Reykjavík · Iceland
Laugavegur
Laugavegur is Reykjavík’s main shopping street, running about two kilometres through the centre. The name means wash road — it was the route women took to the hot springs to do laundry. Today it is shops, bars and restaurants, and it is where most visitors to the city end up walking.
Pleasant enough, and if you are in Reykjavík you will walk it — that is fine. But Iceland offers so much more than this, and I would not give it a slot in a plan. Walk it on the way to somewhere else, look at the painted houses, and spend the time you save outside the city.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
One out of five. It is a shopping street. The buildings are colourful and there is street art worth looking at, but this is not scenery and the score says so.
Situated in central Reykjavík, Laugavegur is easily walkable from most downtown hotels and the harbor area. Public transport and parking options are available nearby, but the street itself is pedestrianized in parts, enhancing safety and the shopping experience, especially during summer evenings.
Exploring Laugavegur and browsing shops, cafés, and galleries is free of charge. Purchases and dining, of course, vary by vendor. Paid parking lots exist nearby for visitors arriving by car.
As the commercial and nightlife heart of Reykjavík, Laugavegur attracts both locals and tourists year-round. It is busiest during summer weekends and evenings but generally offers ample space for visitors to enjoy the atmosphere without feeling too crowded.
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