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Voykit pocket guide · Iceland
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is a small walkable base with weather that changes hourly: do the church and the harbour on foot, warm up in a café or pool, and use the city as the bed for day trips.
Reykjavík's centre is a few square kilometres and most of it is a walk. What breaks trips is the weather, the prices, and trying to fit the Golden Circle and the south coast into the city days. Wind and ice slow winter walks, and daylight is short from November to January. Four clusters cover a first visit: Hallgrímskirkja and its hill, the Laugavegur shopping street, Harpa and the Old Harbour, and the Sun Voyager shore.
- Country
- Iceland
- Best months
- May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Reykjavik
- Stay
- 2 days: Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, Harpa and the harbour
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ISK
- Money
- Cards and phone payments are used everywhere, including for small amounts; cash is rarely needed. PIN-less contactless is common.
- Daily spend
- Budget ISK 12,000–20,000 excl. bed · Mid ISK 20,000–35,000 excl. bed · High ISK 35,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a SIM at a shop in arrivals with your passport.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire and rescue 112 · Non-urgent police (check) 444 1000
- Plugs
- 230 V; type C and F sockets.
- Tipping
- Not expected; service is included in prices.
- Water
- Tap water is safe and among the cleanest; hot water smells of sulphur, which is harmless.
- Toilets
- Cafés, Harpa, pools and gas stations; some public toilets need a card.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ISK 700–1,000 |
| Hot dog at a stand | ISK 700–1,100 |
| Cooked lunch or soup | ISK 2,500–4,500 |
| Restaurant main course | ISK 4,500–8,000 |
| Beer at a bar | ISK 1,400–2,200 |
| Bus single ticket (Strætó) | ISK 600–700 |
| Taxi across the centre | ISK 2,000–3,500 |
| Flybus from KEF to the centre | ISK 4,000–5,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Keflavík International Airport (KEF)
- KEF to downtown Reykjavík: a Flybus or a pre-booked transfer, about 45–60 minutes; there is no rail, and taxis are costly, so decide the coach before you land.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| BSÍ bus terminal (BSÍ) | Flybus and Airport Direct from KEF, Reykjavík Excursions, and long-distance coaches | Walk 15–20 min or a short taxi |
| Keflavík International Airport (Keflavíkurflugvöllur) | International flights | Flybus 45–60 min; taxi about 45–50 min |
| Reykjavík Domestic Airport (Reykjavíkurflugvöllur) | Flights to Akureyri, Ísafjörður and Greenland | Taxi 10 min; walk 25 min |
| Old Harbour and Skarfabakki cruise port (Gamla höfnin) | Whale-watching boats and cruise ships | Walk 10 min from Laugavegur |
Typical fares
- KEF → downtown, Flybus
- About ISK 4,500, 45–60 min; drop at BSÍ or hotels on some tickets (check)
- KEF → downtown, taxi
- ISK 20,000–30,000, about 45–50 min
- Centre → Blue Lagoon, bus
- About ISK 6,000 return with entry not included (check)
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside the centre, use a Strætó bus or a taxi for the pool complex, Perlan and Kópavogur, and a tour or car for anything outside the city. There is no rail or metro.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | The whole 101 centre |
| Strætó city bus | ISK 600–700 a ride (check) | Perlan, Laugardalur pools and the suburbs |
| Taxi | ISK 2,000–3,500 across the centre | Luggage, night, ice |
| Hopp (ride-hail) | Similar to taxi (check) | Short rides |
| E-scooters | A few hundred ISK per ride | Short dry-weather hops |
| Bicycle | Rental ISK 4,000–6,000 a day (check) | The shore path |
| Car rental | ISK 10,000–25,000 a day (check) | Golden Circle and south coast on your own |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass; a single bus ticket or app fare covers short rides, and most of the centre is on foot.
- Late at night
- There is no metro or rail. City buses run in the day and evening; taxis and ride-hailing are the late-night option and are costly.
See and do
01Hallgrímskirkja and its tower
The landmark you can see from most of the city, with a view over the roofs; the nave is free.
Hours: best Early morning or evening · Price: Nave free; tower about ISK 1,300–2,000 · Time: 30–60 min · 64.1417, -21.9266
02Harpa concert hall
A free glass foyer, a warm café and toilets on the shore; the wet-day stop.
Hours: best Any time; wet days · Price: Free · Time: 20–45 min · 64.1503, -21.9327
03A city pool and hot potSundhöll Reykjavíkur
The local social habit; one visit explains the city.
Hours: best Weekday mornings or evenings · Price: ISK 1,300–1,800 · Time: 60–90 min · 64.1435, -21.9200
04Sólfar shore walkSólfar
A free sculpture, mountains across the bay and the low sun.
Hours: best Low sun · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · 64.1476, -21.9228
05Old Harbour and a whale-watching tripGamla höfnin
The best chance of seeing whales and puffins close to the city.
Hours: best Morning departure in season · Price: ISK 11,000–16,000 · Time: 3 h for a boat · 64.1517, -21.9375
06Austurvöllur and the old centreAusturvöllur
The parliament, the cathedral and cafés in one square.
Hours: best Any time · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · 64.1466, -21.9403
07Golden Circle day
Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in one full day; the classic first-trip loop.
Hours: best Dry weather; winter roads can close · Price: ISK 12,000–25,000 by tour · Time: Full day
08Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon
A geothermal soak with a swim-up bar; Sky Lagoon is closer, the Blue Lagoon is nearer the airport.
Hours: best Book a time slot · Price: ISK 12,000–20,000 · Time: 2–3 h
09Northern Lights tour
The reason many people come between September and April; a night out of town.
Hours: best Clear, dark nights · Price: ISK 9,000–15,000 · Time: 3–4 h
10Perlan museum and viewing deck
A glacier-cave exhibit and a city view from the dome.
Hours: best Wet days · Price: ISK 5,000–9,000 · Time: 1.5–2 h
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss) | Tour bus or car, about 1–1.5 h each way | Full day |
| Blue Lagoon | Bus or car, about 45–60 min | Half day |
| South coast (Seljalandsfoss, Vík) | Tour bus or car, about 2–2.5 h each way | Full day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur | Hot dog with everything · Tryggvagata | ISK 700–1,100 | Budget |
| Supermarket picnic | Bread, skyr, cheese, fruit · Bónus or Krónan | ISK 1,200–2,500 | Budget |
| Hlemmur Mathöll counters | Soup or a bowl · Hlemmur | ISK 2,500–3,500 | Budget |
| Bakery pastry and coffee | Cinnamon bun and a filter refill · Any bakery | ISK 1,200–1,800 | Budget |
| Café Loki | Plokkfiskur and rye bread · Lokastígur | ISK 3,500–5,000 | Mid-range |
| Svarta Kaffið | Soup in a bread bowl · Laugavegur | ISK 3,000–4,000 | Mid-range |
| Old Harbour fish and soup counters | Fish or lamb soup · Old Harbour | ISK 2,800–4,500 | Mid-range |
| A pizza or burger place | A casual dinner · Laugavegur | ISK 3,500–5,500 | Mid-range |
| Tasting-menu restaurant | Modern Icelandic tasting menu · Downtown | From ISK 18,000 (check) | Splurge |
| Harbour seafood restaurant | Langoustine or fish of the day · Old Harbour | ISK 8,000–14,000 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Menus and addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | ISK 6,500–12,000 dorm · ISK 20,000–30,000 private room | Downtown 101, Hlemmur | Hostels, guesthouses |
| mid | ISK 30,000–55,000 | Downtown 101, Old Harbour | 3-star hotels, apartments |
| high | ISK 60,000–110,000 | Old Harbour, Downtown | 4-star hotels |
| splurge | ISK 110,000+ | Old Harbour, Vesturbær | 5-star and design hotels |
Per room per night in króna, 2026 estimate; summer and winter-break weekends add 20–50%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HallóHAH-loh |
| Thank you | Takktahk |
| Please | Gjörðu svo velGYUR-thu svo vel |
| The bill, please | Reikninginn, takkRAYK-ning-in tahk |
| Please take me to this address | Vinsamlegast farðu með mig á þetta heimilisfangVIN-sam-leh-gast FAR-thu meth mayg ow THET-ta HAY-mi-lis-fang |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Pools: Shower naked with soap before you swim; staff and locals expect it. Rinse your feet, keep your shoes in the rack and dress after.
- Tipping: Not expected; service is included. A small tip for exceptional service is welcome, not required.
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and reservations; Icelanders are direct and informal.
- Nature: Do not step off marked paths, pick moss or drive off the road; moss and soil take decades to recover, and fines are large.
- Shoes indoors: Many homes and some guesthouses ask you to take off your shoes; follow the sign at the door.
- Small talk: Icelanders are direct and reserved at first; humour is dry. Avoid asking about the volcano or the crash as a first topic.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; do not fly a drone near the airport, harbour or concerts.
Red lines
- Hot pools: shower without a swimsuit before you get in; staff enforce it.
- Do not drive off marked roads or on closed roads; fines are large.
- Do not stand close to waves at the shore or on the harbour piers in storms.
Scams and watch-outs
- Tour desks that sell Northern Lights or Blue Lagoon packages at inflated prices: compare with the operator's own site.
- Cheap transfer offers from touts at the airport: use the coach counters or a booked car.
- Pre-paid tours with no weather clause: ask what happens if the weather cancels the trip.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover or a flight-day stay. Skip: Golden Circle, lagoons and boat trips.
- 09:009:00 AMHallgrímskirkja and the tower
- 10:3010:30 AMWalk down Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur
- 12:0012:00 PMLunch at Café Loki or a soup counter
- 13:301:30 PMAusturvöllur and the harbour
- 15:003:00 PMHarpa foyer and a coffee
- 19:007:00 PMDinner and a pool or a bar
2 days
The usual short break. Skip: Golden Circle unless you add a day.
Day 1 — Church, shops, pool
- 09:009:00 AMHallgrímskirkja
- 10:1510:15 AMBakery stop
- 12:3012:30 PMSoup lunch on Laugavegur
- 15:003:00 PMSundhöllin pool and hot pot
Day 2 — Shore, harbour, boat
- 09:309:30 AMSólfar
- 10:3010:30 AMHarpa
- 12:0012:00 PMHot dog at Bæjarins Beztu
- 13:001:00 PMWhale-watching boat from the Old Harbour
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Iceland (official tourism site): www.visiticeland.com/
- Isavia — Keflavík Airport: www.isavia.is/en/keflavik-airport
- Wikivoyage — Reykjavík: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Reykjav%C3%ADk
- Wikivoyage — Reykjavík: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Reykjavik
- Wikitravel — Reykjavik: wikitravel.org/en/Reykjavik
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Reykjavík
Vinsamlegast farðu með mig á þetta heimilisfang
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Sundhöll ReykjavíkurSundhöllin (Reykjavík swimming pool)
- SólfarSólfar (Sun Voyager)
- Gamla höfninOld Harbour (Gamla höfnin)
- AusturvöllurAusturvöllur square
Write your own embassy’s emergency line on this page before you go; the US embassy is on Engjateigur.
English is spoken by almost everyone; show the address as text if a taxi driver asks for a street.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/reykjavik). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.