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Iceland with Kids: Discovering Charming and Quirky Reykjavik

Many visitors don’t spend a lot of time in Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik (pronounced rei-ca-vik) on their way to explore the more rugged and scenic parts of the country.  We were glad we used it as a homebase during our brief stay.  Surrounded by the sea and mountains, we found Reykjavik to be compact, appealing, clean, kid-friendly and interesting with some quirkiness thrown in.

reykjavik skyline image

Iceland’s total population is about 300,000 and two-thirds of them live in the capital area of seven municipalities .  Reykjavik means “Smoky Bay“, so named after the steam rising from the hot springs that were found here.

Europe’s northernmost capital (of a sovereign state) provided us with plenty of attractions that should not be missed. These were the memorable structures and scenes we saw during our strolls and drives around the city.

Reykjavik street image

Most of the watercraft and ship traffic has moved to a bigger port but the Old Harbour and its waterfront was still worth a visit.  The Old Harbour was the start of many whale watching and puffin tours as well as home to some Coast Guard vessels.

Many restaurants and museums were along this area overlooking the water.  I loved how blue and calm the water was around here.

Reykjavik Old Harbour
One of the harbor’s most impressive structure was the Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre which had its grand opening only last August 2011.  The building shimmered in the sunlight with its multi-colored glass facade – made of more than 10,000 glass windows.  Its stunning design was inspired by Iceland’s landscape referencing the basalt rock found throughout the country.

Reykjavik iceland Harpa

It reminded me of a very large prism. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to see its interior. With the sun shining almost 24 hours during our visit, we never got to see it all lit up either.

Reykjavik Harpa
A famous attraction along the waterfront was the Sun Voyage sculpture (Solfar) – a stainless steel sculpture of a Viking fishing ship.  It was glistening beautifully during our visit with the ocean and the mountains in the backdrop.

Reykjavik sun voyage sculpture solfar

Some have said it also somewhat resembles an insect.  No matter how it may look in one’s imagination, it was a modern twist and a wonderful tribute to Iceland’s Viking past.

sun voyage solfar image reykjavik

This white house further down the waterfront, known as Höfði house (pronounced Hov-di), may look a bit out of place but played a huge part in world history. Originally built for the French consulate, the house was the setting of the famous 1986 Reykjavik summit meeting between US President Reagan and then Soviet Union’s leader Gorbachev which marked the beginning of the progress to end the Cold War.

Reykjavik Hofdi house

Walking around the capital city, it almost felt like a small town instead of the country’s hub.  We noticed that there were hardly any crowds even with summer season in full swing.

There was an absence of skyscrapers and the buildings were modern, minimalist Scandinavian design.  This was Laugavegur below – Reykjavik’s main shopping street.

Reykjavik Laugavegur image

There was a sense of diversity throughout the city and it definitely had a lot of character.  Street art and graffiti adorned many walls around Reykjavik.  This was one example of Icelandic creativity.

Reykjavik graffiti art

Then, there’s creativity gone a little too far.  We tried to figure out what this window display was all about and forgot to read the details. A home for wayward dolls?  A toy store?  Any guesses?

Reykjavik doll window display

There aren’t many places in the world that can display this rare menu sign on their streets.  Yes, we ate whale among other things but not at this particular place though.  We know it’s a highly debated issue and our Icelandic culinary experience will be detailed in a post soon.  So, stay tuned for some yummy goodness (or not).

Reykjavik whale and puffin menu image

Contrary to many people’s image of Iceland as a desolate spot, Reykjavik actually had a lot of public squares and parks filled with trees, well-maintained shrubs and flowers.  Tjörnin (the Pond) was a lovely oasis in the middle of the city perfect for walking and biking.

Tjörnin lake Reykjavik

Tjörnin lake Reykjavik church image

On the outlying area was the very unique building called Perlan (The Pearl) which was located on a hilltop overlooking the city.  A glass dome sits on top of large water tanks that provide heat to the city.  The dome houses an atrium with various exhibits.  One of the tanks has been converted into the Saga Museum which chronicles the Viking Age in Iceland.

Reykjavik The Pearl Perlan image

However, there was one structure that literally stood out in Reykjavik’s skyline.  Hallgrimskirkja (Hallgrimur’s church) was the off-white church prominently situated on a hilltop in the middle of the city.  Named after an Icelandic poet and clergyman(Hallgrimur Petursson), this was not one of those old, ornate churches found in many European cities.

Hallgrimskirkja church reykjavik

It took 38 years to complete this modern Nordic design Lutheran parish and was finally opened in 1986.  My first impression was it resembled a space shuttle on a launching pad.  My kids called it a “rocket”.

Hallgrimskirkja reykjavik image

Hallgrimskirkja was Iceland’s tallest building at 244 ft(74.5 m).  We saw it from everywhere in the city which made for a good point of reference while walking around.

hallgrimskirkja church image reykjavik

Its interior was a bit sparse but with plenty of windows and soaring ceilings.  It was quite beautiful visiting it when the sun’s ray were pouring in through the windows.

hallgrimskirkja interior image reykjavik

The highlight here for us was going up the bell tower (via an elevator) to get the best panoramic views of Reykjavik.  Access to the church was free but the bell towers were 600 ISK($4.70 US).  We got lucky and were treated to a glorious, sunny day perfect for enjoying the scenery.

Hallgrimskirkja tower view reykjavik

Colorful rooftops throughout the city lined the streets.
Hallgrimskirkja tower view reykjavik

Hallgrimskirkja tower view reykjavik

The statue in front of Hallgrimskirkja was of Leifr Eiríksson or Leif Ericson – a Scandinavian explorer thought to be the first European to land in North America.  It was certainly impressive and very distinguished looking.  The statue was the USA’s gift to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the Icelandic parliament in 1930.

Hallgrimskirkja church reykjavik

Reykjavik was not a typical European capital city yet was packed with a lot of personality, charm and quirkiness that made it appealing to visit and explore.  If you find yourself in Iceland, please don’t bypass Reykjavik.  With a range of unique activities, museums and attractions and friendly residents, it’s a vibrant city ready to impress visitors.  It certainly made a big impression on us.

*Would you spend some time exploring Reykjavik?  Have you visited Reykjavik?

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Where to Stay

  • Hotel Berg in Keflavik – This was the first hotel we stayed during our first visit and loved it. It’s close to the airport (2 miles), by the marina and offers free Wi-fi and airport transfer. It’s a small family-owned hotel. We had a split-level suite which fit our family comfortably.
  • Hilton Reykjavik Nordica – This hotel is located in the city and within walking distance of the center but shuttle buses are also provided. If you want the comforts of a modern hotel, this has it with buffet breakfast and Executive Lounge for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members. A couple of friends have stayed here and recommend it.
  • Hlemmur Apartments  – We loved this spacious, two bedroom apartment located within walking distance to Reykjavik’s city center. It looked like an IKEA showroom, It was clean, well-equipped and furnished well with all the amenities we needed for our stay. It had free WI-fi and the owners were friendly. 
  • Save up to 50% on Iceland hotels on Booking.com (the #1 Accommodation site)
  • Find the best Iceland hotels and read reviews on TripAdvisor.

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Flights/Vacation Packages

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47 thoughts on “Iceland with Kids: Discovering Charming and Quirky Reykjavik”

  1. Reykjavik seems really nice, but what would make me want to go there is the fact that you said the sun was up almost 24 hours a day! I wonder what’s that like? Wouldn’t go there in winter though, it must be so depressing! Btw, that conference hall reminds me of the opera house in Hamburg. Lovely.

    1. It was a great city. Yes, the sun was shining throughout the day but only because it was summer. It was awesome and took some getting used to. I’m sure it’s the reverse during their winter. The architects are from Denmark and they designed the opera house in Copenhagen. I’ll have to check on the Hamburg one now.

    1. We did get lucky with the weather in Iceland. We had a bit of a drizzle in Copenhagen but for the most part, the weather gods were smiling upon us during this trip.

  2. I’ve read a number of accounts from travelers who’ve visited Reykjavik and none have made me want to visit until yours. This is a great pictorial tutorial of a place that is now back on our travel bucket list. Iceland Air that flies out of Seattle sometimes offers free stopovers here, and their airline is one we often use, so thanks for changing my mind.

    1. Thanks Jackie! I’m glad you’re giving Iceland and Reykjavik a chance. We flew Icelandair too and used their free stopover on the way to Copenhagen. We were there for 4 days and used Reykjavik as our homebase and did a few day trips. Hope you get to visit soon.

  3. What a great article. Reykjavik has been on my radar for a while now and your photos just added to my desire to visit. Interesting art and architecture! The water looks super calm — kind of relaxes me just to look at it.

    1. Thanks Cathy! I loved that calm water. It made for some great reflection shots. I hope you visit Iceland soon. There was so much interesting graffiti art but that is reserved for another post.

  4. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    I would love to visit Iceland and would definitely spend time exploring Reykjavik! That sculpture is very interesting as is the amazing church. It does look like a rocket! Beautiful shots !

    1. Thanks Debbie! I loved the sculpture and the church too. They had benches by the sculpture and it was wonderful to sit there and admire art and the great view. I hope you make it to Iceland soon.

  5. I loved Reykjavik. We went through all the vintage stores (so many cool things) and tried on crazy clothes and then had a beer at this cute little pub. We didn’t spend that much time in the city as we wanted to get out and start our road trip, but it was really fun while we were there.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed Reykjavik too. It surprises me to read that many found it a bit boring. I like to call it more laid back. I wish I had more time to shop but their stores close at 6 PM which was too bad.

  6. I had no idea Reykjavik was so pretty! I’ve always like saying the name, although it seems I’ve been mispronouncing it as rei-kya-vik :-) The shots of the colorful rooftops are so beautiful. Super creepy doll display…I wonder what that store was!

    1. I was mispronouncing it too and we had to practice after hearing the locals. It really was surprisingly pretty (in the summer). I’m not sure how vibrant everything is during the dead of winter. One of these days I’ll find out about the dolls and let you know.

  7. Beautiful tour of Reykjavik – I especially loved the church and the sculpture of the viking ship. How many days did you spend in Iceland? I’ve been wondering if it can be done as a weekend trip for us?

    1. Thanks Lisa! The church was definitely unforgettable. We were in Iceland for 4 days. Icelandair has a direct flight from Toronto. We flew from NYC and that was a 5.5 hour flight. I think it’s doable to visit on a long weekend for you. Just keep in mind that the sun was shining for almost 24 hours so we got to explore more. If you’re visiting during the non-summer, you may need a bit more time since the daylight hours aren’t as long. I posted about our Icelandair experience and driving in Iceland a few days ago. It’s a family-friendly airline and you can also get a feel of how to get around. Sorry for the self-promo. Hope that helps.

      1. Thanks, Mary! I somehow missed the Icelandair post so I’ll have to go back and read it today. I was hoping that 3-4 days would make for a decent visit. I think I also saw an Icelandair ad saying that passengers could stop in Iceland for a couple of days on the way to Europe without any extra fee. Now that’s an intriguing thought too! :)

        1. Lisa, we actually flew on IcelandAir for the purpose of using the free Iceland stopover on the way to Copenhagen. They allow you to stop 4 nights on either leg of the trip. It actually came out cheaper flying them than SAS or other airlines to Copenhagen and with the free Iceland stopover. Definitely look into it next time. We’re going to fly with them to Europe from now on =)

  8. Still hoping for a trip next summer – and through your photos I can see that Reykjavik has its charms. I particularly like the sculptural piece near the water. And yes I’d spend a few nights before heading out to explore further.

    1. Thanks Leigh! Crossing my fingers for you. That sculpture is a special piece of art. When you go, definitely use Reykjavik as a homebase for a few nights.

  9. Love the white house where Reagan and Gorbachev met. It looks more like a schoolhouse than a place where world leaders would sit down together.
    Now I’m going to get ready for your Iceland food post. If you ate any of those adorable little Puffins, you and I are going to have words!

    1. I’ll let you know if we ate puffin in the post and we’ll talk afterwards. :) COme to think of it, it does look like a big schoolhouse. I think it was supposed to be some sort of Norwegian architectural design.

    1. Thanks Natasha! We were there during the first few days of summer and got lucky. We didn’t get the chance to do the puffung but maybe next time…

    1. Thanks Marcia! We really enjoyed Reykjavik and despite it being small, we actually didn’t get to explore most of the town as we wanted. We do love that church and those views were worth going up the bell tower.

  10. Thanks! I’m sure winter was totally different and cold. I bet it was beautiful with the snow-covered mountains though. We really enjoyed going here in the summer. We got to sightsee a lot with the long dayligt hours. Hope you get back to Iceland soon during non-winter.

  11. I had no idea there was this much to see! Very cool. The concert hall’s facade looks amazing. And the sculpture is really pretty.

    1. I loved looking at the Harpa concert hall. It was just so colorful especially when the sun hit it at different angles. We’d definitely want to see the inside the next time we visit.

  12. Reykjavik had really unique architecture especially the Harpa and the church. They totally surprised us. No puffin for us (this time). We did a puffin tour which was the highlight for my kids and will be on a later post.

  13. I would love to visit this city. It’s isolation and uniqueness are what make it so interesting. I especially like the photo of the clear blue water. The reflections of the boats are so clear.

  14. There have been so many posters advertising Iceland in Seattle, I’m totally dying to go. Your pictures are beautiful-and the puffin menu was enlightening. I love puffins, but never imagined them on a menu. (I have a soft spot for cute birds!)

  15. What a clash of “old meets new!” I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland and this post makes me want to visit even more!

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