I dare you not to like Reykjavik.

With ocean views, brightly colored houses, a hip restaurant culture, and extended hours of daylight late into the night during summer months, Iceland’s capital city is an immediate hit with visitors. I snap this photo after 10pm in late August while looking for a place to grab dinner:

It’s been a very full day — I arrived in Iceland on a red-eye that morning, then soaked at the Blue Lagoon, and climbed in the magma chamber of an extinct volcano — so I want something quick and cheap for dinner so I can get to bed. As soon as I see the Chuck Norris Grill I know I’ve found the right spot.

How random is this place?! It’s not a chain — just a single location in Reykjavik, entirely devoted to the U.S. martial artist and actor. The long list of outlandish accomplishments jokingly attributed to Chuck Norris line the walls, like this one: “Chuck Norris was bitten by a cobra and after five days of excruciating pain… the cobra died.” They serve burgers, fries, and milkshakes. I order the first two and they hit the spot.

This is one of the main shopping streets in the city; I roam a bit longer to get a feel for the area before turning in for the night.

I love the window dressings for this shop — map and globe artwork make my travel-loving heart go boom.

The next morning I’m up by 8am to get a jump on the day. I have to pick up my camping rental gear as well as groceries for this week’s road trip. Then I plan to do a small amount of walking around — just to grab a latte at one of Reykjavik’s many coffee shops before hitting the road for a big day of driving.

But guess what? The sun is out and the weather is glorious. While I’ll have a full day to explore Reykjavik when I return from the camping trip next week, it’s very likely that skies will be cloudy and gray at that time (typical for Iceland). I have to take full advantage of today’s sunlight and do some spontaneous sightseeing here before I leave. Mission accepted!

I start at Reykjavik Roasters, an internationally renowned coffeehouse, and enjoy a soy latte and chocolate croissant while people watching from the window.

Spotted outside — an advertisement for Haunted Walk. Check it out if you’re into history, folklore, and ghosts.

Just up the street is the famous Hallgrímskirkja church tower — it’s about 250 feet tall and offers views all over Reykjavik from the very top. It’s probably the most recognizable building in the city and a tourism must-see.

That’s Leif Erikson in the statue — it was a gift from the United States in 1930.

Inside the cathedral:

For around $7 USD, visitors can take an elevator up to the very top. (I didn’t see an option to climb the stairs, though I suspect you’d have to pay for the $7 ticket either way.) It’s worth it for the views, especially if you’re there on a semi-clear day.

Once at the top, there are 360-degree views of Reykjavik.

Looking west, towards the ocean:

I love these brightly colored houses:

Looking north, towards KEX Hostel:

Looking east, over the main cathedral below, as the rest of Iceland stretches out in the distance:

I spy the harbor in the distance. And if you follow the main road below straight ahead, it ends at the rainbow-colored street I showcased at the end of my Iceland at a Glance post.

One last look at these bold-hued homes:

Back on the ground, I spy this round mirror and play with reflections in the sky:

I walk past some of the homes I glimpsed from the tower:

This graffiti-covered building is especially impressive:

I head down to the ocean in front of KEX Hostel and walk a bit towards this giant sculpture.

I keep going further towards the shimmering structure ahead — it’s called Harpa, and it’s a concert hall and conference center.

Despite its pretty exterior, mention of this building garners a negative reaction from Icelandic people due to the circumstances under which it was built. Construction was halted in the mid-2000’s during the financial crisis and its future was uncertain until the government stepped in to fully fund the completion. For several years it was the only construction project in existence in Iceland while the country suffered effects of a serious economic dip. It officially opened in 2011.

A few final shots as I make my way back to the car to begin my camping road trip…

Reykjavik, I find you delightful and I look forward to a full day of exploration next week when I return!