5 Days in Reykjavik for First-Timers
Five days takes the 4-day route (Hallgrimskirkja, whale watching, Laugardalur, Perlan) and adds a fifth day for the National Museum and a proper second pass through downtown. Prefer it tighter? Our 4-day itinerary covers the same core. Ready to slow down further? Our 6-day version adds a genuinely local, unhurried day.
Book these before you go:
- Book a Reykjavik whale-watching boat : good-weather morning slots go first.
- Browse Reykjavik food and walking tours : a local guide beats wandering Laugavegur blind.
- Compare downtown hotels on Booking.com : book early, rooms run tight June through August.
The 5-day route at a glance
| Day | Focus | Do not skip |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Downtown core | Hallgrimskirkja tower, ISK 1,500, walk-up only |
| Day 2 | Old Harbour and Grandi | Whale-watching boat, booked ahead |
| Day 3 | Laugardalur | Laugardalslaug pool, ISK 1,430 |
| Day 4 | Perlan and Vesturbaer | Perlan observation deck, ISK 6,890 online |
| Day 5 | National Museum and downtown | Second pass through the side streets |
Day 1
Morning
- 9:00 - 11:00: Check in, then walk straight to Hallgrimskirkja . Climb the tower (ISK 1,500 adult, walk-up-only, no pre-booking), then duck into the free nave.
- 11:00 - 12:30: Wander down Skolavordustigur, the colorful street running from the church door, popping into the small design and ceramics shops along the way.
Afternoon
- 12:30 - 14:00: Lunch on or just off Laugavegur, the city’s main shopping street running about 2km from Hlemmur to Laekjartorg square.
- 14:00 - 17:00: Keep browsing Laugavegur.
Evening
- 17:00 - 19:00: Walk past Austurvollur square and the parliament building on your way to dinner.
- 19:00 onward: Dinner downtown, then an early look at the bar scene.
Day 2
Morning
- 9:00 - 13:00 (boats run 3 to 3.5 hours): Whale-watching boat from the Old Harbour with Elding or Special Tours. Both advertise sighting rates above 90% and rebook you free if nothing surfaces.
Afternoon
- 13:30 - 16:30: Walk from the Old Harbour into Grandi, the former fish-processing strip now holding the Omnom chocolate factory, the Marshall House galleries, and some of the city’s best craft coffee.
Evening
- 17:00 - 18:00: Walk back along the water, stopping at the free Sun Voyager sculpture and Harpa’s glass lobby, also free. The 45 to 60-minute guided tour into the main hall runs ISK 5,200 if you want more.
- 18:30 onward: Dinner at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, the harbor-side hot dog stand, or a sit-down seafood spot nearby.
Day 3
Morning
- 9:00 - 12:00: Bus or walk out to Laugardalur, the geothermal pool and park district east of downtown.
Afternoon
- 12:00 - 15:00: Swim at Laugardalslaug, the city’s largest pool: ISK 1,430 adult, ISK 220 for 16 to 17-year-olds, free under 16. Follow it with a wander through the botanical garden next door.
Evening
- 15:00 - 17:00: Head back downtown for Kaffibarinn’s happy hour, running daily from 15:00, draft beer from ISK 1,050.
- 19:00 onward: Dinner downtown.
Day 4
Morning
- 9:30 - 12:30: Perlan , the glass-domed glacier and ice cave exhibit with a 360-degree observation deck. ISK 6,890 adult booked online (ISK 7,290 at the door), ISK 4,890 online for kids 5 to 12, free under 5.
Afternoon
- 13:00 - 16:00: Head to Vesturbaer, the residential west side, for a soak at Vesturbaejarlaug, a smaller, cheaper, locals-first pool, then a wander through the University of Iceland campus.
Evening
- 18:00 onward: Dinner, then a second night in the bar and coffee scene.
Day 5
Morning
- 9:30 - 12:00: The National Museum of Iceland, for the history and culture the waterfront does not show you.
Afternoon
- 12:30 - 16:00: A second, slower pass through downtown’s side streets off Laugavegur, the ones you walked past on day 1.
Evening
- 18:00 onward: Dinner built around kjotsupa, the classic Icelandic lamb soup, at a casual downtown spot, then a live-music venue if one is booked. Pack for departure or the Flybus back to Keflavik.
Is 5 days enough to slow down in Reykjavik?
Yes, and this is roughly where the pace shifts from checklist to actually living in the city for a bit. By day 5 you have already done the must-book activity (whale watching) and both major paid attractions (Hallgrimskirkja, Perlan), so the extra day can go toward whatever you liked best on days 1 through 4.
What is new on day 5 that the first 4 days miss?
The National Museum, mostly, plus a second, unhurried look at downtown’s side streets. Neither is essential the way Hallgrimskirkja or the whale-watching boat is, but both fill in context (Iceland’s settlement and independence history, the city’s design and cafe culture) that a faster trip skips entirely.
Five days is where Reykjavik stops feeling like a stopover. Book the whale-watching boat and Perlan’s online ticket before you land, everything else on this route is walk-up.