View source for Reykjavík

{{short description|Capital and most populous city of Iceland}}
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{{More citations needed|date=February 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Reykjavík
| native_name_lang   = <!-- ISO 639-1 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type    = [[Capital city]] and [[Municipalities of Iceland|Municipality]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
 | border        = infobox 
 | perrow        = 1/2/3/2
 | total_width   = 290
 | align         = center
 | caption_align = center
 | image1        = Reykjavík, view from Hallgrímskirkja (2).jpg
 | caption1      = [[Reykjavík City Center|Skyline]] from the [[Hallgrímskirkja]]
 | image2        = Höfði mvp.jpg
 | caption2      = [[Höfði]]
 | image3        = Perlan in April 2013.jpg
 | caption3      = [[Perlan]]
 | image4        = Iglesia Libre Reikiavik, Reikiavik, Distrito de la Capital, Islandia, 2014-08-13, DD 088.JPG
 | caption4      = [[Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík]]
 | image5        = Alþingishúsið.jpg
 | caption5      = [[Alþingishúsið]]
 | image6        = Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík 2023.jpg
 | caption6      = [[Reykjavík Cathedral]]
 | image7        = Harpa.JPG
 | caption7      = [[Harpa (concert hall)|Harpa]]
 | image8        = Leifur Eiríksson and Hallgrímskirkja (14527191932).jpg
 | caption8      = [[Hallgrímskirkja]]
}}
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Reykjavik, Iceland.svg
| flag_alt           = 
| flag_size          = 100px
| image_seal         = 
| seal_alt           = 
| image_shield       = ISL Reykjavik COA.svg
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_size        = 50px
| etymology          = [[Old Norse]]: "Smoky bay"
| nickname           = The City of Sagas – Referring to Iceland's rich literary history, especially the famous Icelandic [[saga]]s that tell stories of [[Viking]] life and history.{{force singular}}
| motto              = 
| image_map          = Reykjavíkurborg Loc.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Reykjavík
| mapsize            = 250px
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_map        = Iceland#Europe
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|64|08|45|N|21|56|33|W|display=it}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Iceland}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Iceland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Capital Region (Iceland)|Capital Region]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Constituencies of Iceland|Constituency]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Reykjavík Constituency North]]<br />[[Reykjavík Constituency South]]
| established_title  = [[Market town|Market right]]
| established_date   = 18 August 1786<ref>{{cite web|url=http://visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=68453|title=Vísindavefurinn: Af hverju varð Reykjavík höfuðstaður Íslands?|work=Vísindavefurinn|access-date=1 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813115929/http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=68453|archive-date=13 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| governing_body     = City Council
| leader_party       = [[Social Democratic Alliance|SDA]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Reykjavík|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir]]
| leader_title1      = City Council President
| leader_name1       = [[Sanna Magdalena Mörtudóttir]]
| leader_title2      = City Executive Council Chairman
| leader_name2       = Líf Magneudóttir
| total_type         = [[Capital city]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atlas.lmi.is/mapview/?application=markasja |title=Natural Science Institute of Iceland - Administrational Boundary Map Viewer |website=atlas.lmi.is |publisher=National Land Survey of Iceland |access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>
| area_urban_footnotes = <!-- <ref> </ref> -->
| area_rural_footnotes = <!-- <ref> </ref> -->
| area_metro_footnotes = <!-- <ref> </ref> -->
| area_magnitude     = <!-- <ref> </ref> -->
| area_note          = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_rank          = 
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank2_title  = <!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2     = 244
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_rural_km2     = 
| area_metro_km2     = 1,046
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| area_blank2_km2    = 
| length_km          = 
| width_km           = 
| dimensions_footnotes = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="b125">{{cite web | title=Reykjavík (Reykjavík, All Urban Settlements, Iceland) | website=Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information | date=2024-01-01 | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/iceland/towns/reykjav%C3%ADk/UA0050__reykjav%C3%ADk/ | access-date=2025-09-13}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_total   = 135,714
| population_metro   = 249,054
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name="n462">{{cite web | title=Population by regions, sex and age 1 January 1998-2025-PxWeb | website=PxWeb | url=https://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__2_byggdir__Byggdakjarnarhverfi/MAN03250.px/ | access-date=2025-09-13}}</ref>
| population_blank1_title = [[Municipalities of Iceland|Municipality]]<ref name="a885">{{cite web | title=Reykjavík (Municipality, Iceland) | website=Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location | date=2024-01-01 | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/iceland/admin/h%C3%B6fu%C3%B0borgarsv%C3%A6%C3%B0/0000__reykjav%C3%ADk/ | access-date=2025-09-13}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 239,733
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name="f269">{{cite web | title=Greater Reykjavik (Iceland): Settlements | website=Population Statistics, Charts and Map | date=2024-01-01 | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/iceland/reykjavik/ | access-date=2025-09-13}}</ref>
| population_note    = 
| population_blank1  = 136,894
| population_demonym = {{native name|is|Reykvíkingur, Reykvíkingar}}
| timezone           = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset         = +00:00
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Iceland|Postal code(s)]]
| postal_code        = 101–155
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = 
| code1_name         = Municipal number
| code1_info         = 0000
| iso_code           = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Municipal council|Council]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Reykjavík City Council]]
| website            = {{URL|reykjavik.is/en|reykjavik.is}}
| module             = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Reykjavík'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|eɪ|k|j|ə|v|ɪ|k|,_|-|v|iː|k}} {{respell|RAYK|yə|vik|,_-|veek}};<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/reykjavik|title=Reykjavik – definition of Reykjavik in English from the Oxford dictionary|website=www.oxforddictionaries.com|access-date=29 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331053021/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/reykjavik|archive-date=31 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{IPA|is|ˈreiːcaˌviːk|lang|Is-Reykjavík.oga}}}} is the [[Capital city|capital]] and [[List of urban areas in the Nordic countries|largest city]] of [[Iceland]]. It is located on the southern shore of the [[Faxaflói]] bay in southwest Iceland and has a latitude of 64°08′ N, making it [[List of northernmost items|the world's northernmost capital]] of a [[sovereign state]].{{efn|Greenland's capital [[Nuuk]] is farther north, but Greenland is not a sovereign state.}} Reykjavík has a population of around 139,000 as of 2025,<ref name="pop_stats">{{Cite web|url=https://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__2_byggdir__sveitarfelog/MAN02005.px/ |title=Population by municipality, age and sex 1998-2025 - Division into municipalites as of 1 January 2025|date=1 January 2025|website=statice.is|publisher=[[Statistics Iceland]]|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref> and the surrounding [[Capital Region (Iceland)|Capital Region]] has a population of around 249,000, constituting approximately 64% of Iceland's population.<ref name="pop_regions_stats">{{Cite web|url=https://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__2_byggdir__Byggdakjarnarhverfi/MAN03250.px/ |title=Population by regions, sex and age 1 January 1998-2025|date=1 January 2025|website=statice.is|publisher=[[Statistics Iceland]]|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

According to {{lang|is|[[Landnámabók]]}}, the [[settlement of Iceland]] began in Reykjavík when [[Ingólfr Arnarson|Ingólfur Arnarson]] arrived from [[Norway]] in the year [[874]]. For over 900 years following this, there was no urban development; the city was officially founded in 1786 as a trading town and grew steadily as it transformed into its current state as the centre of Iceland's [[Culture of Iceland|cultural]], [[Economy of Iceland|economic]], and [[Government of Iceland|governmental]] activity. It is [[Tourism in Iceland|popular with tourists]] and is consistently ranked as one of the cleanest, safest, and most [[environmentally friendly]] cities in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yunlong |first=Sun |title=Reykjavík rated cleanest city in Nordic and Baltic countries |date=23 December 2007 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/23/content_7299747.htm |url-status=dead |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |access-date=29 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040328/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/23/content_7299747.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=15 Green Cities |url=http://grist.org/article/cities3/ |url-status=live |work=Grist |date=20 July 2007 |access-date=29 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923035957/http://grist.org/article/cities3/ |archive-date=23 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Iceland among Top 10 safest countries and Reykjavík is the winner of Tripadvisor Awards |date=20 May 2010 |url=http://www.travelio.net/iceland-among-top-10-safest-countries-and-reykjavik-is-the-winner-of-tripadvisor-awards.html |work=TRAVELIO.net |access-date=29 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221205959/http://www.travelio.net/iceland-among-top-10-safest-countries-and-reykjavik-is-the-winner-of-tripadvisor-awards.html |archive-date=21 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Reykjavík|History of Iceland}}
[[File:Ingolf by Raadsig.jpg|thumb|left|A painting by [[Peter Raadsig|Johan Peter Raadsig]] of Ingólfr commanding his high seat pillars to be erected]]
[[File:Reykjavik 1860s.jpg|thumb|right|Reykjavík in the 1860s]]
According to legend, the first permanent [[Norsemen|Norse]] settlement in Iceland was established at Reykjavík by [[Ingólfr Arnarson]] circa AD 870, as described in the [[Landnámabók|Book of Settlement]]. Ingólfr is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Norse method: when land was in sight, he cast his [[öndvegissúlur|high seat pillars]] overboard and promised to settle where the gods decided to bring them ashore. Two of his slaves then searched the coasts for three years before finding the pillars in the bay which eventually became the site of Reykjavík.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jon Gunnar Jørgensen |title=Ingólfr Arnarson Bjǫrnólfsson Ingolv Ørnss |url=https://nbl.snl.no/Ing%C3%B3lfr_Arnarson_Bj%C7%ABrn%C3%B3lfsson_Ingolv_%C3%98rnsson |publisher=Norsk biografisk leksikon |language=no |access-date=20 April 2022}}</ref>

===Etymology===
The name is of [[Old Norse]] origin, derived from the roots {{wikt-lang|non|reykr}} ('smoke') and {{wikt-lang|non|vík}} ('bay'). The name is said to be inspired by steam rising from [[hot spring]]s in the region. The original name was ''Reykja'''r'''-vík'',<ref name="Vísindavefurinn_örnefni">{{cite web |title=Er eitthvert örnefni á höfuðborgarsvæðinu eða vík eða vogur, sem heitir Reykjavík? |trans-title=Is there any place name in the capital area — a bay, cove, or inlet — that is actually called Reykjavík? |url=http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=2252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112309/https://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=2252 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |work=Vísindavefurinn |language=is}}</ref> with an "r" [[suffix]] for the [[genitive case|genitive]] [[grammatical number|singular]] of ''reykr''; the modern version ''reykja-'' uses the genitive plural. The name's meaning is still transparent in modern Icelandic, and in modern Norwegian (''røyk'' + ''vik''). The name originally referred to both the bay on the northern shore of the modern city centre, between {{ill|Örfirisey|is}} and [[Laugarnes]], as well as the estate and farm of Ingólfr Arnarson. This form of the name fell out of use shortly after settlement, and the estate was referred to as ''Vík á Seltjarnarnesi'' until the name Reykjavík was revived when urban development began centuries later.<ref name="Vísindavefurinn_örnefni" /> The name has been translated as ''Bay of Smoke'' in English-language travel guides.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Reykjavik |title=Reykjavík |encyclopedia=Britannica}}</ref>

===Urban development===
The site of the modern city centre was farmland until the 18th century. In 1752, [[Frederick V of Denmark|King Frederik V of Denmark]] donated the estate of Reykjavík to the {{ill|Innréttingar|is|Innréttingarnar}} corporation. The leader of this movement was [[Skúli Magnússon]]. In the 1750s, several houses were built to house the [[wool]] industry, which was Reykjavík's most important employer for a few decades and the original reason for its existence. Other industries were undertaken by the Innréttingar, such as [[fishing|fisheries]], [[sulfur|sulphur mining]], agriculture, and shipbuilding.<ref>[http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=1752 Hvaðan kemur nafnið "Innréttingarnar" á fyrirtækinu sem starfaði hér á á 18. öld?] [Where does the name 'Innréttingarnar' of the company that operated here in the 18th century come from?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910092150/http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=1752|date=10 September 2016}}. Vísindavefur. (in Icelandic)</ref>

The Danish Crown abolished monopoly trading in 1786 and granted six communities around the country an exclusive trading charter. Reykjavík was one of them and the only one to hold on to the charter permanently. 1786 is thus regarded as the date of the city's founding. Trading rights were limited to subjects of the Danish Crown, and Danish traders continued to dominate trade in Iceland. Over the following decades, their business in Iceland expanded. After 1880, [[free trade]] was expanded to all nationalities, and the influence of Icelandic merchants started to grow.

===Rise of nationalism===
[[File:Pg107 Main street of Reykjavik and Governors house.jpg|thumb|Reykjavík in 1881]]
[[File:The meeting – house „Góðtemplarahúsið“ on Templarasund,1923-1935.jpg|thumb|Reykjavík in the 1920s]]
[[Icelandic nationalism|Icelandic nationalist]] sentiment gained influence in the 19th century, and the idea of Icelandic independence became widespread. Reykjavík, as Iceland's only city, was central to such ideas. Advocates of an independent Iceland realized that a strong Reykjavík was fundamental to that objective. All the important events in the history of the independence struggle were important to Reykjavík as well. In 1845 the {{lang|is|[[Althing|Alþingi]]|italic=no}}, the general assembly formed in 930 AD, was re-established in Reykjavík; it had been suspended a few decades earlier when it was located at [[Þingvellir]]. At the time it functioned only as an advisory assembly, advising the king about Icelandic affairs. The location of Alþingi in Reykjavík effectively established the city as the capital of Iceland.

In 1874, Iceland was given a [[constitution]]; with it, Alþingi gained some limited legislative powers and in essence became the institution that it is today. The next step was to move most of the executive power to Iceland: [[Home rule|Home Rule]] was granted in 1904 when the office of [[Prime Minister of Iceland|Minister for Iceland]] was established in Reykjavík. On 1 December 1918, Iceland became a sovereign country, the [[Kingdom of Iceland]], in [[personal union]] with the [[List of Danish monarchs|Crown of Denmark]].

By the 1920s and 1930s, most of the growing Icelandic fishing trawler fleet sailed from Reykjavík; [[cod]] production was its main industry, but the [[Great Depression]] hit Reykjavík hard with [[unemployment]], and labour union struggles sometimes became violent.

===World War II===
On the morning of 10 May 1940, following the German occupation of [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] on 9 April 1940, four British warships approached Reykjavík and anchored in the harbour. In a few hours, the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Invasion of Iceland|occupation of Reykjavík]] was complete. There was no armed resistance, and taxi and truck drivers even assisted the invasion force, which initially had no motor vehicles. The Icelandic government had received many requests from the British government to consent to the occupation, but it always declined on the basis of its [[Neutral country|policy of neutrality]]. For the remaining years of [[World War II]], British and later American soldiers occupied camps in Reykjavík, and the number of foreign soldiers in Reykjavík became about the same as the local population of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/The%20United%20States%20Marines%20in%20Iceland,%201941-1942%20%20PCN%2019000412300.pdf |title=The United States Marines in Iceland, 1941–1942 |publisher=Historical Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps |editor-last=Clifford |editor-first=Kenneth J. |location=Washington, DC |date=1970}}</ref> [[The Royal Regiment of Canada]] formed part of the garrison in Iceland during the early part of the war.

The economic effects of the occupation were positive for Reykjavík: the unemployment of the Depression years vanished, and construction work began. The British built [[Reykjavík Airport]], which remains in service today, mostly for short-haul flights (to domestic destinations and Greenland). The Americans, meanwhile, built [[Keflavík International Airport|Keflavík Airport]], situated {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on}} WSW of Reykjavík, which became Iceland's primary international airport.<ref>{{cite web |title=About KEF airport |url=https://www.isavia.is/en/keflavik-airport/about-kef |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=www.isavia.is}}</ref> In 1944, the Republic of Iceland was founded and a [[List of Presidents of Iceland|president]], elected by the people, replaced the king; the office of the president was placed in Reykjavík.

===Post-war development===
In the [[post-war]] years, the growth of Reykjavík accelerated. An exodus from the rural countryside began, largely because improved technology in agriculture reduced the need for manpower, and because of a population boom resulting from better living conditions in the country. A once-primitive village was rapidly transformed into a modern city. Private cars became common, and modern apartment complexes rose in the expanding suburbs.

In 1972, Reykjavík hosted the famous [[World Chess Championship 1972|World Chess Championship]] between [[Bobby Fischer]] and [[Boris Spassky]]. The 1986 [[Reykjavík Summit]] between [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] underlined Reykjavík's international status. [[Deregulation]] in the financial sector and the computer revolution of the 1990s again transformed Reykjavík. The financial and IT sectors are now significant employers in the city.

==Geography==
[[File:Reykjavik view.jpg|thumb|Reykjavik view during sunrise]]
[[File:Reykjavikfromabove.jpg|thumb|Reykjavík seen from above]]
[[File:Reykjavik Esja.jpg|thumb|[[Esjan|Esja]], the mountain range to the north of Reykjavík]]
Reykjavík is located in the southwest of [[Iceland]]. The Reykjavík area [[coastline]] is characterized by [[peninsula]]s, coves, straits, and islands.

During the [[Quaternary glaciation|Ice Age]] (up to 10,000 years ago) a large glacier covered parts of the city area, reaching as far out as [[Álftanes]]. Other parts of the city area were covered by sea water. In the warm periods and at the end of the Ice Age, some hills like Öskjuhlíð were islands. The former sea level is indicated by sediments (with clams) reaching (at Öskjuhlíð, for example) as far as {{convert|43|m|0|abbr=on}} above the current sea level. The hills of Öskjuhlíð and Skólavörðuholt appear to be the remains of former [[shield volcanoes]] which were active during the warm periods of the Ice Age. After the Ice Age, the land rose as the heavy load of the glaciers fell away, and began to look as it does today.

The capital city area continued to be shaped by [[earthquake]]s and [[Volcano|volcanic eruptions]], such as the one 4,500 years ago in the mountain range [[Bláfjöll]], when the lava coming down the Elliðaá valley reached the sea at the bay of Elliðavogur.

The largest river to run through Reykjavík is the [[Elliðaár|Elliðaá]] River, which is non-navigable. It offers [[salmon]] fishing within the city limits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.frommers.com/destinations/reykjavik/active-pursuits/fishing |title=Fishing in Reykjavik |work=Frommer's |access-date=23 June 2021}}</ref> Mount [[Esja]], at {{convert|914|m|0|abbr=on}}, is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavík.

The city of Reykjavík is mostly located on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, but the suburbs reach far out to the south and east. Reykjavík is a spread-out city: most of its urban area consists of low-density suburbs, and houses are usually widely spaced. The outer residential neighbourhoods are also widely spaced from each other; in between them are the main traffic arteries and a lot of empty space. The city's latitude is 64°08' N, making it the [[List of northernmost items|world's northernmost capital]] of a sovereign state ([[Nuuk]], the capital of [[Greenland]], is slightly further north at 64°10' (about 4&nbsp;km) but Greenland is a [[Denmark#Danish Realm|constituent country]], not an independent state).

{{wide image|Reykjavik_Perlan.jpg|1200px|Panorama of Reykjavík seen from [[Perlan]] with the mountains Akrafjall (middle) and [[Esjan|Esja]] (right) in the background}}
{{wide image|Vista de Reikiavik desde Perlan, Distrito de la Capital, Islandia, 2014-08-13, DD 134-145 HDR PAN.JPG|1200px|Panorama of Reykjavík seen from [[Perlan]] at sunset in summer. As seen in the picture, Reykjavík's climate is mild enough for trees to grow.}}

===Climate===

Reykjavík has a [[Oceanic climate#Subpolar variety (Cfc, Cwc)|subpolar oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfc'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Eolk'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=3040&cityname=Reykjavik,+Capital+Region,+Iceland&units=|title=Reykjavik, Iceland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref> The city has had its present climate classification since the beginning of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?useExisting=1&layers=7a53584fa55643df969f93cec83788e1|title=Köppen Climate Classification of 1900–2100|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108224555/https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?useExisting=1&layers=7a53584fa55643df969f93cec83788e1|archive-date=8 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/shifts.htm|title=Shifts climate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130211037/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/shifts.htm|archive-date=30 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

At 64° north, Reykjavík is characterized by extremes of day and night length over the course of the year. From 20 May to 24 July, daylight is essentially permanent as the sun never gets more than 5° below the horizon. Day length drops to less than five hours between 2 December and 10 January. The sun climbs just 3° above the horizon during this time. However, day length begins increasing rapidly during January and by month's end there are seven hours of daylight.

Despite its northern latitude, temperatures very rarely drop below {{convert|-15|C|0}} in the winter. The proximity to the [[Arctic Circle]] and the strong moderation of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the [[Iceland]]ic coast (influence of [[North Atlantic Current]], an extension of the [[Gulf Stream]]) shape a relatively mild winter and cool summer. The city's coastal location does make it prone to wind, however, and [[gale]]s are common in winter (influence of the [[Icelandic Low]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Icelandic low |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/Icelandic-low |publisher=[[Britannica]] |access-date=17 February 2021}}</ref> Summers are cool, with temperatures fluctuating between {{convert|10|and|15|C}}, rarely exceeding {{convert|20|C|0}}. This is a result of exposure to the maritime winds in its exposed west coast location that causes it to be much cooler in summer than similar latitudes in mainland [[Scandinavia]]. Contrasting this, winter days are milder than anywhere in far southern [[Sweden]] and the vast majority of [[Denmark]]. In fact, winter temperatures are comparable to those of [[New York City]], which is more than 20 degrees farther south. Reykjavík averages 147 days of rain (more than 1mm) per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yr.no/place/Iceland/Capital_Region/Reykjavik/statistics.html|title=Weather statistics for Reykjavik|work=yr.no|access-date=26 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107223017/http://www.yr.no/place/Iceland/Capital_Region/Reykjavik/statistics.html|archive-date=7 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Droughts are uncommon, although they occur in some summers. In the summer of 2007, no rain was measured for one month. July and August are the warmest months of the year on average and January and February the coldest.

Summer tends to be the sunniest season, although May averages the most sunshine of any individual month. Overall, the city receives around 1,300 annual hours of sunshine,<ref>[http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/2011/nr/2112 The weather of 2010 in Iceland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130071831/http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/2011/nr/2112 |date=30 January 2012 }} Icelandic Met Office</ref> which is comparable with other places in northern and north-western Europe such as [[Ireland]] and [[Scotland]], but substantially less than equally northern regions with a more continental climate, including the [[Bothnian Bay]] basin in Scandinavia. Nonetheless, Reykjavík is one of the cloudiest and coolest capitals of any nation in the world. The highest temperature recorded in Reykjavík was {{convert|25.7|C|0}}, reported on 30 July 2008,<ref>"[http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1224B49210573E28&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=3 Reykjavik sees record summer temperature]". ''Agence France-Presse''. 31 July 2008.</ref> while the lowest-ever recorded temperature was {{convert|-24.5|C|0}}, recorded on 21 January 1918.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://andvari.vedur.is/vedurfar/yfirlit/yfirlitstoflur/vedurmet.html
|archive-url=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20081118000532/http://andvari.vedur.is/vedurfar/yfirlit/yfirlitstoflur/vedurmet.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=18 November 2008
|title=Nokkur íslensk veðurmet|access-date=17 July 2008}}</ref> The coldest month on record is January 1918, with a mean temperature of {{convert|-7.2|C|0}}. The warmest is July 2019, with a mean temperature of {{convert|13.4|C|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.wetterzentrale.de/klima/treykjav.html|title=Temperaturmonatsmittel REYKJAVIK 1901– 1993|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225085816/http://old.wetterzentrale.de/klima/treykjav.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Reykjavík weatherbox}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;" 
|+Coastal temperature data for Reykjavík
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!style="border-left-width:medium"|Year
|-
!Average sea temperature °C (°F)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-10.3}}"|3.9<br/>(39.02)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-11.0}}"|3.7<br/>(38.66)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-9.7}}"|4.1<br/>(39.38)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-7.7}}"|4.7<br/>(40.46)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-1.7}}"|6.5<br/>(43.70)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|6.0}}"|8.8<br/>(47.84)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|10.8}}"|10.5<br/>(50.90)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|12.2}}"|11.4<br/>(52.52)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|9.7}}"|9.9<br/>(49.82)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|2.3}}"|7.7<br/>(45.86)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-2.0}}"|6.4<br/>(43.52)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-5.0}}"|5.5<br/>(41.90)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-0.3}}"|6.9<br/>(44.47)
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#ffffff;font-weight:normal;font-size:100%;"|Source 1: Seatemperature.net<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seatemperature.net/current/iceland/reykjavik-sea-temperature|title =Reykjavík Sea Temperature|date=2023-04-25|website=seatemperature.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425105916/https://seatemperature.net/current/iceland/reykjavik-sea-temperature|archive-date=2023-04-25 }}</ref>
|}

==Cityscape==
<gallery>
File:Harpa Hall, Downtown Reykjavík.jpg|Harpa Hall, Downtown Reykjavík
File:Reykjavik rooftops.jpg|Colourful rooftops line Reykjavík
File:Islande - Reykjavik du haut de la cathédrale.jpg|[[Miðborg|Central Reykjavík]] seen from [[Hallgrímskirkja]]
File:Instituto de Reikiavik, Reikiavik, Distrito de la Capital, Islandia, 2014-08-13, DD 086.JPG|[[Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík|Menntaskólinn (Junior College) í Reykjavík]] or MR
File:View from Hallgrímskirkja 11.JPG|Looking southeast from [[Hallgrímskirkja]]
File:View from Hallgrímskirkja 2.JPG|Another view of Reykjavík from [[Hallgrímskirkja]]
File:Iceland-Reykjavik-Thjodmenningarhus-1.jpg|[[Safnahúsið]]
File:Skólavörðustígur.JPG|View from Skólavörðustígur
File:Tjörnin, Reykjavik.jpg|[[Tjörnin]] (''The Pond'') in [[Miðborg]]
File:Austurvöllur 2023.jpg|[[Austurvöllur]] with [[:en:Reykjavík Cathedral|Reykjavík Cathedral]] and Parliament House (''[[Alþingishúsið]]'') visible on the right
File:Vista de Reikiavik desde Perlan, Distrito de la Capital, Islandia, 2014-08-13, DD 118-120 HDR.JPG|Reykjavík sunset from [[Perlan]]
File:Catedral de Reikiavik, Reikiavik, Distrito de la Capital, Islandia, 2014-08-13, DD 089.JPG|[[Reykjavík Cathedral]]
File:KingOfAtlantisEJ.jpg|King of Atlantis statue in Reykjavík
File:Reykjavik from Hallgrimskikrja.jpg|Reykjavík from Hallgrímskirkja
</gallery>
{{Wide image|Reykjavík panorama1.JPG|1500px|Panorama of the northern seashore of Reykjavík, as seen from Örfirisey}}

==City administration==
The [[Reykjavík City Council]] governs the city of Reykjavík<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.althingi.is/lagas/128b/1998045.html |title=1998 nr. 45 3. júní/ Sveitarstjórnarlög |publisher=Althingi.is |access-date=8 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021235217/http://www.althingi.is/lagas/128b/1998045.html |archive-date=21 October 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> and is directly elected by those aged over 18 domiciled in the city. The council has 23 members who are elected using the [[open list]] method for four-year terms.

The council selects members of boards, and each board controls a different field under the city council's authority. The most important board is the City Board that wields the executive rights along with the City Mayor. The City Mayor is the senior public official and also the director of city operations. Other public officials control city institutions under the mayor's authority. Thus, the administration consists of two different parts:
* The political power of City Council cascading down to other boards
* Public officials under the authority of the city mayor who administer and manage implementation of policy.

===Political control===
The [[Independence Party (Iceland)|Independence Party]] was historically the city's ruling party; it had an overall majority from its establishment in 1929 until 1978, when it narrowly lost. From 1978 until 1982, there was a three-party coalition composed of the [[People's Alliance (Iceland)|People's Alliance]], the [[Social Democratic Party (Iceland)|Social Democratic Party]], and the [[Progressive Party (Iceland)|Progressive Party]]. In 1982, the Independence Party regained an overall majority, which it held for three consecutive terms. The 1994 election was won by Reykjavíkurlistinn (the R-list), an alliance of Icelandic socialist parties, led by [[Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir]]. This alliance won a majority in three consecutive elections, but was dissolved for the 2006 election when five different parties were on the ballot. The Independence Party won seven seats, and together with the one Progressive Party it were able to form a new majority in the council which took over in June 2006.

In October 2007, a new majority was formed on the council, consisting of members of the Progressive Party, the [[Social Democratic Alliance]], the [[Left-Green Movement|Left-Greens]] and the F-list (liberals and independents), after controversy regarding REI, a subsidiary of OR, the city's energy company. However, three months later the F-list formed a new majority together with the Independence Party. [[Ólafur Friðrik Magnússon|Ólafur F. Magnússon]], the leader of the F-list, was elected mayor on 24 January 2008; further, in March 2009, the Independence Party was due to appoint a new mayor. This changed once again on 14 August 2008 when the fourth coalition of the term was formed, by the Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance, with [[Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir]] becoming mayor.

The [[2010 Icelandic municipal elections|City Council election in May 2010]] saw a new political party, [[Besti flokkurinn|The Best Party]], win six of 15 seats, and it formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Alliance; comedian [[Jón Gnarr]] became mayor.<ref name=best>{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10194757 | title = Best Party wins polls in Iceland's Reykjavík | access-date = 30 May 2010 | date = 30 May 2010 | publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> At the 2014 election, the Social Democratic Alliance had its best showing yet, gaining five seats in the council, while [[Bright Future (Iceland)|Bright Future]] (successor to the Best Party) received two seats and the two parties formed a coalition with the [[Left-Green movement]] and the [[Pirate Party (Iceland)|Pirate Party]], which won one seat each. The Independence Party had its worst election ever, with only four seats.

===Mayor===
{{main|Mayor of Reykjavík}}
The mayor is appointed by the city council. Typically, one of the council members is chosen; however, they may also appoint a mayor who is not a member of the council.

The post was created in 1907 and advertised in 1908. Two applications were received, from {{ill|Páll Einarsson|is|Páll Einarsson (borgarstjóri)}}, sheriff and town mayor of [[Hafnarfjörður]] and from {{ill|Knud Zimsen|is}}, town councillor in Reykjavík. Páll was appointed on 7 May and was mayor for six years. At that time the city mayor received a salary of 4,500 ISK per year and 1,500 ISK for office expenses. The current mayor is [[Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Hugrún Hannesdóttir Diego |date=21 February 2025 |title=Nýr meirihluti í borginni: Heiða Björg verður borgarstjóri |trans-title=New majority in the city: Heiða Björg will become mayor |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2025-02-21-nyr-meirihluti-i-borginni-heida-bjorg-verdur-borgarstjori-436892 |access-date=22 February 2025 |publisher=[[RÚV]] |language=is}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Iceland}}
<!--[[File:Vesturbær .jpg|alt=This residential area is located in front of the ocean.|thumb|Residential area of Reykjavík]]-->{{Historical populations
| percentages = pagr
| footnote = Source: [[Statistics Iceland]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__2_byggdir__sveitarfelogeldra/MAN02120.px/ |title=Population by municipalities 1901-1990|date=|website=statice.is|publisher=[[Statistics Iceland]]|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="pop_stats" />
|1901 | 6667
|1910 | 11600
|1920 | 17679
|1930 | 28304
|1940 | 38196
|1950 | 56251
|1960 | 72407
|1970 | 81693
|1980 | 83766
|1990 | 97569
|2000 | 109887
|2010 | 118326
|2020 | 126549
|2025 | 138772
}}

Reykjavík is by far the largest and most populous settlement in Iceland. The municipality of Reykjavík had a population of 138,772 on 1 January 2025, comprising 35.6% of the country's population. The [[Capital Region (Iceland)|Capital Region]], which includes the capital and six municipalities around it, was home to 249,054 people; that is about 64% of the country's population.<ref name="pop_stats" /><ref name="pop_regions_stats" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Iceland: The largest population increase ever |url=https://statice.is/publications/news-archive/inhabitants/the-population-on-1-january-2023/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Statistics Iceland}}</ref>

On 1 January 2024, of the city's population of 136,894, immigrants of the first and second generation numbered 33,731 (24.6%), increasing from 22,311 (17.8%) in 2019, 12,352 (10.4%) in 2008 and 3,106 (2.9%) in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__3_bakgrunnur__Uppruni/MAN43005.px/?rxid=3f5eaff4-066e-4396-a173-54fcd974b67e |title=Immigrants by sex and municipality 1 January 1996-2024|date=1 January 2024|website=statice.is|publisher=[[Statistics Iceland]]|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref> The most common foreign citizens are [[Polish people|Poles]], [[Lithuanians]], [[Ukrainians]] and [[Romanians]]. About 64.8% of the city's foreign residents originate in [[European Union]] and [[European Free Trade Association|EFTA]] member states, and around 48.9% are from the new member states of the EU, mainly former [[Eastern Bloc]] countries, [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|which joined in 2004]], [[2007 enlargement of the European Union|2007]] and [[2013 enlargement of the European Union|2013]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__3_bakgrunnur__Rikisfang/MAN04203.px/?rxid=3f5eaff4-066e-4396-a173-54fcd974b67e |title=Population by sex, municipality and citizenship 1 January 1998-2024|date=1 January 2024|website=statice.is|publisher=[[Statistics Iceland]]|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

Children of foreign origin form a more considerable minority in the city's schools: as many as a third in places.<ref name="Reykjavík">{{cite web|url=http://reykjavik.is/Portaldata/1/Resources/leikskolasvid/reykjavik_fjolmenningarborg_barna.pdf|date=18 January 2008|title=Reykjavík – fjölmenningarborg barna|access-date=7 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929190032/http://reykjavik.is/Portaldata/1/Resources/leikskolasvid/reykjavik_fjolmenningarborg_barna.pdf|archive-date=29 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The city is also visited by thousands of tourists, students, and other temporary residents, at times outnumbering natives in the city centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visir.is/breskir-ferdamenn-fjolmennastir-sem-fyrr/article/2011708089945 |title=Vísir – Breskir ferðamenn fjölmennastir sem fyrr |date=8 August 2011 |publisher=Visir.is |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117120629/http://www.visir.is/breskir-ferdamenn-fjolmennastir-sem-fyrr/article/2011708089945 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed sortable" style="text-align:right"
|+ class="nowrap" | Residents by citizenship (1 January 1998 – 2018)<ref>{{cite web
 |url= https://px.hagstofa.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Ibuar/Ibuar__mannfjoldi__3_bakgrunnur__Rikisfang/MAN04203.px/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=14202eb5-fbb3-434c-b7b3-358551db3e07 |title=Population by sex, municipality and citizenship 1 January 1998–2018
 |date=1 January 2018
|website=www.hagstofa.is
 |publisher=[[Statistics Iceland]]
 |access-date=13 June 2019
}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Citizenship{{ref label|Citizenship|a|a}}
!colspan="3"|2018
!colspan="3"|2008
!colspan="3"|1998
|-
!Number
!% of total<br />population
!% of foreign<br />citizens
!Number
!% of total<br />population
!% of foreign<br />citizens
!Number
!% of total<br />population
!% of foreign<br />citizens
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Iceland}} || 110,445 || 87.63% || || 109,111 || 91.82% || ||  104,920  || 97.74% ||
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Poland}} || 5,526 || 4.38% || 35.43% || 3,146 || 2.65% || 32.38% || 95 || 0.09% || 3.92%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Lithuania}} || 1,733 || 1.37% || 11.11% || 811 || 0.68% || 8.35%  || 8 || 0.01% || 0.33%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Latvia}} || 595 || 0.47% || 3.82% || 217 || 0.18% || 2.23% || 1 || 0.00% || 0.04%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|United Kingdom}} || 487 || 0.39% || 3.12% || 222 || 0.19% || 2.28% || 153 || 0.14% || 6.32%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Spain}} || 482 || 0.38% || 3.09% || 87 || 0.07% || 0.90% || 41 || 0.04% || 1.69%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Germany}} || 481 || 0.38% || 3.08% || 450 || 0.38% || 4.63% || 148 || 0.14% || 6.11%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|United States}} || 420 || 0.33% || 2.69% || 331 || 0.28% || 3.41% || 313 || 0.29% || 12.93%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Romania}} || 419 || 0.33% || 2.69% || 50 || 0.04% || 0.51% || 4 || 0.00% || 0.17%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Philippines}} || 409|| 0.32% || 2.62% || 453 || 0.38% || 4.66% || 110 || 0.10% || 4.54%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Portugal}} || 393 || 0.31% || 2.52% || 278 || 0.23% || 2.86% || 31 || 0.03% || 1.28%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|France}} || 371 || 0.29% || 2.38% || 145 || 0.12% || 1.49% || 71 || 0.07% || 2.93%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Denmark}}{{ref label|Greenland and Faroe Islands|b|b}} || 354 || 0.28% || 2.27% || 419 || 0.35% || 4.31% || 358 || 0.33% || 14.79%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Vietnam}} || 243 || 0.19% || 1.56% || 207 || 0.17% || 2.13% || 43 || 0.04% || 1.78%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Italy}} || 242 || 0.19% || 1.55% || 80 || 0.07% || 0.82% || 17 || 0.02% || 0.70%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Thailand}} || 216 || 0.17% || 1.38% || 286 || 0.24% || 2.94% || 155 || 0.14% || 6.40%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Czech Republic}} || 176 || 0.14% || 1.13% || 72 || 0.06% || 0.74% || 8 || 0.01% || 0.33%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Hungary}} || 172 || 0.14% || 1.10% || 48 || 0.04% || 0.49% || 3 || 0.00% || 0.12%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|China}} || 164 || 0.13% || 1.05% || 144 || 0.12% || 1.48% || 40 || 0.04% || 1.65%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Sweden}} || 156 || 0.12% || 1.00% || 201 || 0.17% || 2.07% || 117 || 0.11% || 4.83%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Croatia}} || 153 || 0.12% || 0.98% || 18 || 0.02% || 0.19% || 8 || 0.01% || 0.33%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Slovakia}} || 127 || 0.10% || 0.81% || 91 || 0.08% || 0.94% || 3 || 0.00% || 0.12%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Norway}} || 120 || 0.10% || 0.77% || 141 || 0.12% || 1.45% || 154 || 0.14% || 6.36%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Bulgaria}} || 115 || 0.09% || 0.74% || 57 || 0.05% || 0.59% || 17 || 0.02% || 0.70%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Russia}} || 110 || 0.09% || 0.71% || 109 || 0.09% || 1.12% ||  32 || 0.03% || 1.32%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Syria}} || 109 || 0.09% || 0.70% || 7 || 0.01% || 0.07% || 3 || 0.00% || 0.12%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Netherlands}} || 100 || 0.08% || 0.64% || 75 || 0.06% || 0.77% || 28 || 0.03% || 1.16%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Ukraine}} || 81 || 0.06% || 0.52% || 89 || 0.07% || 0.92% || 9 || 0.01% || 0.37%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Canada}} || 80 || 0.06% || 0.51% || 63 || 0.05% || 0.65% || 35 || 0.03% || 1.45%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|India}} || 73 || 0.06% || 0.47% || 86 || 0.07% || 0.89% || 10 || 0.01% || 0.41%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Greece}} || 60 || 0.05% || 0.38% || 4 || 0.00% || 0.04% || 3 || 0.00% || 0.12%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Ireland}} || 60 || 0.05% || 0.38% || 25 || 0.02% || 0.26% || 13 || 0.01% || 0.54%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Finland}} || 59 || 0.05% || 0.38% || 62 || 0.05% || 0.64% || 51 || 0.05% || 2.11%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Iran}} || 56 || 0.04% || 0.36% || 16 || 0.01% || 0.16% || 5 || 0.00% || 0.21%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Morocco}} || 53|| 0.04% || 0.34% || 54 || 0.05% || 0.56% || 22 || 0.02% || 0.91%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Afghanistan}} || 50 || 0.04% || 0.32% || 1 || 0.00% || 0.01% || 0 || 0.00% || 0.00% 
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Austria}} || 49 || 0.04% || 0.31% || 45 || 0.04% || 0.46% || 17 || 0.02% || 0.70% 
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Switzerland}} || 48|| 0.04% || 0.31% || 32 || 0.03% || 0.33% || 11 || 0.01% || 0.45%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Japan}} || 45 || 0.04% || 0.29% || 34 || 0.03% || 0.35% || 14 || 0.01% || 0.58% 
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Serbia}}{{ref label|Serbia|c|c}} || 43 || 0.03% || 0.28% || 69 || 0.06% || 0.71% || || ||  
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Iraq}} || 42 || 0.03% || 0.27% || 2 || 0.00% || 0.02% || 4 || 0.00% || 0.17% 
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Mexico}} || 40 || 0.03% || 0.26% || 15 || 0.01% || 0.15% || 12 || 0.01% || 0.50%   
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Nigeria}} || 40 || 0.03% || 0.26% || 25 || 0.02% || 0.26% || 3 || 0.00% || 0.12%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Albania}} || 39 || 0.03% || 0.25% || 15 || 0.01% || 0.15% || 1 || 0.00% || 0.04% 
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Belgium}} || 38 || 0.03% || 0.24% || 26 || 0.02% || 0.27% || 8 || 0.01% || 0.33%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Australia}} || 37 || 0.03% || 0.24% || 28 || 0.02% || 0.29% || 9 || 0.01% || 0.37%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Brazil}} || 37 || 0.03% || 0.24% || 26 || 0.02% || 0.27% || 8 || 0.01% || 0.33%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Estonia}} || 34 || 0.03% || 0.22% || 40 || 0.03% || 0.41% || 5 || 0.00% || 0.21%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Colombia}} || 32 || 0.03% || 0.21% || 72 || 0.06% || 0.74% || 10 || 0.01% || 0.41%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Pakistan}} || 30 || 0.02% || 0.19% || 6 || 0.01% || 0.06% || 4 || 0.00% || 0.17%  
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Slovenia}} || 25 || 0.02% || 0.16% || 6 || 0.01% || 0.06% || 3 || 0.00% || 0.12%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Kosovo}}{{ref label|Kosovo|d|d}} || 24 || 0.02% || 0.15% ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Kenya}} || 23 || 0.02% || 0.15% || 23 || 0.02% || 0.24% || 2 || 0.00% || 0.08%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Ethiopia}} || 22 || 0.02% || 0.14% || 35 || 0.03% || 0.36% || 1 || 0.00% || 0.04%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flag|Nepal}} || 20 || 0.02% || 0.13% || 40 || 0.03% || 0.41% || 2 || 0.00% || 0.08%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | {{flagicon|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}} [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]{{ref label|Yugoslavia|e|e}} ||  || || ||  ||  ||  || 65 || 0.06% || 2.68%  
|-
|style="text-align:left" | ''Other Asia'' || 143 || 0.11% || 0.92% || 165 || 0.14% || 1.70% || 33 || 0.03% || 1.36%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | ''Other Africa'' || 129 || 0.10% || 0.73% || 88 || 0.07% || 0.91% || 40 || 0.04% || 1.65%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | ''Other Americas'' || 104 || 0.08% || 0.67% || 111 || 0.09% || 1.14% || 39 || 0.04% || 1.61%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | ''Other Europe''{{ref label|Other Europe|f|f}} || 41 || 0.03% || 0.26% || 223 || 0.19% || 2.29%  || 81 || 0.08% || 3.35%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | ''[[Statelessness|Stateless]]'' || 38 || 0.03% || 0.27% || 58 || 0.05% || 0.60% || 2 || 0.00% || 0.08%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | ''Other Oceania'' || 11 || 0.01% || 0.07% || 10 || 0.01% || 0.10% || 0 || 0.00% || 0.00%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | ''Other EU and EFTA'' || 8 || 0.01% || 0.08% || 5 || 0.00% || 0.05%  || 0 || 0.00% || 0.00%
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: {{flag|EU}} and [[European Free Trade Association|EFTA]]'''{{ref label|Nordic 1|g|g}} || '''12,583''' || '''9.98%''' || '''80.68%''' || '''6,835'''{{ref label|EU 1|h|h}} || '''5.75%''' || '''70.35%''' || '''1,258'''{{ref label|EU 2|i|i}} || '''1.17%''' || '''51.96%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: [[Asia]]''' || '''1,580''' || '''1.25%''' || '''10.13%''' || '''1,407''' || '''1.18%''' || '''14.48%''' || '''421''' || '''0.39%''' || '''17.39%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: [[Nordic countries]]'''{{ref label|Nordic 2|j|j}} || '''689''' || '''0.55%''' || '''4.42%''' || '''823''' || '''0.69%''' || '''8.47%''' || '''680''' || '''0.63%''' || '''28.09%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: [[Northern America]]''' || '''500''' || '''0.40%''' || '''3.21%''' || '''394''' || '''0.33%''' || '''4.06%''' || '''348''' || '''0.32%''' || '''14.37%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: [[Europe]] outside of<br />[[European Union|EU]] and [[European Free Trade Association|EFTA]]''' || '''338''' || '''0.27%''' || '''2.17%''' || '''523''' || '''0.44%''' || '''5.38%''' || '''278''' || '''0.26%''' || '''11.48%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: [[Africa]]''' || '''296''' || '''0.23%''' || '''1.90%'''  || '''237''' || '''0.20%''' || '''2.44%''' || '''73''' || '''0.07%''' || '''3.02%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: [[Latin America and the Caribbean|Latin America<br />and the Caribbean]]''' || '''213''' || '''0.17%''' || '''1.37%''' || '''224''' || '''0.19%''' || '''2.31%''' || '''69''' || '''0.06%''' || '''2.85%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total: [[Oceania]]''' || '''48''' || '''0.04%''' || '''0.33%''' || '''38''' || '''0.03%''' || '''0.39%''' || '''9''' || '''0.01%''' || '''0.37%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total foreign citizens''' || '''15,596''' || '''12.37%''' || '''100%'''  || '''9,716''' || '''8.18%''' || '''100%''' ||| '''2,421''' || '''2.26%''' || '''100%'''
|-
|style="text-align:left" | '''Total population''' || '''126,041''' || '''100%''' ||  || '''118,827''' || '''100%''' || || '''107,341''' || '''100%''' ||
|}
{| style="text-align:left"
|-
|{{note label|Citizenship|a|a}} Showing only countries with 20 or more citizens in the 2018 census.
|-
|{{note label|Greenland and Faroe Islands|b|b}} Including citizens of the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]].
|-
|{{note label|Serbia|c|c}} Not included in the 1998 census. See Yugoslavia.
|-
|{{note label|Kosovo|d|d}} Included as part of Serbia in the 2008 census, and as part of Yugoslavia in the 1998 census.
|-
|{{note label|Yugoslavia|e|e}} [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (1992–2006). Some persons who were registered as Yugoslavians after 1992 may in fact have origins in any of the six original republics of the union.
|-
|{{note label|Other Europe|f|f}} Including citizens of unspecified countries of former [[Yugoslavia]] and the former [[Soviet Union]].
|-
|{{note label|Nordic 1|g|g}} Including the Nordic countries except Iceland.
|-
|{{note label|EU 1|h|h}} Not including the [[2013 enlargement of the European Union]].
|-
|{{note label|EU 2|i|i}} Not including the [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|2004]] and [[2007 enlargement of the European Union]].
|-
|{{note label|Nordic 2|j|j}} Excluding Iceland.
|}

[[File:Reykjavik population graph 1889-2016.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|Historical population of Reykjavík]]

===Districts===
[[File:Administrative map of Reykjavík.png|thumb|left|Districts of Reykjavík]]
Reykjavík is divided into 10 districts:
* [[Vesturbær]] (District 1)
* [[Miðborg]] (District 2, ''city centre'')
* [[Hlíðar]] (District 3)
* [[Laugardalur]] (District 4)
* [[Háaleiti og Bústaðir]] (District 5)
* [[Breiðholt]] (District 6)
* [[Árbær]] (District 7)
* [[Grafarvogur]] (District 8)
* [[Kjalarnes]] (District 9) (in the north)
* [[Grafarholt og Úlfarsárdalur]] (District 10)

In addition, there are [[hinterland]] areas (lightly shaded on the map) which are not assigned to any district.
{{clear}}

==Economy==
{{See also|Economy of Iceland|List of diplomatic missions in Iceland}}
[[File:Danish Embassy, Reykjavik.jpg|thumb|Embassy of Denmark]]
[[Borgartún]] is the financial centre of Reykjavík, hosting a large number of companies and three investment banks. Reykjavík has been at the centre of Iceland's economic growth and subsequent economic contraction over the 2000s, a period referred to in foreign media as the "Nordic Tiger" years,<ref>{{cite news|last=Surowiecki|first=James|title=Iceland's Deep Freeze|url=http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/04/21/080421ta_talk_surowiecki|newspaper=The New Yorker|date=21 April 2008|access-date=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302192558/http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/04/21/080421ta_talk_surowiecki|archive-date=2 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Kvam|first=Berit|title=Iceland: light at the end of the tunnel?|journal=Nordic Labour Journal|date=19 June 2009|url=http://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/artikler/insikt-og-analyse/innsikt-og-analyse-2009/optimisme-tross-dystre-utsikter-i-island|access-date=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103192743/http://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/artikler/insikt-og-analyse/innsikt-og-analyse-2009/optimisme-tross-dystre-utsikter-i-island|archive-date=3 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> or "Iceland's Boom Years".<ref>{{cite news|title=Iceland: the boom years|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/iceland/6047393/Iceland-the-boom-years.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=18 August 2009|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515115244/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/iceland/6047393/Iceland-the-boom-years.html|archive-date=15 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The economic boom led to a sharp increase in construction, with large redevelopment projects such as [[Harpa (concert hall)|Harpa]] concert hall and conference centre and others. Many of these projects were halted during the [[2008 financial crisis]].

There are 14 embassies in Reykjavik, in addition to ambassadorial residences, and representative offices for Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the European Union.<ref name=embassy>{{cite web | url=https://www.government.is/library/01-Ministries/Ministry-for-Foreign-Affairs/PDF-skjol/Diplomatic-List/Diplomatic%20List.pdf | title=Diplomatic List | publisher=Government of Iceland Ministry for Foreign Affairs | date=May 2023 | access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Roads===
Per capita [[Automobile|car]] ownership in Iceland is among the highest in the world at roughly 522 vehicles per 1,000 residents,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/tra_mot_veh-transportation-motor-vehicles| publisher=nationmaster.com| work=United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook| title=Motor vehicles (most recent) by country| access-date=29 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327112758/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/tra_mot_veh-transportation-motor-vehicles| archive-date=27 March 2010| url-status=live}}</ref> though Reykjavík is not severely affected by [[Traffic congestion|congestion]]. Several multi-lane highways (mainly [[dual carriageway]]s) run between the most heavily populated areas and most frequently driven routes. Parking spaces are also plentiful in most areas. Public transportation consists of a bus system called [[Strætó]]. [[Route 1 (Iceland)|Route 1]] (the Ring Road) runs through the city outskirts and connects the city to the rest of Iceland.

[[File:Eimskip container terminal at Port of Reykjavík.jpg|thumb|[[Eimskip]] terminal at Sundahöfn]]

===Airports and seaports===
[[Reykjavík Airport]] is positioned inside the city, just south of the city centre. It is used for domestic flights, general aviation and medical flights. Since 1962, there has been some controversy regarding the location of this airport, since it takes up a lot of valuable space in central Reykjavík. [[Keflavík International Airport]], located around 40&nbsp;km southwest of the city, serves international flights and is the main gateway to the country.

Reykjavík has two [[seaport]]s: the old harbour near the city centre, which is mainly used by [[Fisheries|fishermen]] and [[cruise ship]]s, and ''Sundahöfn'' in the east city, which is the largest [[cargo]] port in the country and serves larger [[cruise ship]]s.

[[File:RHR-Minor.JPG|thumb|right|Two steam locomotives were used to build the harbour [[Rail transport in Iceland|Reykjavík Docks railway]]; both are now on display in Reykjavík.|185x185px]]

===Railways===
There are no public railways in Iceland, because of its sparse population; however, the locomotives used to build the docks are on display. Proposals have been made for a high-speed rail link between the city and [[Keflavík]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.icelandreview.com/ask-ir/is-there-any-news-on-borgarlina-or-the-airport-train/ |title=Is there any news on Borgarlína or the airport train? |website=Iceland Review |date=29 June 2022 |access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref>

===District heating===
{{see also|Geothermal power in Iceland}}
[[File:"Under-floor heating" in the street.jpg|thumb|Geothermally powered snow-melting system being installed on Skólavörðustígur, Reykjavík.]]
Volcanic activity provides all of Reykjavík and surrounding areas with [[Geothermal energy|geothermal]] [[district heating]] systems for both residential and industrial districts. In heavily trafficked areas, mostly in the city centre, pavements and streets use geothermal [[snow-melting system]]s. Many driveways of private residences are also fitted with geothermal snow-melting systems. Geothermal hot water is also used to heat the city's numerous public pools and hot tubs. Natural hot water is used to heat roughly 90% of all buildings in Iceland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geothermal Energy – Orkustofnun |url=https://orkustofnun.is/natural_resources/geothermal_energy |access-date=19 January 2024 |website=Geothermal Energy – Orkustofnun}}</ref> Of total annual use of geothermal energy of 39 [[Joule|PJ]], space heating accounted for 48%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nea.is/geothermal/direct-utilization/ |title=NEA.is |publisher=NEA.is |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724215329/http://www.nea.is/geothermal/direct-utilization |archive-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The total thermal capacity of Reykjavíks hot water production is around 830MW, and the city has an average heating demand of 473 MW.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gretar Ívarsson |date=April 2019 |title=Hitaveita í Reykjavík – Vatnsvinnsla 2018 |url=https://eu-assets.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt5bf0023ca96cf071/bltbf89141dc99c4d9e/63a45186de61af37ca1576a9/hitaveita_i_reykjavik_-_vatnsvinnsla_2018.pdf}}</ref> Hot water for Reyjavík's [[district heating]] comes from two [[combined heat and power]] (CHP) [[geothermal power]] plants as well as lower temperature geothermal fields:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mannvit.com/GeothermalEnergy/DistrictHeating/DistrictHeatinginIceland/ |title=Mannvit |publisher=Mannvit |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007194242/http://www.mannvit.com/GeothermalEnergy/DistrictHeating/DistrictHeatinginIceland/ |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Nesjavellir]] CHP plant
* [[Hellisheiði Power Station|Hellisheiði]] CHP plant

==Cultural heritage==
[[File:Landsbokasafn.JPG|thumb|[[Safnahúsið]]]]
[[Safnahúsið]] (the Culture House) was opened in 1909 and has a number of important exhibits. Originally built to house the National Library and National Archives and also previously the location of the National Museum and Natural History Museum, it was re-modeled in 2000 to promote the Icelandic national heritage. Many of Iceland's national treasures are on display, such as the [[Poetic Edda]], and the [[Saga]]s in their original manuscripts. There are also changing exhibitions of various topics.<ref>Guide leaflet to the Culture House 2008, published by the National Centre for Cultural Heritage.</ref>

==Literary heritage==
As Reykjavík is Iceland's capital and largest city, it plays a vital role in all cultural life in the country. The city is home to Iceland's main cultural institutions, boasts a flourishing arts scene and is renowned as a creative city with a diverse range of cultural happenings and dynamic grassroots activities. Most of the country's writers live in the city, and it also provides the setting for the majority of contemporary Icelandic literature – a development that has gone hand in hand with the rapid expansion of the city in the past 100 years or so.

Reykjavík is home to Icelandic medieval literature, including the [[Sagas of Icelanders|Sagas of the Icelanders]] and the [[Poetic Edda]], landmarks of world literature still widely read and translated today. This literary heritage is the core of the nation's identity and narrative art is the single most important part of its cultural history. The [[Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies]] in Reykjavík is the centre of this heritage. It preserves manuscripts, conducts research on them and publishes texts for the public, in addition to offering research facilities and tutoring to foreign scholars and students. The [[Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection]] was added to the [[UNESCO]] Memory of the World Register on 31 July 2009. Reykjavík city was designated as a [[UNESCO City of Literature]] in 2011 and joined then the [https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/home UNESCO Creatives Cities network.]

Iceland is one of the smallest linguistic areas in the world, with only around 330,000 inhabitants and very few speakers outside the country. The language has not changed much since the time of settlement in the 9th century and modern Icelanders can still read the original medieval texts with relative ease. Literature plays a vital role in cherishing and cultivating the language, both original Icelandic literature and translations. Language undergoes constant renewal and development in fiction, and translation of foreign work has also been instrumental in conserving this thousand-year-old literary language.

'''Award-winning authors'''
Several Reykjavík writers have received international and Nordic awards. [[Halldór Laxness]] was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prize for Literature]] in 1955 for "vivid epic power which has renewed the great narrative art of Iceland". The House of Halldór Laxness, [[Gljúfrasteinn]], in the capital area can be visited year-round. A number of writers have won the [[Nordic Council Literature Prize|Nordic Council's Literature Prize]], among them are [[Thor Vilhjálmsson]], [[Einar Már Guðmundsson]] and [[Sjón]], and authors such as [[Guðrún Helgadóttir]], [[Kristín Steinsdóttir]] and [[Ragnheiður Gestsdóttir]] are winners of The [[Nordic Children's Book Prize|Nordic Children's Literature Prize]]. Crime writer [[Arnaldur Indriðason]] has won prizes abroad, including The Golden Dagger Award. Among other prizes awarded to writers from Reykjavík are the Kairos Preis ([[Andri Snær Magnason|Andri Snaer Magnason]]), the Swedish Academy's Nordic Literature Prize ([[Guðbergur Bergsson]]) and the Prix de Page ([[Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir]]). Contemporary Icelandic writers are published in an increased number in translations throughout the world.

==Lifestyle==
{{Multiple issues|{{promotional|date=April 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2024}}|section=y}}

===Nightlife===
[[File:Laugarvegur01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Laugavegur (Reykjavík)|Laugavegur]] main street in downtown Reykjavík]]
[[Alcoholic drink|Alcohol]] is expensive at bars. People tend to drink at home before going out. Beer was [[Prohibition in Iceland|banned]] in Iceland until 1 March 1989 but has since become popular among many Icelanders as their alcoholic drink of choice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=GWNJYhhJ9lt0MbY6X86ny7Z6LKLhJbqnBs8QyfG9sGJx6JvRT1qN!-1963512867?docId=5001321944 |title=The Dynamics of Shifts in Alcoholic Beverage Preference: Effects of the Legalization of Beer in Iceland |publisher= |access-date=8 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901210249/http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst%3Bjsessionid%3DGWNJYhhJ9lt0MbY6X86ny7Z6LKLhJbqnBs8QyfG9sGJx6JvRT1qN%21-1963512867?docId=5001321944 |archive-date=1 September 2008}}</ref>

===Live music===
The [[Iceland Airwaves]] music festival is staged annually in November.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iceland Airwaves: Reykjavík's annual music festival {{!}} Icelandair US |url=https://www.icelandair.com/flights/campaign/iceland-airwaves/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607211101/https://www.icelandair.com/flights/campaign/iceland-airwaves/ |archive-date=2024-06-07 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Iceland Airways}}</ref> This festival takes place all over the city, and the concert venue [[Harpa (concert hall)|Harpa]] is one of the main locations. Other venues that frequently organise live music events are Kex, Húrra, Gaukurinn ([[grunge]], [[Heavy metal music|metal]], [[punk rock|punk]]), Mengi (centre for [[contemporary music]], [[avant-garde music]] and [[experimental music]]), [[the Icelandic Opera]] and the [[National Theatre of Iceland]] for classical music.

===New Year's Eve===
The arrival of the new year is a particular cause for celebration to the people of Reykjavík. Icelandic law states that anyone may purchase and use fireworks between 28 December and 6 January. As a result, every New Year's Eve the city is lit up with [[fireworks]] displays.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-01-01 |title=Icelanders take New Year's fireworks to dizzying heights |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/icelanders-take-new-years-fireworks-to-dizzying-heights |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607205935/https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/icelanders-take-new-years-fireworks-to-dizzying-heights |archive-date=2024-06-07 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Straits Times}}</ref>

==Main sights==
{{travel guide|section|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Austurstræti 1.JPG|thumb|[[Austurstræti]] street]]
* [[Alþingishúsið]] – the Icelandic parliament building
* [[Austurvöllur]] – a park in central Reykjavík surrounded by restaurants and bars
* [[Árbæjarsafn]] (Reykjavík Open Air Museum) – Reykjavík's Municipal Museum
* [[Icelandic Art Center|CIA.IS – Center for Icelandic Art]] – general information on Icelandic visual art
* [[Hallgrímskirkja]] – the largest church in Iceland
* [[Harpa (concert hall)|Harpa Reykjavík]] – Reykjavík Concert & Conference Center
* [[Heiðmörk]] – the largest forest and nature reserve in the area
* [[Höfði]] – the house in which [[Mikhail Gorbachev|Gorbachev]] and [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] met in 1986 for the [[Reykjavík Summit|Iceland Summit]]
* [[Kringlan]] – the second-largest shopping mall in Iceland
* [[Laugardalslaug]] – swimming pool
* [[Laugavegur (Reykjavík)|Laugavegur]] – main shopping street
* [[National and University Library of Iceland]] (''Þjóðarbókhlaðan'')
* [[National Museum of Iceland]] (''Þjóðminjasafnið'')
* [[Nauthólsvík]] – a geothermally-heated beach
* [[Perlan]] – Reykjavík's natural history museum, housed in a glass dome resting on six water tanks
* [[Reykjavík Town Hall]] – city hall
* [[Rauðhólar (Reykjavík)|Rauðhólar]] – a cluster of red pseudo- craters
* [[Reykjavík 871±2]] – exhibition of an archaeological excavation of a Viking-age longhouse, from about AD 930
* [[Reykjavik Art Museum|Reykjavík Art Museum]] – the largest visual art institution in Iceland
* [[Reykjavík Botanic Garden]]
* [[Reykjavík Maritime Museum]] – a maritime museum located by the old harbour
* [[Safnahúsið]], culture house, National Centre for Cultural Heritage (''Þjóðmenningarhúsið'')
* [[Tjörnin]] – a small lake in central Reykjavík
* [[University of Iceland]]

==Recreation==
[[Reykjavik Golf Club|Reykjavík Golf Club]] was established in 1934. It is the oldest and largest golf club in Iceland, and consists of two 18-hole courses – one at [[Grafarholt og Úlfarsárdalur|Grafarholt]] and the other at Korpa. The Grafarholt golf course opened in 1963, which makes it the oldest 18-hole golf course in Iceland. The Korpa golf course opened in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grgolf.is/english/|title=Reykjavik Golf Club|access-date=1 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505035301/http://www.grgolf.is/english/|archive-date=5 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Education==

===Secondary schools===
* Borgarholtsskóli (Borgó)
* [[Fjölbrautaskólinn í Breiðholti]] (FB)
* Fjölbrautaskólinn við Ármúla (FÁ)
* Kvennaskólinn í Reykjavík (Kvennó)
* [[Menntaskólinn Hraðbraut]]
* [[Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík]] (MR)
* [[Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð]] (MH)
* [[Menntaskólinn við Sund]] (MS)
* [[Tækniskólinn]]
* [[Verzlunarskóli Íslands]] (Verzló)

===Universities===
* [[Iceland Academy of the Arts]]
* [[Reykjavík University]]
* [[University of Iceland]]

=== International schools ===
* [[International School of Iceland]]
* [[Landakotsskóli|International Department at Landakotsskóli]]

==Sports teams==
[[File:Laugardalsvollur 4.jpg|thumb|[[Laugardalsvöllur]]]]

===Football===
====[[Úrvalsdeild]]====
* [[Knattspyrnufélagið Fram|Fram]] ([[Grafarholt og Úlfarsárdalur]] youth club)
* [[Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur|KR]] ([[Vesturbær]] youth club)
* [[Leiknir Reykjavík|Leiknir]] ([[Breiðholt]] youth club (Efra-Breiðholt))
* [[Valur (club)|Valur]] ([[Hlíðar]]/[[Miðborg]] youth club)
* [[Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur|Víkingur]] ([[Háaleiti og Bústaðir]] youth club)

====[[1. deild karla (football)|1. deild karla]]====
* [[Ungmennafélagið Fjölnir|Fjölnir]] ([[Grafarvogur]] youth club)
* [[Fylkir]] ([[Árbær]] youth club)
* [[Kórdrengir]] 
* [[Knattspyrnufélag Vesturbæjar|KV]]

====Other youth clubs====
Clubs classified as youth clubs offer youth teams where anyone can train with the team, though each club is based in a certain area of Reykjavík and mainly serves that area.
* [[Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur|ÍR]] ([[Breiðholt]] youth club (Neðra-Breiðholt/Seljahverfi))
* [[Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur|Þróttur]] ([[Laugardalur]] youth club)

===Other===
{{columns-list|
* [[Glímufélagið Ármann]] (sports club)
* [[Skautafélag Reykjavíkur]] (hockey)
* Skylmingafélag Reykjavíkur (fencing)
* Skotfélag Reykjavíkur (shooting)
* Íþróttafélag fatlaðra í Reykjavík (sports club for the disabled in Reykjavík)
* [[RFC Raiders|Rugbyfélag Reykjavíkur]] (rugby union)
}}

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{see also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Iceland}}
Reykjavík is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref name="reykjavik_IS_2018">{{cite web |title=Minnisblað|url=https://reykjavik.is/sites/default/files/skjol_borgarstjornarfundur/180914_minnisblad_reykjavikurborg_endurskodun_stefnu_i_erlendum_samskiptum.pdf|website=reykjavik.is|publisher=Reykjavík|page=3|language=is|date=2018-09-14|access-date=2023-03-20}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Lviv]], Ukraine (2023)<ref name="visir_IS_2023">{{cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=Reykvíkingar skipta Lviv inn fyrir Moskvu |trans-title=Reykjavík residents replace Moscow with Lviv |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20232419449d/reykvikingar-skipta-lviv-inn-fyrir-moskvu |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=visir.is |publisher=Vísir|language=is}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Seattle]], United States (1986)
*{{flagicon|LTU}} [[Vilnius]], Lithuania (2006)
*{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Winnipeg]], Canada (1971)
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], Poland (2017)

In July 2013, mayor Jón Gnarr filed a motion before the city council to terminate the city's relationship with Moscow, in response to a trend of [[LGBT rights in Russia|anti-gay legislation in Russia]].<ref name=rferl>{{cite news |title=Sister Cities Ramp Up Russia Boycott Over Antigay Law |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-sister-cities-gay-law/25051513.html |newspaper=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date=20 July 2013 |access-date=30 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429171301/http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-sister-cities-gay-law/25051513.html |archive-date=29 April 2014 |url-status=live |last1=Bigg |first1=Claire}}</ref>
Lviv in Ukraine replaced Moscow in 2023.<ref name="visir_IS_2023"/>

== Notable people ==
{{main|List of people from Reykjavík}}

==See also==
* [[Althing]], national parliament
* [[Beer Day (Iceland)]]
* [[Icelandic Phallological Museum]]
* [[Kringlan]], a shopping mall 
* [[Menningarnótt]], an annual music festival 
* [[Rail transport in Iceland]]
* [[Reykjavík Green Days]], an environment-related annual event
* [[Reykjavik Open]], an annual chess tournament

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite conference|last = Hermannsdóttir|first = Edda|date = 3 July 2006|title = Consumption of alcoholic beverages 2005|url = http://www.hagstofa.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?ItemID=3893|location = Reykjavík|publisher = Hagstofa Íslands|access-date = 1 February 2007|book-title = Prices and consumption|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061214042844/http://www.hagstofa.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?ItemID=3893|archive-date = 14 December 2006}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://reykjavik.is}} {{in lang|is}}

{{Reykjavík}}
{{Cities and towns in Iceland}}
{{Municipalities of Iceland}}
{{50 most populous Nordic urban settlements}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Capital cities of EFTA member states}}
{{European Capital of Culture}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reykjavik}}
[[Category:Reykjavík| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Iceland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Iceland]]
[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Iceland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1786]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Europe]]
[[Category:Viking Age populated places]]
[[Category:1st-millennium establishments in Iceland]]