When to visit Reykjavik: June to August has near-endless daylight (midnight sun) and the mildest temperatures of the year
When is the best time to visit Reykjavik?
Avg Temp
10–14°C
Rainfall
Low, ~45mm/month
Best Time
June to August has near-endless daylight (midnight sun) and the mildest temperatures of the year
Packing Tips (4)
- Layered clothing since weather can shift quickly even in summer
- A windproof and waterproof jacket
- An eye mask for sleeping through the midnight sun
- Sturdy waterproof shoes for lava fields and waterfalls
What does Reykjavik cost?
Typical prices
- Budget mealISK 2,200
- Mid-range mealISK 6,500
- CappuccinoISK 650
- Domestic beerISK 1,400
- Taxi (per km)ISK 350
- Public transport ticketISK 630
- Museum entryISK 2,500
- Mid-range hotel (night)ISK 28,000
Local currency: ISK
Food & Drink
Dill Restaurant
A Michelin-starred restaurant championing New Nordic cuisine with foraged and fermented Icelandic ingredients.
Sægreifinn (Sea Baron)
A harbourside shack famous for its lobster soup and skewers of fresh fish grilled to order.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Reykjavik's iconic hot dog stand by the harbour, said to have been visited by Bill Clinton, serving the classic Icelandic lamb hot dog.
Matur og Drykkur
A restaurant reviving old Icelandic recipes like fish stew and skyr desserts in a converted fish-processing building.
Grillmarkaðurinn (The Grill Market)
A stylish restaurant near Laugavegur serving Icelandic meats and seafood grilled over lava rock and birchwood.
Kaffibarinn
A small, famously lively bar on Bergstaðastræti partly owned by Blur's Damon Albarn, a long-time favorite for late-night Reykjavik.
Kex Hostel Bar
A bar in a converted biscuit factory known for live music and a relaxed, industrial-chic setting.
Culture & History
National Museum of Iceland
Traces Icelandic history from Viking settlement to modern day, including Viking Age artifacts and a carved wooden church door.
Reykjavik Art Museum (Hafnarhús)
Housed in a former harbour warehouse, with a permanent collection of works by Icelandic artist Erró.
Perlan
A museum on a hill above the city with an indoor ice cave exhibit and a planetarium show on the Northern Lights.
Settlement Exhibition (Reykjavik 871±2)
A museum built around an excavated Viking longhouse discovered beneath the city centre.
Bíó Paradís
Reykjavik's independent arthouse cinema showing Icelandic and international films with original subtitles.
Secret Solstice
A summer music festival held during the near-24-hour daylight of the summer solstice, featuring international and Icelandic acts.
Reykjavik Culture Night (Menningarnótt)
A city-wide festival with open studios, concerts, and a fireworks finale over the harbour.
Nature & Outdoors
Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
A small artificial geothermal beach where heated water meets the cold sea, with hot tubs on the sand.
Gullfoss
A dramatic two-tiered waterfall on the Golden Circle route, plunging into a rugged canyon.
Seljalandsfoss
A tall waterfall on the south coast known for a path that lets visitors walk behind the falling water.
Mount Esja
A popular hiking mountain visible across the bay from downtown Reykjavik, with trails suited to a half-day hike.
Active & Fun
World Class Laugar
A large fitness club in Laugardalur with pools, weights, and classes, one of Reykjavik's biggest gym chains.
Laugardalslaug
Reykjavik's largest geothermal pool complex, with outdoor hot tubs, a large pool, and waterslides.
Sundhöllin
Reykjavik's oldest public swimming pool, a beautifully restored Art Deco building in the city centre with rooftop hot tubs.
Cities in Iceland
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