Exploring Reykjavik and soaking in the pools of Iceland

The city of Reykjavik is the largest city in Iceland, and everyone who visits this remote country tends to spend a couple of days exploring its streets. After that, most visitors choose to visit the nearby geysers, glaciers and lagoons which the country is famous for.

Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik, Iceland, photo by Tsuguliev / Shutterstock

Take a walking tour around Reykjavik

There are several tours around the city’s main landmarks- and there is even an accessible tour adapted to wheelchair users. During the tour you can see the Parliament and the flea market, and there are several themed tours: a tour dedicated to the history of the city, a barcrawl to explore the city’s nightlife and a tour dedicated to the financial crisis.

The city can be explored on foot: the Hallgrimur church is located close to the city center, and the commercial streets of Laugavegur, Austurstraeti and Laekjargata are filled with shops. There are plenty of restaurants offering traditional dishes all around the city, including those that offer whale meat and sheep faces.

Hallgrimskirkja at dusk, Reykjavik
Hallgrimskirkja at dusk, Reykjavik

Hallgrimskirkja at dusk, Reykjavik, photo by Nella / Shutterstock

Spend a night in a vintage hotel

Are you fed up with standard double-room, breakfast included hotels? Reykjavik has plenty of hotels to offer, from the centric CenterHotel Thingolt, with its gallery prints decorating the walls of this former printing factory to the hip 101 Hotel, known for its colourful furniture and large baths. Those on a budget can stay in the vintage Kex Hostel, located in what used to be a biscuit factory. Those who want to explore the country’s wild side can head to the rustic Kerlingarfjöll, a town located close to the city. Here you will find mountain huts with views towards the mountains, ideal for viewing the famous Northern Lights.

Tour its isolated landscapes

The rugged landscape of Iceland is worth the visit alone. The most famous itinerary around Iceland is the Golden Circle, a route that covers the country’s main attractions. After departing Reykjavik head to the Thingvellir National Park, part of a fissure zone where you will find Lake Þingvallavatn. The next stop on the route is the Geysir Hot Spring Area, a geothermal area where you will be able to see the Geysir geyser sprout water every few minutes. There is another must-see nearby, the Gullfoss Waterfall, plunging into a crevice 32m deep. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in this area, from visits to the ice caves, snowmobile tours and glacier hiking to river rafting, fishing and mushing.

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Oxararfoss waterfall in Thingvellir National Park
Oxararfoss waterfall in Thingvellir National Park

Oxararfoss waterfall in Thingvellir National Park, photo by CoolKengzz / Shutterstock

Enjoy a swim in one of the geothermal pools

Do you want to relax and enjoy the scenery? If you do, then head to the famous Blue Lagoon for a day of pampering with a view. There are several cheaper options nearby for those on a budget: the city of Reykjavik has its own complex, the Laugardalslaug, with hot tubs, botanical gardens and even a zoo, all of them available at a much lower price than the Blue Lagoon. Two large pools are located on the Golden Circle route: the Laugarvatn Fontana spa and the Gamla Lagoon, which is available at night for those who want to watch the Aurora Borealis lights.

If you choose to visit the West Fjords, then you will be able to indulge in the Krossneslaug geothermal pool with views towards the Arctic Ocean. The Mývatn Nature Baths, located in the northern area of the country, are another alternative. Known for its milky blue waters mineral waters, the complex has a cafeteria where you will be able to enjoy local beer and lamb soup after the relaxing bath.

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Lori

I’m offering public relations, communications and image counseling in everyday life and I have a PR agency – PRwave INTERNATIONAL. I am passionate about reading, blogging (I also have a blog in Romanian) and traveling. Follow me on Twitter - @violetaloredana (Romanian) and @TravelMoments.

21 thoughts on “Exploring Reykjavik and soaking in the pools of Iceland

  • 30 January, 2016 at 17:27
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    Beautiful visuals 🙂 Lucky you to visit these places and thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.

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  • 30 January, 2016 at 19:00
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    The place just looks so stunning,awesome sight scene.I like those two pictures of Hallgrimskirkja at dusk, Reykjavik and that waterfall….they are looking just superb.

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  • 30 January, 2016 at 23:22
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    iceland is my dream city, i wanna be there so bad!

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  • 31 January, 2016 at 02:14
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    It’s great that a person on wheelchair can also travel throughout Iceland. My dad has problems walking because he got into a car accident so every time we go on tours, there must be a center for us to borrow a wheelchair.

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  • 31 January, 2016 at 03:30
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    Amazing place and stunning architecture too. A must visit in Iceland.

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  • 31 January, 2016 at 11:52
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    Lovely images!
    I was always fascinated by the beauty of Iceland. But your post has triggered a new kind of zeal. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

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  • 31 January, 2016 at 12:56
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    I love to visit Iceland, the place looks so serene and for me it is a nice place for relaxation and to stay here is a dream come true.

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  • 31 January, 2016 at 16:23
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    I have yet to read more about Iceland. It isn’t in my bucket list but after reading your post, I am set to go on a trip to Iceland. The geothermal pool piqued my interest, sounds a little daunting but it is safe right?

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 02:39
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    Your photographs are beautiful even if I know that these cannot fully capture the magnificence of the real thing. Iceland is really a dream destination for me in the future. I hope not too far off.

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 03:53
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    What a beautiful place to tour and spend your vacation in! Those sights are so lovely! I’d love to see them someday!

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 04:41
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    that place is really beautiful. i wonder when will i be able to visit it or any place in the world.

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 06:43
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    The place is very tempting. It makes me want to go there. It’s as if it’s a totally different world. I hope to have a friend there that could tour me. Did you take the pictures? I would like to visit the ice caves!

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 07:41
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    I’ve been watching a Korean show, Friends Over Flowers, and this is exactly where they went! The Geysir looks sooo amazing when boosting out water and hot steam!

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 08:48
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    Hallgrimskirkja is soooo… difficult to pronounce! It look very much like a rocket! I love the look, perhaps I will visit this place one day!

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 11:31
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    I love the photos and the icy blue effect. I want to visit Iceland someday. It’s in my list of must-visit places.

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  • 1 February, 2016 at 14:35
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    Iceland is really rich in beautiful landscapes and natural attractions. I would really love to see them up close especially their geothermal pools and geysers.

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  • 2 February, 2016 at 00:47
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    Ive been seeing.photos on the internet about iceland and all those are stunning pictures. The place looks magical eap the mountains, its so green and looks lile a place for a hollywood film or something

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  • 2 February, 2016 at 08:57
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    Wow I am not sure when I am able to go to Reykjavik and Iceland. Its very far from here, almost 24 hours flight.

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  • 11 February, 2016 at 15:19
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    I’ve visited a geothermal pool in India and it was awesome. I expected the water to be warm, but it was HOT…. Would love to visit Iceland some day..

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  • 19 January, 2017 at 20:19
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    Great photos and thanks for the tip of staying at Kerlingarfjöll- we went to Iceland in summer, chasing the midnight sun and now it is the time for northern lights 🙂

    Reply
  • 14 September, 2017 at 18:19
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    awesome article, thanks for posting

    Reply

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