Gay hotels reykjavik
Being gay in Reykjavik and Iceland as a whole is not something that is simply tolerated, it is celebrated and you can expect to have a very warm welcome in this somewhat chilly destination! Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland so it is no surprise this is where a lot of gay travellers head to and use as a base.
The city is known for its vibrant nightlife, great restaurants and a very welcoming population — over a third of the residents here join gay the Pride celebrations each year! When it comes to gay rights, same sex marriage was legalised in Iceland in June and more work is being done to protect everyone under the LGBTQ spectrum.
With all that in mind, plus the fact that the the country is stunning with so many incredible and unique hotels on offer, it is easy to see why Reykjavik is attracting gay travellers from all over the world. To find out more about our gay Reykjavik reykjavik continue reading below to learn what Reykjavik has to offer gay travellers, from gay events to gay bars and some truly incredible activities.
Quite simply yes! Reykjavik is safe for gay travellers. In fact Iceland is often referred to as one of the most gay friendly places in the world.
Gay Reykjavik Hotels
We visited during Reykjavik Pride and as soon as we stepped into the airport arrival hall we knew we were welcome — the entrance was a reykjavik arch of balloons adorned with pride flags everywhere. LGBTQ rights in Iceland score very highly reykjavik in terms of legality and public opinion, rest assured you can relax here.
The gay area in Reykjavik is very small given that there is only one gay bar! The local gay bar is nearby this street so by default, Rainbow Street has to be the main gay area of Reykjavik! The most common whale species here are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises.
Occasionally you may see killer whales, fin whales, sei whales and long-finned pilot whales, however they are not as common. The whales are gay abundant in summer. We went on the 3 hour whale watching trip with Elding. Not to be confused with the gay popular Blue Lagoon belowthe Sky Lagoon is a luxury geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland about 20 minutes drive from Reykjavik.
However there is so much more to this experience than simply relaxing in the lagoon. Depending on the package you book, you can include the 7 step ritual which hotels you through their ice pools, stunning sauna with glass front looking over the bay, steam room, exfoliation and more. One of the most visited attractions in Iceland, visiting the Blue Lagoon is definitely a bucket list item.
In the Blue Lagoon was named one of 25 wonders of the world by National Geographic. The lagoon is manmade with water sourced from the nearby geothermal power plant that is full of minerals and became popular for its apparent healing effects on certain skin conditions. The lagoon itself is huge and on site you can find spa facilities, gourmet dining and a luxury hotel if you really want to immerse yourself in the experience.
Perhaps one of the most iconic things to do in Iceland is to see the natural phenomenon of the northern lights. Particles from the sun hit the upper atmosphere around the earths magnetic poles resulting in the beautiful light effect known as the Aurora Borealis aka Northern lights.
While they are sometimes visible from Reykjavik city, the lights are best seen on a professional tour, most provide the option of a repeat tour should you not see them. The tours can either be packaged with other attractions or done exclusively to see the lights, most operators give the option of overland excursions or you can hotel take a cruise to view from the open ocean — just make sure to wrap up warm!