Reykjavik: World War II Walking tour around the city centre

The British landing in Iceland began at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, and this two-hour walk lets you follow the route into the city. You will see where the soldiers came ashore, then trace their path through the old town as your guide explains how the occupation changed daily life, politics, and culture.

I like the use of period photographs and videos, which helps you compare today’s streets with wartime Reykjavik. I also like the wider focus on American influence, from food to music, rather than treating the war as only a military story. The main drawback is that the tour covers serious subject matter and is not suited to children under 10.

Key points to know before booking

• Start at Parliament Square: Meet outside Hotel Borg in Austurvollur, not inside the hotel.
• Follow the 1940 landing route: Walk from the Old Harbour through the old town toward key buildings taken by British troops.
• See wartime Reykjavik through old images: Period photographs and videos show how much the city has changed.
• Go beyond military events: The guide explains how British and American forces affected Icelandic food, music, and society.
• Expect an outdoor walk in all weather: Wear warm layers, rain gear, and comfortable shoes, even during summer.
• Pay for context, not transport: At $40, the value lies in a focused local guide and access to stories you would not get from a general city walk.

Why Reykjavik’s wartime story begins at the harbour

Most people first meet Reykjavik through colorful houses, cafes, the church, and the waterfront. This tour asks you to look at the city through a different lens: the morning in May 1940 when British troops landed in Iceland.

You begin at Austurvollur, the square in front of Parliament and Hotel Borg. This is a useful starting point because it places the tour in the civic heart of Reykjavik before taking you toward the harbour. Wait outside Hotel Borg, since the meeting point is not inside the hotel.

From there, the group walks to the Old Harbour. The route matters. You are not simply hearing that Britain occupied Iceland during World War II. You are walking toward the precise place where the British arrived and then following the direction they took into town.

That physical link gives the story a clear shape. The harbour is the arrival point, the old town becomes the route inland, and the city center shows how foreign troops quickly became part of everyday Reykjavik life.

The subject is unusual for a city walk. Iceland is often presented through volcanoes, sagas, fishing, and dramatic scenery. This tour deals with a modern turning point that brought military forces, new money, new goods, and major social change to a small island community.

The Old Harbour and the British landing

The Old Harbour is the tour’s strongest stop because it connects geography with a specific event. Your guide points out the landing place and uses period photographs and videos to show what the area looked like at the time.

Those images are important. Modern Reykjavik can make wartime scenes hard to picture, especially when you are standing among familiar streets and waterfront buildings. Seeing the older city beside the present one helps you understand that the occupation unfolded in a much smaller and less developed capital.

The guide also explains the military side of the landing. You will hear how the British moved from the harbour into the city and took control of key buildings along the way. The emphasis is on the route and the practical actions of the occupation, not only on dates and names.

I would pay close attention here if you enjoy maps, old photographs, or stories that connect a present-day place to a precise historical moment. The stop should also work well for first-time visitors because the harbour is easy to place within the center of Reykjavik.

One limitation is that the tour does not appear to involve indoor museum visits or preserved military installations. The value comes from the guide’s explanation and visual material, so your experience will depend heavily on how clearly the story is presented on the day.

Walking through the old town under occupation

After the harbour, you follow the route toward Reykjavik Old Town. The walk takes you through the streets where British troops moved after landing, with stops at important buildings connected to the takeover.

This section helps turn a broad subject into a street-level story. Instead of thinking only about armies and governments, you can picture soldiers arriving in a civilian capital and occupying places that had ordinary public uses.

The tour also points out side streets in the center that you might pass without noticing. They are not promoted as major sights, and that is part of the appeal. A local guide can explain why an ordinary-looking corner matters, while you gain a better sense of how compact Reykjavik was during the war.

Most of the walk is flat, with one small hill up and down. There are no stairs, which makes the route suitable for wheelchair users, though it is still worth noting that benches are available at some stops but not all. If standing for long periods is difficult, plan your pace accordingly.

You should wear shoes that are comfortable for two hours on pavement. The tour ends back at the original meeting point, so you do not need to arrange transport from a distant neighborhood.

The German Residence and a wider wartime picture

The German Residence is one of the named stops, adding another side to the story. The tour does not only focus on the British arrival. It also discusses Germany’s place in the wartime picture and the diplomatic setting around Iceland.

This wider view keeps the walk from becoming a simple account of British military action. You get a sense of the international pressure around Iceland and why the country mattered to larger powers during the war.

The guide’s job here is to connect buildings and events without turning the walk into a list of dates. A good explanation should help you understand why a residence or public building mattered and how wartime decisions reached into the city center.

The information provided does not specify every building taken or every detail covered at each stop. That is useful to keep in mind when booking. You are choosing a guided historical walk, not a fixed museum display with a complete catalog of sites.

How British and American forces changed daily life

The most interesting part for many people will be the cultural and social material. The walk discusses the American presence in Iceland and the changes it brought to ordinary life, including the food people ate and the music they danced to.

This gives the tour a human scale. Military history can feel distant when it is reduced to troop movements. Food and music show how foreign forces affected habits, tastes, and entertainment in ways that lasted beyond the occupation itself.

The American presence is treated as a separate part of the story, which adds balance to the British landing. You learn that the impact was not only about soldiers stationed in Iceland. Contact with outside powers also helped reshape the country’s social world.

I like this angle because it gives you something to think about after the walk. When you visit a cafe, hear popular music, or notice the modern character of Reykjavik, you have a little more context for how the twentieth century changed Iceland.

The guide may also include local stories outside the main military narrative. Lucky, one guide associated with the tour, is described as funny and able to add ghost stories when visitors are interested. That sort of flexibility can make the walk feel more personal, though ghost stories are an extra flavor rather than the central subject.

Period photographs make the city easier to read

The photographs and videos are more than decoration. They help you see Reykjavik as it was when the British arrived, then compare it with the city around you.

A visual comparison is especially helpful at the Old Harbour and along the route into the old town. You can look at the street in front of you, then see how fewer buildings, different vehicles, or a different waterfront shaped the wartime scene.

You will not be asked to imagine everything from a spoken lecture alone. The images give the guide a way to pause and explain what changed and what remained recognizable.

Bring a camera if you like documenting places, but remember that the strongest value of the images is historical comparison. The tour is not built around scenic viewpoints or dramatic photography. It is about noticing the city’s layers.

The guide makes or breaks the experience

This is a history-focused walk, so the guide matters more than on a route where the sights speak for themselves. You want someone who can explain military events clearly, then make the social effects understandable without losing the thread.

The available feedback points to a guide who is friendly, enthusiastic, and able to explain Iceland’s wartime past with energy. Lucky is praised for combining solid information with humor, and for adjusting the material when the group showed interest in ghost stories.

That combination is useful. A two-hour history walk can become heavy if every stop is only a date or military term. Humor and local storytelling can keep the pace lively, while the subject still receives proper attention.

The tour is conducted in English. Since the walk includes videos, photographs, and spoken explanation, you should be comfortable following an English-language presentation outdoors.

There is no stated group size, so I would not book this expecting a private experience. If you want material adjusted for young children, a private tour can be arranged with the provider, with the subject matter changed to suit them.

Weather, comfort, and the small practical details

The tour runs in almost all weather. Reykjavik can feel cold and wet even in summer, so take the clothing advice seriously: wear outdoor layers, bring rain gear, and choose comfortable walking shoes.

A camera is also recommended, mainly for recording the route and present-day details. Drinks and snacks are not included, so buy anything you need before the tour or plan for it afterward.

The walk lasts two hours. That is long enough to provide a real historical thread but short enough to fit around other central Reykjavik plans. Since it starts and finishes at the same place, you can use it as an easy morning or afternoon activity without worrying about a return transfer.

The route is wheelchair accessible, with no stairs and only a small hill. Still, not every stop has a bench, and the tour involves standing outdoors. If you need frequent seating, contact the provider before booking so you can confirm that the pace and stops will work for you.

The tour is not suitable for children under 10 because of the subject matter. Older children and teenagers with an interest in war, politics, or city history may find it more rewarding than they would a general sightseeing walk.

Is $40 a fair price for two hours?

At $40 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two hours in central Reykjavik. You can walk around the harbor and old town on your own for free.

The difference is the interpretation. You are paying for the exact landing location, a planned route, period photographs and videos, local stories, and an explanation of how military occupation changed Icelandic society. If you already know a great deal about World War II in Iceland, the price may feel less attractive.

For most visitors, the subject is specialized enough that a guide adds real value. You would likely see the harbour and old town anyway, but you would not automatically know which route the British took, which buildings mattered, or how American influence reached food and music.

The price also works well if you prefer focused tours over broad city introductions. This is not a general orientation walk covering every major Reykjavik sight. It is a compact history experience with a clear subject.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start reduces the risk of booking around uncertain weather. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are arranging several Iceland activities in advance.

Who should book this Reykjavik history walk?

I would choose this tour if you want more than pretty streets and standard city facts. It suits adults, history fans, people interested in World War II, and anyone curious about how a foreign military presence can alter a small society.

It is also a good fit if you have already seen Reykjavik’s main sights and want a fresh reason to walk the center. The route gives familiar areas a new meaning without requiring a bus ride or a full-day commitment.

You may want to skip it if you are looking mainly for scenery, food tasting, nightlife, or Icelandic medieval history. The tour stays focused on the twentieth century and the years around World War II.

I would also think twice if you dislike outdoor walks in poor weather or prefer attractions where you can sit indoors. Reykjavik’s conditions can change quickly, and the tour goes ahead in almost all weather.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a specific, story-led look at Reykjavik rather than a checklist of landmarks. The Old Harbour landing point, the route through the old town, the German Residence, and the discussion of American food and music give the experience a useful range.

At $40, it earns its price when the guide brings the streets to life with images, clear explanation, and local detail. Bring warm clothing, expect some standing, and choose it for its wartime and social history rather than for views.

FAQ

Where does the World War II walking tour start?

The tour starts in Austurvollur, Parliament Square, outside Hotel Borg. You should wait outside the hotel, not inside.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the original meeting point outside Hotel Borg.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English with a live English-speaking guide.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $40 per person.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The route has no stairs and is described as wheelchair accessible. Most of the walk is flat, though it goes up and down a small hill, and benches are available at some but not all stops.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 10 are not permitted because of the subject matter. A private tour can be arranged for younger children with adjusted material.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, a camera, rain gear, and suitable outdoor clothing. The tour operates in almost all weather, and Iceland can feel cold even in summer.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve your place and pay later, keeping your plans flexible.