Why Stay in Reykjavik?
Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital city and one of its most characterful. This compact, colourful city of 130,000 people punches far above its weight in culture, cuisine, and nightlife. Corrugated-iron buildings painted in cheerful primary colours line streets named after Norse gods, while a world-class restaurant and music scene thrives despite — or perhaps because of — the extremes of sub-Arctic weather.
Hotels along Laugavegur, Reykjavik's main shopping and nightlife street, offer the most central location. The street runs from Hallgrímskirkja church (with its distinctive organ-pipe facade and panoramic tower views) to the Old Harbour, where whale watching boats depart and converted fisherman's huts house some of the city's best restaurants.
The Old Harbour area has emerged as Reykjavik's culinary hub, with restaurants like Grillid, Dill (Iceland's only Michelin-starred restaurant), and numerous seafood establishments serving Icelandic langoustine, cod, and lamb. Hotels here offer harbour views and proximity to the Harpa Concert Hall, a stunning glass architectural landmark.
Reykjavik serves as the perfect base for exploring Iceland's extraordinary natural wonders. The Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss), the Blue Lagoon, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and black sand beaches of Vík are all accessible as day trips. In summer, the midnight sun provides 24 hours of daylight; in winter, the Northern Lights dance above the city.