Usually, I do my research before I go somewhere. You know, exchange rate, tour fees, etc. Well, I did that and still I was blindsided by how expensive everything was in Reykjavik! When a Subway sandwich costs you $12, it's bad. Obviously I didn't do enough research.
So before you jump on a plane to Iceland's Capital city, I thought I would offer you a list of things you can do for $20 or less.
1.Reykjavik City Hall
There is a lovely little city pond in the city center. At the North side of this pond is a partially moss covered building, it is the Reykjavik City Hall. After you have strolled around the pond stop by the City Hall to check out a 3-D map of Iceland and several art displays. An extra plus is the great view of the pond from the inside of the building.
Cost: $0
2. Art Walk
Get yourself lost in Reykjavik's city center and you will find that there is art everywhere (everywhere!). Most of the works have no official marking and to be honest there were a few I couldn't tell were sculptures. Walking around city center to see many of these lovely works should take you between 1-3 hours, depending on how much you want to see. plus this is a great way to get a feel for the city. So I recommend taking your time strolling through the streets, you will see sculptures, paintings and several interesting art structures.
Cost: $0
3. Free Walking TourAlmost every major city has a free walking tour, and Reykjavik is no exception. Meeting at Leakjartorg Square, Reykjavik's walking tour departs at 12:00 and 14:00 in summer and just 12:00 in winter. The tour takes you around the city center offering interesting facts about the city and giving you a quick modern history of Iceland. Even though the tour is technically free you still want to tip your guide.
Cost: 500-1000 ISK ($5-$10) tip
4. Bæjarins Hotdogs
Visited by Presidents and movie stars alike Bæjarins Hotdogs are a necessary stop. Nestled on the corner of Tryggvagata in the city center all your looking for is a tiny Hotdog stand. Open since 1937 Bæjarins has been a staple of Reykjavik fast food. The standard Icelandic Hotdog comes with fried onions, fresh onions, sweet mustard, herb mayonnaise and ketchup. I know, right? If your ready to try this local favorite be prepared to wait in line. The lunch rush is especially crazy.
Cost: 420 ISK ($4.20)
5. DessertI found more than one place to satisfy my chocolate craving in Reykjavik but my favorite was Sandholt. Situated on Laugavegur, Reykjavik's main shopping street, Sandholt has everything from pastries to truffles. You can stop by for a quick togo snack or sit and enjoy yourself in their little café. It's perfect stop after walking all day and the café has a huge window for a wall where you can an sit and watch the activity on the street while you enjoy your sweets.
Cost: 150 ISK (truffles)- 950 ISK (pastries)
($1.50-$9.50)
The main shopping/drinking/eating street in the city center is
Laugavegur. The street is always lively but visit on a Saturday night after 22:30 and your in for a treat. The cheerful crowds, the street musicians and the food trucks are a just a few of the things you will enjoy. You will find several places to stop in for a drink most of the bars have live music on the weekends.
Cost: 1200ISK+ (beer) $12+
1700ISK+ (food truck)$17+
1700ISK+ (food truck)$17+
Designed in 1937 and completed in 1986 Hallgrímskirkja Church is one of Reykjaviks most noticeable landmarks. It's free to go visit the church. There is often local art hanging inside or you can even catch an organ concert. The organ is the centerpiece of the church with 5275 pipes. But, please remember you are in a functioning church.
For a small fee you can take and elevator (or take the stairs, you have to pay either way) to the clock tower of the church.
The tower give you an enchanting view of Reykjavik. With 360° views of the city it is one of the best ways to see Reykjavik.
Cost: 900ISK ($9) Tower
8.The National Museum of Iceland.
If you would like to know a little more history about Iceland what better place than the National Museum. Small by the standards of the Louvre and Smithsonian, the Iceland National Museum is three floors. The first floor houses the Ticket counter, café, giftshop, lecture hall and photo gallery. The second floor presents Icelandic history 800-1600 AD. With artifacts, diagrams and several audio narrations the history of Iceland comes alive. The third floor brings us to the modern age covering Iceland's history from 1600 to today. It's reasonable to say you could spend 2-3 hours walking around the museum.
Cost: 1500ISK ($15)
9. Dark Deeds Walking tour
Touted as a way to learn about Icelands crime fiction, ghosts and ghouls this free walking tour is put together by the Reykjavik City Library. Unfortunately this tour is held only in June, July and August at 15:00. So, I did not get to experience this one for myself. The tour starts from the City Library and lasts about 90 minutes. Just remember, the tour maybe free but remember to tip your guide.
Cost: 500-1000ISK ($5-10) Tip
10. Volcano House
Did you know Iceland is waiting for a Volcano to erupt any minute now? Of course with around 150 volcanoes on the island waiting for one to erupt is just a way of life in Iceland. If you want to learn more about the Volcanoes in the island the volcano House is the place to go. It features a free mini museum of the local minerals and, the types of Lava and ash. It will also give you a quick history on the most recent volcano eruptions including the Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 which stranded close to millions people at European airports.
Cost: $0
Before planning your trip, remember! Currency exchange rates change often and prices and times of attractions may change. So make sure to double check before you jump on a plane. AND have fun!
