Reykjavik Cruise Port
Reykjavik, Iceland · Northern Europe
Cruise ships dock at Skarfabakki - Sundahofn Cruise Pier, Reykjavik.
Modern Skarfabakki cruise pier 3 km east of the centre plus the historic Midbakki / Old Harbour berth a 5-minute walk from Hallgrimskirkja.
At a glance
Port summary
Reykjavik is the busiest cruise port in the North Atlantic and one of the easiest in Northern Europe for independent travel — provided you accept that most calls dock at Skarfabakki in Sundahofn, 3 km east of the city centre. The cruise-line shuttle from Skarfabakki to Lakjartorg or the Harpa concert hall takes 10-15 minutes and is the default arrival method; taxis and Stratto bus 16 also serve the port. Smaller ships occasionally berth at Midbakki in the Old Harbour, a flat 5-minute walk from Hallgrimskirkja and Laugavegur. Inside the city centre everything is compact: Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, the Sun Voyager sculpture, Tjornin pond and Laugavegur are all within a 25-minute walking loop. Full-day excursions reach the Golden Circle (Thingvellir + Geysir + Gullfoss, 6-8 hours), the South Coast waterfalls and Reynisfjara black-sand beach (9-10 hours) and the Blue Lagoon at Reykjanes (3-4 hours). Whale-watching boats leave Faxafloi Bay from the Old Harbour daily. Iceland is functionally cashless — cards work everywhere, including the Stratto city bus via the Klappid app. Uber and Lyft do not operate; Hreyfill is the main taxi company and accepts cards. Weather and active volcanism on Reykjanes can disrupt Blue Lagoon access, so check the Vedurstofan forecast and grindavik.is on cruise day.
Cruise docks
🚢 Skarfabakki - Sundahofn Cruise Pier
Main modern cruise berth at Sundahofn 3 km east of the city centre; handles almost all medium and large cruise calls. Cruise-line shuttle and bus 16 connect to downtown. OSM-confirmed at way 108336302.
📍 Latitude: 64.155024, Longitude: -21.862079
See dock on port map →🚢 Midbakki - Old Harbour Cruise Berth
Historic Old Harbour quay used by smaller expedition and luxury ships; passengers walk directly into the city centre and past the Maritime Museum and whale-watching boats. OSM-confirmed at way 578660954.
📍 Latitude: 64.150192, Longitude: -21.9397
See dock on port map →Getting to Reykjavik
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Cruise-line shuttle is the default arrival method when ships dock at Skarfabakki (3 km from the centre); from Midbakki in the Old Harbour you walk straight into the city.
📍 Shuttle stop directly outside the Skarfabakki terminal exit; check your daily ship newsletter for the city drop-off (usually Lakjartorg or Harpa).
Hreyfill (588 5522) and BSR (561 0000) cover the whole city; all taxis accept cards and Apple Pay, no negotiation needed.
📍 Taxi rank outside the Skarfabakki terminal; in the Old Harbour cabs queue along Geirsgata next to the Maritime Museum.
Use the Klappid app or tap any contactless card on the reader; bus 16 also reaches Hlemmur (Laugavegur) and connects to bus 1 / 6 for the rest of the network.
📍 Stratto bus 16 (Skarfabakki / Holtagardar stop) runs from the port gate to Hlemmur square in the city centre.
Private drivers are the practical way to combine Golden Circle / South Coast / Blue Lagoon in a cruise day; book ahead in summer for English-speaking guides.
📍 Driver guides meet ships at the Skarfabakki gate with placards; pre-booked tours wait at the cruise-line shore-excursion desk.
Skarfabakki to the city centre is a 3 km / 40-min walk along an exposed coastal road — only worth it on calm days. From Midbakki / Old Harbour it is a 5-min walk to Hallgrimskirkja.
📍 Exit Skarfabakki onto Sundabakki, follow the coastal path west via Saebraut and Harpa into the city centre.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Leave most ISK cash behind — cards handle everything, including bus fares and small markets.
Things to do
Thingvellir National Park
⭐ Highlight
UNESCO rift-valley park where the Althing parliament met from 930 AD on lava cliffs.
🕐 Morning before the Golden Circle coaches arrive after 11:00.
Harpa Concert Hall
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Olafur Eliasson glass-honeycomb concert hall on the Reykjavik harbourfront.
🕐 Walk through any time the building is open; lunchtime light shows the facade best.
Sun Voyager Sculpture
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Jon Gunnar Arnason's stainless-steel longship sculpture on Saebraut promenade.
🕐 Late afternoon or near-midnight in summer for the best light on the steel hull.
Gullfoss Waterfall
⭐ Highlight
Two-tier glacial waterfall on the Hvita river plunging 32 m into a basalt canyon.
🕐 Cloudy days flatten the spray rainbow; sunshine after 13:00 is best.
Tjornin & Old Town Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
Loop around Tjornin pond past City Hall, Austurvollur and the wooden Old Town houses.
🕐 Late morning when cafes open; winter brings ice skating on the pond.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
🏖️ Beach
Black-sand beach with basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks near Vik.
🕐 Always check sneaker-wave warnings on safetravel.is before walking on the sand.
Hallgrimskirkja
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Reykjavik's basalt-column church with a 75 m tower lift over the city skyline.
🕐 Climb the tower on a clear morning for the sharpest city and Mt Esja views.
National Museum of Iceland
🏛️ Museum
Settlement-to-modern Iceland with Viking artefacts, sagas and folk costumes.
🕐 Open at 10:00; quieter on cruise mornings before tour groups arrive.
Perlan Museum & Observation Deck
🏛️ Museum
Glass-dome museum with an ice cave, Aurora planetarium and 360-degree observation deck.
🕐 Allow a full half-day; the ice cave is at -10C, dress warm.
Geysir Hot Springs Area
Short stop🌿 Nature
Strokkur geyser erupts every 5-8 minutes in the original Geysir geothermal field.
🕐 Stay 15-20 minutes to catch two Strokkur eruptions on the same visit.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Short stop🌿 Nature
60 m South Coast waterfall with a path that ducks behind the curtain of water.
🕐 Bring waterproofs; the path behind the falls always soaks visitors.
Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa
wellness
Milky-blue silica geothermal lagoon on Reykjanes with sauna, in-water bar and mud masks.
🕐 Pre-book a 9:00 or 10:00 slot to fit the spa into a cruise day.
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Plan my day →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Reykjavik?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Reykjavik, Iceland. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Reykjavik?
- Walking into Reykjavik from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Reykjavik centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, Taxi, Local bus, Other transport, On foot. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Reykjavik?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Reykjavik independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Reykjavik and are cards accepted?
- Reykjavik uses the Icelandic krona. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Reykjavik cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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