Reykjavik Cruise Port
Reykjavik, Iceland · Northern Europe
Cruise ships dock at Skarfabakki - Sundahofn Cruise Pier, Reykjavik.
Plan my port daysModern 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
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Leave most ISK cash behind — cards handle everything, including bus fares and small markets.
Build your perfect day in Reykjavik
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the Iceland collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Reykjavik cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
4 comparedGolden Circle full-day: Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss
≈ 8 h · sold by 6 cruise lines
Cruise line
€155$173
Do it yourself
€98$110
Save ≈ €57Save ≈ $64 (37% off)
Skarfabakki is a docked pier ~3.5 km from the centre. The cheapest match is a seat on a scheduled Golden Circle coach: Reykjavik Excursions runs 'cruise-friendly' Golden Circle departures that pick up and drop off at the Skarfabakki pier itself (~ISK 11,000–13,000 / ~€80, lunch extra), so there is no city transfer to arrange. The coach handles all inter-stop transport; Thingvellir is ~50 min from the pier and Geysir/Gullfoss ~1 hr 45 min, so this fills almost the whole port day.
See the DIY plan →
Whale watching cruise on Faxafloi Bay from the Old Harbour
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 6 cruise lines
Cruise line
€105$117
Do it yourself
€85$95
Save ≈ €20Save ≈ $22 (19% off)
Take the free Harpa city shuttle from Skarfabakki (runs ~every 20 min until ~18:00), then walk 10 min along the waterfront to Elding at Aegisgardur 5c in the Old Harbour. Elding's Classic Whale Watching is ~ISK 13,990 / ~€85 and sails 2–3 times daily in summer (09:00 and 13:00 departures suit a port day). No transfer cost beyond the free shuttle.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
12 plansReykjavik for Free: Waterfront & Old Town
The Sun Voyager, Harpa, the Old Town squares and Iceland's landmark church -- a full half day that costs nothing but shoe leather.
The Reykjavik Classic
The panoramic city tour every ship sells -- Hallgrímskirkja tower, the Old Town and Harpa -- done on foot for a fraction of the price.
The Golden Circle, Done Yourself
Iceland's signature loop -- Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss -- on a cruise-friendly coach that picks you up at the pier and gets you back in time.
Whale Watching from the Old Harbour
A three-hour sail onto Faxaflói Bay for humpbacks, minkes and dolphins -- leaving from the harbour a short walk from the ship.
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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