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7 Most Instagrammable Spots in Reykjavik, Iceland's Compact Capital
The world's northernmost capital of its size packs a concrete cathedral, a steel sculpture shaped like a ship and a painted rainbow street into a centre small enough to cover on foot in an afternoon.
Sep 25, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Reykjavik is compact enough that most of its best-known sights sit within a twenty-minute walk of each other, which makes it an efficient city to photograph as well as visit. Here are seven spots worth building a walk around, each with a direct map link.
1. Hallgrímskirkja
Completed in 1986 after more than forty years of construction, Hallgrímskirkja is Iceland's largest church and its distinctive stepped concrete facade, designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson to echo the country's basalt lava columns, makes it visible from much of the city. An observation deck near the top of its tower gives a wide view back over Reykjavik's coloured rooftops.
2. Skólavörðustígur, the Rainbow Street
The street leading up to Hallgrímskirkja is painted in the colours of the rainbow flag, a treatment repeated around Reykjavik Pride each August and left in place through much of the year, turning an already picturesque sloped street lined with shops and cafes into one of the city's most photographed stretches.
3. Sólfar, the Sun Voyager
A steel sculpture resembling a Viking longship's skeleton, Sólfar was created by Jón Gunnar Árnason and unveiled on the waterfront in 1990 to mark Reykjavik's 200th anniversary; the artist described it as an ode to the sun rather than a literal ship, and it is often photographed at sunrise or sunset with the bay and mountains behind it.
4. Harpa Concert Hall
Opened in 2011 on the harbourfront, Harpa's honeycomb glass facade was designed in collaboration with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and shifts colour constantly with the light and the weather, making its interior and exterior equally worth a stop even without a concert ticket.
5. Tjörnin pond and City Hall
The small lake at the centre of Reykjavik, ringed by colourful houses and overlooked by the modern City Hall building, is a reliably calm spot for a reflection shot and draws a large resident population of birds that locals feed year-round.
6. The Old Harbour and Grandi
Reykjavik's working harbour still operates fishing boats alongside whale-watching tours, and the neighbouring Grandi district's corrugated-iron warehouses have been repainted and converted into galleries, breweries and design studios, giving it a mix of working-port grit and colour.
7. Perlan
Built on top of six large geothermal hot water tanks, Perlan's glass dome houses an observation deck with a 360-degree view over Reykjavik and, on a clear day, toward the surrounding mountains and coastline, making it one of the city's few genuine panoramic vantage points.
Traveller tips
- Reykjavik's centre is easily walkable; a car is only really necessary for day trips outside the city.
- Summer offers near-midnight sun for late golden-hour light, while winter trades that for a chance at the northern lights.
- There is no direct flight from India; most itineraries connect through a European hub.
- Iceland is a Schengen Area member; Indian travellers should confirm current Schengen visa requirements before booking.
Where this is
Reykjavik, Iceland