Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and its largest city, on the south-west coast, with the Hallgrimskirkja church and the Harpa concert hall.
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Best things to do in Reykjavik
The one thing not to miss
Take a day trip on the Golden Circle from Reykjavik: the Þingvellir rift valley where Iceland's parliament once met, the Haukadalur geysers and the Gullfoss waterfall.
The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss1. The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss
A loop of about 300 km from Reykjavik into the southern uplands. The three main stops are Þingvellir National Park, the geothermal area at Haukadalur with Geysir and Strokkur, and the Gullfoss waterfall. Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes.
Our sources do not say how to book. Many visitors join a tour or drive; check opening and road conditions before you go.
12,839 readers a month
2. Hallgrímskirkja
A Lutheran parish church that is the largest church in Iceland, 74.5 m tall, with a distinctive curved spire. Completed in 1986, it has become an important symbol of Icelandic national identity.
We have not confirmed opening hours or tower access; check the church's own site before you go.
11,556 readers a month
Sources
3. Icelandic Phallological Museum
A museum in Reykjavik that says it holds the world's largest display of penises and penile parts, from more than 100 mammal species, plus items from Icelandic folklore. Adult-themed and often unusual.
The exhibits are explicit; consider before bringing children. We have not confirmed opening hours or prices.
6,650 readers a month
4. Blue Lagoon
A geothermal spa in a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 20 km from Keflavík International Airport and 5 km from Grindavík. One of Iceland's most visited attractions.
The area is on the volcanically active Reykjanes Peninsula; check the operator's site for current opening and safety information before you go.
4,742 readers a month
5. Viðey island and the Imagine Peace Tower
Viðey is the largest island in Kollafjörður Bay, just outside Reykjavik. It holds the Imagine Peace Tower, a tower of light installed in 2007 as a memorial to John Lennon by Yoko Ono, with the words Imagine Peace carved in 24 languages.
Reaching the island needs a boat; we have not confirmed sailing times, so check before you go.
2,601 readers a month
6. Harpa concert hall
A concert hall and conference centre on the Reykjavik waterfront, opened with a concert on 4 May 2011. Its coloured glass façade is inspired by Iceland's basalt landscape.
Check the Harpa website for events and opening hours.
2,599 readers a month
7. Fagradalsfjall volcano
An active volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 40 km from Reykjavik. A fissure opened at Geldingadalir on 19 March 2021, the first eruption on the peninsula for 815 years, and lava flowed on and off until 18 September 2021.
An active volcanic area: check current eruption, gas and access warnings from the Icelandic authorities before travelling.
2,467 readers a month
Sources
8. Höfði House
A house built in 1909 in Reykjavik, best known as the venue of the 1986 summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. The American and Soviet flags hang crossed inside to mark the meeting.
We have not confirmed whether the interior is open to visitors; check before you go.
1,863 readers a month
Sources
9. Kerið crater lake
A volcanic crater lake in the Grímsnes area of south Iceland, on the Golden Circle. It is one of several crater lakes in the Western Volcanic Zone and has the most clearly intact caldera.
We have not confirmed any entrance arrangements; check before you go.
1,418 readers a month
Sources
10. Perlan
A natural history museum on top of Öskjuhlíð hill, in a glass dome on district heating tanks. It has a planetarium with a Northern Lights show, an ice cave about 100 m long, a glacier exhibit and a 360-degree observation deck.
Check opening hours and ticket prices on the museum's own site.
1,248 readers a month
Sources
Just missed the list: Sun Voyager (11th; a steel sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason on the Reykjavik waterfront); Sky Lagoon (12th by readers; a geothermal spa in Kópavogur)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. The Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss leads with about 12,839 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.