Icelands Reykjavik Self Guided Walking Audio Tour
Description
Uncover the mystic wonder of Iceland’s capital city with this self-guided walking tour of Reykjavik. Experience the bustling city center of this Icelandic hub (including an entire artificial lake!). Marvel at the architectural splendor of the towering Hallgrimskirkja cathedral. Wander to the waterfront, take in views of the Esja Mountains, and snap selfies at sculptures like Sun Voyager. Along the way, you’ll dig into the vibrant history of the city and the founding of Iceland, all with just your phone! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This Icelandic capital city is absolutely packed with history, culture, and fascinating landmarks. So let’s start exploring it all! We’ll walk in a wonky sort of loop to take it all in. Note: The tour is over 1.6 miles long, with more than 30 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours per tour to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
If you’ve seen basalt in the wild, it often takes on these oddly geometric, pillar-like shapes! You can see some great examples of basalt like this on my Snæfellsnes Peninsula tour or my Volcanic Beaches tour.
At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking the artist of this sculpture was trying to replicate a Viking Ship. After all, you are in the land of the Vikings and, well, this is a ship! But this isn’t actually the intention behind the sculpture.
Maximus is a popular children’s book character. In his first adventure, he’s a fairly normal rodent who just happens to find his way into a music hall. He likes what he hears and hangs around, going on many adventures in the vast hall. These thrilling hijinks are all set to the background of rousing orchestral music.
According to Viking lore, a dragon head was used to scare away enemies and provide a mystical connection to the gods. It provided protection from evil spirits of both the land and water. In fact, when dragon heads were carved into the masts of Viking ships, there was a law that stated the heads had to be removed before the ship could return to its homeland.
The dragon, the eagle, the giant, and the bull are the spirits who guard Iceland. Each relief represents protection of a specific region. The dragon guards the Eastfjords, the eagle watches over the north, the bull protects the west, while the giant watches over the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest.
If you’re looking for a fun little easter egg most people miss, look for the green wall. See how City Hall is divided into two buildings? Look for the wall in the space between the two.
But we won’t get the chance to fish off of it. According to an old legend, two elderly women once lived on opposite sides of the lake. Both used its waters to wash their clothes.
That’s Menntaskolinn, or the Old Grammar School. And old really means old… it’s nearly a thousand years old! Menntaskolinn traces its roots all the way to 1056.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Note: Days in Iceland get shorter in winter due to the country's high latitude, and there is less light during the day. Please schedule your tour accordingly and start early.
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Reviews(6)
The map is easy to follow and shares several interesting facts along each stop. Highly recommended!!
Wendy, I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed my Iceland’s Reykjavik Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour. I’m thrilled that the map was easy to follow and that the stops shared interesting facts along the way. If you’re planning more adventures, check out my Ultimate Iceland Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour Bundle, which includes the Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Happy travels!
Interesting and quite simple. Some adjustments at the beginning for the use of the app. Relevant and fun information. The main places of the city are there.
Julie, I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed my Reykjavik city tour and found the information both relevant and entertaining. I understand that getting the hang of the app can take a moment, but I’m thrilled that it worked well for you in the end. If you’re planning more adventures, check out my Ultimate Iceland Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour Bundle, which includes the Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Happy travels!
Easy to use app. It was very neat how all you needed to do was walk with it running for the stories to play, or simply go to the "learn more" at a highlighted spot. I also liked that there were transcripts of the audio, and the clear audio directions and map. The stories were interesting, and the narration engaging. It was very informative and added a lot of missing context to my understanding of Reykjavik.
Holly, I’m so glad to hear that my Reykjavik Self-Guided Walking Tour worked well for you. It’s wonderful that the app's easy-to-use features, clear audio, and "Learn More" sections made your experience even better. If you’re planning more adventures, check out my Ultimate Iceland Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour Bundle, which includes the Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Happy travels!
Cool app, good storytelling, all major sightseeing there, plus interesting stories about all locations. You can’t restart it anytime.
Sonia, I’m glad you enjoyed my Reykjavik Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour. It’s great that you found the storytelling engaging and appreciated the coverage of all the major sights. If you’re planning more adventures, check out my Ultimate Iceland Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour Bundle, which includes the Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Happy travels!
The tour was well paced and was able to see all the highlights. Learned so much about Reykjavik. I would highly recommend this tour.
George, I’m glad you enjoyed my Reykjavik Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour and learned so much about the city. It’s great to hear the pacing worked well for you. If you’re ready for more adventures, check out my collection of over 100 self-guided driving and walking tours. They offer the same flexibility and convenience, perfect for your next journey!
We left it too late to book on to a more usual walking tour but decided to try this - and we were really pleased we did!! It’s an excellent way to get the information of a tour and see all the sights of the city but with the added bonus of it being exactly when we wanted and being able to pause and restart when ever we wanted. There are extra stories and information which is great as you can go in depth in the things you are interested in and just skim those that don’t appeal. We felt we got to know the city and its history and would definitely do this kind of tour again out of choice. It’s a lot cheaper as well! Easy to use once you’ve mastered how it works. I’d advise spending a few minutes working it out at the beginning so the rest of the tour goes smoothly.
Sophie, I'm thrilled you enjoyed the flexibility and depth of my Reykjavik Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour. It's great to hear how you personalized your experience to dive deep into what interests you most. If you're eager to explore more cities or nature spots on your terms, check out my 100+ Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours by Action. They're crafted to offer the same independence and richness wherever your adventures take you. Happy exploring!
