This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2016. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
It was only a few short years ago that most people would not have been able to point out Iceland on a map.
But recently this secluded Atlantic country has become hugely popular with travellers. Everyone who gets the chance to visit this country raves about just how amazing it is. Iceland’s reputation of having untouched otherworldly landscapes and unique natural experiences has spread far and wide across globe.
I decided to see what all the fuss was about by booking my own 5 day trip to Iceland, basing my stay in the capital of Reykjavik. If you’re also keen to jump on the Iceland bandwagon, here’s what you need to know for a trip to Reykjavik!

How to get to Reykjavik:
There are a numerous airlines that fly into Keflavik International Airport (the major airport for Reykjavik). Iceland Air is the country’s national airline, which operates flights between North America and Europe via Reykjavik. I flew Iceland Air from New York City, and I have to say, the flying experience was great.

When to go to Reykjavik:
Iceland is known for having a cool climate. Reykjavik sits at 64ºN in latitude (to give you some context, the arctic circle starts at around 66ºN). This doesn’t necessarily mean that Iceland is always freezing, though – the country actually lies in the path of the north atlantic current, which means that it’s not as cold as you might think.
Peak season: Is between mid-June and late August, which is when the climate is best. Summer temperatures in Reykjavik sit between 8ºC and 13ºC (47-56ºF). This is when Iceland is busiest, so expect that accommodation will book up early, and that you might pay a premium for everything from hotels to sightseeing activities.
A benefit of travelling in peak season is that you can see the midnight sun! Around the summer solstice (21 June), the sun sets after midnight and rises again at about 3AM. If you’re travelling in summer, here are my tips on what to pack.
Off season: If you want to see the northern lights, visit Iceland between September and April to catch the aurora. This time of year is colder and often snowier – winter temperatures sit between -3ºC and 2ºC (26-35ºF) but it’s also much less busy and you’ll end up paying less for most things.

How to get around:
From the airport: You can take an airport bus into the city, and if you pay a little extra they’ll take you directly to your hotel or accommodation.
The trip to the city takes around 45 minutes, and buses will meet every flight that arrives at the airport. We took a Grayline bus, but you could also choose to go with Reykjavik Excursions or Airport Direct.
We had to get a taxi on our way back to the airport as we missed the bus (which was totally not our fault, Grayline gave us incorrect instructions and therefore paid for our taxi). The cost was way higher than you would pay for a taxi elsewhere, so expect that this will be an expensive option.
Around the city: In Reykjavik, it’s best to stay close to downtown so that it’s easy to get around. Anywhere within a 15 minute walk of Austurvöllur Square would be a good choice.
Within the city, you can easily walk to most attractions in under 20 minutes (here’s a self-guided walking tour for Reykjavik). If you really prefer not to walk, there are limited bus services around the city. I didn’t use them on my trip, but you can find the routes and timetables here.
Around the island: Car hire is by far the easiest way to get around while you’re in Iceland, so I’d highly recommend it for a trip out of the city. You can hire a car from the airport, or do what we did and collect a car from the city for a few days of exploring.

Travel budget for Reykjavik:
Many things can seem overpriced in Iceland, but the costs actually weren’t as bad as we thought they would be. One thing to note is that you won’t need to use cash at all – everywhere accepts credit/debit cards, and there’s no minimum spend (a legal requirement in Iceland). Here’s what you’ll need to budget for in Reykjavik:
Accommodation: We rented a gorgeous Airbnb apartment just 5 minutes walk from downtown Reykjavik.
Car Hire: We rented a little Chevrolet Spark which wasn’t too expensive, though if you are planning on taking any of the highland roads or travelling during winter, you’ll probably need a four-wheel drive.
Food: An average meal out was not cheap. To be honest, we didn’t think much of the Icelandic food – most of it was fairly bland, and the grocery stores near downtown didn’t have a great selection of choices for home cooking.
Drinks: We never go anywhere without trying some of the local brew! The price of beer in Iceland was about the same as in NYC (though that’s still slightly more expensive than everywhere else). Wine and spirits are much more expensive.
Sightseeing: We only did a few paid sightseeing activities, including some thermal pools and a puffin-watching boat tour. If you’re planning on the pricier activities such as the Blue Lagoon, a glacier hike, or a zodiac boat tour though Glacier Lagoon, then you can expect to pay a lot more.

Things to do in Reykjavik:
Hallgrimskirkja Church: This unpronounceable church is the most iconic building in Reykjavik. There is a small fee to go up the tower which is totally worth it – the views you get of the city are spectacular!
Sun Voyager: This artistic sculpture was placed in Reykjavik in 1990 and currently sits on the waterfront. It’s shaped somewhat like a boat, and is supposed to be an ode to the sun.
Harpa Concert Hall: This was by far my favourite building in the city! I love seeing some unique and interesting architecture, and Harpa is full of it. It’s also completely free to go in and walk around.
Tjörnin: This is a large and pretty pond near the city center. It has geese. And bridges. Go check it out.
Laugavegur: The main shopping street has a bunch of really cute boutique stores and cafes. The western end of Laugavegur is where you’ll find all the shops.
Puffin-watching: There are two small islands near Reykjavik that host puffin colonies, and you can only access them by boat. If you head to Reykjavik harbour, you’ll find a number of companies that offer puffin-watching cruises out to the islands.

Day trip around the Golden Circle: If you have a car, you can easily drive the Golden Circle in a day. Some of the best spots to stop are Kerið (crater lake), Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park.
Day trip along the south coast: This was my favourite day trip out of Reykjavik – the south coast where you’ll see some of Iceland’s best natural scenery. Some things to see on the south coast are Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skógafoss waterfall, the town of Vik, Reynisfjara (black sand beach), and the Solheimasandur plane wreck.
Not gonna lie, I’m nervous about going somewhere so chilly! Even Stockholm in July was a struggle for me… Maybe make a post on how to stay warm ?? I’ll be your biggest fan.
Iceland is definitely not the warmest place! Even in the summer, it was chilly. You just have to make sure you’re prepared for all weather conditions with a raincoat and windbreaker. Actually, The Blonde Abroad did a packing guide to Iceland that might come in handy for you, Lauren!
Hi Ashlea, thank you so much for sharing all the info on your trip to Iceland. I’m currently planning a two weeks holiday to Iceland and this information is going to help me without a doubt.
Lots of love,
Gara. Xx
You’re welcome, Gara! I’m so glad you’re planning a trip to Iceland. I’m sure you will absolutely love it 😀
This is so helpful! Iceland is on my list – hopefully I’ll get there in the next few years!
I hope you do, Iceland is a wonderful place! I’m sure you would love it, Rachel 😀
I’m not really familiar with Reykjavik, in fact, it is hard to memorize, but I find this place very charming. So it is true that Golden Circle is really beautiful.I hope I could see this glimpse in person.
Yep – it’s 100% true! The Golden Circle and the south coast of Iceland were both unbelievably beautiful! I hope you get the chance to see it in person, Faye 🙂
hi Ashlea – We’re doing Iceland next March and a quick question re: car rental. Judging form your photo, it doesn’t look like you need a 4×4 vehicle to get around and a regular hire car will do? We’re thinking of going off-piste as we do the Golden Circle, so curious to know your thoughts.
It’s great that you’re heading to Iceland soon! My trip was during the summer, so we were advised that we would not need a 4X4 unless we were planning on driving the highland roads, as some roads in the highlands are 4X4 only. If you are going in the snowier months, then it may be the case that you would need a car more substantial than the economy car that we had, especially if your are planning on driving off the main roads.
Thank you for your article Ashlea I found it a great help. We are off to Reykjavik in March for 2 days so need to know what is best to see in such a short visit! Planning to do the Golden Circle tour with snowmobiling…much excited!!!
That’s great, Caroline! I’m so glad you are going to see Iceland, and Reykjavik is such a wonderful city. Snowmobiling sounds like it will be so much fun! I hope you have a great time 😀
Nice Information @Ashlea. Reykjavik is the heart of Iceland. A few days ago I had visited Iceland with my family. At that time we contacted Discover Iceland to arrange multiple day trips for us from Reykjavik. Our trip was mind-blowing.
Thanks Rich! I’m so glad that you and your family got to experience Reykjavik and Iceland! Doing day trips from the city is an excellent way to see the country, especially if you’re on a tight time schedule 🙂
There’s just something about Iceland….I found the atmosphere so relaxing, but I am a cold weather person; went there about six times, always stayed at the Silica Hotel which has its own lagoon on the premises. Am thinking of going back still again. One of the reasons I went there so often is that the travel is so easy; one flight, no transfers, no trains to take…it is travelling almost stress free. The winter can be cold and windy, so be prepared, and it is dark almost 24 hours in the winter; summer is light almost 24 hours, from what I recall anyway. I am hoping it will not become too commercialized like other places are.
I’m a cold weather person, too! I’ve never visited Iceland in the winter, but I imagine it’s very different to the experience in summer. It’s great that you’ve gone back to Iceland so many times! Thanks for your comment, Maria 🙂