Reykjavik between geothermal bathing and city history

There are several ways to discover Reykjavík: swim in a geothermal-heated lagoon, explore the city’s history, or enjoy activities for children. The city also has three ski lifts for children and beginners. When planning your trip, it’s worth first considering which experiences matter most to you and your family.

Enjoy the water – at a swimming pool or geothermal beach

Reykjavík’s swimming pools are spread across eight locations in the city. They offer year-round opportunities to stay active, relax and spend time with others. Facilities include swimming lanes, hot tubs and steam baths, as well as family-friendly activities. Water aerobics at the pools is open to everyone. There are different ways to exercise and unwind: swim laps, take part in an exercise class or focus on relaxation.

Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach offers a unique experience on the water. In a lagoon, warm geothermal water mixes with cold seawater, right beside a beach with golden sand. Swimming is possible year-round. Hot tubs, a steam bath and changing rooms add to the beach’s facilities. For families looking to include water activities in their trip, the municipal swimming pools and Nauthólsvík offer different options, from swimming laps to bathing at a geothermal beach.

Playgrounds, animals and ski lifts

At Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo, you can encounter Icelandic domestic animals and native wild mammals. Various playgrounds and exciting play equipment offer more reasons to visit. Sheltered areas provide year-round opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The park combines animal encounters with space to play and spend time, so your visit need not be limited to just one activity.

If you’re planning to ski with children or beginners, there are three ski lifts within the city limits: in Ártúnsbrekka, Breiðholt and Grafarvogur. The lifts are specifically intended for these groups. This adds a winter activity to the options for enjoying the water, playgrounds and wildlife. When choosing a holiday apartment, it may help to focus on the experiences you expect to take up the most time during your stay.

City history, church and fishing

The Settlement Exhibition on Aðalstræti in central Reykjavík tells the story of the city’s Viking Age through an open archaeological excavation. The exhibition covers Reykjavík’s history from settlement to the present day and explores various aspects of the city’s past, as well as the everyday lives of its residents over the centuries. An extension opened in May 2022. If you’re interested in the city’s development, this exhibition offers a way to connect archaeological traces with a broader story about life in Reykjavík.

Hallgrímskirkja is a national monument dedicated to the Icelandic cleric and poet Hallgrímur Pétursson, as well as an active Evangelical Lutheran parish church in central Reykjavík. Its tower is 73 metres high and offers panoramic views of Reykjavík, the surrounding mountains and the ocean to the west, as far as Greenland and the Americas. The church and tower offer different points of interest: the building’s religious and cultural significance, and sweeping views across the city and landscape.

At the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, the permanent exhibition “Fish & folk – 150 years of fisheries” tells the story of Icelandic fisheries. It spans the transition from rowing boats to large fishing vessels in the late 19th century through to the 21st century. The museum also includes the former coastguard vessel Óðinn, which was secured at the pier next to the museum in 2008 as an extension of the museum. Together, the exhibition and ship offer different insights into fishing and maritime history.

Choose a location that suits your interests

When searching for a holiday apartment in Reykjavik, you can use the experiences you prefer as a guide: geothermal bathing and swimming pools, activities for children, ski lifts, or museums and city history. The Reykjavík City Card also serves as a ticket for Strætó public transport throughout the capital region and for the ferry to Viðey Island. If you plan your days around these different interests, you can consider which activities matter most for your stay when choosing your accommodation.

Other locations: Kópavogur, Garðabær, Mosfellsbær, Seltjarnarnes and Hafnarfjördur.

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