Reykjavik: Things To Do When Your Tours Are Cancelled
Last Updated: 28 June 2026
I should have known that when I was feeling way too prepared for my trip to Iceland, that I was in fact absolutely not prepared!
It was a bit of a last-minute trip but I managed to pre-book all my tours, and had an itinerary so full of what the rest of Iceland has to offer that I was expecting to miss out on Reykjavik city almost altogether.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, it would have been an excellent idea to have a back-up itinerary - or at least a list of alternative options – in case the weather caused some havoc… which it inevitably did of course.
Each morning I woke up to a new cancellation and then had to spend some hours trying to figure out what to do with my day in the city instead. After days of Googling and guidebook reading to find something to see or do, I found some cool things and managed to make the most of my time there.
I can only speak of what I experienced, and there are plenty more things to see in Reykjavik, but here’s a few options to get you started (links are all provided).
*Prices checked June 2026
Magic Ice Bar & Gallery
After visiting the ice bar in Amsterdam, this was a must for me. Located on Laugavegur, it was around a 10 minute walk in the iced-over snow from my hotel, Center Hotels Laugavegur.
It's current location is only a street away from the famous Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street too!
Prices are shown on a board behind the counter with various ticket/drinks options, and staff were friendly. After they explained how it all worked, I opted for the “Bring On The Cold” ticket, currently priced at ISK 5490* (approx. £33*). This included one entrance fee, one vodka-based drink (the blue cone) and one extra drink (prosecco for me).
I put their larger cloak on over my own coat and took a pair of gloves, though I didn’t feel the need to use them. The bar itself is smaller than I expected (although I was comparing to Amsterdam’s) but there was still plenty of photo-spots and posing to be done!
There were only a few others in, so I had plenty of space to wander about with my camera, and nobody looked at me funny for being alone. In fact, a lovely couple even helped me get great photos sitting on my ice throne sipping my prosecco!
There’s no denying this is a tourist thing, but it was fun and it was something a bit different than just sitting in a normal bar. The prosecco was also nice, so if you’re looking for a little quirky drink or two, check this place out. Getting some great photos is never a bad thing either!
Center Hotels Midgardur - Spa & Massage
I have mentioned a few times that I was based in the Center Hotels Laugavegur, which is just one of the nine sister hotels/apartments. I was flicking through the TV info options on a day where I was particularly fed up and happened to see information advising that their sister hotel (Midgardur) had massage and spa facilities.
It is literally a few minutes walk round the corner from their Laugavegur site, so I took a dander to enquire about booking a massage. I opted for the 50-minute deep massage, costing ISK 18,900*, which is approximately £113* - but well worth it!
It was super easy to book, I just picked my preferred timing (morning/afternoon/evening), and the receptionist emailed their masseuse with my request. This meant the masseuse fitted around my schedule as opposed to me having to pick a given time slot.
She informed me that they would ring my hotel with confirmation, and my receptionist would let me know. I wasn't long back in my room when I got the phone call with a time that was very suitable for me. She also explained that by booking a massage, I have use of the spa facilities there free of charge for as long as I wanted. Perfect!
You have a shower prior to entering the spa and all you need for this is provided, including robe and slippers. The masseuse was adaptive to my tolerance levels of firmness used on injured areas.
I also knew that Icelanders don't care if we are naked but I wasn't sure what the expected etiquette was - she didn't make me feel silly at all for asking if I should fully disrobe (which I did).
There is free iced water and plastic glasses readily available for use at your own leisure, and there is a menu for the alcoholic drinks service. There is a QR code to order from the restaurant or there is a phone available to speak with them.
I used the phone and got myself a nice glass of wine to be the cherry on top of my relaxing session. If you are staying in the Midgardur site, you can charge these drinks to your room; otherwise you can pay by card when the waiter arrives with your drinks.
Like I mentioned in my IG post, the spa was small and the facilities were nothing fancy or glamorous. However, with a steam room, indoor pool, and outdoor pool - I had all that I needed right there. It was glorious having the place to myself and I stayed for about 2 hours after my massage.
There was something pretty special about being in the outdoor pool in subzero temperatures - having the top part of me out in the cold while the rest of me got toasted was heavenly. I also loved watching the steam blow across the water; I found it weirdly relaxing.
It was exactly what I needed to recharge and it certainly did the job!
Sólfar (Sun Voyager)
If you follow me on IG, you will know I shared a few things already about this sculpture, but it was a great alternative itinerary item so it makes the list.
After reading the history of it, I understand the sculpture was made as a tribute to the sun. The sunlight dazzles off its surface as you move around it, and there are also lights on the ground to imitate this, so you should see it even when it’s darker. It really was beautiful to see for myself and it has a stunning landscape behind it as a backdrop for some wonderful photos.
Outdoors and along the shore, this is free for anyone to visit at any time. It is located along Sæbraut and can be found at the bottom of the hill leading away from Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral.
Do be careful if you visit whilst it’s snowy or icy though – the inner platform that it sits on was extremely slippery and I wasn’t the only one who nearly went flying.
Since being home I also learnt that it is entirely possible to see the Aurora (Northern Lights) from Sólfar in the right weather conditions, despite the light pollution from the city. I saw lots of people saying that around 01.30am was an optimal time to try, but of course there is never a guarantee with Lady Aurora.
Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral
Again, you may have seen some first-hand content of Hallgrímskirkja on my IG feed, but I’ll give a few more details here too as it’s another absolute must-see in Reykjavik even if you’re like me and not religious.
It is around a 10-minute walk from both Center Hotels Laugavegur (where I was based) and from Sólfar (Sun Voyager) – you can cross the road from Sólfar onto Frakkastigur and walk up the hill to find the “Church on the Hill”.
The Cathedral does have active services so please be mindful if you’re going inside. I wasn’t sure if there was a service going on when I visited, or if it was available to just wander around so I played it safe just in case.
You can visit the tower (where the view of the city is from) by purchasing tickets (Adults: ISK 1500* / £9* approx.) from the church shop located in the church foyer. However, tower tickets can't be pre-booked and I strongly advise to check out the church’s website for timings, restrictions, and further service information.
If you wish to attend a service, their calendar can be found here.
There are certainly plenty of other things to see, do and visit whilst in Reykjavik city, but I can’t speak of them personally (good or bad) since I didn’t visit them during my trip.
However, I have put together a comprehensive bonus list of other suggestions including museums, tourist attractions and boat/heli tours which may also be of interest for planning your Reykjavik city itinerary.
Happy plan-B-ing!