24 Hours in Reykjavík: The Eyja Way

Only have 24 hours in Reykjavík? Good news: Reykjavík is compact, walkable and very good at fitting a lot into a day without making you feel like you’re running a marathon.

Here’s how we’d do it — coffee first, obviously.

07:30 — Coffee. Before Anything Else.

Start slowly.

Make yourself a coffee in your room, stay under the duvet for a little longer and enjoy one of those rare holiday mornings when there’s nowhere you absolutely need to be.

Reykjavík can wait another twenty minutes.

08:00 — A Little Energy, Made by You

Once the coffee has done its job, head downstairs to our eco-friendly gym.

Our equipment lets you put some of your own energy to good use — quite literally. Get a workout in, wake yourself up and feel unnecessarily accomplished before breakfast.

Very responsible of you.

09:00 — Breakfast, Eyja Style

Now for the important part.

Our breakfast is as organic as we can possibly make it, and we source locally whenever quality and availability allow. Eggs, dairy, bread and plenty of other favourites come from close to home.

Of course, we do live on a small island rather far north in the Atlantic. Avocados are not exactly growing in the garden.

So when local isn't possible, we make thoughtful choices about what comes from further away. No dramatic claims, no sustainability lecture. Just really good food, sourced with a little more thought.

Have another coffee. You’re on holiday.

10:30 — Walk Towards the Ocean

One of the best things about Eyja is our location. We’re close enough to Reykjavík city centre that there’s really no need to get into a car.

Head out from the hotel and walk down towards Sæbraut, Reykjavík's waterfront.

From there, follow the ocean towards the centre. You’ll get views across the water and towards the mountains before reaching Harpa Concert Hall.

Continue past Harpa and you'll arrive at the Old Harbour, where Reykjavík starts to feel a little less like a capital city and a little more like the fishing town it once was.

Walk, wander, stop for coffee, look in a few shops.

There’s no need to optimise everything. You’re not at work.

13:00 — Find Something Good for Lunch

By now, lunch should be calling.

Reykjavík has a brilliant food scene, from tiny bakeries and casual cafés to seafood spots and restaurants built around Icelandic ingredients.

Rather than trying to find the place with the longest online list of recommendations, ask our team at Eyja. We live here. We eat here. We have opinions.

15:00 — Do Reykjavík Like an Icelander: Go Swimming

If you want to experience something genuinely Icelandic, forget the tourist checklist for an hour and go to the swimming pool.

Reykjavík's pools are geothermally heated and are a huge part of everyday life in Iceland. Swim a few laps if you're feeling energetic, or do what many locals actually came for: find a hot tub and stay there considerably longer than planned.

Sundhöllin swimming pool is only around a 10-minute walk from Eyja, making it an easy addition to your day.

Cold air. Hot water.

Iceland figured this one out rather well.

17:00 — Explore a Little Further

Still have some energy?

Head back to Eyja and grab one of our bikes, available to rent directly from the hotel.

Cycle along Reykjavík's paths, explore some of the quieter neighbourhoods or head back towards the coastline.

No fuel. No parking. No sitting in traffic.

Technically very sustainable. Mostly just a nice way to see Reykjavík.

19:00 — Dinner & Drinks

Time to hand the bike back and reward all that walking, swimming and cycling.

Head into Reykjavík for dinner and enjoy the city's restaurants, bars and surprisingly lively evening atmosphere.

Again, ask us where we'd go. We'd much rather recommend somewhere we genuinely like than send you towards the nearest tourist trap.

22:00 — Back to Eyja

Eventually, make your way home to Eyja.

Sink into bed and consider everything you managed to fit into one day.

You walked Reykjavík. You explored the waterfront. You soaked in geothermal water. You ate thoughtfully sourced food. Maybe you cycled instead of driving.

And somehow, you managed to make quite a few sustainable choices without spending the entire day thinking about sustainability.

That's rather the point.

At Eyja, we do the eco-thinking so you can get on with the important stuff.

Like Reykjavík.