7 Days in Reykjavik for First-Timers
A full week takes the 6-day route (Hallgrimskirkja, whale watching, Laugardalur, Perlan, the National Museum, the slow local day) and adds a last wrap-up day of final shopping and one more pool soak. Want a tighter version? See our 6-day itinerary . If a week in just the city sounds like too much, our Reykjavik as a base guide covers turning extra days into Golden Circle or South Coast trips instead.
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 7-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 7 | Wrap-up | Final Laugavegur shopping run |
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.
Day 7
Morning
- 9:00 - 12:00: Final Laugavegur shopping run for anything you skipped on day 1.
Afternoon
- 13:00 - 15:00: One last pool soak, a fourth session by now, before you pack a suitcase instead of a swimsuit.
Evening
- Departure: Book the Flybus from BSI or your hotel to Keflavik airport with a real buffer. It is a 45-minute ride and buses run roughly every 30 to 45 minutes around arriving and departing flights.
Is a week too long for just the city?
For some travelers, yes, and that is a fair call. If you would rather spend days 5 through 7 on the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon, or the South Coast instead of a third pool session, our Reykjavik as a base guide covers exactly that trade. This itinerary is for people who specifically want a full week inside the city itself.
How do you avoid repeating yourself over 7 days?
By rotating locations, not activities. You will swim more than once and eat pylsur more than once, but each day still moves through a different neighborhood, Grandi, Laugardalur, Vesturbaer, the National Museum quarter, so the repeated activities feel like local habits rather than filler.
Seven days in Reykjavik alone is a genuine choice, not a compromise. Book the whale-watching boat and Perlan’s online ticket first, everything else on this route is walk-up.