Reykjavik

Reykjavik, which means Smoky Bay (for the steam the first settlers saw rising from the hot springs), is Iceland's capital and by far its biggest city. It's also the northernmost capital in the world, at about 64°08' N, and the place where Iceland's first settlers made their home.

It's a small capital. Iceland had about 396,500 people in mid-2026, and 253,230 of them lived in the capital region. Reykjavik itself had just under 140,000 residents at the start of 2026. The rest of the capital region is neighboring towns like Kópavogur and Hafnarfjörður, which run into the city without any obvious border.

What that means for you: downtown is compact enough to walk, the city has more restaurants, bars and museums than a place this size has any right to, and you're never more than an hour or so from lava fields, waterfalls and geothermal valleys.

Light and dark

Around the winter solstice, the sun rises in Reykjavik at about 11:20am and sets around 3:30pm, so you get roughly four hours of daylight. In late June it sets around midnight and comes back up before 3am, and it never really gets dark. Both are worth experiencing. Winter is northern lights season (see viewing the northern lights), while summer gives you the midnight sun and long days for touring. Check the weather and when to go before you pick your dates.

Getting there

International flights land at Keflavík Airport, about 50 km from the city center on the Reykjanes peninsula. The Flybus leaves about 40 minutes after each flight lands and costs 3,999 ISK one way to the BSÍ bus terminal, or 5,299 ISK with a drop-off near your hotel (as of 2026). Public bus Strætó 55 is cheaper at 2,400 ISK but runs less often, so check the timetable. Details are in getting from Reykjavik to Keflavik and airports.

Domestic flights use Reykjavik Airport, right on the edge of downtown. Icelandair flies from there to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir and Ísafjörður, and Norlandair flies to Bíldudalur in the Westfjords. It's a short taxi ride or a walk from the center. Long-distance buses start and end in Reykjavik too. See bus travel in Iceland.

The Keflavík area sits next to the Sundhnúkur crater row near Grindavík, which erupted nine times between December 2023 and August 2025. Roads and the Blue Lagoon have closed during eruptions, and the Icelandic Met Office says magma is still building up. Safetravel.is has the current situation.

Getting around

You'll walk most places. It's about 15-20 minutes from Hallgrímskirkja down to the harbor or the pond, and the city center is safe at any hour. For the pools, Perlan, Kringlan or the zoo, take a Strætó city bus. A single adult fare is 690 ISK as of January 2026. If you're going to cram in museums, pools and buses, the Reykjavík City Card covers all three, at 6,100 ISK for 24 hours. More in getting around in Reykjavik, and see the map of Reykjavik for where everything is.

Where to stay

Stay in 101, the downtown postcode, if you can. Nothing in Reykjavik is cheap, but a central room saves on taxis and bus fares. If you're on a budget, go for a hostel. A guesthouse is a step up, and many have kitchens so you can cook your own meals. Full-service hotels cost the most, with rooms that are often smaller than you'd expect for the price. Keep in mind that most day tours won't pick you up at the door in the center. You'll walk to a numbered bus stop instead.

>> accommodation in Reykjavik
>> hotels in Reykjavik
>> hostels in Reykjavik

Things to see and do

If you only have a day, go up the tower of Hallgrímskirkja for the view, walk down Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur, spend an hour at the Settlement Exhibition, and end the day soaking in a city pool with the locals. At 1,500 ISK for an adult, the pools are still the best deal in town.

>> attractions in Reykjavik
>> museums in Reykjavik
>> hot spring pools in Reykjavik
>> free and cheap things to do in Reykjavik
>> guided tours in Reykjavik
>> shopping in Reykjavik
>> a 5-day Reykjavik itinerary

Eating and drinking

Eating out is expensive, and drinking out is more so. The ways around it are the same as they've always been: an Icelandic hot dog for lunch, a guesthouse kitchen for dinner, happy hours, and a stop at the airport duty-free shop on the way in. When you do splurge, Reykjavik has some very good seafood restaurants.

>> dining and drinking in Reykjavik
>> dining on a budget in Reykjavik
>> cafes in Reykjavik
>> the Reykjavik runtur

Day trips from the city

Reykjavik makes an excellent base for the southwest. If you don't want to rent a car, stay in the city and book day tours. If you do drive, you can reach Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, the south coast waterfalls or Snæfellsnes in a day. In winter, check Safetravel.is and the road conditions before you set out.

>> day tours from Reykjavik
>> the Golden Circle
>> the Blue Lagoon
>> outdoor activities
>> transportation in Iceland

Photo by wili hybrid