Where to Find the Best Views in Reykjavik

One of Reykjavik’s most recognizable landmarks, Hallgrím's Church, built beginning in the 1940s and famed for its modern design, is also an excellent vantage point. Ascend to the top of its 240-foot (73-meter) tower—one of the highest structures in the country—and capture photos of the rainbow-hued houses below.

Among Reykjavik’s most distinctive attractions, the gleaming Harpa Building, with its geometric lines and glass facade, is a photogenic landmark. A concert hall and conference center that debuted in 2011 and was designed in part by artist Olafur Eliasson, the Harpa Building is free to explore—and offers sweeping views over the water.

The Perlan (“The Pearl” in English) is a must-see museum, an architectural highlight, as well as an ideal observation point. Located on the top of Öskjuhlíð Hill, the Perlan offers spectacular panoramic views of the city. Its dome is also home to celestial shows—if you aren’t lucky enough to see the northern lights in real life, its Áróra show is the next best thing.

If it’s wide-ranging views and unforgettable panoramas that you’re after, then there’s only one answer—take to the air. Helicopter tours don’t just offer spectacular views of the Icelandic capital and the Skarfabakki Harbour, they also whisk you away to Mt. Esja and soar over the Atlantic.

The Sun Voyager—a 1990 sculpture by artist Jón Gunnar Árnason (and known locally as Sólfar)—was designed to resemble a Viking vessel. Depending on the way that you face, you can use the artwork in the foreground of your seaside shots or in your photos of the Reykjavik cityscape.