Reykjavik Attraction Tours and Tickets
When the rain comes in sideways off Faxaflói, Reykjavik has a handful of indoor attractions worth a ticket. Most sit in two clusters: the Grandi harbour district and the centre around Aðalstræti.
Perlan on Öskjuhlíð hill
Perlan is a glass dome built on top of six geothermal hot-water tanks, about 2.5 km south of the centre. Inside are an artificial ice cave, an Áróra northern lights planetarium show, a volcano exhibit and a 360 degree viewing deck. Exhibitions run 09:00 to 21:00 daily. Adult ticket prices change by season and channel, so look at perlan.is before you go. The ice cave is man-made and open all year, which makes it a useful stand-in when real glacier caves are out of season.
FlyOver Iceland in Grandi
FlyOver is a flight simulator with motion seats, a 20 m spherical screen, wind and mist, simulating a low flight over glaciers and canyons. Tickets cost ISK 5,690 online and ISK 6,250 at the gate, so book on the FlyOver website . The minimum height is 100 cm, and children under 14 need an adult. It opens 09:00 to 18:30 at Fiskislóð 43.
Whales of Iceland
A few minutes’ walk away at Fiskislóð 23-25 stands a hall of 23 life-size whale models, including a 25 m blue whale, with audio guides in 12 languages. It opens daily 10:00 to 17:00 and has guided tours at 11:00 and 15:00. Check whalesoficeland.is for the current ticket price and family rates.
The Settlement Exhibition
On Aðalstræti 16, the museum was built around the excavated remains of a Viking longhouse dated to roughly 871 by a volcanic ash layer. The hall is dark, quiet and well lit around the ruins, and it takes about 45 minutes. It opens 10:00 to 17:00 daily; see borgarsogusafn.is for tickets.
Harpa’s behind-the-scenes tour
Harpa’s glass facade is free to admire from the foyer (open daily from 09:00). A guided tour of about 45 minutes goes into the Eldborg concert hall, rehearsal rooms and backstage corridors. Tour times and prices are on harpa.is .
Stretching the budget with a City Card
The Reykjavik City Card costs ISK 6,100 for 24 hours, ISK 8,500 for 48 hours and ISK 10,500 for 72 hours. It includes Strætó city buses, the eight public pools, around 17 museums and the Viðey ferry, so it pays off fastest on a museum-heavy day plus an evening swim. Buy it from Visit Reykjavik .
Meeting a guided tour
Coaches and minibuses cannot idle outside hotels in the 101 postcode. Tours pick up at one of 14 numbered Tourist Bus Stops, such as Stop 1 at the City Hall or Stop 8 at Hallgrímskirkja. Plan 2 to 5 minutes’ walk from your hotel and be there early. If you would rather join a guided visit than go alone, browse guided city attraction tours and check the pick-up stop before paying.
Planning tips
Book FlyOver and Perlan for the middle of the day, when coach groups thin out. Pair a Grandi morning (FlyOver and the whales) with an afternoon downtown for the Settlement Exhibition. The sightseeing page covers the free sights in between.
Verdict: if you buy only one ticket, buy Perlan for the view and the ice cave. If you have two wet days, add the Grandi pair.