A Perfect Winter Day in Reykjavik

If you’re looking for a place to visit this winter, why not give Reykjavik a chance and if you’re stuck for ideas on what to do, here’s our ultimate guide to the best winter break in Iceland…

Breakfast with a view

Start your Reykjavik winter break with a good breakfast once you’ve arrived in Iceland. Visit one of the local bakeries that can be found all around the city. There you will find some freshly made bread, pastries and coffee, the perfect combo to start a day full of adventures. As midday approaches, get exploring Reykjavik on foot. Tjörnin or the pond in Reykjavik city centre is always picturesque whether it’s summer or winter and it‘s always nice to take a stroll around the pond and explore its surroundings. There’s lots of birdlife around the pond and five types of ducks nest and lay their eggs there and you can also see swans, eider ducks and the arctic tern.

Reykjavik's history

Another popular spot in Reykjavik is the Hljómskálagarðurinn park, where you can see various sculptures and statues as well as a circular building called Hljómskálinn which the park is named after. This was the first building in Reykjavik especially erected for musical purposes and to this day school brass bands rehearse there. After this, head uphill towards Laugacvegur, Reykjavik’s famous shopping street. You can find gorgeous Icelandic style clothing, high-end beauty products, souvenirs and much more.

A spot of shopping

If the weather turns grey and wet, you can find shelter in Reykjavik‘s flea market Kolaportið. Kolaportið flea market has a multitude of interesting things for sale such as Icelandic hand-knitted wool sweaters, jewellery, vinyl records, second-hand clothes and all kinds of knickknacks. There‘s also a food section at Kolaportið where you can buy traditional Icelandic food such as dried fish, fermented shark and rye pancakes. If none of that suits your taste buds, head back out onto the street and find one of Iceland’s famous hot dogs. It‘s traditional to ask for “one with the everything“ which consists of a hot dog in a soft bun with ketchup, mustard, remoulade, chopped raw onions and crispy fried onions.

Relax in warm waters

After spending much of the day outdoors, it’s time to get warm and relax in Reykjavik’s local thermal pool. Located in the heart of Reykjavík is the oldest public bath in Iceland, Sundhöllin. It was designed by the noted architect Guðjón Samúelsson and opened in 1937. The building's exterior is a minimalist white that is almost Art Deco in style with tall narrow rectangular windows. At Sundhöllin you will find a 25m outdoor pool, 25m indoor pool, diving board, sauna, steam bath, hot tubs, kids pools, wading pool, massage tub and a cold tub.

Chase the northern lights

End your perfect winter break in Reykjavik by hunting the northern lights. These magical lights can appear in many colours, with green and pink being the most common. The best conditions to spot the lights are in the dark and when the sky is clear. It is favourable to go away from the city lights to see them, so we recommend booking a northern lights escorted tour where one of our aurora borealis specialists can take you to rural location outside of Reykjavik.

If this day in Reykjavik sounds like your dream come true, book yourself your own Reykjavik Winter Adventure by visiting the Iceland Holidays website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by emailing us at info@icelandholidays.com.