Planning an Iceland trip and don't know where to start?
Six questions, in the order they matter: when, how long, who with, budget, car or tours, where to sleep. We point you to the answer for each one.
Things to Do in Reykjavík – Cinema, Harpa, Nightlife & Bowling
Entertainment
When it rains or the wind picks up, or you've just had a long day
Reykjavík offers more than restaurants and bars. Cinema and live music are woven into daily life here. If you have a free evening, they're worth considering.
How Cinema Works in Iceland
Before you book a ticket, two things to know:
Language
Most international films are shown in their original language with Icelandic subtitles. Look for:
- • ENSKT TAL: English audio
- • ÍSL TEXTI: Icelandic subtitles
Hollywood films are almost never dubbed.
Intermission
Yes, there's an intermission. Halfway through the movie, the lights come up. People stretch, refill popcorn, chat briefly. It lasts about 10 minutes.
If you're not expecting it, it feels odd. Once you know it's coming, it's kind of nice. It's one of those small Icelandic details that catches visitors off guard.
Where to Watch
Bíó Paradís (Hverfisgata 54)
The art-house option. Sofas instead of stadium seating. A small bar. Indie films, classics, cult favorites. If you want something quieter and less commercial, this is the place.
They also host themed screenings, like old films, director retrospectives, and niche genres, which can feel more intimate than a standard multiplex.
Sambíóin Egilshöll · Laugarásbíó
The larger cinemas. Major Hollywood releases, popular Nordic dramas, blockbusters. During school breaks, they show family-friendly films in the afternoons. Even if you're not traveling with kids, it's useful to know the option exists if you want something low-key.
Egilshöll also has a bowling alley in the same building; this is useful to know if you're looking for a low-key evening activity or something fun with kids.
Harpa Concert Hall
You don't need a ticket to enter Harpa. Walk inside, sit near the windows, watch the light move through the glass architecture. It's free and surprisingly calm.
If you do want an event, Harpa hosts:
- • Concert tributes (Icelandic musicians honoring international artists)
- • Orchestral performances
- • Cinematic experiences with nature visuals and live music
- • Short midday concerts (quieter, more reflective)
Check their schedule when you arrive. Not everything needs advance planning; sometimes you just see what's on that week and decide.
Live Music
There are bars all over Reykjavík, but locals tend to send visitors to one place first.
Hús máls og menningar (The Old Bookshop, Laugavegur 18)
A bookstore by day and a live music venue by night. There is live music here almost every evening, the crowd is a mix of locals and visitors, and the atmosphere is warm and unpretentious. It is packed most nights for a reason: the music is consistently good, and it is the kind of place where you can walk in without a plan and still have a memorable evening.
Occasional stand-up comedy nights too. If you want one reliable recommendation for an evening in Reykjavík, this is it.
Nightlife
Reykjavik's nightlife is unique. The city is quiet during the week, but weekends come alive, especially along Laugavegur. Most locals pre-drink at home because bar prices are high, then head out around midnight.
- • Things don't really start until after midnight on weekends
- • Taxis are limited at peak hours, plan your way home before heading out
- • Clubs are small and informal, no need to dress up
- • The atmosphere is generally friendly and safe
A Different Kind of Evening
Most visitors plan tours during the day and dinner at night. But locals also:
- • Sit in dark cinemas on Tuesday afternoons
- • Attend tribute concerts on weeknights
- • Spend an hour inside Harpa just listening to ambient sound
If you're here for more than a day or two, stepping into that rhythm can feel grounding. Not everything in Iceland has to be dramatic or Instagram-ready. Sometimes it's just a movie with an intermission and strangers quietly sharing popcorn in the lobby.
Ski day in Iceland: is it worth the drive?
Iceland has skiing, just not the Alps kind. Two things decide your ski day: whether the lifts are actually open, and whether the road to them is drivable. Both change hour to hour from November to April.
The three resorts, honestly
- Bláfjöll, 30 minutes from Reykjavík. The one most visitors mean. Small, cheap day passes (about 5,500 ISK), a few lifts, no on-mountain rentals to speak of. Open days are decided by wind and visibility, not by the season, and it often stays closed for a week at a time.
- Skálafell, 25 minutes east of Reykjavík. Smaller sibling of Bláfjöll. Open days are more limited. Same operator, same status page.
- Hlíðarfjall in Akureyri, the north. The best resort in Iceland, longer runs, more reliable snow, real rentals and a ski school. Only realistic if you are already in Akureyri or ready to fly domestic.
Before you drive up, check
- skidasvaedi.is for Bláfjöll and Skálafell open/closed status and lift hours (updated each morning).
- hlidarfjall.is for Akureyri.
- Type "Bláfjallavegur" or "Hlíðarfjall" into Can I drive today for live wind and road status on the access road.
What people expect wrong
- Not a destination ski trip. Runs are short, lifts are basic, days are windy. Locals ski for a half day, not a week.
- Rentals are limited. Book skis and boots ahead through the resort or through Everest, Fjallakofinn, or Örninn in Reykjavík. Do not assume you can walk up and rent.
- Weather calls the shot, not the calendar. February and March are usually the most reliable. Christmas week is often closed because of storms.
- Cross-country and backcountry are widely done in Bláfjöll and around Akureyri when the resort is closed. Bring an avalanche awareness mindset, not a lift ticket.
Kids and first-time skiers
Bláfjöll has a beginners' area and a small tow lift, good for a first taste on a calm day. Hlíðarfjall has a proper ski school. Neither has childcare, plan for one adult with the kids on the slope at all times.
We update this every winter with what actually happened at the resorts. Listed hours change, so the honest move is to call the resort in the morning before you drive.
Official Tickets & Listings
Buying from official sources ensures valid tickets and avoids scams.