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make for very different days: one starts with a cruise-line coach, a city bus or taxi (the port’s own shuttle was withdrawn after the 2025 season) or a long waterfront walk, the other puts passengers within ten minutes of Harpa Concert Hall on foot.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
Full Day South Shore Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik
A small group tour by modern, comfortable minibus with a maximum 19 passengers and a driver/guide. The guides commentary is always in English and fill the day with fun, facts, figures and of course spectacular sights and scenery. This 10 to 11 hour tour starts and ends in Reykjavik.. The main sights
Book This ExcursionReykjavik Shore Excursion: The Golden Circle Full Day Tour
This tour is probably one of the reasons you booked your cruise? The famous tour is home to some of the worlds natural wonders including Strokkur, Gullfoss, and Thingvellir National Park.
Book This ExcursionReykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise
Choose from a 2.5 or 3.5h shore excursion at a time to suit you – morning or afternoon – and then hop aboard your whale-watching boat at Reykjavik Port. Watch out for the incredible marine life for which Iceland is famed as you head toward the waters of Faxaflói Bay. Your guide will hand you a pair
Book This ExcursionReykjavik Golden Circle Shared Group Excursion from Cruise Port
The Reykjavik Golden Circle Group Excursion from Cruise Port is set apart by several key features that make it unique and well-suited for cruise passengers with limited time: It is specifically tailored for cruise passengers disembarking at Reykjavík port, with pickup directly at the cruise terminal
Book This ExcursionMore Experiences in Reykjavik
Reykjavík Bay Arctic Rose Whale Watching Excursion
Embark on an unforgettable Arctic Rose Whale Watching experience in Reykjavík Bay. Join our expert crew on a comfortable and eco-friendly vessel as we venture through crystal-clear waters in search of magnificent whales, dolphins, and other marine creatures. Enjoy stunning views from the spacious de
Silfra Wetsuit Snorkeling Tour with Underwater Photos – From Reykjavik
Being able to snorkel in the Silfra fissure is a privilege that mother nature literally opened up for us. Silfra is a big 'crack' in the ground located in Thingvellir on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge formed as two tectonic plates move apart from each other. The benefits of choosing the wetsuit option is yo
Reykjavík Small group Walking Tour – by CityWalk
Informative and funny walking tour around Reykjavik in a small group. Famous landmarks are visited, history of the city is brought to life and you are introduced to local culture. The tour starts on the highest elevated point in town, is wheelchair accessible and all downhill, also ideal for childre
Iceland from Reykjavik: Golden Circle Tour with Local Surprise
Explore Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle, including Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, and the colorful Kerið volcanic crater. The regular daily tour runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, offering a well-paced full-day experience. If you’re visiting Reykjavík on a cruise
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.
Best Restaurants in Reykjavik
Ratings from TripAdvisor, verified June 2026.
Old Iceland Restaurant
We are a family run restaurant with Icelandic home cooking. Our specialty is on seafood and Icelandic lamb. We also offer a choice of three or a five course set menu OPENING HOURS: Lunch: 11:30 – 15:30, Dinner: 17:00 – 22:00
#12 of 601 Places to Eat in Reykjavik
View on TripAdvisorApotek Restaurant
WELCOME TO APOTEK kitchen+ bar Apotek is a new and exciting restaurant located in one of the most beautiful corners of Reykjavik in Austurstraeti 16. The restaurant is casual-smart, offering delicious food in vibrant atmosphere and stylish surroundings. The menu is a fun mix of I
#13 of 601 Places to Eat in Reykjavik
View on TripAdvisorROK Restaurant
ROK is a fine casual restaurant focusing on serving high quality food in a friendly relaxed environment.
#38 of 601 Places to Eat in Reykjavik
View on TripAdvisorRatings & reviews powered by TripAdvisor
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.
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.
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- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
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