22 Free (Or Cheap) Things to Do in Reykjavik

Last Updated: 7/31/2023 | July 31st, 2023

There’s no question that Iceland is an expensive destination to visit. But that doesn’t mean a trip there has to break the bank.

There are plenty of ways to save money during your visit to Iceland, including during your stay in the cozy capital city of Reykjavik.

Home to just 130,000 people, Reykjavik is a small city that is bustling with life and activities all year round. It’s the world’s most northern capital city and is believed to be the first settlement in all of Iceland (dating back to 874 CE). Founded by Norsemen, the entire island was actually a Danish territory until 1944 when it won its full independence (the city benefited heavily from the Allied occupation during World War II, which boosted its economy).

Today, Reykjavik is the beating heart of Iceland. The city is artsy, cute, fun, and just filled with an awesome energy!

Whether you’re visiting Reykjavik on a weekend city break or planning to head out and explore the entire country, there are plenty of ways to save money in Reykjavik.

To help you do that, here are my favorite free (or cheap) things to do in and around Iceland’s awesome capital:
 

 

Free Things to Do in Reykjavik

1. Take a Free Walking Tour
One of the best ways to start a trip to a new city is to take a walking tour. You’ll get to see the main sights, learn some history, and acclimatize to the culture. Plus, you have a local expert who you can ask questions to, which is an invaluable resource in and of itself!

City Walk offers great free tours of the city. They’ll help you get a sense of Reykjavik so you can decide what you want to revisit later. (Just remember to tip your guide!)

If you want to splash out for a paid tour, check out Get Your Guide. They have a ton of tours on offer so there’s something for every interest and budget!

2. Enjoy the Local Entertainment
Since the harsh climate forces Icelanders to be indoors much of the year, they’ve developed a creative and artistic culture. There are lots of Icelandic painters, poets, writers, and musicians.  You can usually catch a free live show in Reykjavík at Café Rosenberg (sometimes there’s a cover charge at the door), KEX Hostel, HI Loft Hostel, and the Drunk Rabbit Irish Pub, which usually has someone who sings solo with their guitar.

3. Find Free Hot Springs
While the Blue Lagoon may be the most popular hot spring in the area, there are tons of others around the country that are free (or at the very least, less money than the Blue Lagoon).

Use this Google Map, which lists all the hot pots in Iceland, to find them.

One nearby hot spring worth visiting is in Reykjadalur. It’s around a 40-minute drive from town and involves a bit of a hike to get there (about 30 minutes) but it’s much more secluded – and much less expensive – than the Blue Lagoon!

4. Hang out with the Locals
Iceland has a very active Couchsurfing community. I’ve stayed with hosts in Reykjavík as well as in Akureyri (Iceland’s main northern city). While many hosts are expats living in Iceland, it’s still a great way to save some money and get helpful local insights. Additionally, if you don’t want to stay with a stranger, there are usually weekly meet-ups you can attend to make some friends.

5. Hike Mount Esja
If you’re looking to stretch your legs, head up Esja. The summit sits around 900 meters (almost 3,000 feet) above sea level, offering you some amazing views of the city and surrounding area. Located just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the city, the hike takes a couple of hours but the views are definitely worth it! Just make sure you check the weather as it’s unwise to hike during rain or snow.

6. Visit the Harpa Music Hall & Conference Center
Opened in 2011, this cultural and social center is worth checking out just to see the architecture for yourself. You can catch the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Reykjavik Big Band, and the Icelandic Opera here. The venue also hosts tons of other shows and performances as well, so check their website for an up-to-date schedule and ticket pricing.

Many walking tours around the city also stop here too.

Austurbakki 2, +354 528 5000, en.harpa.is. See the website for performance dates and times. Guided tours are 4,900 ISK.

7. See Reykjavík’s Botanical Gardens
The city operates this beautifully-designed botanical garden that is home to over 5,000 plant species. You’ll also see ponds, birdlife, and beautiful flora dotting the small garden. There’s also a café nearby that’s open in the summer that features dishes made with herbs and spices grown on-site in the garden.

During the months of June-August, free 30-minute guided tours (in English) are offered every Friday. The guided tours start at 12:40 at the main entrance to the garden.

Hverfisgata 105, 101 Reykjavík, +354 411 8650, grasagardur.is. Open daily from 10am-3pm (10pm in the summer).

8. Visit the Grótta Lighthouse
This lighthouse sits at the edge of the city and is a wonderful place to bird watch and gaze out at the stretching Atlantic ocean. It ’s a long walk along the coast from the city center but the scenic view and gorgeous coastal walk are definitely worth it. If you’re visiting in the winter months, this is also a great place to see the northern lights!

Note: the island is closed from May-July during bird breeding season.

9. Walk (or Bike) the Coast
Reykjavík is a small city and its coastline is walkable (or bikeable if you want to rent one). Some great stops along the way are the Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach and the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. If you’re not interested in biking around by yourself, feel free to take a bike tour instead. Iceland Bike is the best bike tour company for this!

10. See the Sun Voyager
This iconic statue sits, known as Sólfar in Icelandic, was built in 1990 by Icelandic sculptor Jón Gunnar Árnason. It’s his interpretation of discovery, using the design of a traditional Viking ship to represent the promise of discovering new territory and the freedom that comes with traveling to new worlds.

11. Experience the Northern Lights
If you’re visiting Reykjavik between October and March you’ll have a good chance of seeing the Aurora on a clear night. You’ll want to get away from the city a bit to have the best view, as the light pollution will make it hard to see. If you want to splash out on an in-depth tour to get off the beaten path and see the Northern Lights, you can take a two-day tour around the Snaefellnes Peninsula with Nicetravel.

Cheap Things to Do in Reykjavik

13. Take in the View from Hallgrímskirkja
This church is one of the most memorable that I’ve seen. The stark concrete façade was designed to mimic the Icelandic landscape (which I think it does quite well). It was named after the 17th-century clergyman and Icelandic poet Hallgrímur Pétursson, who wrote the Hymns of the Passion. It’s the tallest building in Reykjavík, and, for a small fee, you can go up to the top to get incredible shots of the city and its multicolored rooftops.

There are also organ concerts in the church on the first Saturday of the month from October-June. You can get tickets at the church or at tix.is.

Hallgrímstorg 1, +354 510 1000, hallgrimskirkja.is. Open daily from 9am-8pm in the summer and 10am-5pm in the winter. Entrance into the church is free but entry to the tower is 1,300 ISK. The tower is closed on Sundays during mass. The church is also closed to visitors during mass and all other religious services.

14. Visit Perlan
“The Pearl” is a dome-shaped building containing a variety of attractions, including the largest nature museum in Iceland, an ice cave, and a planetarium. The dome offers a great place to get a view of the city and surrounding area! On clear days you can see as far as Snæfellsjökull, the 700,000-year-old glacier-capped volcano that sits on the western coast of the island. You can either pay (890 ISK) to go out on the 360° Observation Deck or enjoy the view from inside the dome at the restaurant, cocktail bar, and café for the price of your food and drink(s).

If you want to experience the entire complex, admission is 4,990 ISK (not exactly cheap, but worth it for everything you get access to).

15. Visit the Icelandic Punk Museum
This museum is housed in an old underground public bathroom (seriously) and is dedicated to the punk and new wave scene that started took root here in the late 70’s. The museum highlights how many of Icelandic’s famous musical performers (like Björk) can be traced back to their punk roots. It’s definitely worth a visit.

Bankastræti 2, 101 Reykjavík. Open daily, 10am-6pm. Admission is 1,000 ISK for adults.

16. See the National Gallery of Iceland
If you’re a fan of art, especially modern art, you won’t want to pass up a trip here. The museum is focused on Icelandic artwork from the 19th and 20th century and highlights the diverse nature of the art scene in Iceland. While it is mostly local artists, some foreign works are showcased here as well.

Fríkirkjuvegur 7, 101 Reykjavík, +354 515 9600, listasafn.is. Open daily from 10am-5pm (closed Mondays in the winter). Admission is 2,200 ISK. Included in the Reykjavík City Card.

17. The Icelandic Phallological Museum
This is one of the weirdest museums you’ll ever have a chance to go to – which is partly why you should go! Entirely not sexual, the museum has collected penises from varies species roaming the earth, land, and sea. The founder, an Icelandic historian named Sigurdur Hjartarson, started the penis museum as a joke but it’s become something much more. The whole museum is pretty small so you won’t need more than 30-60 minutes, but it’s pretty interesting and informative; you’ll actually learn a lot about how species procreate (in addition to seeing a lot of…well, exhibits).

Kalkofnsvegur 2, 101 Reykjavík, +354 5616663, phallus.is. Open daily 10am–7pm. Admission is 2,750 ISK. If you have the Reykjavík City Card, you’ll get a 20% discount.

18. Head to Videy Island
This is a small island located just off of Reykjavík. It’s a great little island for a picnic or a stroll if you’re looking for something a bit off the usual tourist trail. The island is most famous for the Imagine Peace Tower, envisioned and built by Yoko Ono. On each 9th of October, Yoko Ono comes to light the tower on the birthday of John Lennon, and it is lit until December 8th, the day John was killed. The ferry is operated by daily in the summer and on the weekends in the winter.

Skarfabakki Pier and Ægisgardur Harbor, +354 519 5000, elding.is/videy-ferry-skarfabakki. Round-trip tickets are around 2,100 ISK. On October 9th, the ferry trip is free for everyone in honor of the Imagine Peace Tower ceremony. The ferry is also free for anyone with the Reykjavik City Card.

19. Árbæjarlaug Swimming Pool
This huge plaza has both outdoor as well as indoor pools. It also has water slides, play areas for kids, hot tubs, a sauna, a thermal steam bath, and beach volleyball courts. Located just outside the city center, this is a fun (and budget-friendly) option for anyone who doesn’t want to go to the more touristy Blue Lagoon.

Fylkisvegur 9, 110 Reykjavík, +354 411 5200, reykjavik.is/stadir/arbaejarlaug. Open in the summers Monday-Thursday from 6:30am-10pm, Friday from 6:30am-10pm, and from 9am-10pm on weekends. Admission is 1,210 ISK for adults but it’s free with the Reykjavik City Card.

20. Grab a Famous Hot Dog
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur has been located on the harbor since 1937 and was made famous when Bill Clinton stopped here on his trip in 2004. Between their multiple locations, they sell over 1,000 hot dogs per day! While this isn’t my favorite hot dog place in the country, it does make for a fun and iconic stop (and the dogs are still pretty great!).

Tryggvatagata 1, 101 Reykjavík, +354 511 1566, bbp.is. See the website for other locations as well as up-to-date hours of operation. Hot dogs start at 690 ISK.

21. Relax at a Cozy Cafe
One of my favorite things to do when I visit somewhere is to sit back, relax, and people watch. I love to just grab a book (ideally a book about the destination) and just watch the day go by. You can learn a lot about a place just by observing, and Reykjavik has some really great cafes. Some of my favorites are Café Babalu, Mál og Menning (a bookstore with a cafe), and Mokka Kaffi.

22. Hit the Beach
Nauthólsvík is a man-made beach that not only has hot tubs and a steam room but also a heated swimming area! It’s popular with locals and gets quite busy in the summer so make sure to come early to get a good spot. There is also a non-heated swimming area so if you’re feeling brave you can test the waters (spoiler: it’s cold).

Admission is cheap at just 810 ISK (towel rental is an additional 720 ISK if you don’t have your own).

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By taking advantage of these free and cheap activities (as well as some money-saving tips) you’ll be able to visit Reykjavik without blowing the bank.

Sure, there are plenty of things to see and do in Reykjavik that are worth spending money on, but if you mix and match those activities with these budget-friendly ones you’ll be able to visit the Land of Fire and Ice with your wallet still intact.