I spent some time in Reykjavik this past January, and wanted to share some intel to build on what we already have here on the forum. Overall, it was a great trip and I can recommend anyone to visit Iceland at least once. It's a hop, skip and a jump from the states and flight prices are cheap. Supposedly they're trying to cut back on the influx if tourists, but let's see if that turns out to be true or not. I spent a good amount of time with Dantes during the visit, and we generally shared the same opinion on the place that you'll read below:
Overview
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, the land of fire and ice, where nearly 93% of the total population resides. The city provides the main access to other parts of the country, mostly via the only international airport on the island located just about 40 minutes from the city center. If you’re coming to Iceland to meet the locals, Reykjavik is where you want to be located for the duration of your trip.
Climate
As you could expect, temperatures in the winter time can be quite cold, especially in the evening with the wind gusts while walking throughout the city. Expect the temperature to hover around between 32-40F (0-7 C) with the normal occurrence of rain. Late spring in to summer is a bit different. Temperatures can be much hotter, and then suddenly you’ll have a drastic change of temperature where it becomes much cooler. Bring some cooler weather clothes with you as well for the summer, to be on the safe side.
Tourist Attractions
Hallgrimskirkja (and the view from the top)
Walk down by the northern part of the city, enjoy views from near the water
Few museums to check out
Recommended day trip – Golden Circle
Logistics
Arriving at Keflavik International Airport, you’ll have a few options to get to the city center:
1.) Shuttle – You can find a link to the FlyBus here which will take you directly to the BSI bus station in Reykjavik which is located roughly 15-20m walking to the city center ($22 one-way), or have them drop you off directly at your location where you are staying (hotel/hostel – $27 one-way). The busses link up with the incoming flight schedules, and you’ll never have an issue catching one.
2.) Taxi – This will provide you with a slightly quicker way to the center, and drop you off at a rental apartment if needed, but comes at a steep price. You’re looking at roughly $140 one-way to get from Keflavik to the city center. Stick with FlyBus when possible, if you’re on a budget.
Important Tip: If you’re planning to go out and want to save some money, be sure to buy some booze at the airport upon arrival from the duty free area. You can take a limited amount with you, but it will be quite a bit cheaper than buying it in the town. There’s also limited liquor stores in Reykjavik, they have certain opening times, and you won’t find booze above 4% in the grocery stores such as 10-11 or Bonus.
As for the city center itself, it’s very walk-able and you can easily snag a place that’s within a few minutes walking distance to the bars and clubs. I’d suggest finding a place within the red circle on the map below, to be located less than a few minutes away from the top clubs for nightlife.
If you’re going out at night, Austurstraeti and Bankastrati streets are where you will be living. I highly recommend taking an apartment, as there’s not many hotels/hostels in the center and this gives you the option to snag a better price by negotiating the apartment rental price.
As far as prices for accommodation, you’ll be looking at anywhere from $150 – $220 per night for a decent place located within the area mentioned above. If you’re outside that area and have to grab a cab, you’re looking at paying around $15-$20 for a few mile/km ride. Taxi drivers are fair, and use a meter. There’s not a high concern here for being ripped off.
Busses do exist, but the city is walkable and if you’re staying inside you most likely won’t be using them.
If you will be heading outside of Reykjavik, I can highly suggest taking a look on Booking.com and their offering. There’s a lack of rentals on AirBnB and other hotel websites in comparison.
Cost
This certainly isn’t Eastern Europe anymore. Prices are high, but won’t be such a shock if you’re coming from another large Western city, such as Paris, London or New York. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
Breakfast (1 person) – $28
Dinner (mid-range 1 person – entry) – $40-$60
Liquor (higher-end bar/club) – 1 shot of vodka ($10-$12)
Beer (higher-end bar/club) – ($8-9)
Cigarettes – $11
Chicken (2.2lbs. / 1kg) – $18
Cheese (2.2lbs / 1kg) – $13
Assorted Fruits (2.2lbs / 1kg) – $3-5
Language
English is widely spoken, and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who can’t speak it – at least at a good conversational level. Learn a few local words, or ask the locals to teach you a few. It always works to impress a bit if you have two or three in the repertoire.
You’ll also encounter a lot of Europeans (Polish, French, Spanish) working here at hotels, hostels, restaurants, etc. Of course, they speak English as well, but if you want to mix it up and use one of your other languages with them, you’ll most likely get a chance to do so.
Women
Tall, long blonde hair, and perfect skin. What you will see here rivals the likes of other top cities such as Kiev or even Moscow in terms of looks. They might be a bit tougher to find during the day, but once the clock strikes 1AM, the streets will be booming and you’ll see them flocking in herds. You can expect the average girl in the high-end clubs to hover around the 7.5 level on average. Get them while you can – they seem to disappear quickly as you get closer to 5AM and they can barely stand-up any longer after obsessive pre and post-drinking
Although the Icelandic women are a clear winner in the looks category, they don’t seem to shine as impressingly as some of their counterparts when it comes down to their general demeanor. The women can tend to act a bit manly in some aspects. Multiple times, women were noted as spitting a nice hawker and then proceeding to suck down a wine cooler and puffing back another drag on their Marlboro light. You’ll also see them getting a bit aggressive, and even in one case agitating other men by randomly walking up and throwing the bird in their fair, among other slander. They also get blacked out drunk, to the point where they are dropping their drinks and falling all over the place – although this seems to be the general norm for the country and its inhabitants on the weekends.
Online Game
Best chance for online game would be Tinder. There’s some good quality floating around on there, but it can be difficult to match and get them out. Results may vary, as always. Read-on to the next part – but you’re going to want to focus on nightgame during your stay in Reykjavik.
Daygame
This simply isn’t a good spot for daygame. You won’t see many (or really any) targets around during the day. There might be some foreigners floating around from the US, Poland or even Ireland – but let’s be honest, you came here for the Icelandic honeys, didn’t you? As noticed by others, the women can be cold and stiff, until they knock back a few drinks. Even then, the conversation might not be the most pleasant and engaging. If you’re coming, expect to put in the long nights and be hitting the bars/clubs and putting out the coin to play.
There’s supposedly a mall in the city, which would be worth having a look at during the weekend.
Nightlife
This place is a total and utter mess once the night (think 12:30AM or later) rolls around on Friday and Saturday night. It’s a full out war zone. On the streets, glass bottles are heard breaking on every corner, while people in queues are heard drunkenly singing and yelling out at the bouncers to be let in. Although this is true – it’s still safe and you’re unlikely to get in to any altercation with any Icelandic guys it seems. They’re just around to get drunk and stumble over themselves and their buddies. They pose really no threat. Be sure to dress well, and wear a sharp outfit out including a sport coat or a full suit to stand out. At the high-end clubs, you’ll see Icelandic men dressed to the nines, and they do know what they’re doing in that regard.
The night kicks off sometime around 12:30-1:00AM. At this point, you can then expect some of the bars and clubs to start filling up slowly. If you’re going to one of the bigger clubs, be sure to be there and be in the queue earlier. If you get there after 1:30AM, you might be waiting an hour+ or not even getting in depending on the night. If you’re looking to switch venues, you can pop in to the next place easily with less than a 2 minute walk between mostly places. Everything you will need, is located mostly on Laugavegur Street. Your main goal should be to have a look around the venue, chat up some targets and then re-engage them later in the evening around 3:30-4:00AM for the after party move. Have some alcohol back at the spot to keep the party going, and just suggest moving things back to your place which is located less than a minute away door-to-door.
Nightlife lasts until around 5AM when the bars and clubs shut down. Here people will be stumbling out of the club, in dire search for food. You can hit the streets after if you’re still standing, and give it a go to holler at some women. At this time, it’s also work it to have a look at the 10-11 on the main street or the famous hot dog stand (Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is the name, and I can’t recommend it for food), which will be packed full with people. Here’s a list of recommended places to check-out:
B5 – Smaller club, which is mostly just a dance floor and small bar, where it’s hard to interact. Get’s very packed inside, and can be hard to move around or access the bar. Try the smoking area outside, or head downstairs near the seating area and coat check. This was by far the most popular place on Saturday night when compared to others – people were standing a few rows deep at the steel barriers outside just to get a look and to try to have one of their friends somehow allow them to be granted access. Expect a long queue, if you’re not there early.
Austur – A club similar to B5, where it’s also on the higher-end. This place, along with B5, definitely pulls the highest quality of the city Large bar, outside smoking area in the back and a sizable dance floor. Was quite quiet here on a Friday night around 1AM, so we ended up leaving, but the place does have a nice setup and would be my preference over B5 if it was packed to the brim with people.
Kaldi Bar – Small bar, but seating all around. Quite popular among locals it seems, and can be very packed. A Good spot to start at prior to heading to B5 or Austur later in the evening.
Bar Ananas – Right above Kaldi Bar. Hipsterish vibe, but a good pre-gaming spot for some cheaper beers and shots.
Conclusion
Iceland itself boosts some of the most impressive natural attractions the world has to offer. Reykjavik is a lively city, with good dining and nightlife options, that lacks a bit on the sightseeing side. If you’re coming here for a few days, be sure to hit it on a weekend, so you can go full force on Friday and Saturday nights. When it comes down to it, logistics are key, and you need to lock in a place that’s close to the main street.
Overview
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, the land of fire and ice, where nearly 93% of the total population resides. The city provides the main access to other parts of the country, mostly via the only international airport on the island located just about 40 minutes from the city center. If you’re coming to Iceland to meet the locals, Reykjavik is where you want to be located for the duration of your trip.
Climate
As you could expect, temperatures in the winter time can be quite cold, especially in the evening with the wind gusts while walking throughout the city. Expect the temperature to hover around between 32-40F (0-7 C) with the normal occurrence of rain. Late spring in to summer is a bit different. Temperatures can be much hotter, and then suddenly you’ll have a drastic change of temperature where it becomes much cooler. Bring some cooler weather clothes with you as well for the summer, to be on the safe side.
Tourist Attractions
Hallgrimskirkja (and the view from the top)
Walk down by the northern part of the city, enjoy views from near the water
Few museums to check out
Recommended day trip – Golden Circle
Logistics
Arriving at Keflavik International Airport, you’ll have a few options to get to the city center:
1.) Shuttle – You can find a link to the FlyBus here which will take you directly to the BSI bus station in Reykjavik which is located roughly 15-20m walking to the city center ($22 one-way), or have them drop you off directly at your location where you are staying (hotel/hostel – $27 one-way). The busses link up with the incoming flight schedules, and you’ll never have an issue catching one.
2.) Taxi – This will provide you with a slightly quicker way to the center, and drop you off at a rental apartment if needed, but comes at a steep price. You’re looking at roughly $140 one-way to get from Keflavik to the city center. Stick with FlyBus when possible, if you’re on a budget.
Important Tip: If you’re planning to go out and want to save some money, be sure to buy some booze at the airport upon arrival from the duty free area. You can take a limited amount with you, but it will be quite a bit cheaper than buying it in the town. There’s also limited liquor stores in Reykjavik, they have certain opening times, and you won’t find booze above 4% in the grocery stores such as 10-11 or Bonus.
As for the city center itself, it’s very walk-able and you can easily snag a place that’s within a few minutes walking distance to the bars and clubs. I’d suggest finding a place within the red circle on the map below, to be located less than a few minutes away from the top clubs for nightlife.
If you’re going out at night, Austurstraeti and Bankastrati streets are where you will be living. I highly recommend taking an apartment, as there’s not many hotels/hostels in the center and this gives you the option to snag a better price by negotiating the apartment rental price.
As far as prices for accommodation, you’ll be looking at anywhere from $150 – $220 per night for a decent place located within the area mentioned above. If you’re outside that area and have to grab a cab, you’re looking at paying around $15-$20 for a few mile/km ride. Taxi drivers are fair, and use a meter. There’s not a high concern here for being ripped off.
Busses do exist, but the city is walkable and if you’re staying inside you most likely won’t be using them.
If you will be heading outside of Reykjavik, I can highly suggest taking a look on Booking.com and their offering. There’s a lack of rentals on AirBnB and other hotel websites in comparison.
Cost
This certainly isn’t Eastern Europe anymore. Prices are high, but won’t be such a shock if you’re coming from another large Western city, such as Paris, London or New York. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
Breakfast (1 person) – $28
Dinner (mid-range 1 person – entry) – $40-$60
Liquor (higher-end bar/club) – 1 shot of vodka ($10-$12)
Beer (higher-end bar/club) – ($8-9)
Cigarettes – $11
Chicken (2.2lbs. / 1kg) – $18
Cheese (2.2lbs / 1kg) – $13
Assorted Fruits (2.2lbs / 1kg) – $3-5
Language
English is widely spoken, and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who can’t speak it – at least at a good conversational level. Learn a few local words, or ask the locals to teach you a few. It always works to impress a bit if you have two or three in the repertoire.
You’ll also encounter a lot of Europeans (Polish, French, Spanish) working here at hotels, hostels, restaurants, etc. Of course, they speak English as well, but if you want to mix it up and use one of your other languages with them, you’ll most likely get a chance to do so.
Women
Tall, long blonde hair, and perfect skin. What you will see here rivals the likes of other top cities such as Kiev or even Moscow in terms of looks. They might be a bit tougher to find during the day, but once the clock strikes 1AM, the streets will be booming and you’ll see them flocking in herds. You can expect the average girl in the high-end clubs to hover around the 7.5 level on average. Get them while you can – they seem to disappear quickly as you get closer to 5AM and they can barely stand-up any longer after obsessive pre and post-drinking
Although the Icelandic women are a clear winner in the looks category, they don’t seem to shine as impressingly as some of their counterparts when it comes down to their general demeanor. The women can tend to act a bit manly in some aspects. Multiple times, women were noted as spitting a nice hawker and then proceeding to suck down a wine cooler and puffing back another drag on their Marlboro light. You’ll also see them getting a bit aggressive, and even in one case agitating other men by randomly walking up and throwing the bird in their fair, among other slander. They also get blacked out drunk, to the point where they are dropping their drinks and falling all over the place – although this seems to be the general norm for the country and its inhabitants on the weekends.
Online Game
Best chance for online game would be Tinder. There’s some good quality floating around on there, but it can be difficult to match and get them out. Results may vary, as always. Read-on to the next part – but you’re going to want to focus on nightgame during your stay in Reykjavik.
Daygame
This simply isn’t a good spot for daygame. You won’t see many (or really any) targets around during the day. There might be some foreigners floating around from the US, Poland or even Ireland – but let’s be honest, you came here for the Icelandic honeys, didn’t you? As noticed by others, the women can be cold and stiff, until they knock back a few drinks. Even then, the conversation might not be the most pleasant and engaging. If you’re coming, expect to put in the long nights and be hitting the bars/clubs and putting out the coin to play.
There’s supposedly a mall in the city, which would be worth having a look at during the weekend.
Nightlife
This place is a total and utter mess once the night (think 12:30AM or later) rolls around on Friday and Saturday night. It’s a full out war zone. On the streets, glass bottles are heard breaking on every corner, while people in queues are heard drunkenly singing and yelling out at the bouncers to be let in. Although this is true – it’s still safe and you’re unlikely to get in to any altercation with any Icelandic guys it seems. They’re just around to get drunk and stumble over themselves and their buddies. They pose really no threat. Be sure to dress well, and wear a sharp outfit out including a sport coat or a full suit to stand out. At the high-end clubs, you’ll see Icelandic men dressed to the nines, and they do know what they’re doing in that regard.
The night kicks off sometime around 12:30-1:00AM. At this point, you can then expect some of the bars and clubs to start filling up slowly. If you’re going to one of the bigger clubs, be sure to be there and be in the queue earlier. If you get there after 1:30AM, you might be waiting an hour+ or not even getting in depending on the night. If you’re looking to switch venues, you can pop in to the next place easily with less than a 2 minute walk between mostly places. Everything you will need, is located mostly on Laugavegur Street. Your main goal should be to have a look around the venue, chat up some targets and then re-engage them later in the evening around 3:30-4:00AM for the after party move. Have some alcohol back at the spot to keep the party going, and just suggest moving things back to your place which is located less than a minute away door-to-door.
Nightlife lasts until around 5AM when the bars and clubs shut down. Here people will be stumbling out of the club, in dire search for food. You can hit the streets after if you’re still standing, and give it a go to holler at some women. At this time, it’s also work it to have a look at the 10-11 on the main street or the famous hot dog stand (Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is the name, and I can’t recommend it for food), which will be packed full with people. Here’s a list of recommended places to check-out:
B5 – Smaller club, which is mostly just a dance floor and small bar, where it’s hard to interact. Get’s very packed inside, and can be hard to move around or access the bar. Try the smoking area outside, or head downstairs near the seating area and coat check. This was by far the most popular place on Saturday night when compared to others – people were standing a few rows deep at the steel barriers outside just to get a look and to try to have one of their friends somehow allow them to be granted access. Expect a long queue, if you’re not there early.
Austur – A club similar to B5, where it’s also on the higher-end. This place, along with B5, definitely pulls the highest quality of the city Large bar, outside smoking area in the back and a sizable dance floor. Was quite quiet here on a Friday night around 1AM, so we ended up leaving, but the place does have a nice setup and would be my preference over B5 if it was packed to the brim with people.
Kaldi Bar – Small bar, but seating all around. Quite popular among locals it seems, and can be very packed. A Good spot to start at prior to heading to B5 or Austur later in the evening.
Bar Ananas – Right above Kaldi Bar. Hipsterish vibe, but a good pre-gaming spot for some cheaper beers and shots.
Conclusion
Iceland itself boosts some of the most impressive natural attractions the world has to offer. Reykjavik is a lively city, with good dining and nightlife options, that lacks a bit on the sightseeing side. If you’re coming here for a few days, be sure to hit it on a weekend, so you can go full force on Friday and Saturday nights. When it comes down to it, logistics are key, and you need to lock in a place that’s close to the main street.
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