Whatever time of year you go to Iceland, you’ll want to visit the Golden Circle and the South Coast. Here are a few more things to do during your summer trip to Reykjavik.
1. Take a boat tour to see the Puffins. You can only see the puffins in the summer months, and luckily there’s an island in Reykjavik Harbor where they nest. We had a blast on the Special Tours cruise.
I do not however recommend a whale watching cruise. We spent 3 hours and didn’t even see a fin. The fast chase boats might have better luck, but they didn’t appeal to me. However, if you have to kill an hour before your Puffin Tour, Whales of Iceland is in the same general vicinity (as is a supermarket and a big box store should you have the need). It’s not worth going out of your way to see it, and it is very pricey for what you get, but it definitely gives you perspective.
2. If you do your Puffin tour on a weekend morning, you can visit Kolaportið, the Reykjavik flea market. It is mostly jewelry, food and what you’d expect at a flea market, but worth an hour or so. I got a lovely silver ring and necklace, handmade by silversmith Sigal Harmeshi (@sigalhm on Instagram.) Weekends only.
3. A food tour. I recommend The Reykjavik Food Walk. Go hungry. So much food. There are 5 stops including the Icelandic Hot Dog Stand made famous by Bill Clinton.
4. Hallgrimskirkja The church itself is lovely, and it is well worth going up the tower for the views. We were lucky to stumble onto an organ concert the day we went. Check the website to see if there are any scheduled during your visit. Hungry? Just across the street — a delightful farm to table bistro called Rok and if you fancy more traditional Icelandic fare, Cafe Loki. Try the Rye Bread Ice Cream. Really.
5. Punk Museum of Iceland. Located in a former public restroom in downtown Reykjavik, the Punk Museum is worth a stop whether you like punk or not. The museum takes full advantage of its venue — the stalls actually become part of the story. We spent about an hour, and if you were a true punk fan you could spend far longer as the staff is very knowledgable and happy to share.