In spite of some stories saying that the city has legendary nightlife, Reykjavik should primarily looked at as the place to start and end your Iceland visit, rather than the focus of it. The rest of the island is as magical as any place on earth and you should absolutely visit if you can.
Reykjavik is famously expensive, although it’s gotten a bit better since the 2008 currency crisis. Still, nearly everything you will want to do will cost more than almost anywhere else in Europe, or on the planet for that matter.
| Population | 120,000 |
| Area | 200,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+0 |
| Currency | Iceland kronur |
Hotels in Reykjavik can actually be reasonably priced if you shop early to find a good deal, or if you come outside of the main tourist season in summer. Shared bathrooms are pretty much the norm all over Iceland in the budget category, and you rarely even get a sink in the room, so get used to that. There are a few hostels in Reykjavik as well, which can keep from exploding your budget. Take note of the fact that most of the cheaper hotels and hostels are actually some distance from the city proper, so they may not be ideal even if they are cheap.
Hotels in Reykjavik generally consider the period between May and September to be the high season, though prices can be even higher in June and July. Many hotels drop their prices significantly during the rest of the year, so if the midnight sun isn’t important to you then you can save money coming between October and April.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 23.13 - 43.36 |
| 43.62 - 83.06 |
| 58.37 - 162.89 |
| 126.70 - 182.26 |
| 36.86 - 385.93 |
Hotel Reykjavik Centrum Doubles from €120/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Reykjavik |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 15.83 - 36.16 |
Reykjavik Hostel Village Beds from €26/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Reykjavik |
Reykjavik is a historic port city and fishing area, so taking a tour of the town is worthwhile.
The Hallgrímskirkja church is by far the tallest structure in the city and the best place to take a photo from its easily accessible observation deck.
Most people only stay in the city for a day or two and then they circle the island in a bus or a rental car. Once outside Reykjavik prices do ease a bit, but the whole experience is so amazing that it’s hard to feel bad if you can afford it somehow.
The hop-on, hop-off tour of Reykjavik is a good way to see more than just the small historic center, although there aren’t many notable highlights outside of that area.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Lagoon geothermal spa | Iceland's most popular attraction is this spa located closer to the airport, so you have to get out there by bus or car. Prices here are for just the basic package. | adults | 63.27 |
| National Museum of Iceland | This museum also has good views of the city. | adults seniors under 18 | 18.07 8.67 0.00 |
| Whale watching boat trip | These 3-hour excursions take you out to see whales and dolphins. | adults | 57.82 |
| Hallgrímskirkja Church Tower | Take the elevator up to the observation area for by far the best views in town. | adults children | 9.40 1.45 |
Food is quite expensive, as is any kind of alcohol. Think about the duty free shop on your way in and start off in your hotel room.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Breakfast will likely be included with your hotel. If not fast food is your best budget option. | 6.65 - 12.29 |
| Budget lunch | Hot dogs are excellent, fairly cheap, and abundant in Reykjavik, but other casual choices are there. | 7.95 - 14.45 |
| Budget dinner | If you want a proper sit-down meal the Icelandic cuisine tends to be pricey. Thai and other international options are cheaper. | 17.34 - 26.02 |
| Beer (pint) | Look for happy hour deals or you'll pay at the top of this range. | 5.78 - 9.40 |
| Pizza for one | Many places serve really good small pizzas that are worthwhile. | 15.90 - 20.24 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 108.41 |
| FlyBus from airport to city center | 21.32 |
| 3km taxi ride in Reykjavik | 9.40 - 13.73 |
| Bus ride in Reykjavik | 3.25 |
| One day bus and museum pass | 25.29 |
| Weekly car rental (high season) | 578.16 - 939.51 |
All visitors will arrive through Keflavík International Airport, which is about 50 kilometers southwest of Reykjavik. It’s a very modern airport with plenty of services. Buses from the airport into Reykjavik run frequently.
Rental cars directly from the airport are a popular way of avoiding the higher hotel prices of the city and going directly to the scenery instead.
The central shopping and historic district of Reykjavik is flat and small so it’s easily walkable for most visitors. Taxis are available, although fairly expensive.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35 | 27 | 3.0 |
| February | 37 | 28 | 2.8 |
| March | 38 | 28 | 3.2 |
| April | 42 | 33 | 2.3 |
| May | 49 | 39 | 1.7 |
| June | 53 | 44 | 2.0 |
| July | 56 | 47 | 2.0 |
| August | 55 | 46 | 2.4 |
| September | 50 | 41 | 2.6 |
| October | 44 | 36 | 2.4 |
| November | 38 | 30 | 2.9 |
| December | 36 | 27 | 3.1 |
Even though winter temperatures in Reykjavík aren’t nearly as cold as most people would expect for a place near the Arctic Circle, it’s still not a good time to come. It can be very windy and the days are very short, even if you don’t get great snow pile-ups. Summer is the best time to come, of course, with warm days and reasonable nights. Spring and fall are fine as long as you are dressed properly.
| 21 Mar | 7:26am | 7:46pm |
| 21 Jun | 2:25am | 12:04am |
| 21 Sep | 7:08am | 7:33pm |
| 21 Dec | 11:22am | 3:29pm |