Walking Routes in Reykjavik
Reykjavik is small enough that three walks of two to three hours cover nearly all of it. Each route below ends somewhere warm, which matters when the wind comes off the bay.
Route one: the Old Town loop (3.5 km, about 2.5 hours)
Start at Austurvöllur square, with the Parliament building on one side and the cathedral on the other. Walk past Tjörnin pond and City Hall, then climb Skólavörðustígur, the painted street lined with independent galleries and design shops. Finish at the foot of Hallgrímskirkja. Look at the timber houses clad in painted corrugated iron (bárujárn) and the stonework by Guðjón Samúelsson. Free to wander, with the nave open outside services.
Route two: waterfront and Grandi (4 km, 2 to 3 hours)
Begin at the Sun Voyager sculpture and follow the paved coast path west past Harpa. Continue along the Old Harbour piers, where the whale-watching boats tie up, and on to Grandi. The former fish-packing sheds now hold Omnom chocolate, Valdís ice cream and the Grandi Mathöll food hall. Add FlyOver or Whales of Iceland here if the weather turns. See Visit Reykjavik for maps and events.
Route three: Laugardalur valley (3 km, about 1.5 hours)
Laugardalur is about 3 km east of downtown. Walk through the free Reykjavik Botanical Garden (Grasagarður), then past the old wash-houses (Þvottalaugarnar) where women washed laundry in hot springs until the 1930s. End with a swim at Laugardalslaug. Adult entry is ISK 1,500, ages 10 to 17 pay ISK 400, and under-tens are free. Shower with soap first. Hours are on the city pools page .
After the walk, a pool in town
Soak in the city after a walk. Sundhöllin (Barónsstígur) and Vesturbæjarlaug are both close to Route one. The Blue Lagoon is about 50 km away on the Reykjanes Peninsula and needs a pre-booked slot, so keep it for a separate half-day.
Guided walks
If you prefer a guide, compare walking tours in Reykjavik and ask where the group meets.
What to wear
Wind is the main enemy. A windproof shell over layers works in every month, and waterproof shoes help on wet cobbles. In winter, daylight lasts only four or five hours in late December, so start the Old Town loop by 10:00. Cards and phones work for coffee and snacks, so you can leave cash at the hotel.
Eating on the route
Bæjarins Beztu on Tryggvagata, open since 1937, sells a lamb hot dog for around ISK 880. Order it “eina með öllu”.
Next steps
If your legs want more, take a bus up to Perlan, or read the sightseeing page for the free landmarks. A two-day itinerary fits all three walks in.
Verdict: if you walk only one route, take the Old Town loop at mid-morning and end at the tower. It gives the best views per kilometre.