Reykjavik Activities: Pools, Whales, Puffins

Snow can be falling sideways and Reykjavik residents will still be sitting in a 40 degree hot tub, chatting with neighbours. Joining them is the best first activity in the city, and the rest of the list follows from there.

Start with a neighbourhood pool

Public pools (laugar) are the social centre of Icelandic life. Adult entry is ISK 1,500, ages 10 to 17 pay ISK 400, and children aged 0 to 9 swim free with a guardian. The three to know:

  • Laugardalslaug, the largest complex, with a 50 m outdoor pool, hot tubs, a saltwater tub, a steam room and a water slide.
  • Sundhöllin on Barónsstígur, the oldest bath in town (1937), with an indoor hall and rooftop hot tubs.
  • Vesturbæjarlaug, a small west-end pool that feels like a village meeting place.

Everyone must shower naked with soap before putting on swimwear. Staff do check, so do it properly. Details and opening hours are on the City of Reykjavik pool page . The Reykjavik City Card covers all eight public pools (ISK 6,100 for 24 hours, 8,500 for 48, 10,500 for 72).

Whales from the Old Harbour

Whale-watching boats leave the Old Harbour all year, and trips into Faxaflói Bay take roughly 2 to 3.5 hours. Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises are the regulars, with humpbacks in season and the odd orca. Boats lend thermal overalls, and you should still bring a hat and gloves because the wind on deck is harsh even in July. Operators such as Elding and Special Tours publish current prices and schedules; compare whale-watching departures if you want several operators side by side.

Puffins, but only in season

Puffin boat trips to the nesting islands off the city run from 20 April to 20 August (Elding’s season). Birds leave the colonies in late August, so a September or October visit is a whale trip instead. The rides are short, around an hour to 90 minutes, on small boats. Check elding.is for the latest sailing times.

Northern lights and midnight sun

Aurora season runs roughly September to April. From late May to late July the sky never gets dark enough, so nobody sees the lights then, however clear the night. Sightings are never certain on a given evening, which is why many visitors book more than one night.

Eat a Reykjavik hot dog

Bæjarins Beztu on Tryggvagata has been selling lamb-based hot dogs from the same harbour stand since 1937. Order “eina með öllu” (one with everything) for about ISK 880. Cards and phones work almost everywhere in Iceland, including at the stand, so there is no reason to carry cash.

Practical points

Prices are in Icelandic krona (ISK), not euros. Tap water is excellent, so skip bottled water. Hotels charge a lodging tax of ISK 800 per room per night, usually added at checkout. For where to go beyond the city limits, see the day trips page and the two-day itinerary .

Verdict: if you only have time for two things, do a pool in the evening and a whale boat in the morning. Bring a swimsuit in your day bag from the first day.