Cheap city break Reykjavik

When is the best time to go?

June to August is all about the midnight sun and hiking trails (12 to 18 degrees). September to March is northern lights season: dark, often clear nights with a high chance, as long as you avoid the full moon and city lights.

December has Christmas atmosphere but only four hours of daylight. February is the best compromise, with enough daylight and a good chance of the northern lights. Flights are cheapest outside summer and the Christmas period.

The best areas in Reykjavik

• 101 Reykjavik (centre) Around the Laugavegur shopping street, with colourful facades, indie shops and coffee houses.
• Old Harbour Whale-watching tours, fish shacks and the Sun Voyager sculpture along the water.
• Grandi A former harbour district, now full of design, the Whales of Iceland museum and street food in the Grandi hall.
• Vesturbaer A local residential area with the beloved Vesturbaejarlaug pool and cheap hot dogs.
• Laugardalur City park with Laugardalslaug, the largest geothermal pool in Reykjavik. Entry around 1,100 ISK (about 7 euro) including the outdoor pools, hot pots at up to 44 degrees and the water slide. City buses 14 and 15 take you there in 10 minutes from the centre. Open weekdays 06:30-22:00, weekends 08:00-22:00.

Top 5 things to do in Reykjavik

• Golden Circle day trip Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss; rental car from 60 to 80 euro per day or a bus tour from 70 euro.
• Hallgrimskirkja tower The lift to the viewing tower of the iconic church costs 1,400 ISK (about 9 euro) and gives the best 360 degree view.
• Northern lights hunt September to March is the season; avoid the full moon and check aurora-forecast.is daily. A KP-index of 3 or higher is enough. Drive at least 20 minutes outside the city for a dark sky: Thingvellir National Park is the ideal spot, but the coast near Grindavik also works well. Set your camera to ISO 1600-3200 with a shutter speed of 10 to 15 seconds. Organised northern lights tours depart daily from the Old Harbour and cost around 11,000-13,000 ISK (70-83 euro).
• Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon A geothermal bath near the airport (book in advance, from about 70 euro) or the newer Sky Lagoon with sea views; go early for the fewest people.
• Harpa and Sun Voyager The glass concert hall on the harbour and the steel viking-ship sculpture, both free and iconic at sunset.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

Flights to Reykjavik run direct from Schiphol all year: Icelandair (about 13 times a week), Transavia (about 7 times a week, from 87 euro one way) and KLM fly to Keflavik (KEF) in 3 hours 20, 50 minutes from the city.

The Flybus takes you to the centre for about 36 euro. Locally the Straeto city bus is 4 euro per ride; for the Golden Circle and the northern lights a rental car is strongly recommended.

What does a Reykjavik city break cost?

Reykjavik is pricey, but travelling smart saves a lot. Hostels from 40 euro, mid-range hotels 130 to 200 euro, apartments around 170 euro per night. Food: a hot dog 5 euro, lunch 18 to 22 euro, dinner 35 to 50 euro. Insider tip: cook your own meals with groceries from the Bonus supermarket and use the municipal geothermal pools (from about 8 euro) instead of the pricey Blue Lagoon. Budget from 380 euro per person for a 3 day city break including a flight.

Whale watching from Reykjavik

The Old Harbour in Reykjavik is the best departure point for whale watching tours, available year-round. The major operators including Elding, Special Tours and OG Whale Watching run daily trips of 3 to 3.5 hours, with evening departures in summer thanks to the midnight sun.

Prices: around 12,900-13,900 ISK (83-89 euro per person). All major operators offer a sighting guarantee: if no whales are spotted, you get a free repeat tour. The most commonly seen species are humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and minke whales.

The best period is May to September, with the highest success rates in July and August. Combine the tour with a morning in the Grandi quarter and a visit to the Whales of Iceland museum (around 28 euro, in the same harbour).

Iceland beyond Reykjavik: the South Coast

Reykjavik is just the starting point for a cheap Iceland holiday. For €45-70 per day car hire you can drive the legendary South Coast: start at Seljalandsfoss waterfall (where you can walk behind the curtain, free), continue to the thundering Skogafoss and the folk museum Skogar (~€16), then head to the black sand beach of Vik and the basalt columns of Reynisfjara.

End the day at Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where icebergs drift past in silence. The full loop is 290 kilometres from Reykjavik and can be done as a day trip. For a longer stay, add the Snaefellsnes peninsula in the west (Snaefellsjokull glacier, free to drive around) and the Westfjords in the north. Every additional day of car hire unlocks a completely different landscape.

Reykjavik city trip: 3 to 4 day itinerary

Reykjavik is compact: you can walk the entire centre in 20 minutes. A city trip of 3 to 4 days is ideal. Here is a tried-and-tested itinerary that covers both the city and its immediate surroundings.

• Day 1: City centre and Hallgrimskirkja Walk the Laugavegur and Skolavordustigur from end to end. Visit Hallgrimskirkja (church free, tower €9) for the best panorama over the city. Continue via the Tjornin city pond to the National Museum (around €20). Evening: happy hour in one of the craft beer bars on Austurstraeti.
• Day 2: Old Harbour, Grandi district and Sun Voyager Morning in the Grandi harbour quarter: Whales of Iceland museum (around €28), the Grandi Food Hall for lunch. Walk to the Sun Voyager sculpture at sunset for the best photo opportunity. Night: check aurora-forecast.is; if the forecast is above 3, drive out towards Thingvellir for northern lights.
• Day 3: Golden Circle day trip Hire a car (from €45/day) or book a bus tour (from €70). Route: Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO, free walking) - Geysir geysers (free) - Gullfoss waterfall (free). Total 280 kilometres. Back in town for a late hot dog at Baejarins Beztu (€5).
• Day 4 (optional): South Coast or Blue Lagoon Self-drive the South Coast (Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Vik black beach): about 330 km round trip. Or relax at Sky Lagoon (from €85, book ahead) or the Blue Lagoon (from €70) before your flight home.