Most visitors to Iceland will kickstart their journey from the capital city after landing at Keflavik Airport (roughly 50 minutes away). But while most visitors' Iceland adventure will begin with their camper rental in Keflavik, we highly recommend that you spend a couple of days exploring this incredible city and all there is to see and do there. And to make you stay even better, be sure to get yourself the Reykjavik City Card!
This card allows you to save mega bucks and opens all sorts of opportunities, whether for local attractions, cuisine, transport – you name it! So, if you’re ready to unlock the superpowers of the Reykjavik travel pass (cue Gandalf finally screaming “YOU SHALL PAAASS!!!!), then read on.
What is the Reykjavik City Card?
In essence, the Reykjavik City Card is like a VIP backstage pass to the capital city, offering all sorts of perks. Here’s the gist:
How the Reykjavik Card Works
The Reykjavik City Card gives you free access to some of Reykjavik’s most famous attractions and landmarks, discounts at others, including local stores and restaurants, and allows you to use the inner-city bus service as much as you like. How long you have these perks will all depend on which Reykjavik Card you choose (they are divided into certain time periods).
Validity Options
The various Reykjavik Card validity time periods to choose from are 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. If you purchase the card online, you can pick the specific start date (a great option if you’re busy planning and prepping for an upcoming trip).
But just keep in mind that these hours run consecutively. So, for example, you can’t spread your 48 hours over 2 days throughout the month, or pick 3 random days throughout the month, equating to 72 hours.
Reykjavik City Card Prices in 2025/2026
Reykjavik City Card prices vary based on age and the validity time period. See the details below:
Adult Prices
Below are the updated adult prices (as of late October 2025):
- The 24-Hour Reykjavik City Card = 5500 ISK ($45.35/€38.70)
- The 48-Hour Reykjavik City Card = 7700 ISK ($63.50/€54.15)
- The 72-Hour Reykjavik City Card = 9500 ISK ($78.35/€66.80)
What About a Children’s City Card?
Many ask whether there is a Reykjavik City Card dedicated to children or whether they qualify for the card at a discounted price. Unfortunately, this is not the case, but also for good reason. You see, most museums offer free entry for children under 18.
Other attractions offer free entry for children 14 and younger and discounted rates for other ages. So, ultimately, people tend to only buy a Reykjavik City Card for themselves since the children already get more than enough perks just for being children.
Where to Buy the Reykjavik City Card
You have two options when it comes to buying the Reykjavik City Card:
1. Buy the physical card at tourism centers in Reykjavik, some hotels, or at certain museums in Reykjavik, such as:
- The Reykjavik Art Museum Asmundarsafn
- The Reykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus
- The Reykjavik Art Museum Kjarvalsstadir
- Reykjavik Arbær Open Air Museum
- Reykjavik Maritime Museum
- Reykjavik Museum of Photography
- Adalstræti Settlement Exhibition
2. Buy the card online via the Reykjavik City Card website. You will then receive a digital voucher via your preferred communication channel that you’ll provide during purchase. Once you’ve arrived in the capital city, merely swap your voucher at any of the above-mentioned museums for the real deal.
What’s Included in the Reykjavik City Card?
Sometimes we feel like the question should rather be what’s not included in the Reykjavik City Card, since there’s so much that 72 hours will never be enough to squeeze everything in (but you can certainly try, though!). Here’s what you can look forward to:
Museums and Cultural Attractions
The Reykjavik City Card will give you FREE access to all of the following museums and cultural attractions:
- The House of Collections
- The National Gallery of Iceland
- The National Museum of Iceland
- Reykjavik Museum of Photography
- Reykjavik Maritime Museum
- Sigurjon Olafsson Museum
- Reykjavik Art Museum Listasafn
- Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo
- Gerdarsafn Art Museum
- Asmundarsafn
- Videy Island
- Reykjavik Art Museum Kjarvalsstadir
- Arbær Open Air Museum
- Adalstræti Settlement Exhibition
- The Hafnarfjördur Centre of Culture and Fine Art
- Natural History Museum of Kopavogurv
Thermal Pools and Hot Springs
Irrespective of the season, the Reykjavik City Card has your back with FREE access to the following warm waters:
- Vesturbæjarlaug Pool
- Sundhöll Reykjavikur Pool
- Dalslaug Pool
- Klebergslaug Pool
- Laugardalslaug Pool
- Grafarvogslaug Pool
- Arbæjarlaug Pool
- Breidholtslaug Pool
Transport
The Reykjavik City Card gives you unlimited hop-on-hop-off rides on any of the Stræto public buses within the city limits. You also get to catch the ferry to Videy Island at absolutely no charge!
All Discounts
As if all the freebies weren’t enough, you have a legion of other discounts waiting for you with the Reykjavik City Card. These include:
- 50% off on Aurora Reykjavik
- 10% off on Elding Whale Watching Tours
- 10% off on Bagbee Luggage Service
- 20% off the entrance to the Einar Jonsson Museum
- 10% off on weekly concert and open rehearsal tickets to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
- 10% off on the Wonders of Iceland and the Aurora Northern Lights show at Perlan
- 20% off the entrance to The Icelandic Phallological Museum
- 10% off on entrance to the Saga Museum
- 30% off the entrance to Whales of Iceland
- 10% off on Special Tours (especially famous for their Puffin watching outings)
Is the Reykjavik City Card Worth It?
Absolutely no doubt about it! It all boils down to simple maths. For example, a 1-day Stræto bus pass costs 2650 ISK ($21.95/€18.65), the entrance fee to The National Gallery of Iceland costs 2400 ISK ($19.85/€16.90), and entry to the Vesturbæjarlaug Pool is 1380 ISK ($11.45/€9.75).
We’ve only mentioned 3 things of the many, many, MANY freebies included in the Reykjavik City Card (without even acknowledging the further discount advantages the card offers), and you’re already talking about savings of almost 1500 ISK ($12.45/€10.60) when comparing the prices to a 24-hour Reykjavik City Card.
Who Benefits Most?
Well, from our earlier maths, you can see that you already start benefitting even if you’re just 1 individual with a 24-hour Reykjavik City Card. That being said, you’re likely to get the most bang for your buck if:
- You’re a family (the only thing better than saving a lot of money on one person’s expenses is when you save a lot of money on multiple people’s expenses).
- You’re a culture enthusiast. If you’re someone who usually ends up scouring the cities and towns on your travels for all sorts of museums and interesting landmarks, the Reykjavik Card is an absolute must.
- If you’ve already had to plan your trip to Iceland on a very tight budget, cards such as the Reykjavik City Card and the Camping Card can be game changers in saving even more money.
When Might It Not Be Worth It?
There are a few scenarios where the Reykjavik City Card is probably not for you:
- If you’re merely sleeping in the capital city before heading out to the rest of the island.
- If you’re on a business trip in Reykjavik (you may get the public transport perks, but when would you be able to take advantage of the rest?)
- If you thought this could be a solution for catching the shuttle or bus from the airport to Reykjavik (except for the fact that many are privately owned, and no public transport outside the Reykjavik city limits is included in the card’s perks).
- If you are only interested in visiting the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon geothermal pools (one of which is outside of Reykjavik, and the other is not included in the Reykjavik City Card geothermal pool perks).
- You’re someone who absolutely hates fun (and savings!).
How to Make the Most of Your Reykjavik City Card
If this will be your first time using the Reykjavik City Card, the following tips and advice will be helpful:
The Best Time to Use Your Reykjavik City Card
Please don’t waste your City Card perks by activating your card on a Monday. Most museums and other attractions are either closed on Mondays or operate on shorter hours (especially during our off-season).
Your best bet is over weekends when all attractions open and operate at full capacity (especially during peak season), but to avoid the crowds, you’ll need to get an early start and opt for evening dips in our geothermal pools. Alternatively, mid-weeks are best for massive savings while avoiding the influx of peak-time visitors.
A Few Insider Pro Tips
- If you want to be as efficient as possible and hit as many Reykjavik City Card spots as possible, do a bit of research and create a trip itinerary that pairs the attractions nearest to one another together.
- Even if you don’t necessarily want to avoid the crowds, evening swims are great just to relax and wind down after a jam-packed day of exploring the city. But take note – we said relax, not bathe. Proper etiquette is to take a shower before entering our geothermal pools.
- Many who will have at least a couple of days in the capital opt for the 48-hour card. 24 hours is simply too short for everything this card has to offer.
Suggested Reykjavik Itineraries with the City Card
No idea where to start mapping out a Reykjavik City Card itinerary? Here are a few ideas based on the various time periods:
A 24-Hour Reykjavik City Card Itinerary
- Use the morning to visit the National Museum of Iceland.
- Once you’re done, hop on over to Reykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus.
- After lunch, take the ferry to Videy Island and spend the afternoon exploring.
- In the evening, have a relaxing soak in Sundhöllin Pool before retiring for the night.
A 48-Hour Reykjavik City Card Itinerary
- Day 1: Take on the challenge of exploring the museums today. First stop, Adalstræti Settlement Exhibition. Second stop, the Reykjavik Maritime Museum. Have lunch where you can take advantage of a Reykjavik Card discount and then add 1 or 2 more museums of your choosing for the afternoon.
- Day 2: Catch the bus and visit the Reykjavik Family Park and Zoo in the early morning. Catch the ferry to Videy Island after lunch and spend the afternoon exploring. Pick a pool from the above list to end your day with, and then see if you can score another Reykjavik City Card discount for dinner.
A 72-Hour Reykjavik City Card Itinerary
- Day 1 and 2: Follow the 48-hour itinerary.
- Day 3: Choose 4 remaining attractions (close to one another) and divide them into 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Pick one last pool to relax in the evening, and go to one of our local restaurants where you can get a Reykjavik Card discount for a final farewell feast.
FAQs About the Reykjavik City Card
Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Reykjavik Card:
Does the Reykjavik City Card Include Airport Transfer or the Blue Lagoon?
Unfortunately not. Transport is limited to the Stræto buses and the ferry to Videy Island, and since the Blue Lagoon also falls outside the confines of the city, it’s not included in the Reykjavik City Card perks.
Can I Use It All Year-Round?
The Reykjavik City Card is available to purchase all year-round, but its validity will be limited to the time period you’ve chosen (24, 48, or 72 hours).
Do Kids Get Free Entry with the Card?
Most museums offer free entry to kids under 18, and others offer at least discounted prices with free entry for children 14 years and younger. For this reason, there isn’t a Reykjavik City Card specifically for children – it’s simply not necessary.
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy the Reykjavik City Card?
So, is the Reykjavik City Card still relevant in 2025? You betcha! Considering the massive savings by just doing some simple maths and considering the wide variety of sights and activities the card covers, it’s an absolute must for anyone planning on spending a couple of days in the capital city.
So, why not make use of the card for the first couple of days on the island? Arrange to spend a couple of days in the capital city, pick up your rental motorhome, and hit the road to explore the rest of the Land of Fire and Ice. Happy travels!
