Reykjavik is full of great places to go out for a stroll. Grótta is perfect for bird watching and romantic walks and Elliðarárdalur valley has a really nice river flowing through it and is perfect for cycling or walking. But let me tell you about the perfect walk in downtown Reykjavik.

Stroll around the pond

Try walking around Reykjavik’s pond, or “Tjörnin,” in the city center. It is a good idea to start at the City Hall on the north bank of the pond and check the massive 3D map of Iceland. Behind the old Iðnó Theatre building, you are pretty sure to find ducks and geese to feed if you are interested in that sort of thing.

Free road trip plans with maps

Day-by-day plans for the four drives most people take, each on an interactive map with where to sleep, fuel stops, waterfalls and reader discounts along the way. Built for a relaxed pace, not a race.

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Map of hot springs, spas and pools

Every lagoon, wild hot spring and town pool in Iceland on one map. Find warm water near you, and see which spas give my readers a discount.

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Feeding frensy at the Reykjavik pond
Feeding frenzy at the Reykjavik pond

 

Video: View of the perfect stroll

 

See what could be the first selfie in Iceland

On the east bank, you will walk past the National Gallery of Iceland and a nice little church. If you walk further on the east bank, you walk through a park called Hljómskálagarður, or literally “Music Hall Park”.  It is named after a small octagonal building. It is the first building in Reykjavik dedicated to music, completed in 1923 for the Reykjavik Brass Band. Contrast that with the Harpa Concert Hall! Walk a little further, and on your left, you will see one of the first statues erected in Reykjavik. It is a self-portrait (selfie?) of the first-ever Icelandic sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen, unveiled in 1875. The statue was originally situated in front of the  Althingi building but it was moved to the park in 1931. Its replacement was a statue of the national hero, Jon Sigurdsson.

Statue of the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Statue of the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.

Walk a bit further, and on the south bank, you will see a statue of a guy sitting on a bench. This is a statue dedicated to the poet Tomas Gudmundsson (1901 – 1983), who was the real heavyweight poet to cover the city in his work. The police sometimes get phone calls in winter reporting a man sitting motionless on a bench. On the south bank, you will find, yes, you guessed it, Japanese cherry blossom trees. They are still really small but will be a sight to see in a few years I guess.

How to get there

 

Tags #Reykjavik #Reykjavik walks #Walking