Welcome to Iceland <3

As someone who has both traveled the world and welcomed a lot of guests back – I wrote this guide with all the things that will come up when planning your perfect trip to Iceland!

my energy is more city-chic than wilderness – so pls ask someone else for adventure advice & always stay safe. it really do be deadly.

Practical

  • ✈️ TO/FROM AIRPORT

    KEF – Keflavík International Airport is about a 45 minute drive from the capital. It’s not possible to walk.

    Options are:
    – Car Rental (options here) 
    – Pick-up arranged with host 
    ‍– For a taxi, expect to pay around 45.000 ISK for a round-trip. Would recommend pre-booking for this option. ‍
    – The only public transit is the FlyBus (pre-book here) 

  • 🏡 WHERE TO STAY

    101 Reykjavík refers to the postcode of downtown Reykjavík.

    For accommodation it’s the only place in the city to stay where it’s easy to navigate without a car. Public transport in Reykjavík includes:
    – Buses
    – Hopp (electric scooters + cars)
    – Reykjavík does not have Uber, the taxi service is called Hreyfill. Book in app or via phone + 354 588 5522.

    Visit Iceland has great searchable listings that fit your schedule.

  • 📞 PHONE & INTERNET

    Iceland has generally good coverage both across phone and roaming. Free WiFi is widely available.

    🇪🇺 For European SIM holders there are no extra charges for calls, texts, or data under "Roam Like at Home" policy.

    🇬🇧 The O2 provider has a EU roaming policy for its customers, but others have a roaming fee – so it’s best to verify.  

    Other countries including the US do not support free roaming. Icelandic carrier NOVA offers eSIM, available to pick-up at the airport.  

  • 🧣 WHAT TO WEAR

    It’s best to be prepared for literally everything. It really does go from delight to a mad storm, in a moment. Even in summer it’s unlikely to get hot, so pack a jacket.

    You do, however, not need to wear hiking gear in the city.

    BEST CLOTHES FOR CITY:
    –  Appropriate for lots of socialising, dinners, concerts, etc 
    – LAYERS & ACCESSORIES: turtlenecks, sweaters, cardigans, scarves, gloves,
    – For winters, parkas may be essential (you can hire one here!) 

    Check the long-term forecast here.

  • 🇮🇸 LANGUAGE

    The language of Iceland is Icelandic, a Germanic language that’s essentially Old Norse. You will be treasured if you learn a few common phrases, but almost everyone speaks English so you’ll be okay if you do not. 

    Here are common phrases with a pronunciation guide.

    Pro-tip : the pronunciation freaks everyone out but it’s very consistent and logical. It’s also closer to Spanish than English, so try reading the words aloud in Spanish you’re 90% of the way there.

  • 💳 MONEY

    WE KNOW IT’S EXPENSIVE
    Everything is very very expensive. More expensive than you’re guessing, even if you’re coming from a NYC/London type of place.

    We know, we get it, we’re sorry – you don’t have to tell us.

    CARDS EVERYWHERE
    We barely know ourselves what our own currency looks like cos everyone uses card payments / Apple Pay literally all the time for everything always.

    TIPPING
    Tipping is not required, but always appreciated of course.

Here for the music?

  • MUSIC STUDIOS

    Iceland’s rich music scene has a mix of private and public studios. Some of our most famous ones include:

    – Sundlaugin, when Sigur Rós turned a swimming pool into a studio
    – Hljóðriti, one of Iceland’s oldest and most popular studios
    – Greenhouse, one of Iceland’s most in demand commercial studio

    PLS note if you’re here to record your music, you qualify for a 25% rebate from the Icelandic government of your cost.

  • LIVE MUSIC

    Find listings of what’s happening on Reykjavík Grapevine or Vísir.

    VENUES with consistent programming:

    – Harpa: our prestigious concert hall on the water.
    – LEMMY: gritty rock atmosphere.
    – Mengi: highly curated yet grassroots

  • RECORD SHOPS

    We have 8 record stores in Reykjavík, crazy density for such a small city. All their staff are crazy knowledgeable and can recommend some fresh Icelandic picks.

    Personally I’d want these ICONS in my record collection:

    – Takk… – Sigur Rós (2005)
    – Homogenic – Björk (1997)
    – Komdu Til Mín Svarta Systir – Mammút (2013)

Your Reykjavík soundtrack — curated by Habbi ♡

A city-chic, cozy introduction to Icelandic music, from our world-famous icons to locally beloved favourites.

Perfect for international friends heading to Reykjavík or anyone wanting to discover the beauty of Icelandic music.

Recreation – what to do

  • DOWNTOWN REYKJAVÍK

    The line between a bar, café, restaurant, and a music venue – even a record shop, can get blurred in downtown Reykjavík. These are then all concentrated in the same spot in the city centre. The culture then becomes to go from one place to the next in all weathers.

    Should you be here with a local, expect a lot of casual run-ins with friends and acquaintances along the way.

    TO GET STARTED:

    – Pósthús Mathöll: Food Hall with many food options
    – 12 Tónar: the epitome of what’s described above – bar/venue in a record store.
    – Sandholt: Traditional Icelandic bakery, great for a lunch meeting

  • SWIMMING

    Icelandic culture is known for its public pools. It is very likely you’ll be invited to go swimming, so pack your swim wear! There are three types, all warm due to Iceland’s geothermal activity: 

    PUBLIC POOLS
    A daily activity for Icelanders, numerous spots around the capital. All are clean and well maintained, with access to showers, hot-tubs, and often steam-rooms. 

    NATURE POOLS
    Remote, not maintained, need expertise to get there. Plan accordingly.

    SPAS
    The destination pools famous around the world. Book in advance if this is on our agenda. More info.

interactive map with my recommendations

will I see a volcano?

•

will I see a volcano? •

will I see the northern lights?

•

will I see the northern lights? •

The Reykjavík Peninsula, where KEF airport is located, became geologically active again in 2021. Since then we’ve had on-again off-again eruptions.

They have not impacted air travel so far.
PLS follow local advice – up-to-date info here.

To see The Northern Lights – three things are required:
– It’s the right time of year (September-April)
– They are visible (see aurora forecast here)
– Skies need to be clear

Best place to see them is outside the city’s light pollution.
Most book a tour – find more info here.

Share the beauty of Iceland

This guide was made to be shared — with friends, travelers, and anyone dreaming of Reykjavík, Iceland.