The good news about this Reykjavík walking tour: it starts at the highest point in town and it is all downhill from there. Literally. You meet at Hallgrímskirkja and let gravity and your guide do the rest.

CityWalk Reykjavik runs the walk in small groups over two and a half hours. It works as an orientation on day one or as a wrap-up at the end of a trip, when you have a list of questions about what you have been looking at all week.

What you'll see on the Reykjavík walking tour

The route strings together the landmarks of central Reykjavík one after another, plus some of the city's less obvious street art along the way.

• Hallgrímskirkja
• Rainbow Street (Skólavörðustígur)
• Harpa Concert Hall
• The Penis Museum (yes, really)
• Bæjarins Beztu hot dog stand
• Austurvöllur, the main square
• Alþingi, the parliament building
• Tjörnin, the city pond
• Reykjavík City Hall

What you'll learn

Iceland's history in a nutshell, told through the stuff locals actually talk about: Vikings, elves, politics, the economy, architecture, and the do's and don'ts of Icelandic life. Along the way you get recommendations for restaurants, bars and museums, which is often the most useful part for people who have just landed.

The idea, in the operator's words, is that you finish the walk with a local friend and a different view of the city. We would add that you also finish it knowing where to eat that evening.

Good to know before you go

Dress for the weather. Reykjavík can go from sunshine to sideways rain within a single walk, and two and a half hours is long enough to see both. The walk is mostly downhill from the church, so it is an easy one on the legs.

Pro tip: book this early in your trip. The restaurant and museum tips are worth more when you still have days left to use them.