Icelandic Hot Pot Culture
Various swimming pools, Reykjavík
Iceland's geothermal swimming pools (sundlaugar) are the country's most important social institution — outdoor pools heated by volcanic water to 38-44°C where Icelanders swim laps, soak in hot pots (heitir pottar), and conduct the conversations that hold Icelandic society together.
Northern Lights & Midnight Sun
Various viewing locations, Reykjavik & surrounds
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are visible from Reykjavik and the surrounding countryside from September through March — curtains of green, purple, and white light that ripple across the sky when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field.
Reykjavik City Centre Murals & Street Art
Various locations, 101 Reykjavík
Reykjavik has one of the most concentrated street art scenes in Europe — a collection of large-scale murals covering building facades throughout the 101 postal code area (downtown Reykjavik) that was partly formalised by the city-sponsored Wall Poetry project and has since expanded organically as international and Icelandic artists have added work to the city's walls.
Reykjavik's Colourful Houses
Various streets, 101 Reykjavík
Reykjavik's colourful corrugated-iron houses are the city's visual signature — small, brightly painted buildings with tin roofs and cladding that were built from the late 19th century onward and give the city centre its distinctive toytown appearance.
Sun Voyager (Sólfar)
101 Sæbraut, Lækir, Reykjavík, 105, Iceland
The Sun Voyager is Reykjavik's most photographed sculpture — a stainless steel representation of a Viking longship by Jón Gunnar Árnason, installed on the harbour front in 1990.
Tjörnin (The Pond)
Tjörnin, Reykjavik
Tjörnin is the small lake (literally 'the pond') in the centre of Reykjavik — a rectangular body of water bordered by Ráðhús (Reykjavik City Hall), the Lutheran Free Church, and the National Gallery of Iceland.
Explore free in Reykjavik
GPS-guided narration at every landmark. Tap a spot on the map, hear the story. Every fact verified.