Ready-made trips · Iceland
Reykjavik in 5 days
Colourful Reykjavik and the harbour, whale watching and Harpa, a day at Geysir and the Gullfoss waterfall, and a chance of northern lights from autumn to spring.
Open the plan to change anything: swap stops, swap or add days, and keep your own copy to share.
- Length
- 5 days
- Best time
- February to March, June to October
- Pace
- Moderate
- Day trips
- Golden Circle
Five days in Reykjavik: Whale Watching and Harpa; The National Museum, Tjörnin and Grótta, plus a day trip to Golden Circle. Each full day is one our team has planned, to be walked in order around usual opening hours, with lunch and dinner suggestions close to the stops.
Day by day
1First Evening on LaugavegurArrival
- When you arriveLaugavegur StreetMain shopping and dining street.Tip: Reykjavik's main shopping street, genuinely good for browsing Icelandic design and local boutiques.
- When you arriveSun VoyagerSteel sculpture by the sea.Tip: A genuinely striking steel sculpture resembling a Viking ship, positioned along Reykjavik's waterfront — especially photogenic at sunset.
Lunch nearby: Hlemmur Mathöll or Kaffibrennslan
Dinner: Dill or Sægreifinn (The Sea Baron)
2Whale Watching and Harpa
- MorningWhales of IcelandLife-size models of the 23 whale species of Icelandic waters.Tip: The blue whale model is 25 metres long.
- AfternoonWhale Watching TourBoat tour to see whales.Tip: Faxaflói Bay tours run year-round from Reykjavik, but species and sighting likelihood vary by season — ask operators what's currently being seen.
- EveningHarpa Concert HallGlass building with events.Tip: A striking glass building with a genuinely distinctive honeycomb facade — worth seeing even without attending a performance, especially illuminated at night.
Lunch nearby: Sægreifinn (The Sea Baron) or Matur og Drykkur
Dinner: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur or Grillmarkaðurinn
3Geysir and GullfossDay trip to Golden Circle
- MorningGeysir
- AfternoonGullfoss
Dinner: Kaffibrennslan or Hlemmur Mathöll
4The National Museum, Tjörnin and Grótta
- MorningNational Museum of IcelandIceland’s story from the Viking settlement to today.Tip: The Valþjófsstaður church door, carved around 1200, is the treasure.
- AfternoonTjörnin and City HallThe city-centre lake with its swans, and the City Hall’s giant relief map of Iceland.Tip: The 3D map of Iceland inside City Hall is free.
- EveningGrotta LighthouseCoastal lighthouse with sunsets.Tip: A favourite spot for the northern lights from September to March, away from city light.
Lunch nearby: Grillmarkaðurinn or Sægreifinn (The Sea Baron)
Dinner: Matur og Drykkur or Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
5A Last Morning at HallgrímskirkjaLast morning
- Before you leaveHallgrímskirkjaIconic church with city views.Tip: Reykjavik's iconic church, with a tower offering some of the best panoramic views over the city's colorful rooftops.
- Before you leaveKjarvalsstaðirReykjavik Art Museum’s home for Jóhannes Kjarval’s Icelandic landscapes.Tip: One ticket covers all three Reykjavik Art Museum sites on the same day.
Lunch nearby: Hlemmur Mathöll or Kaffibrennslan
Dinner: Perlan Restaurant or Dill
Where to stay
Miðborg (Downtown)
The old centre around Laugavegur, Hallgrímskirkja and the harbour.
Walkable; Flybus stops at BSÍ and downtown hotels.
Old Harbour & Grandi
The harbour district of whale-watching boats, museums and restaurants.
A 10-minute walk to downtown; bus 14.
Laugardalur
The green valley of the big pool, the zoo and the botanical garden.
Bus 14 to downtown, 15 minutes.
Everything in the plan is ready to book
The full plan has a map of each day, directions between stops, opening hours, restaurant choices, hotels in these areas and tickets, tours and trains linked to book with the provider you choose.
Open the full plan →Want different dates, a slower pace or something specific? Plan your own Reykjavik trip in about a minute.