Iceland’s capital Reykjavik is known for its mix of rustic and modern architecture, its northern culture and its hot geothermal baths. With the Reykjavik City Card, visitors can explore the city on their own and save money while doing it. The card offers free entry to most of the city’s museums and thermal pools as well as free use of public transport.
Questions we’ll answer in this article:
- What is the Reykjavik City Card?
- Price of the Reykjavik City Card
- Attractions included in the Reykjavik City Card
- How long is the Reykjavik City Card valid?
- Is the Reykjavik City Card worth it?
- Where can you get the Reykjavik City Card?
What is the Reykjavik City Card?
The Reykjavik City Card is a great way to explore the city on your own while saving money. The card gives you access to the city’s main sights and public transport as well as discounts at many other attractions. Visitors can check out the city’s thermal pools, museums and galleries, use the city buses, learn about the history of Iceland and get better prices at many restaurants & cafes.
Price of the Reykjavik City Card
There are different versions of the City Card, depending on how long you want to use it:
The 24-hour card currently costs 4,400 Icelandic krona (about 28 euros). With this card, visitors can enjoy all the benefits of the Reykjavik City Card for a whole day. The 48-hour card costs 5,600 Icelandic krona (about 35 euros) and the 72-hour card costs 6,800 Icelandic krona (about 43 euros). The longer your stay, the cheaper the price per day.
It’s important to keep in mind that the Reykjavik City Card is only valid for a limited time, so make sure you pick the right version for your stay.
Attractions included in the Reykjavik City Card
Here are some of the attractions you can visit with the Reykjavik City Card:
Thermal pools
Iceland is famous for its hot springs and geysers, and in Reykjavik there are plenty of opportunities to relax in geothermal pools and hot springs. With the Reykjavik City Card, visitors can visit the world-famous Blue Lagoon as well as some of the lesser-known thermal pools in the city, such as Laugardalslaug or Vesturbæjarlaug.
Reykjavík Zoo and Family Park
The Reykjavík Zoo and Family Park is a popular attraction for families. The grounds include a zoo, a botanical garden and a park with playgrounds and picnic areas. Here visitors can see various animal species such as arctic foxes, owls, elk and sea lions. The Family Park also offers plenty of activities like mini golf, pedal boats, carousels and a children’s theater.
City buses
The Reykjavik City Card also includes the use of Reykjavik’s public transport network. The city buses let visitors travel conveniently to the city’s various sights, such as the Árbær Open Air Museum, the Maritime Museum or the Museum of Photography. The Settlement Exhibition and the ferry to Videy island can also be reached by public transport.
Árbær Open Air Museum
The Árbær Open Air Museum offers a glimpse into life in Iceland in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are several buildings from this era, including farmhouses, workshops and a school. Visitors can also try out traditional crafts and activities like bread baking or weaving.
Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum in Reykjavik showcases Iceland’s maritime history. Visitors can explore various ships, including an old sailing ship, a cutter and a coast guard vessel. There is also an exhibition about the whaling industry and traditional Icelandic fishing.
Museum of Photography
The Museum of Photography in Reykjavik displays works by Icelandic photographers as well as international exhibitions. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 6,000 photographs documenting the history of Iceland. There are also rotating exhibitions of contemporary photography.
The Settlement Exhibition
The Settlement Exhibition in Reykjavik offers an insight into the history of the city and shows how it has developed over the past centuries. The exhibition is housed in a modern building constructed over the remains of a Viking settlement. There are various interactive exhibits and activities that will fascinate visitors of all ages.
Ferry to Videy Island
The island of Videy lies just off the coast of Reykjavik and is known for its natural beauty and historic sites. Visitors can reach the island by ferry, which departs from the city. On the island there are several sights such as the Videy church, a memorial to John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and a sculpture by the artist Richard Serra.
Ásmundarsafn
Ásmundarsafn is a museum dedicated to the work of the Icelandic sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson. The museum is located in the artist’s former home and displays his sculptures from different periods as well as drawings and sketches. The sculpture garden also includes works by other artists.
Hafnarhús
Hafnarhús is one of Iceland’s most important art museums and houses a collection of modern and contemporary art. The museum is located in a historic building in Reykjavik’s harbour and has several exhibition spaces dedicated to the work of Icelandic and international artists.
Kjarvalsstaðir
Kjarvalsstaðir is another art museum in Reykjavik and displays the works of the Icelandic painter Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval. The museum is located in a modern building and holds an extensive collection of the artist’s paintings, drawings and sketches.
The Culture House
The Culture House in Reykjavik is a museum and cultural center dedicated to the history and culture of Iceland. There are various exhibitions and activities covering Icelandic history, literature and art. The Culture House is located in a historic building in the city center.
National Gallery
The National Gallery in Reykjavik displays an extensive collection of Icelandic art from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as international exhibitions. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, drawings and photographs. The gallery is located in a historic building in the city center.
National Museum
The National Museum in Reykjavik presents the history of Iceland from the settlement era to the present day. The exhibitions include artifacts from the Viking age, the time of the sagas and Iceland’s independence. There is also a collection of textiles, art and design.
Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
The Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum is dedicated to the work of the Icelandic sculptor Sigurjón Ólafsson. The museum is housed in a building designed by the artist himself and displays a collection of his sculptures, drawings and sketches. The sculpture garden also includes works by other artists.
Thermal pools, museums, galleries and city buses
The Reykjavik City Card doesn’t just offer free entry to the sights in the city center, but also in the surrounding districts. The card includes the use of the city’s public transport network, making it quick and easy for visitors to reach thermal pools, museums and galleries in the neighbouring districts.
You can find a complete list on the city’s official website.
How long is the Reykjavik City Card valid?
There are 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour versions of the City Card, which makes it a pretty good fit for short trips, weekend getaways or the first / last 1-3 days of a round trip through Iceland. Especially in winter it’s a good idea to plan 2-3 days in the capital at the end of your trip, simply to have a buffer in case the weather doesn’t allow you to keep driving.
Is the Reykjavik City Card worth it?
If you’re a museum fan and want to visit them in Reykjavik, you’ll benefit a lot from the Reykjavik City Card. A great many of the museums in the city are completely free with the card, others offer discounts, and you can use the buses to get from one museum to the next.
The Reykjavik City Card is also a good option for families with kids, as it offers free entry to many of the city’s family-friendly attractions, like the Reykjavik Zoo and the Family Park. Using public transport can also be practical for families with children.
If you mainly want to see the city’s famous attractions, you should check carefully whether the card actually pays off, as the discount is often eaten up by the purchase price. The same goes for the discounts at restaurants and cafes.
Where can you get the Reykjavik City Card?
You can easily buy the card online at GetYourGuide and Guide to Iceland, as well as at various places around the city, including the airport, hotels and tourist information centers.
By the way, there are city passes for many cities and they can often be well worth it!
We’d love to hear from you in the comments if you’ve already tried the City Card or are planning to.
Have fun in Reykjavik!
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