Dog-Friendly Parks in Reykjavik

A large wooded hill rising just south of the old domestic airport, Öskjuhlíð is the closest thing Reykjavik has to a proper forest. The slopes are covered in birch trees and winding trails that emerge onto open hilltop with panoramic views over the city, the bay, and on clear days, the Snæfellsjökull glacier 100km to the north. The Perlan glass dome sits at the top and is a landmark visible from everywhere. Dogs are off-leash through most of the wooded sections, and the hill is genuinely large enough for a proper run. It's also one of the best spots in the city for Northern Lights viewing on clear winter nights, and there's nothing stopping you from doing a night walk with your dog.

A neighbourhood park in the eastern 105 area of the city, Klambratún is the most dog-focused of Reykjavik's parks. It has a designated off-leash zone that is genuinely used daily by locals, and the grassy open areas and mature trees make it a pleasant place to spend an hour. The park is surrounded by residential streets and is a community space in the truest sense — you'll meet Reykjavik dog owners at their most relaxed and social here. Smaller than Öskjuhlíð but closer to the Laugavegur and Hlemmur areas for a walk before or after eating.

One of Reykjavik's largest green spaces, Laugardalur is a valley park that combines sports facilities, a botanical garden, a zoo, and large open meadows. Dogs are welcome in the open areas and the botanical garden sections, but must be kept on lead near the sports complex and pool. The Laugardalur outdoor geothermal pool nearby is not dog-friendly, but the meadows surrounding the complex offer easy walking and often wild rabbits to chase (which your dog will appreciate far more than the botanical specimens). A good spot for a longer walk combined with a visit to the area.

Elliðaárdalur is a river valley running through the eastern side of Reykjavik that few visitors know about but that every local dog owner does. The Elliðaá river runs through it — one of only a handful of salmon rivers in the world that flows through a capital city — and the valley's mix of meadows, birch woodland, and riverside paths makes it one of the most beautiful dog walks in Iceland. The trails are easy, the scenery genuinely wild for a city park, and on a sunny evening the light on the water and surrounding hills is spectacular. Dogs are largely off-leash through most of the valley outside salmon season.