

Adapt the route if you…

  • Short on time: run the Short Core (stops 1–7) and skip the two outer museums
  • Traveling with small children or wanting deep museum time: use the two-part split at the Settlement Exhibition
  • Visiting in winter, when daylight can be as little as 4 hours: start early and lean on the indoor stops
  • Visiting in summer: the midnight sun means you can walk this at 10 PM in full daylight with almost no crowds

Tickets & Skip-the-Line in Reykjavik

Most of this walk is free and outdoor, so there is no queue to skip. Only a handful of indoor stops charge admission, and none normally need advance booking.

HallgrímskirkjaThe church itself is free to enter, daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Only the tower elevator to the observation deck costs 1,200 ISK, paid on the spot.
HarpaThe foyer is free to walk through (Mon-Tue and Sun 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Wed-Sat until 8:00 PM). Only guided tours (2,250 ISK adults, 1,125 ISK students) or performance tickets cost extra.
The Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin)1,800 ISK adults, 900 ISK children and seniors, free under 5. Open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets sold at the door, no timed entry needed.
National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafn Íslands)2,500 ISK adults, 1,250 ISK students and seniors, free under 13. Open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and free for everyone on Tuesdays if your schedule is flexible.
Einar Jónsson Museum (Listasafn Einars Jónssonar)1,500 ISK for the indoor museum, daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The sculpture garden of 26 bronzes behind the building is free and open year-round.
Everything else is freeThe Sun Voyager, Althingi square, Reykjavik City Hall, and Tjornin lake are all free and accessible, most of them 24/7.
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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.

Where to Eat Along the Route

The best food in Reykjavik sits just off the tourist spine. Restaurants lining Laugavegur and clustered around Hallgrimskirkja tend to charge premium prices for average plates, and the harbor strip near the famous hot dog stand is thick with places aimed squarely at visitors, so it pays to walk a block or two off the obvious streets.

  • Grandi, the old harbor district a short walk west, is the creative food hub: an old fish factory now houses the Grandi Matholl food hall, and the area mixes gourmet seafood with artisanal bakeries and the Omnom chocolate factory.
  • Hlemmur, at the far eastern end of Laugavegur, holds the city's first food hall in a converted bus terminal. It draws far more locals than tourists and packs seven kitchens under one roof.
  • Hverfisgata, one street north of the main drag, has quietly become one of the most interesting eating streets, home to tiny small-plates spots and newer chef-driven rooms.
  • Skeifan and the residential streets outside downtown are where locals actually eat: unfussy neighborhood places with better prices and no tour-bus traffic.
Skal!⌖Michelin Bib Gourmand small-plates spot on Njalsgata built around Icelandic ingredients with a modern Scandinavian twist, known as a chef's hangout. Book a few days ahead for dinner.
Messinn⌖One of the most recommended casual seafood rooms in the city, on Laekjargata, serving fish sizzling in a pan family-style. The plokkfiskur (creamy cod and potato) is the signature. Reserve for dinner, walk-ins fine at lunch.
Sumac⌖On Laugavegur, pairing Icelandic ingredients with Middle Eastern and North African spices over an open charcoal grill. A local favorite since 2017 and a strong pick for vegetarians and vegans.
Braud & Co⌖The bakery locals agree is the best in town, on Frakkastigur near Hallgrimskirkja, with a brightly painted facade you cannot miss. Come for the cinnamon and cardamom buns, ideally early before they sell out.

Skip the generic seafood restaurants and gimmicky puffin, whale, and fermented-shark plates sold on the main tourist streets: they are overpriced for what arrives, and eating lunch instead of dinner at the same good restaurants saves a large chunk of money.

Tourist Traps to Avoid in Reykjavik

Reykjavik is one of the safest and most honest cities you will ever visit, with no rigged street games or shoe-shine hustles. The real traps here are quiet ways to overspend, so these are the ones worth knowing.

  • The souvenir shops along Laugavegur sell mass-produced puffin keychains, Viking helmets, and "Icelandic" sweaters made abroad at inflated prices. A genuine hand-knitted lopapeysa runs 35,000 to 55,000 ISK; anything under 15,000 ISK is almost certainly factory-made overseas.
  • 10/11 convenience stores are priced far above normal. Do your snack and grocery shopping at Bonus (pink pig logo) or Kronan (yellow logo) instead.
  • Do not buy bottled water. Reykjavik tap water is glacier-pure and free, and a 500ml bottle can cost 350 to 800 ISK at tourist sites for no reason.
  • A taxi from Keflavik Airport runs 18,000 to 22,500 ISK for the 45-minute ride. The Flybus is about 3,500 to 3,999 ISK per person, and local bus 55 is cheaper still.
  • Skip the airport currency exchange and its poor rates. Iceland is almost entirely cashless, so pay by card everywhere, and when the machine asks, always choose to be charged in ISK rather than your home currency.
  • Loose taxi rules have let some operators charge wild starting fares. A normal in-town start is around 810 ISK, so always ask the price before getting in.
  • Do not buy the repackaged "Puffin Eggs" or "Lava Sparks" candy sold to tourists: it is ordinary Icelandic sweets marked up four to five times over the supermarket price.

Why Walk This Route?

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.

Common Questions

Is this walk suitable for winter visits?

Yes, but daylight is limited from November through February (as few as 4 hours in December). Start early to maximize light. All sidewalks are maintained, but bring shoes with good grip for occasional ice. Most stops on this route are indoor or accessible year-round.

Can I do this walk with children?

Absolutely. The route is flat and short, the Settlement Exhibition has interactive displays, and Tjornin lake has ducks and swans that kids love. The Hallgrimskirkja tower elevator is a hit with all ages. Budget extra time for distractions.

How expensive is Reykjavik for food and drinks?

Reykjavik is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. A casual lunch will cost 2,500 to 4,000 ISK, coffee around 600 to 800 ISK, and a beer at a bar 1,500 to 2,000 ISK. The hot dog stand Baejarins Beztu, near Harpa, serves Reykjavik's most famous cheap meal for about 600 ISK.

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