HOW TO save money IN REYKJAVIK

Last Updated: 02/04/20 | February 4th, 2020

Over the past few years, tourism in Iceland has been on the rise. offering stunning natural vistas, charming towns and villages, epic hikes, and all the hot springs you could ever want, it’s no wonder that tourists have been flocking here in droves.

The once-quiet streets of Reykjavik are now busy and bustling with tourists and locals alike — especially during the fleeting summer months.

Not surprisingly, that has led to a slow and steady increase in prices. and Reykjavik was by no means a budget destination to begin with!

Is it still possible to check out Iceland’s charming capital city without breaking the bank?

It is — but you’ll need to get creative.

To help keep your budget intact, here’s how to save money in Reykjavik during your next visit:

14 ways to save money in Reykjavik

1. cook your own food – eating out in Iceland is expensive and — like most capital cities — Reykjavik is especially expensive. This is a city where a donut can cost $5, a hamburger can cost $23, a dinner for two with wine can cost $100! While there are a few places I recommend (more on those later), it’s best to avoid eating out much as possible if you want to stick to a budget.

Groceries (basic pasta, eggs, skyr (an Icelandic cultured dairy product), rice, chicken, and some veggies) will cost 8,700-9,000 ISK per week. most hostels, Airbnbs, and even hotels have kitchens that allow you to cook your food. Additionally, many grocery and convenience stores have pre-made sandwiches and salads for around 400-500 ISK.

2. drink on a budget – Reykjavik has some of the best nightlife in the world. It goes late into the night, with bars closing at 4 or 5am! Varför? because no one goes out until 1am!

In a country where alcoholic drinks cost so much (around 1,200 ISK), people sit at home and get sauced until the last possible second. hit the happy hours at the bars or hostels and get beer for 600-700 ISK.

Even better than happy hour prices is to purchase your alcohol duty-free when you arrive in the country or at the state stores called Vinbudin. You’ll save about 40% off the bar prices.

3. Couchsurf – Reykjavik has a very active Couchsurfing community. getting involved with the community is a surefire way to get local insights, meet wonderful people, and save money with a free place to stay. the best way to lower your accommodation costs is to not have to pay for it!

Even if you don’t want to stay with a local, download the app and use the “Hangouts” feature to meet locals and pick up some insider tips!

4. Split an Airbnb instead of using a hostel – If you’re visiting with friends, I would advise against getting dorm rooms. Hostel dorms cost 3,500-7,500 ISK per person, but you can get entire homes or apartments on Airbnb from 12,500 ISK per night. If you’re traveling in a group of three or more people, Airbnb is your most inexpensive choice.

5. Camp – If you don’t mind staying a bit out of the city center, you can camp at Reykjavik Campsite for 2,160 ISK per night. It’s the cheapest paid option in the city. There are many camping rental stores in the city, too, so if you don’t have your own gear you can rent some.

6. eat at the street stalls – Not into cooking? stick to the street stalls serving pizza, sandwiches, kebabs, and Iceland’s famous hot dogs that line Ingólfstorg square around the main tourist information center and Lækjartorg (the square near the Grey Line office). You’ll find sandwiches and kebabs for around 1,000 ISK while the hot dogs are 400-500 ISK. everyone loves the famous Baejarins Beztu Pylsur hot dogs (President Clinton went there); they are worth eating if the line isn’t long.

7. enjoy some soup – If you’re looking for a warm meal to fill your stomach, you can find a few Asian noodle places that offer hearty portions for around 1,000 ISK. My favorites are Noodle station and Krua Thai.

8. Take a free tour – want to know the history of the city and Iceland but don’t want to pay for the museums? Don’t miss the free walking tour run by free walking tour Reykjavik. It’s really informative and takes you around a lot of downtown. Some other free exhibits: Harpa concert Hall and the oversized topographical map of Iceland in the City Hall.

If you want to splash out for a paid tour, check out get Your Guide. They have a ton of tours on offer so there’s something for every interest and budget!

9. get the city card -If you plan to see a lot of the sights in the city (and you should), the Reykjavik City Card gets you free entry into all the major attractions, 10% off most tours, and even 10% off a few restaurants.

Though a small city, Reykjavik also has some tremendous museums and art galleries (to which the card gets you discounts into). (I especially love the national Museum. It has an extremely detailed history of the country.) The 48-hour card is 5,500 ISK but easily pays for itself. (There is also a 24-hour card for 3,900 ISKand a 72-hour card for 6,700 ISK)

10. Rideshare outside the city – If you are looking to head out of the city (to check out the blue Lagoon, golden Circle, or anywhere else), expect to pay a lot of money for a tour. You could rent a car, but that’s still around 8,800 ISK per day.

The cheapest way to get out of the city and explore is to check for rides on hostel bulletin boards (even if you aren’t staying at one), Couchsurfing, or Samfera, Iceland’s ridesharing site. They are filled with travelers looking — and giving — rides throughout the country. All you have to do is share costs!

11. enjoy the outdoors – Reykjavik is filled with incredible things to see and do for free. If the weather is nice (or at least not terrible, like May-September), walk around. enjoy the narrow streets and colorful houses, watch the ducks in the big lake in the center of town, hang out in a park, walk the waterfront, walk the long walking and biking path near the airport (it’s stunning and goes through some small beaches, parks, and a residential area.

Also, be sure to check out Nauthólsvík beach and its hot spring or the Grotta island lighthouse at the far end of town.

12. check out during the shoulder season – From September/October to May, prices for hotels, activities, and boat rentals are lower and you can avoid crowds. during the shoulder-season, there aren’t as many attractions open (even if there’s good weather); however, with so many natural places to explore, this shouldn’t be that much of a problem. I’d recommend visiting in September/October, or April/May.

13. Bring a water bottle – A bottle of water costs about 350 ISK. That can add up really quick. Bring your own bottle and refill from the tap. The water in Iceland is exceptionally clean and safe.

14. buy discounted Meat – I know it sounds gross, but like most Scandinavian countries, Iceland has super strict food laws that have them mark meat as “expired” way before
most other countries do. The meat hasn’t gone bad — but rules are rules. As such, you can typically find meat at 50% off the original price in the grocery stores on the day of expiration. This is when most locals buy their meat.

My personal Recommendations

Not sure what to see or do while you are there? here are some of my favorites attractions, restaurants, and things to see and do:

Attractions: Reykjavík Botanical Gardens, Grotta, City Hall, Hallgrímskirkja, national Gallery of Iceland, national museum of Iceland, The Penis museum (yes, it’s a thing and it’s very weird), Reykjavík Art Museum, Árbæjarlaug and Laugardalslaug swimming pools.

Restaurants: Laundromat, Noodle House, Glo, Le Bistro, Grill Market ($$$), Food Cellar, and Krua Thai.

Coffee shops: Kaffihús Vesturbæjar, Reykjavik Roasters, Kaffitár, Kaffibarinn, Café Babalu, and the café in Mál og Menning (which is my favorite).

Bars: Lebowski Bar, Kiki, and The Dubliner.

(To drink low-cost in the city, download the “Reykjavik Appy Hour” app. It will show you where all the happy hours are in the city!)

How much should You Budget?

Overall, I would budget around $60-75 USD per day for the city if you’re paying for your accommodation (a shared Airbnb or hostel), cooking most of your meals, doing most of the free activities, getting the museum pass, and not drinking.

If you want to see more paid activities, have a few nicer meals and go out to the bars, look to spend between $80-100 USD per day.

For those camping, Couchsurfing, cooking, doing the free activities, and minimizing paid experiences, you can get by for $40-55 per day.

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Reykjavik isn’t as low-cost as it used to be, and there are fewer ways to get by on a budget, thanks to price inflation and a tourist industry catering more to the mid-tier and higher-end market.
However, nothing is impossible!

With some careful spending — as well as focusing on the free nature attractions in the city — you can easily avoid emptying your wallet before you escape the city and explore the country!

Get the in-depth budget guide to Iceland!

Want to plan the perfect trip to Iceland? check out my comprehensive guide to Iceland written for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need. You’ll find suggested itineraries, tips, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, and my favorite non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, transportation tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.

Book Your trip to Iceland: Logistical tips and Tricks
Boka din flygning
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a low-cost flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!

Boka ditt boende
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. Om du villt För att stanna någon annanstans än ett vandrarhem, använd Booking.com eftersom de konsekvent returnerar de billigaste priserna för pensionat och billiga hotell. Mina favoritplatser att bo är:

HLemmur Square (Reykjavik)

KEX HOSTEL (REYKJAVIK)

Glöm inte reseförsäkring
Reseförsäkring kommer att skydda dig mot sjukdom, skada, stöld och avbokningar. Det är ett omfattande skydd om något går fel. Jag åker aldrig på en resa utan den eftersom jag har varit tvungen att använda den många gånger tidigare. Mina favoritföretag som erbjuder bästa service och värde är:

Säkerhetsvinge (för alla under 70)

Försäkra min resa (för de över 70)

Medjet (för ytterligare repatrieringstäckning)

Letar du efter de bästa företagen att spara pengar med?
Kolla in min resurssida för de bästa företagen att använda när du reser. Jag listar alla de jag använder för att spara pengar när jag är på väg. De sparar pengar när du reser också.

Vill du ha mer information om Island?
Se till att kolla in vår robusta destinationsguide på Island för ännu fler planeringstips!