Despite seeing the city mostly under cloudy skies, I must say that Reykjavik is one of the coolest, most colorful cities I have ever been to. It might even be able to give Wellington a run for its money (it certainly seems to have similar weather!).
In fact, I found quite a few similarities between Reykjavik, Iceland and Wellington, New Zealand. Along with blustery weather and a location right on the water, the two cities share colorful, low-slung buildings and a funky, hip vibe. They’re also quite small population wise, with both being home to just under 200,000 people.
And, like in Wellington, when the sun shines in Reykjavik, it’s hard to imagine possibly being happy anywhere else in the world.
How could you possibly want to be anywhere else?
Yes, Iceland’s capital is a pretty special place. And, because I enjoyed Reykjavik so much, I’ve decided to share the city with you as I saw it — from all angles and in all conditions.
We’ll start with Reykjavik from above…
The view from the tower of the Hallgrímskirkja church.
The view from The Pearl restaurant.
…and then we’ll move on to the city’s most recognizable feature: the Hallgrímskirkja Lutheran church.
The church, with statue of Leif Eriksson outside.
The massive organ inside the church.
From there, we’ll head to the colorful streets of Reykjavik…
On a snowy morning.
On a sunny afternoon.
Stjórnarráðið, the city’s first prison, which is now the Prime Minister’s office.
…where you can find plenty of graffiti, but little crime.
Outside a cafe.
On a residential street.
Next, I’ll take you down to the waterfront…
Probably the most famous sculpture in Iceland.
The Harpa, or concert hall/opera house.
…and to Tjörnin, the pond in the middle of downtown Reykjavik.
Pillars of Ráðhús Reykjavíkur, or City Hall.
We also can’t forget the little details that make this city so great.
Love the red benches.
Super creepy shop on Laugavegur street.
Swans and geese at The Pond.
And we’ll finish up with some nighttime shots.
Back at The Pond at dusk.
So there you have it, Reykjavik in just under 30 photos.
After seeing these, what do you think of this little capital? Which photo is your favorite?
*My stay in Reykjavik was made possible by some help from Roomorama, and a discounted room at the Park Inn.
What a picturesque place! Thanks for the great photos in your essay, Amanda!
fotoeins | Henry recently posted..Love stories in Cologne
I had so much fun taking photos there, even under cloudy skies! Glad you enjoyed them.
Your photography skills are very good, Amanda. Great shots, all of them, especially the night ones. My favorite is the Harpa.
Leah Travels recently posted..I Want to Go with Oh to Florence
Thanks, Leah! Like they say, it’s all about practice, practice, practice! I took about 1,000 photos in Iceland, and whittled them down to under 500 after deleting all the bad ones. I had fun playing around with longer exposures on my new camera for those last 2 night shots!
Oh my that Opera House looks gorgeous!! And interesting about that church, I found a church with similar design in Norway. I wonder if it’s a Nordic/Scandinavian characteristic for churches? Really digging the Iceland posts! : )
Caro from Passport and a Toothbrush recently posted..Our Itinerary
Glad you’re liking the posts!
And it could be a Scandinavian thing, though I was told that the designer actually had Iceland’s basalt lava flows in mind when coming up with the shape of the church. Either way, it’s certainly is a striking building — as is the opera house!
Great pics! I feel like I just walked around the city from the comfort of my living room.
I love the first one where you can see all the different (and FUN!) colors people have painted the buildings. I also love the cafe street art and the concert hall/opera house. The latter seems to blend into the water with the light reflecting off of it. It’s so beautiful!
Maggie recently posted..Spencer’s ABC’s of Travel
Thanks, Maggie! And that’s the whole idea of posts like this — to bring the destinations right to you, wherever you are in the world!
I had no idea the opera house would turn out to be the favorite photo out of this bunch! Really glad I included it now.
Wow, even the roofs are colourful! I’ve never seen that anywhere else. It looks like nice city to relax in.
Audrey | That Backpacker recently posted..The Best Seat Is Atop A Bus
I loved how colorful the entire city was. It certainly made it fun and interesting to explore!
I love how colourful the buildings are. It doesn’t look real, looks more like a little toy town!
Lauren recently posted..1,500km in 8 days: My Epic Scooter Trip Around Northern Thailand
I know! Especially from above. But that’s what I love so much about Reykjavik!
Some stunning photos Amanda. The streets look so pretty with the funky houses, and I love anywhere with good street art. That sculpture is really funky too
Laurence recently posted..In photos: Australian beaches
Thanks, Laurence! I wish I would have had even more time to roam around Reykjavik — it is indeed a very funky town!
Beautiful photo! It seems like Reykjavik has a very village-y feel to it, am I right? I love the pops of color from the church shot!
EurotripTips recently posted..10 Little Known Facts About the UK
Yes, even though Reykjavik has a fairly decent-sized population, the downtown area especially really does have a village-like feel to it. (Most of these photos are from “Old Reykjavik,” or the main downtown area — the suburbs outside the city look more city-like.)
Wow – so beautiful! Look at that amazing mountain backdrop… I’m drawing some similarities to Stavanger, with the ‘fishing village’ look and also the ‘graffiti but little crime’ point you made. Can’t wait to see more of Iceland with you! =)
Andrea recently posted..How To Explore Vienna Without Bus And Umbrella
When I looked at the photos of Stavanger you posted the other day, I actually thought that it looked at lot like Reykjavik!
Love the shot from above. The rooftops are so colorful – I like the random lime green roof. Too bad the HOAs would crack down on that almost anywhere in America!
John recently posted..Visiting Bloomington, Minnesota – The Local’s Take with Shanna of ‘There and Back Again’
That view from the top of my church was one of my favorites! I’ve never seen such a colorful city before.
Stunning photo collection! That view from the Pearl restaurant is spectacular!
Jodi Brown recently posted..Across The Caribbean Sea!
Thanks, Jodi! That photo from the Pearl might be my favorite, too.
The second to last night time shot was easily my favourite – very clean cut.
Jimmy recently posted..Taking pictures of the Petronas Towers and Kuala Lumpur Skyline
It took a lot of blurry shots to get that good one.
It was so windy on the night I went out to the pond!
Gorgeous! You just bumped Iceland up a little higher on my travel list
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Best Wine Tour in Chile: Matetic in Casablanca Valley
Good to hear! It definitely deserves to be on travel lists!
I love all the colorful buildings! So pretty. The waterfront views are nice, too.
I had heard that Reykjavik was a very colorful place, but I had no idea just HOW colorful it was until I was there myself!
Wow, the view with the mountain behind it is awesome! The colorful roofs and buildings give the city such a fun vibe.
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..Koh Nang Yuan: The Most Beautiful Island in Thailand?
Thanks, Christy! The city certainly is in an awesome location — and I think the snow just made it even prettier!
These pictures are absolutely stunning! I HAVE to go to Iceland and see this for myself.
Juliann recently posted..Insufficiencies
Thanks, Juliann!
And yes, GO TO ICELAND!
What a gorgeous, colorful place to visit! Your pictures look so cheery (but chilly)! And the buildings are so well kept up. How long did you visit?
Marie recently posted..WINE TOUR SUPPORTS THE BC SPCA
Chilly, yes, but still so worth it! I was only there for 6 days — wish it could have been longer!
It looks even better with that bit of snow around. And cooler too!
Richard Tulloch recently posted..EVERYTRAIL–into Sydney by bike and iPhone app
Agreed! The snow really adds a nice atmosphere.
I spy with my little eye…a LIME GREEN roof! Unreal. Can’t wait to go. Great shots!
Candice recently posted..Likes (and Dislikes) About Orlando
Yes you do!! There were so many crazy colors there!
AND, I didn’t mention it here, but Reykjavik has a really great nightlife scene — you are going to LOVE it there!
Mountains, snow, colors and water…. I’m sold! My favorite is the one with the snowy mountains
Ayelet – All Colores recently posted..Bucket List: The Middle East, Or: Israel Loves Iran Loves Israel
Yes, Reykjavik certainly seems to have everything! The more I think about and process my time there now that I’m back, the more that I love the city!
Just lovely photos! I’m leaving next Friday and this made me super excited! Do you think you’ll have a post before then with things to do, restaurants/cafes, etc? Or do you have a few recommendations now?
We’re going for a week, so we have a bit of time for wandering.
Thanks, Sarah! That’s so exciting that you’re headed there next Friday! I’m actually planning to put a post up on Monday about “adventurous eating” in Iceland, so be sure to check that out, because I’ll list all the notable places I ate at in Reykjavik.
As far as things to do in Reykjavik, you could use this post for suggestions — visiting the church, The Pearl, walking along the waterfront, and of course just strolling around town!
Reykjavik looks stunning! The air looks so clean and crisp. Very inspiring set of pictures you have here! Wish I was there now.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..Wiesbaden- Worth A Second Look?
Since the country burns very little fossil fuels (and because the population is so small!), there’s hardly any air pollution there. So refreshing!
This looks like such a cool city with an incredible amount of contrast for its size. I want to go!
Emily in Chile recently posted..The problem with hotels in Iquique
You should go!! Reykjavik certainly has a LOT of character — it may be small, but it’s got a BIG personality!
It all looks so pristine and beautiful. Is the whole city like this?
Kurt recently posted..A Visit to Couchsurfing Basecamp in Beautiful San Franciso
Yup, this is pretty much what all of downtown Reykjavik looks like! Once you get outside of the “old” city center it starts looking more like normal suburbs… but everything there is still so clean and fresh.
Wow. I had no idea that it was such a colorful city. Absolutely stunning photos. I like the photos of the buildings. Thanks for sharing.
Pamela recently posted..Ghost Tour of Seattle
I had always heard Reykjavik was very colorful, but I really had no idea just HOW colorful it was either until I got there! Such a fun city to take photos in.
Gorgeous! Reykjavik is definitely on my must-see list, and your photos have just fueled that desire even more!
It’s a great city — I definitely plan to go back someday!
Leave it to you to make the connection to Wellington, New Zealand. LOL. What a colorful city! Wouldn’t mind visiting one day.
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..7 Super Shots – India Edition
Haha, actually writing this makes me want to do a whole comparison post… the similarities really are uncanny!!
I want to go to Iceland so bad! Your pictures just make me want to go even more. I especially like the nighttime shots, gorgeous! I wonder if they made their buildings so colorful to make up for the lack of sun in the winter and the overcast weather….
Ali recently posted..Melbourne Basics
I think you’d really love it, Ali! And I wonder the same thing about the colorful buildings…
You have provided us with an amazing city walk due to your great pictures. Wow!
That was the goal!
Hope you enjoyed my city tour.
I am mighty impressed! Def on my top lists of places to visit! AWESOME photos Amanda, thanks for sharing
)
Antoinette B. recently posted..Friday Fotos: An American Natural Wonder
Thanks Antoinette! I hope you make it to Reykjavik soon!
Great photos of Iceland. I was there a couple years ago and would go back in a heartbeat. It’s such a lovely place. Did you make it to the Blue Lagoon?
Kristen recently posted..Re: Isla Palenque Island Intern Submission 2012 – A One Month Journey of a Lifetime
Thanks, Kristen! I would definitely go back too (and really hope to!). And yes, I did make it to the Blue Lagoon (and will be writing about it soon!).
[...] Amanda (A Dangerous Business) shows us Reykjavik. [...]
[...] Reykjavik seemed like a great place to give myself one of those pushes. Yup, "traditional Icelandic dishes" at a Mexican restaurant. [...]
I loved the view from the tower of the Hallgrímskirkja church – the buildings are SO colorful!
Miss Britt recently posted..Happiness Highlights: Limping Home
Best view in town, for sure!
Great pictures
I love how all the roofs are so colorful – it really helps brighten up the place, especially given how cold it is all year ’round.
Wanderplex recently posted..Get some pre-flight R&R at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon
Thanks! And yes, I have a feeling the long winter nights and dark weather definitely contribute to how colorful the city is!
Spectacular photos: I particularly enjoyed the one from the Pearl restaurant (nicely done!) and the night time photos. From your photos, I have to agree – it’s very colourful. Perhaps it’s the cold, snowy and blustery conditions that drive people to brighten up their surroundings.
The photo from the Pearl is one of my favorites I took in Iceland.
And yes, I’m sure the dreary weather does have something to do with all the color around town!
Yay picture of a post box.
Love the one with the enormous mountain in the background too.
Similar weather means windy and cold?
Andrew recently posted..Baden-Baden in Pictures
That mountain photo is one of my favorite from the trip!
And yes, similar weather does indeed mean windy and cold! (I think a comparison post will definitely be in order in the near future…)
very nice pictures – my wife and i are traveling to Iceland for a vacation in about 3 weeks – end ofApril/ 1st week of May. Your blog’s really cool – and useful! (esp. what’s in your backpack!)
Thanks! Hopefully you can find some good tips here for your trip (I have lots of Iceland posts still to come)!
I love all of the colourful buildings. It looks like an interesting but quiet city
Cam recently posted..Spring Snowboarding Session on Cypress Mountain
“Interesting but quiet” is a good way to describe it. Though, Reykjavik does have a thumping nightlife scene!
One of the best guides to see Iceland that my wife and I used was http://travelonthedollar.com/2009/04/02/seven-days-around-icelands-ring-road/
It’s so much worth the details in it.
That does look like a great guide! I’d love to go back to Iceland in the summer sometime and do a similar ring road trip.
[...] I was lucky enough to try out the tölt for myself (as well as cuddle plenty of horses) when I booked a 2-hour riding tour through lava fields with Ishestar (literally “ice horse”), a stable located just outside of Reykjavik. [...]
The shot of colourful streets on a snowy morning – I have a picture of those very same houses from my trip to Iceland three years ago! So much I recognized in your pictures, plus nice to see the finished opera house and the views from Hallgrimskirkja (its tower was covered in scaffolding when I was there, so no view). Iceland is on my list of places I MUST revisit to see more!
So cool that we have some of the same photos! Glad I was also able to give you some of the views you missed. Iceland is also high on MY list of places I really need to revisit!
I think I need to get to that super creep shop.
Raymond @ Man On The Lam recently posted..12 Mildly Disturbing Miniland Scenes from Legoland, Florida
Hahaha. I never did go inside, but I couldn’t help stare at it every time I walked past (which was roughly twice per day….). It was so weird!!
[...] floor apartment on Grettisgata St., just one street up from one of the major shopping streets in Reykjavik. The colorful street outside my [...]
I think Reykjavik is prettier than Wellington… it’s definitely more colourful
Jade – OurOyster.com recently posted..I Want To ‘Go With Oh’ To Prague
I dunno, I think Wellington is pretty colorful, too! But the two certainly are very similar… I’m going to have to do a post comparing them, I think!
Oh, wow! I really loved this photo tour. I knew I already wanted to go… But now I am dying to! From your pictures, it seems much more “small town” than I expected– so cute and colorful!
Yes, Reykjavik has a VERY small-town feel to it! I really loved that about it though. I’m definitely a small-town girl at heart!
Great photos, Not what I expected Reykjavik to look like,
Eric @ Trans-Americas Journey recently posted..How to Ruin an Island – Roatán, Honduras
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting Reykjavik to look like, but I was pleasantly surprised!
love your blog it’s amazing. In headin to Iceland next week and wanted to know if you thought jeans are enough or if I should also pack waterproof pants like a snow jumper type pant. Any help would be appreciated thanks!
Hey PJ! It really depends on what you’re planning to do in Iceland. I did not take any waterproof pants, because I wasn’t really doing activities that would require them (I was given a waterproof jumpsuit when I went snowmobiling). However, if you’re going to be doing lots of outdoor activities, you may want to consider packing them, as Iceland’s weather is always unpredictable!
I loved all the pictures, but the ones shot from the tower of Hallgrimskirkja Church are my favorites. You are a highly talented photog. Truly photographic works of art.
Aww, thanks for such kind words, Vin! I really love those photos, too.
Hi, funny you mentioned the Wellington connection. My wife and I lived in Wellington for almost 5 years and when we looked at pictures of Reykjavik we both noticed the similarity. I am going to visit in November, sure it’s not the best time to visit, but there’s a music festival and I’m sure it will be fun anyway. Love your pictures and your stories.
You’ll have to see if Reykjavik reminds you of Wellington in person, too! I eventually want to do a whole post on the similarities of the 2 cities.
Wow. Very nice photographs. Thank you.
kmb
Thank YOU, Kenny!
[...] from. This photo is not from Ohio, but it DOES feature snow quite prominently. It was taken in Reykjavik, Iceland earlier this year, after a dusting of the white stuff coated the city. This photo makes me want to [...]
Great photos! We were in Reykjavik last June and absolutely loved it! I loved the colors of this city.
Your photos reminded me of why I loved this city so much!
Nicole @ Suitcase Stories recently posted..Traveling as a couple: 12 months of 24/7 and I don’t want to kill him…Yet!
It’s a very easy city to love! I really want to go back soon.