What to skip in Reykjavik
Built from every Reykjavik verdict we publish. Each links to the full reasoning and what to do instead.
We have no Skip pages on file for Reykjavik yet; the verdicts so far all earn their keep.
Only if it fits your trip
- Is a Golden Circle tour worth it?: It depends on your car, not the sights: travelers rate Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss worth a day, and a tour mostly buys you transport, a guide and someone else on the winter ice. Take a tour if you have no car or are visiting in the dark months; drive yourself if you already have a rental.
- Is a northern lights tour worth it?: A northern lights tour buys three things: a driver who reads the cloud maps, a dark viewing spot away from the city and, crucially, a free retry when the sky stays empty. At 9,990 to 14,500 ISK that is worth paying between September and April if you have no car, but no operator can guarantee the aurora and anyone with wheels plus the vedur.is forecast can chase the lights themselves for free.
- Is the Blue Lagoon worth it?: The Blue Lagoon is unique: milky turquoise water in a black lava field, a free silica mask, a towel and a drink for a 11,990 ISK Comfort ticket booked direct. It is also a spa-commercial machine with dynamic pricing that climbs past 18,000 ISK, so it pays off as a 2-3 hour soak on arrival or departure day rather than a pilgrimage, and travelers who hate crowds or prices this high are happier at Sky Lagoon or a local pool.
- Is the Reykjavik City Card worth it?: Worth it on a day of paid museums and a pool, a waste on a day of wandering: at official prices, three museums plus a pool cost 10,450 ISK as singles against 6,100 ISK for the 24-hour card, while one museum plus a pool is only 4,800 ISK.