Reykjavik travel information

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is the country's largest city and the world's most northerly capital. It boasts all the frills of a modern city, as well as a fascinating old town complete with whitewashed wooden buildings and rows of brightly painted houses. Nearly everything of interest is within walking distance of the old settlement. It is a relatively expensive place to visit, especially if you plan to eat out often, but the service is excellent and the people are disarmingly charming. They country’s spectacular and unique natural environment simply adds to its appeal.

• The official tourist season runs during summer from June until the end of August. This is also when the region's midnight sun means darkness never comes, and you may want to take along an eye mask to help you sleep. Remember that the sun at midnight is not as warm as at midday.

• Getting around Reykjavik is made easy by its excellent SVR city bus system, which runs from 07:00 to midnight daily, except on Sundays when the service starts at 10:00. Bicycles are a popular alternative and the city boasts an extensive network of scenic cycle ways.

• Pack your swimmers, as although it can get pretty cold, the area’s numerous hot springs make for a relaxing time.

• It is advisable to book your trip early, as Iceland is becoming an extremely popular tourist location, and there is a shortage of hotel rooms.

• Most shops and businesses accept major credit cards, and so it is not generally necessary to carry much cash. Cards are commonly used in Iceland even for quite small transactions. Re-exchange any surplus cash before you leave, as foreign banks may not deal in ISK.

• The best time to see the magical Northern Lights is in autumn and early winter.

• Everyone in Iceland is on first name terms, and people are even listed by first names in the telephone directory.

• Keep your eye out for interesting dishes such as boiled sheep's head, ram's testicles, loin bags, and rotten shark.

Useful travel tips resources

Footprint Guides – Reykjavik
Exhaustive resource on Reykjavik from this well-known travel guide publisher.
http://www.footprintguides.com/

The official tourist site of Reykjavik
An excellent site featuring information on dining, accommodation, shopping, attractions, and much more.
http://www.visitreykjavik.is/

Icelandic Tourist Board
Packed with helpful information and tips on what to do in Iceland.
http://www.goiceland.org/

More topics on this site…
Reykjavik maps and geography
Iceland travel information
Iceland travel tips
Iceland health and safety
Iceland maps and geography

Reykjavic Trip Planner
Reykjavic Accommodation
Reykjavic Arts and Entertainment
Reykjavic Bars and Clubs
Reykjavic Eating And Drinking
Reykjavic Festivals And Events
Reykjavic Gay and Lesbian
Reykjavic Getting There
Reykjavic History and Background
Reykjavic Shopping
Reykjavic Sports
Reykjavic Tours and Attractions
Subregions of Reykjavic

Essentials

Visas: Not required for most nationals
Season: Summer (June – August)
Money: Króna – credit cards widely used
Language: Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Emergency #: 112

Iceland