A short guide to the best views over Reykjavík

Visiting any city means stunning views and Reykjavík, the Icelandic capital has to be high on the list. Situated on a peninsula with hills, mountains and tall buildings finding a vantage point to admire the city, get your bearings, and take photographs is not a difficult task.

Where are the best places for views over Reykjavík?

My favourite places for views and photography of Reykjavik are

• The top of Hallgrímskirkja in the centre of the city
• Perlan perched on a hill to the south
• Þúfa opposite Harpa
• The small but perfectly formed Viðey Island
• Beyond Grótta Lighthouse in Faxa Bay on a boat trip or while whale watching

This article contains links to products and services that I think you will find useful. I may earn a commission on any purchases you make at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more HERE

Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja has to be the most photographed church in Iceland and for good reason. It can be seen from most points around the city and sits on the highest hill in the city centre.

This height provides the perfect vantage point out over the city. Take the lift to the first platform on the spire and then walk the last few steps to the very top of the tower.

From here you can have a 360° view across the city and the landscape beyond. You will need to explore each window on the tower to get a full range of angles and don’t be afraid to use the small platforms for a better view.

How to get to Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja is one of the easiest landmarks to find in Reykjavík. It is located at the top of Skólavörðustígur, also known as the Rainbow Street. The church is free to visit but there is a charge to go to the top of the tower. Make sure you check the website for opening times as this can change.

Perlan

Perlan was a really surprising find in Iceland for me. The museum looks amazing from the outside and inside the amount of information and displays really helps you understand Iceland.

From the parking area there are good views across the city to the mountains behind, but for even better views take a walk up to the top of the building.

From the top of Perlan, you can access the viewing area. This is outside and can be incredibly windy, but on a calm day, the views are stunning.

If you are visiting in the winter then Perlan is one of the best places to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks or Northern Lights erupt across the sky.

How to get to Perlan

Perlan is located close to Reykjavík airport. It is possible to walk to the museum but it is a 40-minute walk from the main city centre. If you don’t have a car then it is one of the stops on the hop-on-hop-off bus or take bus line 18 which stops nearby. You can purchase tickets in advance HERE

Þúfa

Þúfa is a small hill just across the water from Harpa. Þúfa just means tussock and this 8-metre little hill was created by artist Ólöf Nordal in 2013.

On the top is a small hut that is used to dry fish called harðfiskur and from here there are beautiful views over the Old Harbour and across Faxa Bay.

Follow the spiral path to the top, take a look in the drying hut and then admire the views across the city. In the winter months, the sun will be behind the Harpa Concert Hall most of the day making photography quite hard!

How to get to Þúfa

Þúfa is tucked away in the Harbour District close to the Living Art Museum and Whales of Iceland Museum. The road is a dead end with a small parking area. It doesn’t have any signs but there is a wider area for leaving a car. The sea wall is perfect for whale watching as you follow the path round to the hill.

Viðey Island

Viðey Island has to be a little hidden gem in Reykjavík.

Most visitors probably know it as the place where the light from the Imagine Peace Tower can be seen in December. However, the island has a wilder side with views back across the city and small beaches.

Viðey Island is one of the places to see wildlife in Reykjavík and is also a place to go to take in the skyline of the city.

In the winter months, the boats to the island don’t run, but a walk out to Laugarnes following the Sculpture and Shore Walk will give you some good views across the waterfront.

How to Get to Viðey Island

The island can be reached in the summer months from the Skarfabakki Harbour where the Iceland cruise ships dock. There is also a ferry from the Old Harbour. This is run by Elding Adventure at Sea and is one of the places included on the Reykjavík City Card. Skarfabakki Harbour is 30 30-minute walk along the Sculpture and Shore Walk or is a stop on the Hop-on-hop-off bus.

Faxa Bay (Faxaflói)

If the weather is right, even in winter a boat trip out into the bay can give you beautiful views of the city.

The whale-watching trips head out past Grótta Lighthouse and then head south towards the Reykjanes Peninsula and Keflavík. While waiting for the whales and dolphins to appear take time to admire the city.

If you are out on the boat from Reykjavík in the winter it can be choppy so make sure to keep your exposure times really fast, especially if you are using a longer lens.

how to organise a trip to Faxa Bay

The easiest way to get out on the water is to book a whale-watching tour. I have used Elding Adventures at Sea and their trips are always well organised and have excellent guides. They run year-round from the Old Harbour and will make sensible decisions to cancel and refund if the weather is bad.