City Break: Reykjavík — TripIt Blog

Town break (noun): a small holiday invested in a town, such as when on small business vacation.

Ahead of there was bleisure vacation, there was the city break—the brief house of leisure time that grants you access to the cultural and culinary amenities that massive cities give. In this series from TripIt, we explore some of the world’s very best towns for organizing a rapid getaway or extending a operate vacation.

Right here are our recommendations for generating the most of your city split in Reykjavík. 

In which to fly in

Reykjavík is served by Keflavik Worldwide Airport (KEF), the principal intercontinental airport for all of Iceland. It is located 30 miles from Reykjavík. 

At the time on the floor, vacationers have a couple of floor transportation selections to get to their closing destination. If you choose to vacation by bus, e book a experience with Airport Immediate or Flybus. The former runs on a set plan, while the latter has no set program, and will wait around for you if your flight is delayed. Each journeys just take about 45 minutes to get to the town centre. 

There is also a general public bus services, named Strætó, that operates standard routes to and from the airport. Taxis are also readily available from KEF. Nonetheless, rideshares, this sort of as Uber and Lyft, are not accessible in Iceland. 

Like to get all-around on your personal accord? Your best guess is to hire a auto. Support desks are positioned within the arrivals hall. 

The place to continue to be throughout your town split

If you favor centrally positioned accommodations with a touch of luxurious, glimpse no more than The Reykjavík Version (pictured above), which boasts views of the harbor nearby, as very well as Mount Esja and Snæfellsjökull glacier in the distance. The resort is also property to myriad eating and entertainment venues, like Tides—a seafood-concentrated cafe from Michelin-star chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason.

Seeking for much more finances-helpful digs? KEX Hostel, also positioned just minutes from the harbor, is a happening location. Other than presenting a area to lay your head, KEX has cultivated anything one of a kind: an easy vibe that attracts locals and tourists alike. Even if you are not scheduling to guide a room, you will want to spend some time there. Grab a bite at Flatus, order a beer or cocktail at DRINX, or peruse the spines of Text. No right away continue to be required. 

Want to remain someplace that falls between five stars and shared areas with strangers? I get that! Listed here are a handful of to take into consideration: 

• The 3-star Town Center Lodge is true to its name, located suitable in downtown Reykjavík and just a number of minutes wander to big points of interest, places to eat, and nightlife. 
• Storm Hotel, also a a few-star hotel, is certainly a welcome shelter from the notorious Icelandic weather. Considerate design and at ease lodging make this a smart alternative for your metropolis split it’s also centrally positioned and strolling distance to most metropolis sights. 
• 4-star Fosshotel Reykjavík is Iceland’s major hotel, that includes 16 flooring and 320 rooms—many with amazing sights of the town, harbor, and over and above. If you are in Reykjavík on company, this is also a good put to host a meeting or meetings the latter can be held on the major flooring of the hotel. 

Family vacation rentals, like those people booked by Airbnb, are also available in Reykjavík. 

How to get about

Component of Reykjavík’s allure is its uncomplicated walkability—yes, even in inclement weather. The metropolis has invested in an underground geothermal heating system for its sidewalks and streets, saving the roadways from damaging snow plowing, when also conserving pedestrians from falling on slippery surfaces. 

If strolling isn’t feasible or attractive, Reykjavík’s metropolis buses will just take you to and from many of the city’s sights and sights. Pay for bus fare, program your route, and see the place buses are in serious time with the Klappid app. Bus fare can also be compensated for through Klapp card or Klapp ten (a 10-pack of tickets). If you want to obtain a card, you can do so at these suppliers in Reykjavík.

As for your micromobility possibilities, you can hire electrical scooters by way of Hopp. Download the application to get began. At the time of publication, it prices just 100 Icelandic króna (ISK) to unlock an e-scooter, and then it’s 33 ISK for each moment to journey. 

Taxis are also readily available for trips in Reykjavík. 

Even though renting a vehicle is not really important if you are scheduling to stay inside the city limits, you will want a person if you prepare to examine additional of Iceland throughout your vacation. (And you certainly must, if you have the time!)

Professional idea: Use TripIt’s Navigator aspect to research transportation possibilities offered to you. It will demonstrate you the estimated fees and travel instances for each individual solution, so you can make your mind up which performs finest. For case in point, if you add a restaurant reservation to your itinerary (extra on exactly where to try to eat, below), Navigator also will help you find the very best transportation possibilities for receiving to your desk. You can come across Navigator inside of your plan particulars screens. 

Exactly where to take in

If you only have time for one particular food in Reykjavík, dine at Snaps Bistro (pictured above). The dishes are delectable, the wine record is amazing, and for a town that’s often short on daylight, you are going to recognize the eating-in-a-greenhouse vibes. You’ll will need a reservation, so e-book just one as early as you can. 

Expending a handful of meals in the money town? Really like seafood? Set Tides (described higher than) and Fish Marketplace on your eating itinerary. Also, you will have to have a reservation for each. 

Want much more relaxed eating options? KEX Hostel’s cafe Flatus (also pointed out earlier mentioned) is a great spot for pizzas and other casual fare. Icelandic Avenue Foodstuff is a further terrific place for informal eats. Just want a thing you can grab and go (in particular following the pub)? Consider “the best hotdog in Europe” at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur—open late (late!) night time, and notably, since 1937. 

Talking of pub lifestyle, in Iceland, Prohibition on beer (but not wine or spirits) was in result until 1989—and microbreweries have been generating up for lost time ever given that. You can attempt neighborhood craft beers at several of the city’s bars and pubs, including Microbar, Reykjavík’s to start with craft beer bar Kaldi Bar and Skúli – Craft Bar. 

Tip: Alcoholic beverages is high-priced in Iceland, so extend your króna at satisfied hour(s). Many pubs and bars offer you discounted selling prices. Verify out their social media accounts for deals and hrs. 

Fewer evening owl, extra early riser? For breakfast, head to Brauð & Co for freshly baked merchandise, or Café Babalú for sweet and savory crepes. The latter’s vibrant exterior is challenging to miss out on, and the cafe is also a person of the very best destinations for a cup of espresso in the metropolis. Other possibilities for a cup of joe include Reykjavík Roasters, Mokka Kaffi, and Kaffibrennslan. 

What to do on your town crack

If you only have a shorter amount of money of time in Reykjavík, be guaranteed to tick the containers on some of the city’s most extraordinary sights, which include Hallgrimskirkja (tip: climb to the leading of the tower to snap that legendary pic of the colorful buildings fanning out below) Harpa, the city’s glass-windowed live performance corridor and convention heart and the Sunlight Voyager, pictured previously mentioned. 

For a dose of the country’s history, head to the Perlan, a museum—and an operating geothermal h2o storage facility it’s very well truly worth a take a look at. The fourth floor options a 360° observation deck that lies on the major of the sizzling drinking water tanks, and presents a one-of-a-sort look at of Reykjavík and the encompassing space. 

Want to up your Nordic fashion? Head to Laugavegur, a person of Reykjavík’s oldest streets and its primary searching district, to peruse the myriad stores showcasing every thing from substantial-close boutiques, classic outfits shops, residence decor, cozy cafes, and substantially more. 

Scheduling to check out more of Iceland during your vacation? Several of the country’s most beautiful sights, including the Blue Lagoon, Silfra (where you can snorkel concerning two tectonic plates) in Thingvellir Nationwide Park, Gullfoss (waterfall), Strokkur (geyser), Reynisfjara (black sand seaside), Skógarfoss (waterfall), and Seljalandsfoss (waterfall) are inside a handful of hours push. 

Observe: As locations reopen around the planet, be positive to talk to and adhere to all regional guidelines and travel restrictions, as they fluctuate broadly and will continue to change. One way to stay on top rated of altering pointers is to seek the advice of the COVID-19 vacation steerage aspect in the TripIt application for location-specific data, such as testing and vaccination demands, present-day infection premiums, quarantine principles on arrival, and other details you have to have to know just before viewing the spot.