Best Of Reykjavík 2018: Best Hike

So, you’ve shopped in the shops, drank the drinks, and eaten all the food you can manage. And whilst those things are all super fun, activities and culture are the missing pieces of the puzzle for a perfect trip to Iceland. Whether it a gleaming museum or a grimy artist-run gallery, a springtime hike or a trip to try and glimpse the aurora, presenting our Best of Reykjavík 2018: Activities winners. Here, we’ll dive into the not-to-miss hikes.

Best Hikes

Esja

Mógilsá, Mosfellsbær

The mountain that overlooks Reykjavík has a hiking path, with varying levels of difficulty. You can stop at the base camp, which still affords views over the metropolis below, or you can progress to the top. In winter, ice cleats and hiking poles are advised—it can get pretty slippery up there. And best of all—you can get to the start of the trail by public transport. “It’s the only proper hike you can do in Reykjavík without a car,” said the panel. “It’s the last stop of the Reykjavík bus system. And the view from the top is fantastic.”

Runner-Up:

Heiðmörk

You might have seen the cratered red rocks of Rauðhólar on a southern drive—but Heiðmörk is actually a huge nature reserve with forests and lakes. “It’s the only wild area of Reykjavík where you feel like you could get lost. There are barbecues, and you can jog, picnic, hike, or go horse-riding or fishing.”

Runner-Up:

Elliðaárdalur

This city park is in Reykjavík 110, near the Ártún bus stop. “It’s not so much a hike as a nice walk,” said the panel. “There’s a little network of dirt trails and forest paths around the river. It’s very chill—you can see people horse riding, meander the paths, or take a run in the forest.”

Previous Winners

2016: Móskarðshnjúkar

Other Activities Categories

Best Pool

Best Art Museum

Best Museum

Best Artist-Run Space

Best Gallery

Best Place For Aurora Spotting

Best Place To Take The Kids

Best People-Watching Spot

Best Hike

Best Cinema

You can buy a copy of the full Best Of Reykjavík 2018 magazine—an essential guide to having fun in Reykjavík—here, posted worldwide. We also have a Special Offer double-pack that also includes our Best Of Iceland magazine, about places to eat, see, swim, shop and stay, all around the country, here.