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Old photos of Reykjavík

12 photographs of Reykjavík, from 1917 to 2025 — each pinned to the exact place it was taken.

Have an old photo of Reykjavík? A family album, a postcard, a print from the attic. Pin it to the map and it becomes part of the record.
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What the photos show

The 12 photographs of Reykjavík on PlaceWas span 3 decades, from 1917 to 2025. 2 of them were taken before 1980; the other 10 are recent views of the same streets and landmarks.4 spots were photographed more than once, so you can compare the same street, square or building across the years.12 of the photos carry a written caption explaining what is in the frame. Every picture is pinned to the place it was taken, so the map below shows where the photographers stood.

Pick a decade to filter the photos below and the map above. Open full map ↗

Places in Reykjavík through time

Spots photographed more than once — compare the same place across the years.

Reykjavik center9, Reykjavík — photos through time
Reykjavik center9 3 photos · 2017–2025
CityHall, Reykjavík — photos through time
CityHall 2 photos · 2019
EU: Reykjavik/Iceland: Laundry at Heißen Re (1917), Reykjavík — photos through time
EU: Reykjavik/Iceland: Laundry at Heißen Re (1917) 2 photos · 1917
Reykjavík, Reykjavík — photos through time
Reykjavík 2 photos · 2023

Stories from Reykjavík

What contributors wrote about these photographs.

EU: Reykjavik/ Island: Stockfischtrocknen. Einheimische Frauen bei der Arbeit des Stockfischtrocknens in der Bucht von Reykjavik (1917), Reykjavík, 1917
EU: Reykjavik/ Island: Stockfischtrocknen. Einheimische Frauen bei der Arbeit des Stockfischtrocknens in der Bucht von Reykjavik (1917) 1917 Local women dry stockfish along the shore of Reykjavik bay, Iceland, part of the traditional wind-drying process used to preserve cod for the fishing economy that sustained much of Iceland's coastal population.
EU: Reykjavik/Iceland: Laundry at Heißen Re (1917), Reykjavík, 1917
EU: Reykjavik/Iceland: Laundry at Heißen Re (1917) 1917 Women do laundry at a hot spring near Reykjavik, Iceland, making use of the geothermal water that has long been a feature of the area around the Icelandic capital for washing and bathing.
Reykjavik, Reykjavík, 2010
Reykjavik 2010 A view of Reykjavik, photographed in 2010. Iceland's capital, set along the country's southwestern coast, is the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state.
Vonarstræti - Mapillary (768316067214626) (cropped), Reykjavík, 2017
Vonarstræti - Mapillary (768316067214626) (cropped) 2017 A cropped street-level image of Vonarstraeti in central Reykjavik, Iceland, captured in 2017 via Mapillary. The short street connects Tjornin lake to the city center through Reykjavik's historic old quarter.
LakeTjornin, Reykjavík, 2019
LakeTjornin 2019 Tjornin pond, a favorite spot for birdwatching in central Reykjavik, is shown in this 2019 photograph of the small lake at the heart of the Icelandic capital.
Reykjavík, Reykjavík, 2023
Reykjavík 2023 Reykjavik, photographed in September 2023, is Iceland's capital and the northernmost capital city of a sovereign state in the world. It is home to roughly a third of the country's population and sits on the country's…
Reykjavík, Reykjavík, 2023
Reykjavík 2023 A view of Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, photographed in September 2023. Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state and serves as the country's main cultural and economic…
Reykjavik center9, Reykjavík, 2025
Reykjavik center9 2025 Whooper swans and other waterfowl gather on the Tjörnin pond in central Reykjavík, a body of water bordered by the city's downtown and residential districts and a longstanding gathering place for birdlife.
1910s · 2 photos
2010s · 7 photos
2020s · 3 photos