Reykjavik Travel Guide

Arriving

By Plane International flights arrive at Keflavík International Airport, about 50km (31 miles) from town. Taxis to Reykjavík cost around 9,000kr ($144/£72) for up to four people, so most travelers come to town on the Flybus (tel. 562-1011; www.flybus.is). Tickets are 1,200kr ($19/£9.60) adults, 600kr ($9.60/£4.80) children 12 to 15, and free for children 11 and under. Taxis and the Flybus are clearly positioned outside the arrival hall; both accept credit cards, but Flybus tickets must be purchased before exiting the terminal. The Flybus stops at the BSÍ bus terminal, various hotels and guesthouses, and the City Hostel. Call or check the Flybus website for a complete list of stops. Check with your accommodation if it doesn't appear on the list; they might offer a free transfer from the BSÍ terminal, or there might be a stop within easy walking distance. If that fails, you could still save money by taking the Flybus to the BSÍ terminal and catching a taxi from there. Flybus departures from Reykjavík to the airport are timed to coincide with departing international flights.

Domestic flights (and flights from Greenland and the Faeroe Islands) arrive at Reykjavík Airport, just south of the city center.

By Ferry No scheduled international ferries arrive in Reykjavík; ferries from Europe arrive at Seyðisfjörður on the east coast.

Visitor Information

Information Centers -- The main Tourist Information Center (Aðalstræti 2; tel. 590-1550; www.visitreykjavik.is; June-Sept 15 daily 8:30am-7pm; Sept 16-May Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat-Sun 10am-2pm) is in the northwestern sector of the city center, near the old harbor. On the premises is the fee-free City Center Booking Service, which can book accommodations, car rentals, and tours.

A smaller branch of the tourist information office is inside City Hall (Ráðhús) at Tjarnargata 11 (tel. 411-1000; year-round Mon-Fri 8:20am-4:30pm, Sat noon-4pm; May 10-Sept 15 also Sun noon-4pm).

The Iceland Visitor Center, Austurstræti 17 (tel. 511-2442; fax 511-2443; www.icelandvisitor.com; June-Aug daily 9am-10pm, Sept-May daily 10am-6pm), is a privately run, brochure-packed travel agency that's very helpful with tours, car rentals, and other service, but they can't help with accommodations.

Online -- Run by the city's tourist office, www.visitreykjavik.is has thorough, well-mapped listings of accommodations, restaurants, museums, and sights, as well as a schedule of events. What's On in Iceland (www.whatson.is) covers dining, accommodation, and city activities and events. The Grapevine (www.grapevine.is), a free English-language circular, is an extremely useful guide to current happenings. GetRvk (www.getrvk.com; click "See the latest issue") is a selective and opinionated guide to Reykjavík's culture and events, with an emphasis on the cutting edge.