Reykjavík cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: From Skarfabakki/Vör, the public-bus option below ends at Skúlagata in central Reykjavík.

• Walk: realistic if you have time for a longer walk; Visit Reykjavík places Skarfabakki about 4 km from the centre and lists walking as an option.
• Public transport: Strætó bus 16 from Skarfagarðar towards Skúlagata, kr. 690 one way for an adult; pay contactless on board or use Klapp.

Prices checked 2026-09-08. Sources: Visit Reykjavík, Strætó route 16, Strætó fares.

Orientation, not a walking route

• Skarfabakki, Sundahöfn: Visit Reykjavík places this cruise pier about 4 km from the centre. The new Vör passenger terminal opened in late May 2026, according to the port authority's August announcement, checked on 2026-09-07. Use the berth and pickup point on your cruise documents when arranging transport.
• Miðbakki, Old Harbour: this is a central berth with shops and city attractions accessible on foot. Do not book a Skarfabakki transfer if your ship is using Miðbakki.
• Hafnarfjörður: some itineraries use this separate town and port, around 12 km from central Reykjavík. Check the actual port name before arranging a city excursion or transfer.

Cruise ships normally dock alongside at the city's cruise quays. The port profile also lists an anchorage, but that listing does not establish routine tendering.

About this port

Your arrival point makes a substantial difference to a Reykjavík port day. Miðbakki puts you beside the city centre; Skarfabakki requires a longer walk or transfer. For a short call, choose a central museum and waterfront walk after accounting for the journey from the ship.

Getting Around

From Skarfabakki, walking means allowing for roughly 4 km in each direction before any sightseeing. A taxi or arranged transfer preserves more time in town. Skarfagarðar is the bus 16 stop to use near the cruise area; take the direction Skúlagata for the centre. The bus stop is outside the terminal, so include the walk from your ship in your return plan.

From Miðbakki, exploring on foot is practical. Harpa is connected with the central waterfront and is near Lækjartorg, a public-transport hub. From Hafnarfjörður, Visit Reykjavík identifies route 1 from Fjörður for the journey to Reykjavík; use the operator's timetable for both directions.

If hiring a car, arrange the collection location before arrival. The tourism board does not list rental desks at these cruise piers; pickup arrangements differ by company.

Things to Do

• Aðalstræti museum and Settlement Exhibition: at Aðalstræti 10 and 16, the city museum links archaeological remains of a tenth-century longhouse with the later development of Reykjavík. It is a specific indoor option for a few hours in the centre.
• Harpa and the waterfront: walk to the concert hall at Austurbakki 2 and continue through the central harbour area as time allows. Entry to the building is free (checked 2026-10-15), so you can look inside without booking a performance. Check Harpa’s opening hours for your visit; ticketed concerts and activities are separate.
• Þingvellir: the national park's historic assembly landscape was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2004. It is outside Reykjavík and needs a road excursion. Choose it as the main outing only when the full itinerary and return transfer fit your call, rather than adding it after a city visit.

Getting back to your ship

From Skarfabakki, walking means allowing for roughly 4 km in each direction before any sightseeing. A taxi or arranged transfer preserves more time in town. Skarfagarðar is the bus 16 stop to use near the cruise area; take the direction Skúlagata for the centre. The bus stop is outside the terminal, so include the walk from your ship in your return plan.

Practical Information

Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK). Call 112 in an emergency. Arrange payment in ISK; do not assume a business will accept euros.

For an embarkation or disembarkation day, retain the exact terminal address and follow the cruise line's luggage and check-in instructions. A sightseeing transfer to the city centre is not automatically an airport transfer.

Frequently asked

Can you walk from Reykjavík cruise port to the centre? Yes, but Skarfabakki is about 4 km from the centre, so it is a longer walk before sightseeing. Miðbakki is already beside the central Old Harbour.

How much is the bus from Reykjavík cruise port? An adult single on Strætó bus 16 costs kr. 690 one way. Board near the cruise area at Skarfagarðar towards Skúlagata.

Do cruise ships dock or tender in Reykjavík? They normally dock alongside. Skarfabakki serves the main cruise area, while Miðbakki is in the Old Harbour.

Where does the bus from Reykjavík cruise port go? Bus 16 towards the centre ends at Skúlagata. Pay contactless on board or use Klapp.