Travel Guide to Reykjavik, Iceland

Region: Europe · Budget: Luxury · Flight from UK: 3 hours · Best months: June to August (summer) or October to March (northern lights)

Reykjavik is the smallest capital city in Europe — 130,000 people, almost a third of Iceland's entire population, in a low-rise sprawl of colourful corrugated-iron houses on the edge of a volcanic island. From the UK you're 3 hours direct to Keflavík, and once on the ground Reykjavik itself can be done in a day or two; the real reason most travellers come is to use it as a base for the otherworldly landscapes within driving distance — geysers, glaciers, waterfalls, volcanic craters, the Blue Lagoon, the Northern Lights. Iceland is famously expensive (a beer can run £10, a basic meal £25), but the natural sights are mostly free. The geography means you'll want a hire car — public transport outside the city barely exists. Plan around the season: in summer the sun barely sets, you can drive the full Ring Road in 7–10 days; in winter you get 4 hours of daylight, brutal weather, but the Aurora and ice caves of a lifetime.

Budget breakdown (per day, GBP)

Stay £150–£350 · Food £60–£120 · Activities £40–£100 · Total £250–£570

Best time to visit

June–August for midnight sun, hiking, full Ring Road access and 12–16°C days. Late September to mid-March for the Northern Lights — peak Aurora season is October–February, but weather can ground tours for days at a time. Avoid mid-November to mid-January for any non-Aurora trip — short daylight and unstable roads make sightseeing genuinely difficult.

Weather overview

Sub-Arctic but milder than the latitude suggests thanks to the Gulf Stream. Summer 10–15°C with rain and wind, winter -2 to 5°C with snow and brutal wind chill. Weather changes hourly — locals say 'if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes'. Pack proper waterproofs and layers regardless of season.

Suggested trip length

1 Week

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik, drop bags at your accommodation and take a slow orientation walk through the centre to get your bearings before the jet lag hits. Grab an early dinner near your hotel — somewhere you can walk back from in five minutes — and have an early night to reset your body clock. If you've still got energy in the evening: Golden Circle.
Day 2: Blue Lagoon in the morning while you're fresh and the light is good for photos, followed by a long local lunch somewhere off the main tourist drag. Afternoon: explore a neighbourhood you haven't seen yet on foot, stopping for a coffee or a drink whenever you find a spot that looks right.
Day 3: Northern lights — book any tickets in advance online to skip the queues, which can easily eat 90 minutes in peak season. Afternoon: a slower café-and-shops loop in a different part of town, then dinner somewhere recommended by your accommodation hosts rather than a top-10 list.
Day 4: Whale watching. Use the second half of the day for any souvenirs or gifts to take home, and try a restaurant outside the main tourist strip — typically 30–40% cheaper for noticeably better food. End the day somewhere with a view, sunset is usually the best free attraction in any city.
Day 5: Day trip out of Reykjavik — a coastal town, mountain village, vineyard region or nearby city is usually under an hour by train, bus or ferry and gives you a completely different angle on Iceland. Pack light, leave early, and aim to be back for a relaxed dinner.
Day 6–7: Revisit your favourite spot from earlier in the week now that you know your way around, slow down with a long lunch, and pick up anything you missed on the first pass. Use the final morning for a quiet breakfast and a final wander before heading to the airport — leave at least 3 hours' buffer for international flights.

Things to do in Reykjavik

Drive the Golden Circle: Þingvellir (continental rift), Geysir (the original spouting geyser) and Gullfoss waterfall — a single full day from Reykjavik.
Soak at the Sky Lagoon (closer to town and arguably better than the Blue Lagoon) — book the Seven Step Ritual in the late afternoon.
Whale watching from the Old Harbour (April–September) — humpback and minke sightings are common; Elding is the most experienced operator.
Walk down Skólavörðustígur, the rainbow-painted street, to Hallgrímskirkja — climb the church tower (£8) for a 360° view of the colourful rooftops.
Drive south to Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls (2 hours), then on to the black-sand beach at Reynisfjara — magnificent but heed the warning signs about sneaker waves.
Northern Lights tour on a clear winter night — the Aurora Reykjavík museum has a free forecast that's more reliable than most apps.
Eat lamb soup (kjötsúpa) and Icelandic skyr at Cafe Loki across from Hallgrímskirkja — proper local food, fair prices for Iceland.
Soak in a 'secret' geothermal river at Reykjadalur — a 1-hour hike from Hveragerði, free, and one of the best experiences in the country.

Best areas to stay in Reykjavik

Downtown Reykjavik (101) — walking distance to all bars, restaurants and Hallgrímskirkja. Most accommodation is here and prices are universally high.
Around Hlemmur Square — slightly east of the centre, cheaper hotels and a brilliant food hall.
Vesturbær — quiet residential area near the university, 15-minute walk to centre, calmer.
Out by the airport (Keflavík) — only worth it for an early flight; otherwise you'll spend £100+ in transfers each way.
Avoid generic motel-style hotels in Kópavogur or Hafnarfjörður unless you have a car — they're cheaper but completely cut off from the city by night.

Transport tips

From Keflavík airport to Reykjavik: the FlyBus (£25 each way) is reliable and fast (45 mins). A taxi is £140+.
Hire a car for any day-trip — Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South Coast, all need wheels. From £40/day off-season, £80/day in summer.
If you're road-tripping in winter, hire a 4×4 — F-roads are closed but conditions on the Ring Road can still demand it.
Always check road.is before driving anywhere — closures and weather warnings are constant in winter.
City bus (Strætó) is fine within Reykjavik for £4 a ride but limited outside; the city is tiny enough to walk most of in 30 minutes.

Safety tips

Iceland has almost zero violent crime — your biggest risks are weather, terrain and overconfidence on the road.
Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara have killed tourists in recent years — never turn your back on the sea, stay well above the wet line.
Geothermal water and steam vents (especially around Geysir and Hveragerði) are scalding — stay on marked paths.
Winter driving: rental insurance often excludes 'sand and ash' damage on south coast — check your policy and avoid coastal Lupine fields in high wind.
Tap water is some of the cleanest in the world — never buy bottled, just refill.

Visa & entry requirements (UK travellers)

Visa-free up to 90/180 days. ETIAS authorisation required from 2026.