Travelling to a new city can be a daunting task. Where can I be close to everything? What can I do before I check-in? Is the neighbourhood safe? Below are 6 things to know before visiting Reykjavik Iceland.
Where should I stay?
Looking at a map of Reykjavik, it looks bigger than what is actually is. If you want to be close to the city center, then staying close to the pond or the Hallgrímskirkja church is ideal. Basically stay anywhere in the map below if you want to be central.
Our AirBnB was located close to the pond, and it was a 10-20 minute walking distance to all of the main sites (like Harpa, the Sun Voyager statue called Solfar, the waterfront, Hallgrímskirkja church, and the main Laugavegur street).
We were in a central, residential area so at night it was very quiet.
Is Reykjavik safe?
Yes, Reykjavik is SO safe! We would be walking around late at night, early in the morning and never ever felt unsafe. It was so refreshing. Remember to use your common sense though and not get into cars alone with strangers late at night after a night of drinking. Otherwise, there are no neighbourhoods which are dangerous.
Will I need a car in Reykjavik?
If you plan to stay in central Reykjavik, and explore the rest of Iceland with guided day tours, then you won’t need a car. Reykjavik is a very walkable city, and we didn’t need a car to get around. If you are deciding on whether you want to rent a car to explore the rest of Iceland, check out this post here.
If you don’t have a car, you can take the Flybus from the Airport into Reykjavik. They have wifi on board and comfy reclining seats. If you are staying at an AirBnB, check Google Maps to find the closest hotel to your accommodation and ask to be dropped off there.
If you want to go to the Blue Lagoon before (or after) Reykjavik, without a car, you can book your transportation through the Blue Lagoon’s website. When you buy your Blue Lagoon ticket you can add on transportation.
If I were to go back to Iceland, I would rent a car. It looked easy to drive around Reykjavik, and you could easily explore the rest of Iceland. Also, if you wanted to get outside of the city at night to try and find the Northern Lights (without depending on a tour company), then you could do that too.
I arrive in Reykjavik early in the morning – What can I do before I check in?
Our flight arrived in Reykjavik at 4:30AM. Check-in times for most areas isn’t until about 10 or 11AM. There are a couple of things you can do: check your bags at the bus station when you arrive (if your hotel or AirBnB won’t let you drop your bags off before check-in), have breakfast in Reykjavik, and then walk around and explore the sites early in the morning (there are lots of free walking tours you can do too!). If you bags are still at the bus station, you would need to go back there and get them.
I personally recommend going to the Blue Lagoon right after your flight lands. They will store your luggage for a small fee so that you can swim and relax before you need to check-in to your hotel. Read my guide to the Blue Lagoon here.
Can I see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik?
We were lucky when we went and saw the Northern Lights every night we were there, even in downtown Reykjavik! Now remember this is not guaranteed, but it certainly is a nice treat when it happens. There are street lamps everywhere in Reykjavik, and cars driving around, which will make the Northern Lights not as vibrant – but you can still see them if you are lucky.
Is the Food in Iceland Expensive?
The last thing to know about visiting Reykjavik Iceland is the price of the food. Is it expensive? YES. I had known this before I visited, but nothing could prepare me for how much it actually was. However, there are ways to save money when you go! Read about how much a trip to Iceland costs here.
Have you been to Iceland – did you have a favourite hotel or place to stay in Reykjavik? Let me know in the comments below!
