Arriving early morning in the airport, we took the Flybus into the city center (which was close to Hallgrímskirkja). We decided to get breakfast at Sandholt Bakery. There was already a wait at 8:30 am! I got their pancakes. They were light and fluffy but the portions were a bit small.
After dropping off our luggage, we went to the Sun Voyager sculpture, a steel sculpture that resembles a Viking ship. It is located near the water and is one of the most photographed landmarks.
We then went to Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church in Iceland. Most people lined up to take the elevator to the top to get a 360 view of Reykjavík. It costs 1000 ISK (~$10) to go up. I was surprised by how colorful the rooftops of the houses were. The church decor itself was minimalist.
After Hallgrímskirkja, we went to Sægreifinn where they are famous for their lobster soup. The lobster soup had a more tomatoey base than I expected but it was comforting for the rainy weather outside. We also got shrimp. The portions for both were also a bit small for me.
Luckily Sægreifinn was close by to Lækjartorg square where we joined a Free Walking Tour. I always try to do a walking tour when I am in a new city because you get to see more when walking around the city area and it is usually led by a local. Our tour guide was Thor and he was great! Very funny and gave a good overview of the city. Although the tour is free, remember to carry some cash with you so you can tip your tour guide afterwards.
We got a bit hungry after the tour and got a hotdog at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur. It was about a 5 minute walk from Lækjartorg square. The hotdog (with everything) is a must try and it is one of the cheaper foods that you can get in Iceland. There was a slight wait for the hotdog but it is worth it.
We went back to hotel to take a nap before getting dinner. We went to Fisherman Fish Shop & Kitchen fifteen minutes before closing and was able to order. I got salmon and a side of root vegetables. The salmon was amazing and very filling. I would highly recommend visiting.
After dinner, I saw there were a lot of locals lining up out the door for ice cream at Valdis. As the ice cream fan that I am, I decided to get a scoop before heading back for the day. The menu was in Icelandic but the servers were able to translate for us. I got the milk flavor ice cream and it had a fro-yo texture.
