Reykjavik sits on the south-eastern shore of Faxa Bay, a low-rise capital of corrugated-iron houses, white concrete churches and a snow-streaked horizon dominated by Mount Esja. Cruise ships berth either at Skarfabakki, a working quay roughly 4 km east of the centre now served by the new Vor terminal, or, for smaller and expedition vessels, at the Old Harbour beside the fish market and the whale-watching boats. The two arrivals make for very different days: one starts with a cruise-line coach, a city bus or taxi (the port’s own shuttle was withdrawn after the 2025 season) or a long waterfront walk, the other puts passengers within ten minutes of Harpa Concert Hall on foot.
Most ships are alongside for nine or ten hours in the April-to-October season, which is long enough to put the city’s compact core in reach but tight for the bigger natural set pieces inland. The centre itself is walkable in an afternoon: the basalt-inspired tower of Hallgrimskirkja, the glass facade of Harpa, the Sun Voyager sculpture on the seafront, the Settlement Exhibition beneath Adalstraeti, and the cafes and wool shops along Laugavegur and Skolavordustigur. Perlan, the glass-domed nature exhibition and observation deck on Oskjuhlid hill, sits a little further out and pairs well with a return walk down through Vatnsmyri.
The Iceland that draws most people, however, lies outside the city. The Golden Circle loop, taking in Thingvellir national park, the Geysir field and Gullfoss waterfall, runs a full seven to eight hours by coach. The Blue Lagoon is 45 to 50 minutes south-west by road, out on the Reykjanes peninsula near Keflavik airport, and requires a booked time slot. The South Coast, with Seljalandsfoss and the black sand at Reynisfjara, is a longer nine- or ten-hour day. A cruise call comfortably accommodates one of these, the city in a half-day, or a slow wander combining Harpa, Hallgrimskirkja and a long lunch. It rarely accommodates two.
Port Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Type | Dedicated cruise pier (Skarfabakki/Vor) plus Old Harbour for smaller vessels |
| Distance to Town | 4 km from Skarfabakki to city centre; Old Harbour is walkable |
| Currency | Icelandic krona (ISK); cards accepted almost everywhere |
| Language | Icelandic; English widely spoken |
| Best Known For | Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon |
- Skarfabakki Pier (Vor Terminal) , Reykjavik's main cruise quay in the Sundahofn district, roughly 4 km east of the centre.
- Old Harbour , Smaller berth used by expedition vessels and a short walk from the centre.
- Harpa Concert Hall , Glass-panelled waterfront landmark with free public foyers.
- Hallgrimskirkja , Iceland's tallest church, with a lift to the tower viewing platform.
- Sun Voyager (Solfar) , Steel sculpture on the seafront promenade between Harpa and the centre.
- Perlan , Glass-domed museum on Oskjuhlid hill with ice cave and planetarium.
- The Settlement Exhibition , Underground archaeological site preserving a tenth-century longhouse.
- Blue Lagoon , Geothermal spa near Grindavik, around 45 minutes' drive south.
Reykjavik cruise port and city centre · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Walking: The Best Option
Free- Walk time: About 50 minutes from Skarfabakki, 10-15 minutes from the Old Harbour
- From Skarfabakki the walk into town follows the Saebraut coastal path past the Sun Voyager and Harpa, roughly 4 km and 50 minutes at a steady pace. It is flat and paved, scenic in good weather, exposed in wind or rain. From the Old Harbour the centre is on the doorstep.
Local Bus
ISK 630 single on Straeto route 14; cruise-line shuttle around EUR 10-15- Cruise lines often run a paid shuttle to Harpa, typically EUR 10-15 return and quoted in ship currency. The Straeto city bus route 14 stops within a short walk of Skarfabakki and runs to the centre roughly every 30 minutes, paid through the Klappid app or by contactless card. Cash is not accepted on board.
Taxi
Around ISK 5,000 metered one way; ISK 12,600 prebooked sedan- Hreyfill quotes about ISK 5,000 for a metered taxi from Skarfabakki into central Reykjavik, or a fixed prebooked rate of ISK 12,600 for a sedan and ISK 16,400 for a minivan, which includes a half-hour wait window. Cards and contactless are accepted in every licensed taxi, and ranks form at the pier on ship days.
Top Excursions
Reykjavik Food Walk – Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland
Local food, city & history tour of Reykjavik. In the tastiest sight seeing tour in Iceland, we explore down town Reykjavik through delicious local cuisines that you would never come across in your typical “to-do in Iceland” itinerary! You will stroll around the city and visit 5-6 wonderful local res
Check AvailabilityGolden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik
Discover some of the best sites in Iceland on the the Golden Circle Tour, in the company of a professional guide who will tell you all you need to know about the area's history, culture and nature. Leave the city behind and get into the history of Iceland at Thingvellir National Park, witness the po
Check AvailabilitySilfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates – Meet on Location
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a snorkeling tour of Silfra fissure! Float between two tectonic plates, between the continents, in the clearest water in the world (100m+ visibility) while admiring the mesmerizing colors of this underwater world. You don’t need to be a certified diver in o
Check AvailabilityLava Show Reykjavik Admission Ticket – Optional Premium Upgrade
The only live LAVA SHOW in the world! A unique experience where you can safely get up close to real molten lava in a controlled environment. A top-rated attraction that has received multiple awards and recognitions for innovation and education. Truly a one-of-a-kind experience that is unlike anythin
Check AvailabilityMore Experiences in Reykjavik
Silfra Snorkeling Between Continents Photos Included- Self Drive
You'll arrive at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once there, you'll take a short journey through the volcanic, moss-laden fields of the park. Here, you will listen as your friendly and experienced PADI Divemaster guide. Later, you'll receive all of the necessary equipment fo
The Original Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavik
Encounter whales, dolphins, porpoises and birds on this cruise from Reykjavik and see the wildlife in their natural habitat off the capital’s coast. Whales and dolphins are seen on more than 90% of tours in both summer and winter! In the unlikely event you do not see a whale or a dolphin you receive
Sky Lagoon Entrance Ticket Including 7-Step Ritual
Sky Lagoon, a scenic geothermal lagoon that opened in 2021, is a relaxing passage through Icelandic bathing culture. There you are surrounded by reefs, lava cliffs, and the open ocean and you get a chance to unplug, without having to even leave the capital area. Sky Lagoon is visited equally by loca
Perlan Admission – Volcano & Ice Cave, Northern Lights Experience
Perlan – Wonders of Iceland is a unique experience where you learn all about Icelandic nature in interactive and fun ways. Explore a real indoor ice cave, learn through an interactive and diverse exhibition of Iceland's unique nature, immerse in the Volcano show and see the Áróra northern light show
The best excursions in Reykjavik fill up ahead of peak sailings. Compare options and book before you leave port.
Things to Do in Reykjavik
A first call in Reykjavik tends to settle into one of three patterns. The first is a half-day in the city centre on foot: Harpa, the Sun Voyager, Hallgrimskirkja and the streets between them, often with a stop at the Settlement Exhibition or the Reykjavik Art Museum. The second is a single coach excursion, usually the Golden Circle or the South Coast, that fills the day. The third combines the Blue Lagoon with a short downtown stroll on the way back to the ship.
The selection below favours sights reachable on a port day rather than the longer multi-day itineraries Iceland is otherwise known for. Pricing at the Blue Lagoon is dynamic and entry must be pre-booked, and museum hours shift with the season, so check current rates and opening times before you build a plan around them.
- Hallgrimskirkja and the tower lift. The Lutheran parish church on Skolavordustigur is Iceland’s tallest at 74.5 metres, designed by state architect Gudjon Samuelsson to echo the basalt columns of Svartifoss. Entry to the nave is free; a lift carries visitors to the tower viewing platform for ISK 1,500 adult, ISK 200 for children aged seven to sixteen, with summer opening from 09:00 to 20:00 and winter hours of 10:00 to 17:00. The platform looks out over the coloured tin roofs of the old town and across the bay to Esja.
- Harpa Concert Hall foyers. Harpa’s 714-panel coloured-glass facade, designed by Olafur Eliasson and Henning Larsen, has been a Reykjavik landmark since 2011 and remains free to enter. The public foyers open Sunday to Tuesday 10:00 to 18:00 and Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, with cafes, a small bookshop and balconies that catch the light off Faxa Bay. Guided architecture tours run several times a day in summer; concert tickets are sold separately and rarely line up with cruise hours.
- The Sun Voyager and the Saebraut seafront. Jon Gunnar Arnason’s polished-steel Solfar sculpture sits on the waterfront promenade about halfway between Harpa and the city centre, a stylised Viking longship pointing out across the bay. It costs nothing, takes about ten minutes from Harpa on foot, and is the natural stopping point on a walk back to the ship at Skarfabakki. In clear weather Esja and Akrafjall fill the view across the water.
- Perlan natural history museum. Perlan sits on Oskjuhlid hill under a glass dome built over six geothermal water tanks. The Wonders of Iceland exhibition includes a 100-metre walk-through ice cave kept at minus ten degrees, an immersive planetarium dome focused on the aurora, and an outdoor observation deck. Online tickets start at around ISK 5,990 adult and ISK 4,090 child; walk-up prices are higher. The site is about 2 km south of Hallgrimskirkja and accessible by free shuttle from Harpa.
- The Settlement Exhibition. Beneath Adalstraeti 16 in the old town, the Settlement Exhibition preserves the foundations of a tenth-century Viking longhouse uncovered in 2001, alongside a wall fragment dated before 871 that is one of the oldest archaeological remains in Iceland. Interactive screens reconstruct the building and the early settlement of Reykjavik. Open daily 10:00 to 17:00, with combined-ticket options for the Reykjavik City Museum group of sites.
- The Golden Circle by coach. The classic loop runs east into the southern uplands to Thingvellir, the rift-valley national park where the Althing met from 930 and the North American and Eurasian plates pull visibly apart, then north to the Geysir geothermal field where Strokkur erupts every eight minutes or so, and on to the two-tier Gullfoss waterfall on the Hvita river. Tours run seven to eight and a half hours and start from around ISK 9,599 with independent operators, more through the ship’s excursion desk.
- The Blue Lagoon. The geothermal spa at Svartsengi, 45 minutes south of Reykjavik near Grindavik, is the country’s best-known single attraction. The Comfort ticket from ISK 11,990 includes the lagoon, a silica mud mask, a towel and a drink; Premium and Signature packages add robes, further masks and skincare products. Booking is essential and prices flex with demand. Transfers from Reykjavik run roughly hourly through Reykjavik Excursions and other operators.
- A wander along Laugavegur and Skolavordustigur. Reykjavik’s two main shopping streets climb gently from the harbour towards Hallgrimskirkja, lined with wool shops, design stores, second-hand bookshops and a heavy concentration of cafes and bakeries. The painted rainbow road on Skolavordustigur frames the church at the top. It is the easiest of the city-day options, costs nothing beyond what is spent in the shops, and folds neatly around a tower visit and lunch.
The cruise quay at Skarfabakki has been Reykjavik’s main berth for some years, but the 2026 season is the first to operate with the Vor terminal, a 5,000-square-metre BREEAM-certified building that opened to its first ship in April 2026 and was formally inaugurated on 29 May. It replaces the marquee tents that used to handle disembarkation and consolidates immigration, baggage and shore-excursion handling under one roof. The walk into the centre, around 4 km along the Saebraut coastal path, has not changed, and the cruise-line shuttles still terminate at Harpa.
Eating Near the Cruise Port
- Dock (4 km out)
- 50 minutes from Skarfabakki, 10-15 from Old Harbour
- Icelandic krona (ISK); cards accepted almost everywhere
What to eat in Reykjavík
Pylsur, the Icelandic hot dog, is close to a national dish: lamb, pork and beef, ordered eina með öllu to get it with everything, meaning raw onion, crispy onion, ketchup, sweet mustard and remoulade. The famous stand by the harbour has been going since 1937. Plokkfiskur is the traditional fish and potato mash. Kjötsúpa is the lamb soup. Hákarl, fermented Greenland shark, is the notorious one and it is a dare rather than a meal.
What to drink
Brennivín is the schnapps that traditionally follows the shark, and its nickname translates as black death. Reykjavík’s craft beer scene is excellent, which is striking given beer was banned in Iceland until 1989. Alcohol is expensive and sold only in state Vínbúðin shops. Skyr, the thick cultured dairy that predates the Vikings’ arrival, is closer to a drink than a yoghurt in its thinner form.
Where to find it
Ships berth at Skarfabakki, about 50 minutes on foot or a short shuttle or bus into town. Once there, Laugavegur is the main street and the Old Harbour has the fish restaurants and the hot dog stand. The Kolaportið flea market opens at weekends and has the traditional food counters, including the shark if you must. Reykjavík is expensive, so a hot dog and a bakery stop is a sensible strategy.
Good for a short port call
The transfer from Skarfabakki is the constraint, not the eating. Budget the round trip first, then decide whether it’s a sit-down meal or a hot dog and a wander.
Getting Around
Iceland is one of the most cashless economies in Europe. Cards and contactless are accepted in every taxi, museum, cafe and supermarket, including the Straeto city buses through the Klappid app. Visitors who change sterling or euros into Icelandic krona at the ship’s bureau de change usually end up bringing most of it home again. A travel-friendly debit card avoids the cruise-line exchange spread and removes the need to carry notes, with one caveat: a small ISK reserve is occasionally useful at unmanned car parks outside town.
Essential Travel Tips
A coach excursion around the Golden Circle, taking in Thingvellir, the Geysir geothermal field and Gullfoss waterfall, runs between seven and eight and a half hours from pickup to drop-off. On a ten-hour port call that leaves little margin for anything else, and almost none for unhurried lunch in town. Passengers booking the Golden Circle should treat the day as the excursion plus a short stroll near the harbour on return, not the excursion and a full afternoon in Reykjavik. Independent self-drive, while theoretically possible, is rarely sensible given all-in-by times.
The Blue Lagoon operates on timed entry slots and frequently sells out for cruise-day mornings weeks in advance. Comfort tickets start at ISK 11,990 and rise with demand under a dynamic pricing model; Premium and Signature packages add robes, further mud masks and skincare products. The drive from Reykjavik is around 45 minutes each way. Independent visitors should book through bluelagoon.com before sailing rather than turn up on spec; ship-organised tours fold the slot into the excursion price but cost more than booking direct.
Most cruise passengers underestimate how long the return queue takes on a busy Reykjavik call. Build that into your day, and a quick packing list with layers, water and decent walking shoes covers the practical side without overthinking it.
Deciding between a shore excursion and independent travel in Reykjavik comes down to two things: how much you trust the local logistics, and how forgiving the return is if something runs late. First-time cruisers usually overestimate the difficulty of independent travel in compact ports and underestimate it in spread-out ones.
Excursions are worth the premium in some ports and not in others. Reykjavik sits in the middle: ship tours carry real logistical value on long day trips, but the city itself is straightforward enough that your spending money goes further on independent food, taxis and the occasional museum.
Timing a cruise that visits Reykjavik well comes down to two practical levers: when you book (which affects both price and cabin choice) and how your passport sits against the destination’s entry rules. Both are worth checking before you commit to a sailing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most large ships berth at Skarfabakki in the Sundahofn district, around 4 km east of the centre, now served by the new Vor terminal that opened in April 2026. Smaller and expedition vessels use the Old Harbour beside the fish market, which is a ten- to fifteen-minute walk from Harpa and the centre.
Three options. Cruise lines typically run a paid shuttle to Harpa for around EUR 10-15 return. Straeto city bus route 14 stops within a short walk of the pier and runs into the centre roughly every 30 minutes for ISK 630, paid through the Klappid app or by contactless card. A metered taxi from Hreyfill costs around ISK 5,000 one way.
Almost certainly not. Iceland is effectively cashless: cards and contactless are accepted in every taxi, museum, cafe, supermarket and city bus. Most cruise passengers complete a full port day without using a single krona note. A debit card with low foreign-transaction fees is more useful than cash from the ship’s bureau de change.
Yes, provided the ship is alongside for at least nine hours and you book the tour rather than attempting to drive it independently. The standard loop takes seven to eight and a half hours including stops, which leaves little time for the city itself. Treat it as the day’s only excursion and plan for a short waterfront stroll on return, not a full Reykjavik afternoon.
If the experience appeals, yes, but it requires planning. The lagoon is 45 minutes south of Reykjavik, runs on timed entry slots that sell out weeks in advance, and uses dynamic pricing from ISK 11,990 for the Comfort ticket. Independent visitors should book direct on bluelagoon.com; ship-organised tours include the slot and transfer for a premium.
About 50 minutes at a steady pace along the Saebraut seafront path, a distance of roughly 4 km. The route is flat, paved and passes Harpa and the Sun Voyager, which makes it pleasant in good weather and bearable in cloud. In strong wind or rain, common in any season here, most passengers take the shuttle or the bus.
Comfortably: Harpa’s free foyers, a walk up Skolavordustigur to Hallgrimskirkja with the tower lift, the Settlement Exhibition under Adalstraeti, the Sun Voyager on the seafront and lunch on Laugavegur. Add Perlan if time allows and you are content to take the free shuttle from Harpa rather than walking up Oskjuhlid hill.
No. The aurora requires dark skies and is effectively invisible in Reykjavik between mid-April and late August, the months when most cruise ships call. June and July bring the midnight sun instead, with effectively no full darkness. The Perlan planetarium runs an immersive aurora film for visitors who want the experience year-round.
Yes. Visa, Mastercard and contactless are accepted by taxis, restaurants, museums, supermarkets and even the public buses through the Klappid app. American Express is more variable. PIN may be requested for larger purchases. There is no meaningful advantage to changing money before the call.
From Skarfabakki the walk into town follows the Saebraut coastal path past the Sun Voyager and Harpa, roughly 4 km and 50 minutes at a steady pace. It is flat and paved, scenic in good weather, exposed in wind or rain. Allow about 50 minutes from Skarfabakki, 10-15 minutes from the Old Harbour.
The first is a half-day in the city centre on foot: Harpa, the Sun Voyager, Hallgrimskirkja and the streets between them, often with a stop at the Settlement Exhibition or the Reykjavik Art Museum. The second is a single coach excursion, usually the Golden Circle or the South Coast, that fills the day. The main options are Hallgrimskirkja and the tower lift, Harpa Concert Hall foyers, The Sun Voyager and the Saebraut seafront.
Ready to Explore Reykjavik?
Reykjavik rewards arrivals who pick a single shape for the day rather than trying to compress the country into ten hours. A half-day on foot, taking in Harpa, Hallgrimskirkja, the Sun Voyager and a slow lunch on Skolavordustigur, is the most honest reflection of what a cruise call can offer of the city itself. A Golden Circle coach delivers the natural set pieces Iceland is famous for but consumes the entire day and leaves the capital largely unseen. The Blue Lagoon sits in between, expensive, atmospheric and dependent on a booked slot. None of these is wrong; the choice is what to give up. Skarfabakki is a working quay rather than a destination, and the new Vor terminal smooths arrival without changing the fundamental geometry of a 4 km gap between ship and town. Bring a windproof jacket, leave the krona unconverted, and treat Reykjavik as the start of an Iceland you may well come back to under sail.
How We Verify Port-Day Details
We aim for practical, low-risk guidance. Before publishing and during updates, we check core planning details against official sources and current operator information.
What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
- Details that change frequently, such as fares and schedules, with up-to-date notes where relevant
Typical Sources
- Official port authority and terminal updates
- Cruise line port notes and day-of-call instructions
- Local transport operators and official tourism resources
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