9 things to know before visiting Reykjavík

Reykjavík’s most common bird, the joke goes, is the building crane. Construction projects are everywhere here, as they continue to transform the Icelandic capital from oversize fishing village into international city – with all the growing pains that entails.

This is the gateway to a country that’s truly like no other. And first-time visitors to Reykjavík are in for a surprise or two: they’ll encounter a city that’s warmer (winters are like those in New York) and larger (its land area is twice the size of Paris) than they might have expected. As you prepare to visit, here are some other key, unexpected things to know about Reykjavík before you set off.

1. Cards are king

In Iceland, the three groups of society still using cash are criminals, 5-year-olds...and tourists. Credit card payments are the default option in shops and restaurants throughout the country, even small ones – and in Reykjavík, a small but growing number of businesses are card-only.

Even so, cash can occasionally be useful, such as to pay for a hot dog or a guided walking tour; as such, ATMs are widely available. Given international transaction fees, cash can also be cheaper for small purchases. Cash-to-cash currency exchange is possible at most banks in the city center.

2. Please drink the water

Thanks to Iceland’s natural abundance and a pristine environment, Reykjavík’s tap water is always safe to drink, and there is really no reason to buy bottled water. The kranavatn (tap water) here is even a source of national pride, and the government has in the past spread the word via an online campaign. Skál!

3. International flights arrive 50km outside of Reykjavík

Keflavík International Airport is the point of entry for almost all commercial flights into Iceland. While at touchdown, pilots tend to say “Welcome to Reykjavík,” but in reality, the airport is 50km away from the city. You're almost there...but not quite.

This distance is important to keep in mind if you wish to rent a car: by picking a rental company based at the airport or in the town of Keflavík, you can avoid a bus trip into the city. If you don’t have your own ride, airport buses are costly but relatively smooth. The three main companies, all running 24-hour service, are Fly Bus, Airport Direct and Gray Line; a one-way ticket costs around 4000 króna.

On the other hand, Reykjavík City Airport (RKV), from which domestic flights depart, is as close to the city center as you can get.

4. Learn the etiquette at the public pools

There are a few ways to culturally offend an Icelander. Refer to petite Icelandic horse as “ponies,” for example. Visit a local church dressed in mountain gear. Enter a private home without removing shoes. Haggle with a shopkeeper. Read Independent People and publicly dislike it.

All these acts are mild, and many might not even consider them so bad. But the one thing Icelanders universally agree to be grossly inappropriate behavior, and one practiced by a shocking number of first-time visitors? Poor hygiene at the public pool.

The outdoor pools known as sundlaugar can be found in every Reykjavík neighborhood. Men and women, young and old, tourists and locals...all locals frequent the baths to soak in hot water and catch up with friends.

Before entering – I repeat, before – visitors must shower, head to toe. Thanks to the abundance of geothermally heated water in Iceland, the pools are low on chlorine, and most people like to keep it that way. Another rookie mistake is leaving your towel in the locker room, thereby getting water all over the floor when you leave the shower stall. Be sure to use the towel racks by the shower.

5. The Capital Region is not the same as Reykjavík

When you find a hotel or Airbnb listing in the “Capital Region,” chances are the accommodation will be in one of five municipalities surrounding the city of Reykjavík, rather than within the limits of the city itself.

The heavily populated area is home to 65 percent of Iceland’s population, and most visitors won’t be able to tell where one town ends and the other begins. But be careful not to tell residents in Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, Seltjarnarnes or Mosfellsbær that they live in Reykjavík.

6. Reykjavík is balmy...except when it’s not

Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, monthly temperatures in high-latitude Reykjavík stay within a surprisingly tight band throughout the year – from highs around 3°C (37°F) in January to 14°C (57°F) in July. So you’ll need to look closer – specifically at the wind strength – for the full weather picture. For a strong breeze can easily make the mid-temperature days feel freezing.

Keep in mind that the weather in Reykjavík is not the same as the weather in the rest of Iceland: this southern corner of the country tends to be both warmer and wetter than elsewhere. (Note that since wind almost always follows rain, umbrellas are rarely usable.)

7. Aim for a stay of at least 3 days

One day in Reykjavík is enough to trek the entire downtown – from the Old Harbor to the Hlemmur Food Hall – covering most shops and landmarks along the way. Two days can rope in indoor visits like the Hallgrímskirkja tower and the National Gallery. But a visit of 3 days lets you venture beyond the city’s core – giving you time for a soak at a sundlaugar public pool, say, and to take in the vista at Perlan. Day number four is all about recovering from a night out.

8. You don’t need to worry about crime in Reykjavík...

Reykjavík is among the world’s safest capital cities when it comes to crime and violence. Police patrols are unarmed, and no neighborhood is considered unsafe, or less safe than any other. Pickpocketing is very rare, though petty theft is by some measures a growing problem. It would be unwise to leave a bike or a car unlocked.

9. ...but watch out for nature-related hazards

As elsewhere in Iceland, nature poses a larger risk than anything manmade. The southwestern region covering Reykjavík is hit by an earthquake every few years; in 2021, a magnitude-5.6 temblor reached the city from an epicenter nearby but left no damage. Since avalanches remain Iceland’s most lethal natural disasters, those trekking Esjan, the “mountain of Reykjavík,” should follow local advice in heavy snow.

The number to dial in emergencies (the equivalent of 911) is 112.