ReykjavikCruise Port Guide
Two very different quays, one compact city. Find out which one your ship uses, then pick a plan, from a live lava show to the Golden Circle.
Welcome to Reykjavik
Pro Picks
Golden Circle · 7–8.5 hrsGolden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerið Crater
A coach loop to Þingvellir National Park, the erupting Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss waterfall and the Kerið crater lake. It runs 7 to 8.5 hours, so check your ship's all-aboard time before you book, and note the Kerið stop is skipped on departures from noon.
From $88.50/ person
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Indoor show · 1 hrLava Show: Live Molten Lava Demonstration
A host pours real molten lava in front of a seated audience and explains how Iceland's volcanoes work, in under an hour and a quarter. It is in the Grandi harbour district, about 0.7 mi from the Old Harbour quay, and a free Grandi Shuttle runs from central Reykjavík.
From $55.10/ person
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Whale watching · 3 hrsWhale-Watching Cruise from the Old Harbour
Three hours on a boat into Faxaflói bay looking for humpback and minke whales, dolphins and porpoises. You check in at the red Elding ticket office at the Old Harbour, an easy walk if your ship is at Miðbakki and a taxi ride from Skarfabakki.
From $103.07/ person
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Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Reykjavik in 2 hours
Museum / Show
FlyOver Iceland Flying Theatre
A 35-minute ride that lifts you in a seat before a spherical screen and flies you over Iceland's landscapes, after a short pre-show in a Viking longhouse. Minimum height is 40 inches (102 cm), and it is in the Grandi district, not at the pier.
From$43.67
Time required35 minutes
Museum / Show
Lava Show
A live host pours real molten lava and explains Icelandic volcanoes, over 50 to 75 minutes. It is in the Grandi harbour district, so allow time to get there; a free Grandi Shuttle runs from Harpa and City Hall.
From$55.10
Time required50 - 75 minutes
Reykjavik in 4 hours
Whale Watching
Whale-Watching Cruise (Klook)
A boat trip from the Old Harbour into Faxaflói bay, 2 to 3.5 hours depending on the sailing. Only 52 reviews so far, but it leaves from the same harbour as the other whale cruises, so confirm the departure time against your all-aboard.
From$131.05
Time required2 hours - 3 hours 30 minutes
Museum / Show
Perlan Museum: Wonders of Iceland
An indoor museum under a glass dome on a hill above the city, with an ice-cave and glacier exhibit; the listing suggests 2 to 3 hours. It is about 1.6 mi from the Old Harbour quay, so plan on a taxi each way.
Time required2 - 3 hours (suggested visit)
Reykjavik in 7 hours
Golden Circle Day Trip
Golden Circle with an Icelandic Horse Farm Stop
The Golden Circle's rift valley, geyser and waterfall, plus a stop to pet and feed Icelandic horses, in about 8 hours. The listing says departures vary with cruise ship arrivals, so follow the time on your voucher.
From$95.75
Time required8 hours
Golden Circle Day Trip
Golden Circle and Kerið Crater (Klook)
The classic Golden Circle loop with a Kerið crater stop, bookable on Klook, running 8.5 hours with optional hotel pickup. That is a long day, so check your ship's departure time before you commit.
From$95.49
Time required8 hours 30 minutes
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops on foot from the Miðbakki quay in the Old Harbour, where smaller and expedition ships tie up. If your ship is at Skarfabakki, a ride into town gets you to the same spot. The nearest beach, Nauthólsvík, is a bus or taxi ride away.
Market · 0.1 mi · ~4 min
Kolaportið
A marketplace on Tryggvagata, a few steps from the Old Harbour quays and the first thing on the way into town.
Eat · 0.2 mi · ~5 min
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
A hot-dog stand on Tryggvagata, a quick bite to eat on foot before you walk on into the centre.
Landmark · 0.2 mi · ~5 min
Harpa Concert Hall
The concert hall on the Old Harbour waterfront, about a five-minute walk from the quay according to port guides.
Museum · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Reykjavík 871±2 (Settlement Exhibition)
A museum on Aðalstræti in the old downtown, a good indoor stop when the weather turns.
Park · 0.4 mi · ~10 min
Tjörnin (the city pond)
The pond in the middle of the city, an open green break between downtown and the hill with the big church.
Landmark · 0.7 mi · ~16 min
Hallgrímskirkja
The church on Hallgrímstorg whose tower rises above the town, about a 15-minute walk up from the Old Harbour according to port guides.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Reykjavik.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Reykjavik?
Cruise ships in Reykjavik use two areas: most large ships dock at Skarfabakki in the Sundahöfn harbour, about 4 km (2.5 miles) east of the centre, where the port authority's new Vör passenger terminal stands, while smaller and expedition ships use Miðbakki in the Old Harbour, a few minutes' walk from downtown. Korngarður, beside Skarfabakki, takes overflow when several ships are in. Ships can change berth at short notice, so check your daily program.
Which pier do Celebrity, Norwegian and Princess ships use in Reykjavik?
No cruise line or port list says which line uses which quay in Reykjavik, but large ships, which covers most mainstream-line sailings, usually dock at Skarfabakki, 4 km from the centre. Miðbakki in the Old Harbour takes smaller vessels, up to about 170 metres, plus expedition and some luxury ships. Berths can change at short notice, so confirm yours in the ship's daily program before you plan the day.
Is there a free shuttle from the Reykjavik cruise terminal?
Not from the port: the free shuttle the port authority ran from Skarfabakki into the centre in 2023 to 2025 has ended. Any shuttle in 2026 is run by your cruise line, usually for a fee, with a drop-off near Harpa about 10 minutes away. Check your ship's daily program for the times. At the terminal there is also a taxi stand, an e-scooter point and a café.
How do I get from the Reykjavik cruise port to downtown by bus or taxi?
From Skarfabakki, a taxi to the centre takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Hreyfill and BSR are the main companies, cards are accepted, and fares are high, with waits of 30 to 60 minutes at the rank on busy multi-ship days. Strætó bus 16 stops near the terminal and runs into town roughly every 20 to 30 minutes on weekdays; you pay with the Klappið app or a card, because drivers do not sell tickets.
Can I walk from the Reykjavik cruise port to downtown?
It depends on the quay. From Miðbakki in the Old Harbour, yes: Harpa is about 5 minutes away, the Laugavegur shopping street about 10 and Hallgrímskirkja about 15. From Skarfabakki, not really: the centre is about 4 km (2.5 miles) along the waterfront, a 45 to 55 minute walk, so most people ride. The stroll map shows what is in range of Miðbakki.
Is it worth getting off the ship in Reykjavik?
Yes for most people, but how easily depends on your quay. From Miðbakki, Harpa, the shops and Hallgrímskirkja are a 5 to 15 minute walk, which costs nothing. From Skarfabakki the centre is about 4 km away and the terminal has only a café and tour pickup zones, so plan a ride or a tour. A free Grandi Shuttle runs from Harpa to the Lava Show and FlyOver Iceland, and the stroll map covers the walk.
Beaches & water
Can you walk to a beach from the Reykjavik cruise port?
No: the nearest public beach, the geothermal Ylströndin in Nauthólsvík, is about 2 miles from the Miðbakki quay in the Old Harbour and about 3 miles from Skarfabakki. That is a bus or taxi ride rather than a walk, and on a port day it eats a lot of your time. Most cruisers spend the day in town or on a tour instead.
Is tap water safe to drink in Reykjavik?
Yes: Visit Reykjavík says tap water in Reykjavík and throughout Iceland is clean, safe and of exceptionally high quality, and you can drink it straight from the tap. That makes a refillable bottle easy to carry for a day ashore, so you do not need to buy bottled water.
Time & excursions
Can I do the Golden Circle on a cruise day, and how long does it take?
Yes: the Golden Circle day trips listed here run 7 to 8.5 hours. One tour lists the Skarfabakki 312 Cruise Terminal among its drop-off locations, and another says its departures are timed around ship schedules, so ask for a cruise-timed departure and compare it against your all-aboard time before you book.
What can I do in Reykjavik in 2, 4 or 7 hours?
In about 2 hours, a 35-minute flying-theatre ride or a 50 to 75 minute lava show, both in the Grandi harbour district. In about 4 hours, a 3-hour whale-watching cruise, which checks in at the Old Harbour, an easy walk from Miðbakki. For 7 hours or more, a Golden Circle day trip, which runs 7 to 8.5 hours.
What time is it in Reykjavik, and will the ship wait for me?
Iceland is on UTC+00:00 (Greenwich Mean Time) all year and does not use daylight saving time, so the gap to your home time changes when US clocks change; use the time your ship posts. The ship will not wait for you if you are late from your own plans (Royal Caribbean's wording is that it "will not wait for any guest faring on their own"), so allow a buffer.
Money, safety & documents
What currency do I need in Reykjavik, and do I need cash?
Iceland uses the króna (ISK), but Visit Reykjavík says you will hardly need cash: cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and public buses, and foreign currency is rarely taken. Tipping is not expected, though a cash tip for exceptional service is always appreciated.
Is Reykjavik safe for cruise passengers?
Yes: the US State Department rates Iceland Level 1, "Exercise normal precautions", and calls it generally a safe destination for travelers. It notes that petty crime is common in popular tourist spots, so watch your belongings, and that Iceland has quickly changing weather, dangerous natural features, active volcanoes and earthquakes.
Do I need a passport for a cruise that stops in Reykjavik?
On a closed-loop cruise, US citizens can re-enter the US with a birth certificate plus a government photo ID, but US Customs and Border Protection warns that the countries visited may still require a passport, so check with your cruise line. If you have to fly home from Reykjavik, for instance after missing the ship, you need a passport book.