Reykjavik Travel Tips. An article sharing travel tips about visiting Reykjavik. How to get there and more…

Mark Ford, Founder of Plus1 Travel

It’s great to have you here searching for Reykjavik travel tips. Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, a city of clean energy, healthy living and cool culture. Where pure nature is all around this friendly and the colorful city has more than 1,100 years of history tracing back to the Nordic Vikings who settled here in 870 AD. Over the last century Reykjavik has rapidly grown from a small fishing village into a world-class city of trade services, design and culture. Iceland’s rugged and beautiful nature, not to mention its unpredictable weather has shaped the nation’s character. Vibrant, independent and adaptable use of clean energy for central heating 

and the production of electricity has become one of Reykjavik trademarks. The city’s energy originates from a nearby hot spring area. Within the city limits the hot water is used as central heating and the powerful steam for producing electricity Reykjavik also has pure drinking water. The source of which is in nearby mountains virtually limitless quantities of hot spring water are pumped into various outdoor thermal pools found throughout the city. Reykjavik is well known for these excellent health spas which are a central part of the local lifestyle many people start their day by soaking in a warm jacuzzi while catching up on the latest news.

Reykjavik Travel Tips – How To Get From The Airport To Reykjavik

Reykjavik is served by Reykjavik-Keflavik Airport located 50 kilometers from the city. When searching for Reykjavik travel tips and how to get from the airport to Reykjavik there are some things to keep in mind to avoid being shocked when getting there. Let’s have a look at the various options, what they are, how much they cost and how long they will take. 

Bus

Reykjavik

The Flybus shuttle bus service runs from the airport to the BSI Bus Terminal in the Reykjavik city center. The bus departs every fifteen minutes and the ride takes around 45 minutes. A single ticket cost around $30 (2.950 ISK) and a return ticket cost $55 (5.500 ISK). 

There’s also the Grey Line Airport shuttle that costs a little bit less, around $22 (2.180 ISK) and that’s the upside. The downside is that it drops off at a bus terminal further away from the city center. It’s an absolutely viable option if it’s closer to your hotel. 

Taxi

If you’re traveling in a group or have no problem paying almost €200 then taxi is the most convenient option getting you from the airport directly to your hotel in around 40 minutes. 

Rental car

If you’re planning to stay for a longer period in Reykjavik and want to explore the rest of Iceland, renting a car is your best option of getting from the airport to the city. 

Reykjavik Travel Tips – How To Get Around Reykjavik 

Reykjavik is a compact city that can easily be explored on foot within the city center. When searching for Reykjavik travel tips and how to get around Reykjavik there are limited public transport options, there’s no subway but there are local buses operating in the city. Let’s have a closer look at the transportation options in Reykjavik, what they are, how much they cost and what to think about. 

Reykjavik City Center

Rental car

If you plan to explore outside of the city, then renting a car at the Keflavik airport is your best option. A day’s rental car fee starts at around $67 but that’s for the standard model, so expect it to go beyond that. Bare in mind that the roads in the winter are icy and slippery, that there’s a strict speeding limit with cameras taking pictures of speeding vehicles and you’ll get  hefty tickets for speeding. You can often get a lower price for renting a car on more days and make sure to check the mileage limit on the car before choosing one. 

Tour bus

If you’re not up for driving and still want to explore Iceland outside of Reykjavik then getting on a tour bus for a day trip is your best bet. The tour cost from $48 up to $500 depending on which tour operator you choose and the size of the group. The larger group the smaller the cost and vise versa. BusTravel Iceland, Reykjavik Excursions, Gray Line Iceland and Discover Iceland are tour agencies to check out.

Local buses

When traveling in the city center, around Reykjavik and to the major towns in Iceland you can use the Straetó local bus system that runs within 15 minute intervals in the city. A single ticket cost around $4.50 and a three day pass cost $35.

Taxi

Taxis are available 24/7, yet they are expensive. The rates start at $6 and then with a fee of $4 for every kilometer travelled. 

Best Places To Stay In Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, it’s a compact city that is packed with culture, history, museums and attractions. When searching for Reykjavik travel tips it’s not always easy to know where to stay in the city, that’s why we’ve put together this simple guide on the top three best places to stay in Reykjavik. Let’s have a look at those now. 

Midborg is located in the city center and it’s the heart and soul of Reykjavik. Midborg has some of the top tourist attractions along with

Harpa

great restaurants, historical and cultural attractions such as the National Museum of Iceland, the Vulcano House, the Viking Settlement Exhibition and much more. Staying in Midborg is your best bet to live within walking distance to the main attractions in the city center. 

Recommended Hotel: Hotel Fron

Vesturbær is located in the northern part of the city with a relaxed and sophisticated vibe. The neighborhood is located near the old harbor and in this area you’ll find independent shops, cool cafés, cosy bars and high quality breweries. It’s also a food lovers paradise, with plenty of delicious restaurants with everything from traditional icelandic food to international cuisine. Vesturbær is the place to stay if you want a relaxed and cool experience.

Recommended Hotel: Radisson Blu Saga Hotel Reykjavik

Laugardalur is located around 30 minutes outside of the city center, it’s a relaxed and quiet residential area that is perfect for the family travelers and if you’re looking for outdoor adventures such as biking, go-karting and swimming. There’s water parks, zoos, archeological sites and museums around the area. It’s well connected to the city center, and this is the best place to stay for families and the outdoorsy type.

Recommended Hotel: Hotel Island

Top 7 Experiences You MUST Have In Reykjavik

1. Hallgrímskirkja (Hallgríms Church) is a national treasure that stands tall in the Reykjavik skyline. With its 75 meters flanking tower it gives the impression of a rocket taking off. Inside the church is a 15 meter high and 25 ton massive organ and outside is a statue of Leif Eriksson, the explorer who is said to be the first European to set foot in America in the 11th century.
   

   Beautiful Nature in Reykjavik

2. At the National Museum of Iceland you can get up to speed with the 1200 year history of Iceland. The museum was started in 1863, but has been in its current building since 1950. The oldest artefact is the Valþjófsstaður door from the 13th century. There are over 2000 objects and 1000 photographs of Icelandic history that is a must to visit for every history lover.
3. Harpa is a modern concert hall and conference center near the water of the Old Harbour. The building hosts the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera and it also hosts the Sónar Reykjavík festival in March. Check out the café, restaurant and shop and take on a free exhibition and watch the 15 minute 360 movie about Iceland’s nature wonders. 
4. Árbæjarsafn is an open air museum showcasing costumes, work and homes from previous generations. The museum was founded in 1957 to preserve the old Reykjavik and the buildings are nearly all authentic, dating back to the 19th century. Check out the blacksmith’s house, a stable, a general store, a labourer’s cottage and much more. Open from June to August, with a special Christmas program in December.
   

   Hallgrímskirkja

5. The Settlement Exhibition has preserved vestiges from some of the oldest houses in Iceland. Some date back to the 10th century and even older ones dating as far back as 871. These ruins are accompanied by exhibitions of Viking building methods and there are excavated artefacts like axe heads, glass beads and weapons. Another history museum that must be visited when visiting Reykjavik. 
6. Check out the cool Street Art near the Old Harbour and Grandi. Since the 1990s there’s been a growing street art scene in the city with a collaboration between the Icelandic Airwaves festival and the Berlin based Urban Nation art initiative. Plenty of interesting art created by talented artists that is perhaps surprising to find in Reykjavik. 
7. Perlan is an instantly recognizable landmark in Reykjavik. The museum hosts many interesting exhibitions and attractions that have to do with Glaciers, ice, mountains and volcanoes. Here you’ll get to learn all about Iceland’s glaciers with an interactive 360 trip of the world famous Vattnajökul. A great day of fun for the whole family.

Reykjavik Travel Tips Video

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Mark Ford – Founder of Plus1Travel.com – For More Travel Tips > Go Here