Reykjavík (Icelandic: Reykjavík) — An Amazing City. Small and green, with a rich nightlife and an equally rich history, surprisingly clean air, and countless attractions — Reykjavík has repeatedly been named the “most” of many things. The world’s northernmost capital, the cleanest and wealthiest city, one of the most cultural capitals, a UNESCO City of Literature — this is all about the “smoking bay,” about Reykjavík — the capital of Iceland.
Reykjavík (Iceland)
The city has several dozen thermal pools, there are no industrial enterprises within its limits, and geothermal water heats most buildings. The historic center, Old Reykjavík, is both a fine example of ancient Scandinavian architecture and a perfect place for leisurely strolls among cozy green spaces nestled between lakes and centuries-old buildings.
How to Get to Reykjavík
Wizz Air flies to Reykjavík from Vilnius and Warsaw. If you book tickets well in advance, you can easily find round-trip options for as low as €70–90.
Keflavík International Airport is located about fifty kilometers from the city. From there, you can reach Reykjavík by bus. The special Flybus shuttle — equipped with WiFi and seat power outlets for charging phones — runs every half hour and costs approximately €22–25 one way (updated from €20).
If you choose Copenhagen as your transit point, you can take the ferry — though it is not cost-effective nor time-efficient. Tickets on the Smyril Line ferry between Denmark and Iceland are more expensive than flights, and the voyage takes three days. However, this option allows you to bring your own car: drive across Europe to Denmark, then take the ferry to Iceland.
The yellow Strætó buses will take you anywhere in the Icelandic capital and even beyond. Travelers can buy a pass for 1 day (€13.50) or 3 days (€31.50) — updated prices from 2026.
Reykjavík is extremely bike-friendly — cycle paths are everywhere. Almost every gas station has a pit stop with tools and pumps, so you needn’t fear unexpected breakdowns on the road. You can rent a bicycle on the waterfront at Reykjavík Bike Tours (Ægisgarður 7); prices start at around €38–40 per day.
Hotels in Reykjavík
Reykjavík is a welcoming city — accommodation can be found for every taste, from budget hostels with shared dormitories and no-star apartments to luxurious 4–5 star hotels. There are hotels for smokers and non-smokers, for young people and families, without meals or on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Pets are welcome in many places. Most hotels are designed in the traditional (bright and simple) Scandinavian style, but lavish European design can also be found.
The tourist sweet spot is 2–3 star hotels and apartments: they are cozy and affordable. Daily rates range from €70–120 (≈75–130 USD). A night in a hostel will cost from €50, while a luxury hotel starts at around €260 per night. Most hotels — even the budget ones — offer car and bicycle rental, parking, and airport shuttle service.
Reykjavík Card
The Reykjavík Card not only grants free bus travel. It also provides free entry to thermal pools, several galleries and museums, and discounts at restaurants and souvenir shops. Additionally, cardholders can visit the zoo for free and take a free ferry to Viðey Island. Some local tour operators offer discounts on excursions around Iceland when you show the card.
Reykjavík Cards are available for 1, 2, or 3 days. Prices (updated 2025): children under 18 — €12/€19/€25; adults — €28/€41/€50. You can buy them at major hotels and hostels (at reception), in museums, tourist information centers, and even at bus terminals.
Entertainment, Attractions & Must-See Places
Reykjavík is famous for its Nordic nature, ocean coastline, mountain peaks, and geothermal pools — the most famous being the Blue Lagoon. However, man-made landmarks are also plentiful. Near the harbour rises the Harpa Concert Hall — the second-tallest building in the city, whose architecture evokes the distant future. About 600 meters away, on a platform jutting slightly into the ocean, stands the city’s iconic monument, the “Sun Voyager” — resembling the skeleton of an ancient Viking ship. Among religious landmarks, the strikingly futuristic Lutheran church Hallgrímskirkja and the neo-Gothic Catholic cathedral Landakotskirkja are exceptionally fascinating.
For Beatles fans, a trip to Viðey Island is a must — Yoko Ono erected an unusual monument there in memory of her beloved husband, John Lennon. The “Imagine Peace Tower” looks especially beautiful in the dark, when beams of blue light shoot high into the sky against the backdrop of the Northern Lights.
During the day, drop by the Árbæjarsafn Folk Museum (Árbær Open Air Museum), where a large exhibition dedicated to Iceland’s history, architecture, traditions, and customs is spread across 30 buildings in an open-air setting.
Those who want to admire Reykjavík from above and simultaneously see one of the world’s most unusual cultural and entertainment spaces should visit the Perlan center. It is housed inside a massive city boiler room that still converts geothermal water into energy. Next door, concert halls, shops, and a wax museum operate. The structure is topped with a glass dome containing an observation deck and a revolving restaurant offering the best views of the city and its surroundings.
Where to Go with Children
The Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo will delight with unusual wooden structures and rides. At the zoo, you can pet goats, horses, sheep, and other farm animals (Mulavegur 2, 104). At Laugardalur Park (Engjavegur, 104) — stroll along beautiful paths, see exotic plants, and feed ducks on the pond.
A wonderful spot for family fun is the modern Lagafellslaug water park in Mosfellsbær, with a bright children’s pool and extreme slides for adults (Laekjarhlid, 1a). The park is outdoors and open only in warmer months, while the Laugardalslaug water recreation center welcomes guests year-round. It features water slides, pools of various sizes and shapes, spacious terraces, relaxation zones, and hydromassage.
Nightlife & Fun
Reykjavík’s vibrant nightlife kicks off on Friday evenings and stretches through the whole weekend. World-class nightclubs like NASA, Pravda, and others offer spectacular entertainment programs and fun until dawn.
Fashion-forward youth from across Europe fly here for weekends to truly let loose in the clubs — despite the high price of alcohol.
Take a break from nighttime entertainment with bike tours or a jeep safari through the most beautiful surroundings of Reykjavík. For water adventure lovers, rafting and kayaking are available. Those who know how to ride (or would like to learn) are welcomed at the Islenski Hesturinn equestrian center.
Weather
About Reykjavík’s weather, they say there is no autumn or spring — only winter and summer — and that Icelandic weather has no patterns. At any moment, snow or rain may fall, and sometimes winter is warmer than summer. Local weather is determined by two factors: the length of daylight and the wind. The more sun and less wind, the better — but be prepared for anything.
The best time to travel is from June to September; the warmest months are July and August. Thanks to the proximity of the Gulf Stream, the climate is generally mild, with changeable weather and frequent but light rain. It’s advisable to bring waterproof shoes and clothing. Because Reykjavík lies close to the Arctic Circle in latitude, summer days are very long, and winter nights are very long.
Video about Reykjavík
