Laugavegur shopping street

About Laugavegur

Laugavegur means roughly "the Water Road", named for the route people once walked from town carrying laundry out to hot pools to wash it. Today it is Reykjavík's busiest street for shopping and going out, lined with Icelandic wool and design shops, second-hand and vintage clothing stores, bookshops, cafés, restaurants and bars.

It has been built up gradually since the 1880s, and the buildings along it are a mix of older timber-clad houses and newer shopfronts. It connects with Skólavörðustígur, the colourful street leading up to Hallgrímskirkja, so the two are usually walked together.

On the map the street starts further east, at Kringlumýrarbraut, and runs west for a little over 1.6 km until it becomes Bankastræti and drops into the old centre. The shops, restaurants and bars are packed into the western part, and that is the stretch people mean when they talk about Laugavegur.

Quick facts

From laundry route to main street

Before Reykjavík grew into a city, women carried laundry out along this route to wash it in the naturally hot water of nearby pools, and that everyday errand gave the street its name. Building along Laugavegur began in earnest from 1885, and it grew steadily into the commercial heart of the capital that it is today.

How to get to Laugavegur

Exploring Laugavegur shopping street

There are shops for every taste and budget along the street, with places to eat and drink between them.

The Kringlan and Smáralind shopping malls have taken some of the everyday shopping away from the centre, and Laugavegur has turned more and more towards visitors. For locals’ prices on ordinary goods the malls are the better choice. For atmosphere, small shops and Icelandic design, stay on Laugavegur.

Safety and practical tips

• Parts of the street close to cars in summer, making it a pleasant place to wander without traffic.
• Combine it with a walk up Skólavörðustígur to Hallgrímskirkja, one block over.
• Prices in the shops here tend to be higher than at malls like Kringlan, so it suits browsing and souvenirs more than bulk shopping.
• The street gets busy and lively at night, especially on weekends, with bars staying open late.

Facilities and accessibility

Shops, cafés, restaurants and bars line the street, and there are public toilets in nearby buildings. The Icelandic Punk Museum is at the foot of Bankastræti, and the Icelandic Phallological Museum is a few minutes’ walk away near the harbour.

On the map

Nearby places worth a stop

HallgrímskirkjaIceland's largest church, a short walk up the hillTjörninCity pond popular with birdlifeHarpaGlass concert hall by the harbourThe Sun VoyagerSteel ship sculpture on the waterfront

Where to stay near Laugavegur

Central Reykjavík around Laugavegur has hotels, guesthouses and apartments at every price level, and staying nearby puts most of the city's sights within walking distance.

Laugavegur FAQ