A Day in Reykjavík by Cruise Ship

A cruise ship gives you one day in Reykjavík, and the Golden Circle, the South Coast and even Snæfellsnes are within reach of it. The question is not what is worth seeing but what fits between arriving and all-aboard. The honest answer depends mostly on how long you spend on the road.

First, Which Port?

In Reykjavík, cruise ships usually berth at Skarfabakki in Sundahöfn, about 4 km from the city centre, where the new Vör terminal opened in May 2026, or at Miðbakki in the Old Harbour, right by the centre. Some calls are at Hafnarfjörður or Akranes instead. Check your ship's schedule for the berth, and tell your tour operator the ship's name when you book so the pickup is at the right quay. Keep your boarding pass with you: you need it to get back into the port area.

Match the Tour to the Time You Have

Driving times, before any stops, are roughly these for a round trip from Skarfabakki:

• Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerið): about 250 km, around four hours of driving. This is the one most likely to fit a port day.
• South Coast (the waterfalls, Dyrhólaey and the black beach at Reynisfjara): about 390 km, around six hours of driving. Choose it only for a long call.
• Snæfellsnes (Kirkjufell, Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur and the Búðir church): about 450 km, more than seven hours of driving. A full day of 12 hours or more, for the longest calls only.

Add the time you spend at each stop, and leave a generous margin before all-aboard; the ship will not wait for a tour that is late.

Small Group or Private

A small-group tour runs to a fixed plan and costs less. Ours pick up at the cruise port: the Golden Circle takes about eight hours and the South Coast about ten.

A private tour runs to your ship instead. Your guide sets the departure time from your arrival, can drop a stop to keep to time, and plans the return around your all-aboard time. Our private Golden Circle takes about seven hours. The private Snæfellsnes tour takes 12 hours or more; stops can be dropped, but the driving time cannot, so it suits only a very long call.

On the Day

Check the weather on en.vedur.is and the alerts on SafeTravel before you leave the ship. Bring a waterproof jacket, warm layers and shoes that can take wet paths, whatever the month. Know your all-aboard time and the berth, and keep your boarding pass with you.