6 Days in Reykjavik for First-Timers
Six days takes the 5-day route (Hallgrimskirkja, whale watching, Laugardalur, Perlan, the National Museum) and adds a genuinely slow, local-paced sixth day built around a flea market and a third pool session. Want the faster version? See our 5-day itinerary . Going all the way to a full week? Our 7-day version covers every neighborhood at this same relaxed pace.
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 6-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 6 | The slow, local day | Kolaportid flea market, third pool session |
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 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.
Evening
- 18:00 onward: Dinner built around kjotsupa, the classic Icelandic lamb soup, then a live-music venue if one is booked.
Day 6
Morning
- 10:00 - 13:00 (weekends): Kolaportid flea market at the harbor, the city’s best browse for secondhand Icelandic sweaters and local snacks, if your dates land on a Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise, a slow cafe morning downtown.
Afternoon
- 13:30 - 16:00: A third pool session, alternating back to whichever of Laugardalslaug or Vesturbaejarlaug you liked better, or a second look at Grandi’s coffee shops.
Evening
- 19:00 onward: A splurge dinner. You have earned it by day 6. Pack for departure or the Flybus back to Keflavik.
Is 6 days too long for Reykjavik alone?
Only if you are trying to fill every hour with a new sight. This itinerary does not do that. Day 6 is deliberately unstructured, built around a market, a repeat pool visit, and whatever coffee shop looked good on day 2. That is the actual point of a 6-day city trip: enough slack to stop sightseeing and just live in the place for a bit.
What do locals actually do on a slow day?
Pools, mostly, plus a Saturday flea market run if the trip lines up with one. Kolaportid is where Reykjavik shops for secondhand wool sweaters and local snacks, not a curated souvenir stall setup, and the pool routine (soak, sauna, hot tub, repeat) is the actual daily social fabric of the city, not a staged visitor experience.
Six days is enough to have a favorite pool by the end of the trip. Book the whale-watching boat and Perlan’s online ticket before you land, everything else on this route is walk-up.