Capycation
Watercolour illustration of Reykjavik
Reykjavik

Reykjavik holidays

Compact Nordic capital on the water, pairing a small, colourful centre with a long transfer from Iceland's main gateway airport.

Prices on this page are shown from the UK. Change market

10°C SeptemberBest Jul, Aug2–4 nightsRecent nonstop return fare from Manchester

Check flights on Aviasales

At a glance

  • short city stays paired with day tours
  • northern lights trips in winter
  • a base for south coast or Golden Circle driving

Trip cost

2 nights in Reykjavik≈ €430–€585 pp
Return flight
≈€127
Stay
≈€364
Food & local
≈€96

Includes the return fare from Manchester. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.

Prices shown on this page are indicative estimates in euros, not quotes. Every booking happens separately with its own supplier, at that supplier's own live price. How we work this out.

Stays

Stays in Reykjavik

From €117/night · Typical €251 · 194 stays · 2-night stay assumed

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View all 194 stays
Map

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Plus 190 more places to stay.

Self-catering

Prefer a place of your own? Browse holiday homes and apartments in Reykjavik on Holidu.

Browse holiday homes on Holidu

Getting to Reykjavik

  • AirportKeflavík International Airport (KEF)
  • Transfer optionsBus, taxi, car rental

Keflavík International Airport is about 50 km from central Reykjavík. The Flybus shuttle, public buses and taxis run between the airport and the city, and rental cars are also available.

Flexible-date fares from Manchester

December from €127 return cheapest

Direct · 2 nights

Fri 11 Dec

easyJet

See December flights
See all 2 departure dates in December

Indicative, per traveller. You book with Aviasales.

Areas of Reykjavik

A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.

  • MiðborgThe compact downtown core around the harbour and main shopping street, best for visitors who want to walk everywhere and stay close to restaurants and bars.
  • VesturbærA quieter residential area west of the centre near the university and the coastline, suited to travellers who prefer a calmer base within walking distance of downtown.
  • GrandiA former harbour and fish-processing area now home to design shops and restaurants, good for visitors who want a less crowded alternative close to the water.
  • HlíðarA mainly residential district southeast of the centre, more practical for longer stays or self-catering than for being near the main sights.

Reykjavik weather by month

Reykjavik is warmest in July, when daily highs average 13°C, and coolest in December at 0°C. February is the wettest month at about 180 mm, July the driest at 98 mm. Taking warmth and rainfall together, July, August score best for a trip.

Best overall
July · August
Hottest
July · 13°C
Wettest
February · 180mm
How these figures are worked out

Monthly averages — ERA5 reanalysis, 2022–2024, a three-year average, not a standard 30-year climate normal or a forecast. Gold months are the best weather fit: each month scores on how close its average daily high sits to about 27 °C, with heavy rainfall counting against it, and months far outside that range are not ranked at all.

How we work this out

What each season is like

Spring
Days lengthen fast and roads reopen after winter, though weather stays changeable and some routes can still face late-season closures.
Summer
Near-continuous daylight allows long sightseeing days and the fullest range of day tours, alongside the year's highest prices and busiest crowds.
Autumn
Shortening days bring a first chance at the northern lights alongside milder temperatures than winter, though weather turns more unpredictable.
Winter
Long dark hours make the northern lights the main draw, but daylight is short, some rural roads close in bad weather and several summer-only tours stop running.

Good to know about Reykjavik

Why go

  • The compact centre puts the harbour, the main shopping street and most restaurants within easy walking distance of each other.
  • Geothermal pools built into ordinary neighbourhoods make it easy to fit a swim into a day of sightseeing rather than treating it as a special trip.
  • It works well as a base for day trips onto the Reykjanes peninsula and the wider south coast, given how much of Iceland's most-visited scenery sits within a few hours' drive.

Worth knowing

  • Keflavík Airport is around 50 km from the city centre, so the transfer takes real time in both directions and is worth building into arrival and departure plans rather than treating as a short hop.
  • The city centre itself is small and can be seen on foot in a day or two, so a longer stay depends on driving out to the surrounding countryside.
  • Weather changes quickly year-round and can disrupt tours or driving plans with little warning, whatever the season.