The Hallgrimskirkja (cathedral) of 1986 with a 73-metre-high tower, July 2025.

The Hallgrimskirkja (cathedral) of 1986 with a 73-metre-high tower, July 2025.

The northernmost capital in the world, and Europe's most western capital. That is Reykjavik. The centre of the main city of Iceland is easy to navigate, with perhaps the Hallgrimskirkja (cathedral) as its main landmark. But there are other small and bigger jams in the heart of the city. 
A very nice way to discover the city is to start in the harbour area — as a way to stay connected to the fishing industry and the ocean that is intertwined with Iceland's societal history, and from there walk your way through the city centre towards the cathedral and beyond.
All photos from my visit in July 2025.
Inside the Reykjavik Harbour area and the waterfront
Þúfa, the small hill that was created by artist Ólöf Norda, harbour area.

Þúfa, the small hill that was created by artist Ólöf Norda, harbour area.

Small historic boat ST 13 Fridel.
Small historic boat ST 13 Fridel.
Historic trawler RE 38 Gullborg of the Icelandic Maritime Museum.
Historic trawler RE 38 Gullborg of the Icelandic Maritime Museum.
The coastal oil tanker Keilir.

The coastal oil tanker Keilir.

The tugboat Magni (2985)

The tugboat Magni (2985)

Icelandic whaling ships Hvalur 8 (built 1948) and Hvalur 9 (built 1952).
Icelandic whaling ships Hvalur 8 (built 1948) and Hvalur 9 (built 1952).
A maintenance man working on a green ship.
A maintenance man working on a green ship.
Icelandic fresher whitefish trawler named Þórunn Sveinsdóttir (VE-401) in maintenance.

Icelandic fresher whitefish trawler named Þórunn Sveinsdóttir (VE-401) in maintenance.

Icelandair De Havilland Canada (Bombardier) DHC-8-200 with registration TF-FXH on final approach to Reykjavik Domestic Airport, Iceland

Icelandair De Havilland Canada (Bombardier) DHC-8-200 with registration TF-FXH on final approach to Reykjavik Domestic Airport — passing over the harbour area.

The Swedish LNG/BioLNG-powered Thun Venern dual-fuel oil and chemical tanker.

The Swedish LNG/BioLNG-powered Thun Venern dual-fuel oil and chemical tanker.

The waterfront of Reykjavik, with at the end (on the right-hand side) the Harpa Concert Hall.

The waterfront of Reykjavik, with at the end (on the right-hand side) the Harpa Concert Hall.

Reykjavik, Iceland. The statue Sun Voyager (1990) by Jón Gunnar Árnason

The statue Sun Voyager (1990) by Jón Gunnar Árnason

The Höfði Lighthouse.
The Höfði Lighthouse.
Reykjavik, Iceland. The Höfði Lighthouse.

The Höfði Lighthouse.

Reykjavik, Iceland. A European herring gull (Larus argentatus).

A series of a European herring gull (Larus argentatus) flying alongside the waterfront boulevard of Reykjavik.

The historic Höfði House.

The historic Höfði Hous from 1909. The older generation might remember the location of the important meeting of US President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986, at the height of the Cold War between Western Europa and Soviet occupied Eastern Europe.

The island of Viðey with the Viðey House restaurant against the background of the Reykjavíkurborg mountains.

The island of Viðey with the Viðey House restaurant against the background of the Reykjavíkurborg mountains can be seen in the distance from the Reykjavik waterfront.

The Harpa Concert Hall
The Harpa Concert Hall opened in May 2011, and was built under the leadership of the renowned Henning Larsen Architects from Denmark. The Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson is behind the façade design, for which he let himself be inspired by the basalt rocks that are so typical for parts of the Icelandic landscape. The Harpa is 43 metres (141 ft) tall and has a floor space of 28,000 square metres (300,000 sq ft). The main hall can accommodate up to 1,800 spectators.
During my visit to Reykjavik in July 2025, one of the windows was being replaced — a nice seen to watch.
Tug boat Magni (2985) with the Harpa Concert Hall in the background

Tug boat Magni (2985) with the Harpa Concert Hall in the background.

Window replacement at the Harpa Concert Hall.

Window replacement at the Harpa Concert Hall.

The Harpa Concert Hall.
The inner city and Skólavörðustígur main street
Strolling through Skólavörðustígur is just great. Almost every building, and on every corner there is something new to discover.
A flat viking boat on top of a restaurant, Reykjavik.

A flat viking boat on top of a restaurant, Reykjavik.

A young woman taking a break at the Mósaík by Gerður Helgadóttir in Tryggvagata.
A young woman taking a break at the Mósaík by Gerður Helgadóttir in Tryggvagata.
Mósaík by Gerður Helgadóttir in Tryggvagata.

Mósaík by Gerður Helgadóttir in Tryggvagata.

A nicely designed power house.
A nicely designed power house.
Two women taking a break near the Vik Verzlun clothing store.
Two women taking a break near the Vik Verzlun clothing store.
A yellow cabin in the city centre.
A yellow cabin in the city centre.
A red house and shop in the city centre.
A red house and shop in the city centre.
The Art Musem of Reykjavik.

The Art Musem of Reykjavik.

Reykjavik's Skólavörðustígur main street (Rainbow street)
Reykjavik's Skólavörðustígur main street (Rainbow street)
A violin player in the main street.
A violin player in the main street.
A woman entering a rainbow café in the main street.
A woman entering a rainbow café in the main street.
Brennslan Café.

Brennslan Café.

Skólavörðustígur main street.
Skólavörðustígur main street.
Skólavörðustígur main street and Mjuk Iceland.
Skólavörðustígur main street and Mjuk Iceland.
Sign of the Prikið café, one of the oldes of the cities. Founded in 1951, it is now housed in a building from 1989.
Sign of the Prikið café, one of the oldes of the cities. Founded in 1951, it is now housed in a building from 1989.
Skólavörðustígur main street and Mjuk Iceland.

Skólavörðustígur main street and Mjuk Iceland.

A fire pump.
A fire pump.
See through into main street.
See through into main street.
A pub on main street.
A pub on main street.
Nearby main street and a tiny bit further away
Leave Skólavörðustígur and there is more to see, like the spectacular Reykjavik Cathedral and other small gems.
The Hallgrimskirkja (cathedral) of 1986 with a 73-metre (239.5-feet) high tower.
The Hallgrimskirkja (cathedral) of 1986 with a 73-metre (239.5-feet) high tower.
Reykjavik, Iceland. The Hallgrimskirkja (cathedral) of 1986 with a 73-metre high tower.
Frakkastigur street.
Frakkastigur street.
Frakkastigur street.
Frakkastigur street.
Houses at Gretisgata street.

Reykjavik, Iceland. Houses at Gretisgata street.

Reykjavik, Iceland. Ocean girl mural at Laugavegur street.

Ocean girl mural at Laugavegur street.

The Iceland Parliament Hotel at Austurvöllur square.
The Iceland Parliament Hotel at Austurvöllur square.
Monument of the Unknown Bureaucrat (1994) by Magnús Tómasson.
Monument of the Unknown Bureaucrat (1994) by Magnús Tómasson.
A seagul at lake Tjörnin, with the Lutheran Free Church in the background.
A seagul at lake Tjörnin, with the Lutheran Free Church in the background.
Reykjavik, Iceland. Arnarholl park and the House of Collections.

Arnarholl park and the House of Collections.

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